Takeaways From Tonight's Game

[ceperez]

He mentioned this himself in that article, how they were fortunate Calderon missed that 3. It was a good shot and had it gone in, different would be the story about that gamble. But that is irrelevant. Ultimately the minutes before were more enlightening, like that failure by Kawhi and LMA to communicate and switch, ending up in a Porzingod wide open dunk. Reminded me of Lamarcus and Kawhi lack of communication on that Wiz Beal 3 that did cost us a game. Nobody is talking about that bc Kawhi... but the game would have been lost in the few preceding minutes (and the Tony contested long 2!).

The Spurs season will ultimately fall on whether LMA can elevate his game or not. So far he has not and it is near the mid point of the season.

Folks who aren't seeing this problem are falling too much in complacency over a record that is due to an overly weak schedule.

Just compare LMA with Draymond Green. Green has been putting up some ridiculous numbers while LMA has shown numbers that look very ordinary. Green is ranked #1 in Power Forwards while LMA is ranked a disappointing #28. David West is doing well at #14 but shouldn't LMA at least be better than Channing Frye???

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rp...RPM/position/6

[SAGirl]

The Spurs season will ultimately fall on whether LMA can elevate his game or not. So far he has not and it is near the mid point of the season.

Folks who aren't seeing this problem are falling too much in complacency over a record that is due to an overly weak schedule.

Just compare LMA with Draymond Green. Green has been putting up some ridiculous numbers while LMA has shown numbers that look very ordinary. Green is ranked #1 in Power Forwards while LMA is ranked a disappointing #28. David West is doing well at #14 but shouldn't LMA at least be better than Channing Frye???

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rp...RPM/position/6

He's not a passer or ball handler of the caliber of Griffin or Draymond who are very dynamic players. Diaw is another very dynamic PF and West. Lamarcus is average passing, but I think his particular rates were affected specially early by the horrendous start to the season Danny had, bricking open looks and involved in some hideous two man game with Lamarcus. No assists for LMA and no shots made by Green.

We have to appreciate the things he does well while recognizing he got off to a bad start for the season, same as Danny. I wished he was more determined in the post. He's strong and big enough to bully guys, he's just not as skilled or crafty doing so. A lot of post up success involves being crafty and skilled and he's not very much, the closer you get him to the basket. He doesn't pivot with agility looking for angles like Diaw does, and his ballhandling is not good enough to go around guys a little bit.

I hope he continues to get better. I think in terms of his game he's gone through a lot of big changes bc in Portland they played to his strengths, here he's had to get out of his comfort zone.

[ceperez]

He's not a passer or ball handler of the caliber of Griffin or Draymond who are very dynamic players. Diaw is another very dynamic PF and West. Lamarcus is average passing, but I think his particular rates were affected specially early by the horrendous start to the season Danny had, bricking open looks and involved in some hideous two man game with Lamarcus. No assists for LMA and no shots made by Green.

We have to appreciate the things he does well while recognizing he got off to a bad start for the season, same as Danny. I wished he was more determined in the post. He's strong and big enough to bully guys, he's just not as skilled or crafty doing so. A lot of post up success involves being crafty and skilled and he's not very much, the closer you get him to the basket. He doesn't pivot with agility looking for angles like Diaw does, and his ballhandling is not good enough to go around guys a little bit.

I hope he continues to get better. I think in terms of his game he's gone through a lot of big changes bc in Portland they played to his strengths, here he's had to get out of his comfort zone.

Well it is very distressing how unskilled LMA looks. The only saving grace is that he's 6'11" and long, however he can't jump, can't pass, shoots just average from mid range, can't dribble ... unbelievable for a max player. I really cannot believe that he's this bad!

[ElNono]

He mentioned this himself in that article, how they were fortunate Calderon missed that 3. It was a good shot and had it gone in, different would be the story about that gamble. But that is irrelevant. Ultimately the minutes before were more enlightening, like that failure by Kawhi and LMA to communicate and switch, ending up in a Porzingod wide open dunk. Reminded me of Lamarcus and Kawhi lack of communication on that Wiz Beal 3 that did cost us a game. Nobody is talking about that bc Kawhi... but the game would have been lost in the few preceding minutes (and the Tony contested long 2!).

Agreed. If that shot goes in I'm sure some people would be crying about that double instead of looking back at how we lost that lead in the previous 8 mins. But that's pretty common, I suppose, generally speaking people tend to remember the biggest particular shots over a stretch of play.

[spurs10]

Not true. Forced Melo to get rid of the ball as soon as he saw the help coming, and he recovered and contested Calderon's shot properly. Melo just hit a turnaround jumper from that same spot over Kawhi a few possessions earlier.

