Brief Analysis of tonights game and what it means going forward.

[apalisoc_9]

Great points. I think that Danny and Timmy have lost their offensive iden ies in the SL. Tim has the talent to kind of make it work, whereas Danny relies on that pristine ball movement to make his impact offensively.

You bring up a very good point about the iden y crisis being a big reason for the crunch time success, but I don't want us running the offense through LMA in crunch time, tbh. With the regression of his post game, he's now more suitable as a second-banana type. Kawhi should be a go-to guy, but his inability to effectively attack the basket is a big negative. His 1st step is mediocre and he just doesn't do a good job of dipping his shoulder consistently on his dribble drives. Once he improves one or both of those flaws, he'd be a MORE viable late-game iso or pnr option.

On another note, I honestly don't know what I'll do if I see another pathetic low-post pumpfake/forced shot combo from LMA...

Yeah LMA is a hideous post up option as I have said months ago when posters where getting at me for saying it.

[ChumpDumper]

Leonard is at fault too. But I susupect there is closed door politics that keeps leonad and even LMA aggressive late.

lol conspiracy!

[spurtech09]

Win some lose some....wasn't spurs night...Spurs play rockets again.....Jan 2......Spurs win in a blowout....Book it

[ceperez]

I would argue Kyle.
I think Kyle is more clutch and smart in half court offense and has come through in games against playoff teams already playing with the starters (Grizzlies/Boston). Both games saved possessions and made the right play. He was very good defensively too might I remind you.

It won't matter though. Danny is not getting benched. We might get off that wagon early.

It is like calling for Tony to get benched last season: it ain't going to happen.

Live and die by Danny I guess. What I hope is that Pop adjusts his role.

Kyle should have been put in the court against the Rockets. It was obvious the Parker had trouble finding any openings to score. The Rockets and Clippers have very good defenses in the paint that Parker has trouble scoring against. At least KA can score against a player that is stuck to his hip.

[ceperez]

Great points. I think that Danny and Timmy have lost their offensive iden ies in the SL. Tim has the talent to kind of make it work, whereas Danny relies on that pristine ball movement to make his impact offensively.

You bring up a very good point about the iden y crisis being a big reason for the crunch time success, but I don't want us running the offense through LMA in crunch time, tbh. With the regression of his post game, he's now more suitable as a second-banana type. Kawhi should be a go-to guy, but his inability to effectively attack the basket is a big negative. His 1st step is mediocre and he just doesn't do a good job of dipping his shoulder consistently on his dribble drives. Once he improves one or both of those flaws, he'd be a MORE viable late-game iso or pnr option.

On another note, I honestly don't know what I'll do if I see another pathetic low-post pumpfake/forced shot combo from LMA...

The best three players in a post up are:

Diaw
Leonard
Anderson

I rate Diaw higher than Leonard because he can also make the passing play.

LMA isn't even close to these 3. Furthermore, he's not even ahead of Tim Duncan.

[ceperez]

Great points. I think that Danny and Timmy have lost their offensive iden ies in the SL. Tim has the talent to kind of make it work, whereas Danny relies on that pristine ball movement to make his impact offensively.

You bring up a very good point about the iden y crisis being a big reason for the crunch time success, but I don't want us running the offense through LMA in crunch time, tbh. With the regression of his post game, he's now more suitable as a second-banana type. Kawhi should be a go-to guy, but his inability to effectively attack the basket is a big negative. His 1st step is mediocre and he just doesn't do a good job of dipping his shoulder consistently on his dribble drives. Once he improves one or both of those flaws, he'd be a MORE viable late-game iso or pnr option.

On another note, I honestly don't know what I'll do if I see another pathetic low-post pumpfake/forced shot combo from LMA...

Lets be fair to Leonard, he can't be both working his ass off in defense and carrying the offensive load in offense. Somebody else has got to take that offensive load and unfortunately Spurs have a max player that does have the talent but lacks the skillset, basketball IQ and toughness to play. Spurs just have a bigger Richard Jefferson on the team.

Spurs had the opportunity to steal a Draymond Green, but they picked up a weak-minded LMA instead.

