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Spurs don't give a about defense.
and the 8th worst in the last 34 years..
So far, this team is even managing the terrible feat of sucking more on that end of the floor than in those dark years of 2009-2011..
Yeah, Timmy, even diminished by his knees, was still such monster anchor down low that Gasol can't/won't hold a candle to.But it is time to lay some of the blame on Wing-stop; they have been getting lit up more often by opposing PGs/wings (we're slumping more even after DG return)..
Kawhi can kiss goodbye to his DPOY if he and the team don't pick it up soon..
Last edited by spursistan; 12-04-2016 at 03:44 PM.
Spurs don't give a about defense.
Well losing a top 5 all time talent does weird stuff. as does having 40 yr old guards, but whatever, being average is no sin.
Pop has piled Kawhi's plate too high for him to carry the additional offensive burden AND play defense at a DPOY-level. The optimal Kawhi was the Kawhi of autumn 2015.and the 8th worst in the last 34 years..
So far, this team is even managing the terrible feat of sucking more on that end of the floor than in those dark years of 2009-2011..
Yeah, Timmy, even diminished by his knees, was still such monster anchor down low that Gasol can't/won't hold a candle to.But it is time to lay some of the blame on Wing-stop; they have been getting lit up so often by other opposing PGs/wings (we're slumping more even after DG return)..
Kawhi can kiss goodbye to his DPOY if he and the team don't pick it up soon..
Having Timmy behind Wingstop was a big reason why wingstop is wingstop. Right now theyre lookin like drive-thru.
Kiwi s will still say Kiwi deserved his DPOYs.
Guess Pop and Duncan are kiwi s.
got.
Kawhi does look slightly overburdened. He's not as sharp as he was even last year.
Then again, he's had to pick up the slack for Anderson (to start the season) and the rest of the guards.
Disrespectful fgt
Tim retired because he became a liability
I am less enthused by this season than b4 it started.
I don't want to infect anyone with my pessimism, so I have been relatively quiet compared to my usual level of activity but even for me, a new fan of the last 4 season, I am very nostalgic about Tim and find it hard to enjoy this team at times. I haven't liked the turnstile that is Gasol and the lack of effort from LMA.
If you see me in game threads I am active, I am usually posting a picture of Tim blocking a layup. I miss him. This team is not going far in the playoffs without him.
Tim was just incredible on defense. His timing on blocks and help defense was uncanny. This team doesn't have that unfortunately and it's anyone's guess if Pop will make adjustments to the big rotation or any tweaks. He has to know a 13th rank defense is not going to do much overall and that Manu is not going to be having flashback games in the playoffs to bail out the starters.
At the idiots who thought Gasol could essentially replicate Duncan.
Kawhi could win dpoy every year if he wasn't the #1 scoring option tbh. His defense has definitely taken a hit with his new responsibilities on offense.
If you adjust for the ridiculous league wide 3 point attempt rate this season then the defense is on par w/ the '10-'11 squads which overachieved & won 61 games. As much as that team was dependent on Manu, this team is just as much dependent on Kawhi. The final numbers for the '10-'11 squad actually mirror the number for the current squad through 20 games (ORtg/DRtg/SRS/Pace/PPG & point-differential isn't that far off either):
Record: 61-21, Finished 1st in NBA Southwest DivisionCoach: Gregg Popovich (61-21)PTS/G: 103.7 (6th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 98.0 (14th of 30)SRS: 5.86 (4th of 30) Pace: 92.3 (14th of 30)Off Rtg: 111.8 (2nd of 30) Def Rtg: 105.6 (11th of 30)Expected W-L: 56-26 (6th of 30)
Record: 16-4, 2nd in NBA Western ConferenceLast Game: W 107-105 vs. WASNext Game: Monday, Dec. 5 at MILCoach: Gregg Popovich (16-4)PTS/G: 103.0 (19th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 98.2 (4th of 30)
SRS: 5.33 (4th of 30) Pace: 93.1 (27th of 30)Off Rtg: 110.5 (6th of 30) Def Rtg: 105.4 (13th of 30)Expected W-L: 13-7 (6th of 30)
The '10-'11 squad started 29-6 the current squad is one pace for a 28-7 start. '10-'11 was also the beginning of "super teams":........too many parallels.