I watched that play over many times and feel the same way. Manu doesn't come with the help Melo doesn't get rid of it. Manu got a hand up and forced Calderon to let it go quick.

[ElNono]

I watched that play over many times and feel the same way. Manu doesn't come with the help Melo doesn't get rid of it. Manu got a hand up and forced Calderon to let it go quick.

Yep, the rear camera (from the Knicks hoop), shows a solid contest. I mean, Calderon could've made the shot anyways, but I felt he had to hurry it or Manu would've gotten in.

[spurs10]

He's not a passer or ball handler of the caliber of Griffin or Draymond who are very dynamic players. Diaw is another very dynamic PF and West. Lamarcus is average passing, but I think his particular rates were affected specially early by the horrendous start to the season Danny had, bricking open looks and involved in some hideous two man game with Lamarcus. No assists for LMA and no shots made by Green.

We have to appreciate the things he does well while recognizing he got off to a bad start for the season, same as Danny. I wished he was more determined in the post. He's strong and big enough to bully guys, he's just not as skilled or crafty doing so. A lot of post up success involves being crafty and skilled and he's not very much, the closer you get him to the basket. He doesn't pivot with agility looking for angles like Diaw does, and his ballhandling is not good enough to go around guys a little bit.

I hope he continues to get better. I think in terms of his game he's gone through a lot of big changes bc in Portland they played to his strengths, here he's had to get out of his comfort zone.

I don't think people were expecting LMA to be so strong defensively. He is a big part of us having the #1 defense in the league. We hear it over and over from the players who hear it over and over from Pop I'm sure ' if you have great defense the offense will eventually come...'

[TheDoctor]

Untucked jersey Kawhi is the most dangerous Kawhi in the wild tbh.

[TheDoctor]

Yep, the rear camera (from the Knicks hoop), shows a solid contest. I mean, Calderon could've made the shot anyways, but I felt he had to hurry it or Manu would've gotten in.

Calderon is shooting 89% from 3pt corners this year. With Manu's history (getting burned when contesting buzzer beaters clutch shots), I would say it was luck more than anything IMO

[ElNono]

Calderon is shooting 89% from 3pt corners this year. With Manu's history (getting burned when contesting buzzer beaters clutch shots), I would say it was luck more than anything IMO

I was looking at his stats, and one things that stands out is that he's taking a lot less 3s since he's been in NY... his percentage has also dipped. Which is also a reflection of Carlisle system vs whatever Fish is running in NY.

[UZER]

For me, it's not necessarily about this game. It's that Manu would've left Curry in the corner in the same situation. It's a realistic situation that will probably present itself in the playoffs. He gets so caught up in the moment that he has major brain lapses trying to make a play. It's manus blessing and curse.

[Robz4000]

For me, it's not necessarily about this game. It's that Manu would've left Curry in the corner in the same situation. It's a realistic situation that will probably present itself in the playoffs. He gets so caught up in the moment that he has major brain lapses trying to make a play. It's manus blessing and curse.

Difference is Golden State doesn't have a Fatmelo to draw attention away from Curry. , it'll be Kawhi on Curry most likely in this same situation comes up.

[UZER]

Difference is Golden State doesn't have a Fatmelo to draw attention away from Curry. , it'll be Kawhi on Curry most likely in this same situation comes up.

And Manu would leave Thompson open to help Kawhi on curry. Point is, don't help off a 3 pt shooter when the guy is taking a tough shot over Kawhi. Only help in that situation if there is no time on the clock for a pass out. You're bailing the guy out by letting him pass to a guy that'll get a cleaner look.

[Robz4000]

And Manu would leave Thompson open to help Kawhi on curry. Point is, don't help off a 3 pt shooter when the guy is taking a tough shot over Kawhi. Only help in that situation if there is no time on the clock for a pass out. You're bailing the guy out by letting him pass to a guy that'll get a cleaner look.

If Manu moves to help Kawhi when he's got a smaller player like Curry bottled up, they deserve to lose. The worst thing you can do against the Dubs is double off one of their shooters. Hopefully (and most likely) Manu won't do that.

[ElNono]

There's no Carmelo "bottled up" in that possession, Kawhi is in front of him, and that's about it. Look at TP early in the possession faking he's going to double and backing up, and Melo doesn't even flinch. Curry is a different story, Kawhi at least has a height/length advantage on him. Yet, I would feel much more comfortable if it's Barbosa/Iguodala taking the game winning shot instead of Curry.

It's all 20/20 analysis though, if Melo doesn't pass and hits the tough shot, we'll be talking why we didn't get the ball out of his hands...