Game Thread: Spurs @ Pelicans December 26th, 2014

[RD2191]

Pointless to risk further injury to any of our players in the regular season. Going into to the playoffs is what's important.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

Spurs are playing kinda slow. If you watch last years games, everybody was moving, the ball was being pushed and swung around and whoever had the ball was a threat to do something. Recently, there's been very little meaningful motion. Takes the Spurs 7 seconds to get the ball up the court, then they pass it from the wing to the top to the other wing with some little screen that barely moves the defense for the next 10 seconds. And if they shoot before that it's usually a mediocre mid-range shot coming off a down screen, and it's usually somehow still contested.

Defense wasn't great this game but I attribute that more to Kawhi not playing and Tiago barely playing.

[BillMc]

We've got kind of a "2007 Heat" vibe to us, but we'll be Ok. Just somehow get the playoffs healthy with enough head of steam to get things clicking.

[ElNono]

Spurs are playing kinda slow. If you watch last years games, everybody was moving, the ball was being pushed and swung around and whoever had the ball was a threat to do something. Recently, there's been very little meaningful motion. Takes the Spurs 7 seconds to get the ball up the court, then they pass it from the wing to the top to the other wing with some little screen that barely moves the defense for the next 10 seconds. And if they shoot before that it's usually a mediocre mid-range shot coming off a down screen, and it's usually somehow still contested.

Defense wasn't great this game but I attribute that more to Kawhi not playing and Tiago barely playing.

Yes, pace is a huge problem for the offense right now. But there's a few reasons for that, we're doing a job of rebounding, and the defense has been subpar without Kawhi and a lot of Bonner/Beli minutes.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

Yes, pace is a huge problem for the offense right now. But there's a few reasons for that, we're doing a job of rebounding, and the defense has been subpar without Kawhi and a lot of Bonner/Beli minutes.

And like Sean Elliott was saying, the Spurs have played a lot of games recently and it's clearly taking a toll on them. A lot of the players play of the summer + 2 finals runs and 3 straight western conference championship appearances will weigh on them.

I agree about Kawhi being out affecting the rebounding and pace. No Kawhi = less clean longer rebounds (the ones that have been eluding Duncan recently), so the Spurs rarely have a chance to even run it up the court.

[BillMc]

Spurs look tired. A lot of heavy lifting last two weeks. We've basically had 3 guys almost always out the whole season. (Tiago, Beli, Mills at the beginning, Kawhi, Parker, Mills now.) Throw in that on back to backs Tiago plays very little, and Timmy looks tired despite some stellar perfomances (minus the OKC game). Pop, as perhaps he should, is still being conservative but it's placing a lot on old guys like Timmy and Manu. All minutes are not equal and the eye test says their straining. They gave it the good show last week but the losses and the 6 OTs took a lot out of them.

Despite all the gloom and doom, we'll be okay. But it may not be until late January or even February before we look like the old Spurs.

[ElNono]

And like Sean Elliott was saying, the Spurs have played a lot of games recently and it's clearly taking a toll on them. A lot of the players play of the summer + 2 finals runs and 3 straight western conference championship appearances will weigh on them.

I agree about Kawhi being out affecting the rebounding and pace. No Kawhi = less clean longer rebounds (the ones that have been eluding Duncan recently), so the Spurs rarely have a chance to even run it up the court.

Patty likes to push the ball too, he has the speed also... Cojo is more of a half court guy...

Gotta get healthy

[Beaverfuzz]

If you think Joseph is a pf then feel free to call him that.

Good, then we'll each call him something he isn't.


/discussion.

[timtonymanu]

Welp. Another loss, but no big deal.

Funny reading the reactions to this game again.

[Nathan89]

Good, then we'll each call him something he isn't.


/discussion.

Only you'll be the one looking like an idiot.

[Beaverfuzz]

Only you'll be the one looking like an idiot.

Wrong, he's not a PG. Was he your college roommate or something?

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

they lost again

Spurs are pathetic for being defending champions.

[kobyz]

This loss is bad also cause we fighting with Nola and Suns for the 8 spot and right now both has the tie break on us.... Hope we make the playoff...

[Sean Cagney]

they lost again

Spurs are pathetic for being defending champions.

I would say players being out with injury have a little something to do with that there... Maybe just a little. Make any team out there miss their stars or a few very good players every single game in the year and see how good they look.