[ceperez]

The concern for me right now is why Pop is trusting Danny with the ball so much, I don't think he's done well. I am thinking maybe Pop is stuck at this point.

I definitely want Danny in the court because he does an excellent job in defense. Though his passing skills are nowhere near either Anderson's or Simmons and hopefully he's not forcing the issue because he can see that younger guys can actually pass!

Spurs had both defensive and offensive problems in this game. The offense during crunch time was the biggest problem. Parker had zero opportunities penetrate. Duncan got in the groove late in the game, but was horrible most of the game. Spurs need a consistent scorer in offense but don't really have one if Leonard has to work overtime also in defense. Leonard is best as a second option and messes up when he needs to force the issue. Spurs also don't want to be playing Lebron ball.

The missing piece is obviously LMA, who supposedly should be a threat offensively. Yet, he was guarded by second year player Clint Capella.... Max player LMA can't even score against Clint Capella!!! That's because he just doesn't have advanced skills that he can exploit against younger players. For the record, LMA scored a total of 6 points the entire 2nd half of the game.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Spurs didn't have a chance to get Draymond Green. Dude was a RFA and would have stayed in GSW regardless.

[ceperez]

Spurs didn't have a chance to get Draymond Green. Dude was a RFA and would have stayed in GSW regardless.

I think you forget what happened pre-season, Green had issues because GSW wasn't willing to pay up.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13...-impasse-talks

Spurs could have used that opportunity to put the squeeze on GSW. Either up their salary or snatch up one of their best play makers.

[100%duncan]

Win some lose some....wasn't spurs night...Spurs play rockets again.....Jan 2......Spurs win in a blowout....Book it

Yeah if last game was at home we would have won.

[100%duncan]

Draymond is a huge beneficiary of curry curry attracts so much attention thus leading to cutting lanes, open shots etc this team would be worse with draymond as he has a worse skillset than LMA

As Mel_13 would say #ceperez

[ceperez]

Draymond is a huge beneficiary of curry curry attracts so much attention thus leading to cutting lanes, open shots etc this team would be worse with draymond as he has a worse skillset than LMA

As Mel_13 would say #ceperez

LMA with a skillset??? WTF are you talking about. He's got next to zero skills.

[100%duncan]

LMA with a skillset??? WTF are you talking about. He's got next to zero skills.

#ceperez

[Mnky]

Agree in general. Kawhi was great IMO. LMA is still underwhelming though, IMO

He created many opportunities for himself, just to have his teammates hit his ankles with the ball or throw a lob into the rafters. There was no one between him and the basket quite a few times and an errant pass resulted in a TO. I thought he was using the system perfectly, the team just wasn't capitalizing.

[dabom]

He created many opportunities for himself, just to have his teammates hit his ankles with the ball or throw a lob into the rafters. There was no one between him and the basket quite a few times and an errant pass resulted in a TO. I thought he was using the system perfectly, the team just wasn't capitalizing.

You know how many ing lobs by tim were and how many ty passes by tony. OMG.

[pgardn]

I SUSPECT

Closed door politics keep Leonard from...


And people take this clown seriously. His sauces in the locker room...
This is just pitiful.

[cjw]

Good take by OP. Welcome back from your vacation or whatever it was.

Turnovers, defensive rebounding early (when a cushion should have been built) and missed layups were the reason for losing.

I was actually surprised to see Rockets had the same number of TO and less OReb. Hack-a wasn't the culprit either - Capella and Howard combined for under 50%.

Kawhi, LMA and Duncan all had good games, as did Green defensively. But when the guards all the bed, this team's going to struggle to score. Scary as Houston put out a defense to snuff out Spurs offense similar to what GS and OKC employ.

On the bright side, the Spurs lost by only four to a team that has turned the corner recently and has been good at home despite playing its worst game of the season, save the NOP game when Ryan Anderson turned into Larry Bird.

[cjw]

Kyle should have been put in the court against the Rockets. It was obvious the Parker had trouble finding any openings to score. The Rockets and Clippers have very good defenses in the paint that Parker has trouble scoring against. At least KA can score against a player that is stuck to his hip.

