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Too nice with Pau
A special game, played right across Robdiaz home, allowed us to take a closer look at the Spurs again, playing against the Suns, a fairly irregular team. Microwave Mills and rook Murray couldn't play due to injury.
This was a pretty close game throughout, with the Spurs playing better in the 1st half, and the Suns taking over the 2nd half. It's worthwhile asking if Pop took the team to a Mayan history class before the game, because at times Pop and the team seemed to be thinking about something else. At the end of the game, the Spurs had every chance to win it, but between missed freebies, turnovers and missed 3 pointers, they rescued defeat from the jaws of victory. Embarrassing, tbh.
Individually, this happened:
LaSharkus Aldrige: B
He played a good game overall, considering a physical Chandler was defending him at times. When the Suns tried to cover him with somebody smaller, he made them pay. He was weak rebounding though, and he looked tired at certain times, makes you wonder if he's been lurking on the Red (or Pink) Zone of Mexico city.
The Klaw Leonard: A-
Simply exceptional. He couldn't be guarded at times. Plus, when his shot is going, the Spurs are near unbeatable. The bad spot today was that sometimes he pushed too hard to draw the easy foul and get to the line, which wasn't always effective. The freebie he missed at the end was costly, but he was phenomenal.
Danny Green: D
He just had a lackluster game. In this particular game, he tried to penetrate and finish at the rim early, and he did that well. His 3 point shooting though was horrible, including an airbal 3 in the 3rd quarter, very uncharacteristic. His defense was surprisingly lackluster too.
MVPau: C
The rebounds LMA didn't grab, Pau got them. That was mostly his contribution to this game. The team really didn't need more from him on. Defensively, he was weak, something that's par for the course at this point, tbh
Tony Parker: C
He didn't distribute much in this game, like he's been doing lately, and he looked for his number more. Generally, he was effective in that role. He had some trouble guarding a great player like Ulis here or there, but in general he did well.
Fathead Anderson: B-
He didn't play much, nor shot the ball much. During the first half, his only shot was a 3 pointer that he took and made without hesitation. Not bad. He can burn minutes for the Spurs when he's not hurting the team.
Manu Ginobili: C
He started like a truck through a French street, rolling over any Suns player on the way. His defense was also a plus during that time. As usual, some passes evened out his production. Nevertheless, playing at home, he showed some improvement compared to his last few games. Towards the end, some of his plays were determinant to keep the Spurs in the game, but a foul that wasn't called and ended up in a fastbreak dunk for the Suns will likely cast a shadow over what was otherwise a good game from him.
Juice Simmons: C-
He dropped down a gear compared to his last few games, and the sloppiness with the ball, something that he seemed to be over, reared it's ugly head again. His defense wasn't terrible, with 3 steals and all.
Dedmon: B+
Exceptional defense. A guy that plays hard every possession despite his obvious limitations. He should've played more, IMO
David Lee: C-
You could call him Casper the ghost too in this game. He was transparent, didn't do anything in 10 mins.
Forbes: D
It's not really fair, he hasn't played all year, it's not his fault. He's just not at this level yet.
Bertrans: INC
Just didn't play much.
Dictator Pop: D
Basically, the little he did was the usual of calling a timeout or replacing a guy when we're hot and on a run. Other than that, he was probably checking out a tequila catalog throughout the game.
Too nice with Pau
Graded on expectation, tbh... I don't expect much from him anymore. He did grab boards. The fact that Dedmon should've played more is on Pop, not Pau, IMO.
Pop subs late in the third caused the spurs the game.
I don't think he actually believe in "hot hands" It's more a matter of fatigue for him.
He wanted to take Leonard out so he can start him earlier in the fourth. really no problem with that.
It's those silly subs mid 4th where the suns took an 8 point lead with Leonard glued to the bench.
thanks for the shout out
If that's the case, why does Pop get a D? At this point, are you still expecting big things from him.
Because it was a compe ive game all the way to the end. I mean, he can certainly do worse.
Too nice with Aldridge and Simmons as well. It's probably the worst game I've seen from Simmons in a Spurs jersey and Aldridge had 13 points on 14 shots and only 4 rebounds. Couldn't even post up the Suns dipper boys. I'd give Simmons a D-, Aldridge a C- and Popovich a F.
Duncan's product really gave away this game in the 4Q
Parker and Manu played better games than LMA, and Poop deserves an F
Thanks for the grades though, fam
I was writing this while we were still up, tbh... maybe that's why the grades look a bit higher than usual.... then again, they actually reflect the Spurs played generally well for a long stretch then proceeded to stunk it up.
Sometimes the final buzzer overshadows everything else, but it shouldn't be like that.
Thanks for the grades Nono.
I thought Spurs needed more from Lamarcus and Pau and I thought Simmons fouls (5) were problematic and caused Devin Booker to continue to get hot and his own (Simmons) minutes to be cut. In a game Spurs were short staffed in guards I think they needed good JSimms to show up...
i can't blame Manu much.. he played 25 minutes due to JSimms own poor play and foul trouble...
"He started like a truck through a French street"
Yikes -- maybe too soon, dude.
I would be inclined to agree...
Agree. Just came out naturally, but it's kinda gross in retrospect.
No problema, hombre.
Yeah I legit gasped when I read that, tbh.
Gracias for the grades, Nono.
Never too soon to rip on the french. TBH
LMA probably still recovering from stomach flu. It took Kawhi a game before he was back to himself.
Thanks for the grades
I remember a particular timeout in the second half.
Spurs scored a few points, Kawhi was doing great, he had the ball with Booker defending him in the post...That's likely the best chance on offfense the Spurs can get...But Pop called a timeout.
The possession after the timeout? Spurs missed the ball allowing Suns fastbreak. HORRIBLE Pop decision.
Also, Booker played 37 minutes. Kawhi? 32. Good job Pop!
Yikes that Manu reference may be too soon. I guess this is Spurstalk.
Omg nono
Yeah...The SF backup was in foul trouble and the starting SF, who is 25 years old and the best player on the team, played just 32 minutes??
So Kawhi was better than Simms defending Booker in some possesions, or at least gave him a hard time denying the ball, and still played only 32??
The same story against Bucks. Kawhi was the only who could defend Beasly but Pop put Kawhi on him just 3 minutes in the game.
Good grades Nono, that joke though
Omg nono
Good grades Nono, that joke though
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