Reply With Quote
it was a good tough loss that will wake us up and motivate us when we face them in the playoffs
timvp,
Michael Finley
27 minutes, five points, two steals
2-for-9 from the field, 1-for-5 on three-pointers
Michael Finley did a whole lot of nothing – yet he still got 27 minutes. He had three wide open jumpers in the fourth quarter and missed all three. Earlier in the game, he forced a few ugly misses. On defense, he was decent but offered no help on the boards. Over the last five games, Finley is averaging more than 31 minutes per game – the most of anyone outside of the Big Three.
-------------------------------
Gregg Popovich
Pop didn’t coach a bad game but I question whether he could have pushed better buttons. First of all, more of Bowen made a lot of sense. Bowen was making it difficult for the Hornets to get easy possessions offensively and on the other end of the court, he has a history of being able to knock down open shots – which the Spurs were getting in abundance. I don’t think it was a coincidence that the Hornets’ 15-0 run took place shortly after Bowen left the quarter in the fourth. I also would have liked to have seen a few minutes of Hill next to Parker. The Spurs needed to attack the basket more and that guard duo could have done just that. Bonner didn’t shoot well but I can’t blame Pop for playing him 34 minutes. Having the league’s top three-point shooter percentage-wise getting open look after open look isn’t poor coaching.
-------------------------------
Offense
In the first 11 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Spurs were 2-for-18 from the court – including 0-for-8 on three-pointers. That putrid shooting doomed the Spurs on the night and made their final shooting number look much worse than they were during the meat of the game. The Spurs ended up shooting 38.8% from the floor and 9-of-26 three-pointers. Outside of that stretch of play, the Spurs were 46.8% from the floor and hit half of their 18 three-point attempts. The 17 assists as a team were a little bit low, while the 15 free throw attempts were much too low.
Believe.
I disagree and you seem to be contradicting yourself on several key points.
Popped didn't coach a bad game? No all he did was go with the wussified 3 pointer barrage with 9 pt lead, many of those coming very early in the shot clock. From mainly an obviously off Bonner and his beloved Findawg*. Where the is an ad-just-ment?
As you stated, Hill could and would have drove it to the rack and for that matter Bowen (whom you wanted to stay in and i agree) takes it to the rack more then Finley has in his lifetime. With a 9 point lead and only 8 minutes to go, is this not basketball 101 strategy?
Were it just a few 3 pt misses, i would say "whatever" esp with Bons leading the league in percentage. Instead int the 15-0 meltdown it was like 8 of 12 attempts were 3 bricks. Bonner was obviously off, this well known by the time the 4th rolled around. The 4th qtr play selection and personell was a joke, and all this coming after a 9 point lead. How is this anything but a suckily coached game? What the is the Spurs offensive/personell strategy in 4th qtr leads? Oppenents have long known this and so do not get disheartened over huge deficits to the Spurs. Its like they can say in their huddle, "hey its Popped and Finley and their usual No Plan vegged out offense in the mid 4th, hang in there guys". The Spurs players look pensive, tenative and clueless -this being with a freaking lead in the 4th!!
* without stirring the pot too much, can you or Kori find out for real what in the is up with the Popped-Finley "playing time no matter what" affair? No way shape or form you can tell me other players do not notice this and are not affected -negatively- esp the ones fighting for minutes/new ones. Irregarless of what they say publicly in p.c. mode.
it was a good tough loss that will wake us up and motivate us when we face them in the playoffs
My game thought: More Bowen please.
I'm still pissed about the game. I'm pissed that we had every open shot imaginable and got everything we wanted and played really good defense most of the game until the 4th and we lost. It's frustrating. We have all these good shooters and yet they missed wide open shot after wide open shot. I could understand if they went in spurts but they were consistently off tonight and had every look imaginable.
Oh, and the fact that West hit 2 three pointers. Give me a break...I knew after those went down we weren't going to win.
i think the best way to get mason involved is to move finley to the bench and let mason be the third option on the starting lineup. switching bowen with finley will give mason more looks since popovich likes to make plays for finley more for some reason.Roger Mason, Jr.
25 minutes, five points, three turnovers
2-for-7 from the field, 1-for-4 on three-pointers
Roger Mason, Jr. didn’t give Pop much reason to play him. He shot the ball poorly, he turned the ball over and his defense wasn’t anything to write home about. Mason continues to struggle to find his niche now that all the pieces are back in the puzzle. It might help if the Spurs run a few plays early to get him going. Giving him a few minutes at point guard while moving Parker or Hill to shooting guard could help Mason get more involved. Right now, the Mason of earlier in the season is missing in action.
-------------------------------
bonner in moderation, parker definitely should've had more shots, he was looking mighty fine. also that layup by bowen was pretty sweet
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