Let's just hope Pop doesn't trot out Kawhi for a meaningless season finale.
ter's impact had to do w/ him replacing Bonner/Blair & TOSB McDyess.
If you are Pop and you have Tim Duncan on your team, you can afford to err on the conservative-side. Now we shall see if Timmy's absence has any impact on Pop's typically conservative approach to personnel issues. I believe he will have to adapt his ways in personnel issues and in-game coaching moves. So far, if his in-game coaching is any indication, Pop doesn't seem willing and/or able to make the necessary changes. For instance, he is still the mad scientist despite the fact that the Spurs lack the TD margin of error. Moreover, when Manu was the 2nd/3rd best player on the team, Pop had no problem getting him to go to the 2nd unit - and even embrace the role. How will he handle Pau going forward? Or if an advantageous trade of LMA can be made, would he make it, or would he adhere to the Spurs' loyalty/family mantra?
The defence has been awful without question. The personnel is part of the problem obviously, but there's a lot of things going wrong. They're switching a lot, particularly on the pick and roll, and there is a lot of miscommunication. Kawhi may have regressed slightly due to the offensive load, but he's also having to over help. I noticed quite a few plays where Kawhi is on the weak side with his man camped in the corner and they run a 1-5 pick n' roll on the strong side against Parker and Gasol. As soon as the play runs Kawhi already has one foot in the paint and he can't recover in time for the kick out. I think it's obvious he thinks the rim protection is ass and is trying to cover up for these clowns.
Tim Duncan will be missed.....Even at Tim's age he could still get it done.....
Tim carried a lot of players and coaches, what's new tbh. The last two DPOY and last FMVP trophy were just another byproduct of Tim's play, and now without him to carry the team those same players and coaches are getting exposed...
Ok, well here's the other side:
They're 16-4, with this poor defense. They're also 8th in SOS and 4th in SRS.
So, assuming the defense improves a bit, and they clean up some of the offensive issues, (6th in ORTG already), then I guess that should be encouraging to know there's room to improve.
They won't be what they were the last 20 years. But think about the compe ion this year. There's no one shutting teams down and also amazing offensively.
I know it's lower standards for us because we've been dominant defensively for so long and we're probably spoiled. But we aren't exactly far off from the other top teams, and we've yet to peak . And people can be pessimistic about the team I get it, but honestly I feel pretty optimistic.
They will stick with loyalty... look at Tony and Manu...
What makes me a bit more pessimistic is knowing both Tony and Pau are here for the season after this one too (unless Pop pisses off Pau and that is very unlikely).
This is too old a group to pair with Kiwi. LMA is fool's gold too. I agree with you Kiwi has too much on his plate. Isn't his defense starting to resemble Jimmy Butler's from last season, who declined overall on defense and was a shade of himself playing next to THIS Pau?/smh... Pau led Chicago into the lottery last season! Butler has had a renaissance without Pau.
I cling to the shred of hope that Tony and Manu have MORE THAN A DECADE with the Spurs to contrast with the brief tenure of LMA and Gasol...And to the hope that Pop will see the absolute necessity of doing something pretty radical if the Spurs hope to avoid wasting Kawhi's prime - and also forcing him into a role/usage rate to which I believe he is not best suited - not to mention fooling themselves about this season (and next, assuming I am correct about "paycheck Pau"). My fear is that in a couple of seasons the team's fortunes could fall off a cliff.
But anybody who thinks that Pau will opt out with any realistic hope of getting paid more is clinging to an even flimsier shred of hope than I.
Inb4 someone blames Pau's help defense for the reason why the Spurs are allowing their opponents to shoot 35% (15th in league) from behind the arc compared to just 32.8% (1st in league) last year.
Daaaaaaaayum
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