No surprise Simmons had the lowest +/- and yes, I know the stat can be taken out of context.

His poor shooting killed Spurs in a game they had bad spacing. A shooter or Anderson, who's more careful with the ball and a better passer (Simmons has shown flashes of being a decent passer) would have been preferred. Not to mention Simmons is bad on D defending pick and roll teams.

[ceperez]

Okay... I exaggerate about LMA ineptness. He's got about the level of skills as Dwight Howard. Happy now?

[Mnky]

You know how many ing lobs by tim were and how many ty passes by tony. OMG.

Yes and yes. Tony I expect it, has always hit the bigs in their ankles. Tim..was driving me crazy.

[SAGirl]

Kyle will never play over simmons or any meanigful games until he starts taking those wide ope corner threes.

Watched some sections in league pass that I missed last night. Simmons passes open 3s just as much Tbh. He passed on two wide open last night and missed the one he took. They were helping off him pretty strongly, but it would have been the same for Kyle. We can't really say either guy is a shooter. I think they are both very reluctant at this point and will have to be pushed by the coaching staff to shoot, same as they had to push Boris.

[SAGirl]

No surprise Simmons had the lowest +/- and yes, I know the stat can be taken out of context.

His poor shooting killed Spurs in a game they had bad spacing. A shooter or Anderson, who's more careful with the ball and a better passer (Simmons has shown flashes of being a decent passer) would have been preferred. Not to mention Simmons is bad on D defending pick and roll teams.

Kyle is just really good in half court sets. An unlikely stat, other than Tony he has the highest % of the team on self generated unassisted 2 pt shots. Those are all the midrange buckets he has created entirely for himself when he's forced to save a possession that was going nowhere. It's a significant fact when you consider Danny can't get his own shot or save possessions if the ball ends up in his hands in crunch time, and Manu has been great for the most part, but struggled some games, and when he does, Danny is inadequate. Tony was very poor last night too.

[SAGirl]

I definitely want Danny in the court because he does an excellent job in defense. Though his passing skills are nowhere near either Anderson's or Simmons and hopefully he's not forcing the issue because he can see that younger guys can actually pass!

Spurs had both defensive and offensive problems in this game. The offense during crunch time was the biggest problem. Parker had zero opportunities penetrate. Duncan got in the groove late in the game, but was horrible most of the game. Spurs need a consistent scorer in offense but don't really have one if Leonard has to work overtime also in defense. Leonard is best as a second option and messes up when he needs to force the issue. Spurs also don't want to be playing Lebron ball.

The missing piece is obviously LMA, who supposedly should be a threat offensively. Yet, he was guarded by second year player Clint Capella.... Max player LMA can't even score against Clint Capella!!! That's because he just doesn't have advanced skills that he can exploit against younger players. For the record, LMA scored a total of 6 points the entire 2nd half of the game.

I think Danny is a liability in crunch time. Defenses are tougher and he can't get his own shot or make the right play for someone else, he just makes very bad decisions. POP wants everyone to be unselfish even in crunch time which is why he sticks with Manu over Danny. Manu at 25 mins this game, IMO too much. He's good for 20, at most 22. After that he's tired, his shot will abandon him and he will get in Manu brain farts-he wants to take over, but can't. Manu has heart though, always will try to win a game and go down trying. He just can't like he used to.

I haven't been a fan of Pop overpaying Manu in games. We have rarely won in those situations (maybe very early in the season when Manu was well rested and had a very strong start. Even then it was against subpar compe ion.)

POP should really trust Anderson or Simms more. Kawhi 40 mins. It's possible the mins on Kawhi combined with his exertion on defense is leaving him depleted to close out these games. It was similar against Chicago.

Boris and David also struggled defending the Rockets bigs and we must admit Kyle is better defensively than Simmons. He's disruptive in passing lanes, racks up deflections, blocks shots, gets steals, not foul prone, better contesting shots and going around or under screens. Simmons is much better on pressuring the ball, but does a poor job on maneuvering screens and doesn't have the tools to alter shots or passing lanes like Anderson, due to Anderson's quick hands and his length.

[unforeseen]

OP is a got.

[BD24]

OP is a got.

I second that motion.