Game Thread: Spurs vs Warriors -- Sun. (4/10) - 6:00PM CST (2:00AM Riga Time)

[sasaint]

Who do you think is the difference maker?

There is not a single "difference maker" on our roster. First, LMA and Kawhi BOTH have to show up. (I am pretty concerned about GS getting into Kawhi's head.) Then we have to have two out of Danny, Patty and Manu shoot reliably from three. We can't match them 3 for 3, but we can't let them double our makes. We have to get better spacing. And we absolutely cannot commit live-ball turnovers. As a team we have to maintain for an entire series the kind of pace that we had tonight, BUT we still have to move bodies and the ball better. Pacing was good tonight, but too many isos. Frankly, we are too timid all around against the Dubs, but especially on the isos. That will not cut it. We have to exploit advantages when we have them, which means we have to play and execute a lot smarter. We MUST force Curry to work more on the defensive end.

On defense we have been reasonably effective in the two games here. We will not get by on a steady diet of switches. We just need to show 'em multiple looks and PLAY Curry MORE PHYSICALLY!

[skulls138]

Concerned with GS getting in Kawhis head? Not me, at all.

[SAGirl]

There is not a single "difference maker" on our roster. First, LMA and Kawhi BOTH have to show up. (I am pretty concerned about GS getting into Kawhi's head.) Then we have to have two out of Danny, Patty and Manu shoot reliably from three. We can't match them 3 for 3, but we can't let them double our makes. We have to get better spacing. And we absolutely cannot commit live-ball turnovers. As a team we have to maintain for an entire series the kind of pace that we had tonight, BUT we still have to move bodies and the ball better. Pacing was good tonight, but too many isos. Frankly, we are too timid all around against the Dubs, but especially on the isos. That will not cut it. We have to exploit advantages when we have them, which means we have to play and execute a lot smarter. We MUST force Curry to work more on the defensive end.

On defense we have been reasonably effective in the two games here. We will not get by on a steady diet of switches. We just need to show 'em multiple looks and PLAY Curry MORE PHYSICALLY!

The concern is really our backcourt. We will need adjustments or trades in the off season.

[sasaint]

The concern is really our backcourt. We will need adjustments or trades in the off season.

You switched gears on me. We were talking about a potential WCF series against the Dubs.

As for next season, I don't have any idea how PATFO will respond to this season and the roster. With Tony, we are in trouble. He is not a starting-caliber PG anymore, but nobody pays a back-up PG $14MM - except PATFO out of loyalty (and inability to find any takers). Danny is a similar, though less expensive albatross. I love Patty, but he is not the same as pre-shoulder injury Patty; so who knows. Simmons? Has he peaked? Manu is gone, imho. So our backcourt is at best a question mark and at worst a total trasher. With the Spurs' tradition for loyalty and aversion to trades, I really don't know what they will do.

[TampaDude]

The bottom line is: NO DIAW, NO SHOT at beating the Dubs.

Kerr even brought up Diaw's absence in the postgame interview. He knows the Spurs are a much tougher out with Boris in the lineup. The Heat found that out two years ago, much to their dismay.

[SAGirl]

You switched gears on me. We were talking about a potential WCF series against the Dubs.

As for next season, I don't have any idea how PATFO will respond to this season and the roster. With Tony, we are in trouble. He is not a starting-caliber PG anymore, but nobody pays a back-up PG $14MM - except PATFO out of loyalty (and inability to find any takers). Danny is a similar, though less expensive albatross. I love Patty, but he is not the same as pre-shoulder injury Patty; so who knows. Simmons? Has he peaked? Manu is gone, imho. So our backcourt is at best a question mark and at worst a total trasher. With the Spurs' tradition for loyalty and aversion to trades, I really don't know what they will do.

Oh sorry, I have read several threads by different guys and my mind wondered off subject. Of course in the WcF, we have to talk this roster. . I agree with your points we need more production from our 3 pts shooters. There is not much that can be done. Pop getting Kmart in the team is as much as he could do. I could see Kyle benched in the playoffs for that reason alone, but that doesn't solve much of the problem when he's not the one expected to contribute the 3 at a higher %. We just have to hope at least one guy gets hot and for Pop to ride the hot hand. Danny is the worst problem bc he's part of the regular rotation and he's limited offensively , unlike the others who, to a degree, if the 3 is not falling can help the team in other ways, draw a foul, get to the basket, drive and dish, Danny does none of that well and is a threat to TO when he does. The fact he's put in a position to drive so often by the system is a concern and I could see his minutes shortened but it will be a detriment. Kmart will score and at the same time we won't gain an inch if we are behind.

I hope Kawhi will not shoot this abysmally, but we know what happened in the Clippers series when they ganged up on him.

For next season. Who knows? Maybe a trade. If Tony/Danny come up with 6 pts games among them plus the TO they will have to do something. Hopefully they rectify the situation but if they don't, not only we aren't ringing but well need to make a move. Next season could be a kind of rebuild season.

We could fall off a lot with this Tony and Danny and w/o Tim/Manu. If that were to be the case, now in th realm of speculation. I think they will do whatever they can with Biba/Simmons/Anderson/Patty/Bob o. D west might retire ring or no ring. It sounded like he's financially prepared to retire he just dIdn't want to spend the k as t season of his career in a miserable situation basketball wise in a young rebuilding team, which the Spurs are going to be next season w/o the big 2, and with this Danny and Tony moving forward. Maybe midway through next season once Pop has put a system in place for the young players we can ascertain their more realistic value and make a trade. Maybe one of them breaks out and you keep or package with someone for a better player.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Dummy, Kawhi's jumper was off tonight but he was solid in other areas. If the starter could have hit a couple of OPEN shots, this could easily have been a W. The most important takeaway is that the Spurs CAN control the pace when LMA is rolling & he went up against their FULL frontline. Diaw could be a dependable 3rd scoring option since Porker can't get to the rim against the Worriers & provide dribble penetration.

D-West seems playable when the pace was SLOW & Kyle/K-Mart didn't look like a fish out of water for the 2nd match-up in a row so they should be rotation players against the Worriers.

LMA/Tim
Diaw/West
Kawhi/Kyle
Danny/Manu/K-mart
Porker/Patty

My point was that the Spurs, even in their lone win against GS, have looked timid and confused. Danny Green and Mills have been mostly garbage all season, Parker has only a few truly good games notched on his belt this year, and the rest of the bench has been hit or miss. Against the Warriors there has been almost no ball movement. Even if the Spurs had made a few more of the jumpers they normally make, and they won, I'd still pick GSW in six games MAX.

[Kawhitstorm]

My point was that the Spurs, even in their lone win against GS, have looked timid and confused. Danny Green and Mills have been mostly garbage all season, Parker has only a few truly good games notched on his belt this year, and the rest of the bench has been hit or miss. Against the Warriors there has been almost no ball movement. Even if the Spurs had made a few more of the jumpers they normally make, and they won, I'd still pick GSW in six games MAX.

There is no ball movement b/c Pop is trying to FORCE feed LMA in the paint to control the PACE. He's basically calling 4-down plays every time down the floor, which is what the Grizz did against the Duds in last season's 2nd rd series before Kerr decided to pack the paint & ignore Tony Allen after they went down 2-1.

[kuato]

Spurs needs Facundo Campazzo