McDonald: What's Wrong With The Spurs?

[rascal]

You know the old saying, live by the 3-ball, die by the 3-ball. It especially hurts when the team has become so dependent on that shot as its primary offensive weapon. The absence of rim-attackers is obvious here.


Probably the biggest reason for the Spurs overall decline this year. It's shouldn't come as a surprise either. Especially when considering how Pop has attempted to integrate more offense into the rotation, by way of players who are very poor defenders. With Bowen and Hill on the bench, an unhealthy Duncan and relying on poor defenders like Finley, Bonner and Mason to play heavy minutes, it's no wonder the defense is in state that it's in. It didn't have to happen this way. However, when the coach stubbornly refuses to infuse the roster with some players, who have at least even some semblance of quickness and athleticism, this is what you get.

Good post. The defense has taken a step back and the offense is too reliant on perimeter shots to fall. The roster is full of players who cannot attack the rim for easy points.

[rascal]

Early in the season the Spurs were winning all the close games, sometimes in dramatic fashion. Maybe that was as much good luck as it was clutch play, and now the law of averages is evening things out.

The last time the Spurs were this banged up late in the year was 2005. They won the championship that year. On the other hand, during the part of the season when they were healthy in 2004-05, their point differential was around +11, which would have made them a historically elite team. This year, their point differential never got much higher than +4. For them to go 37-12 over a long stretch with that meager a point differential indicates a whole lot of good luck, luck that has now faded.

They are what they are, and what they are is not championship material.

Great post.

All season the low point differential pointed to a team that was not really as good as their record and now those close wins are stating to turn into close losses and the spurs record is falling to the team they really are.

[MoSpur]

In all seriousness, I think the injuries early on have somewhat come back to bite the Spurs in the rear. I honestly don't think Tony's injury hurt the Spurs. I thought his injury kind of helped the Spurs as far as George Hill goes, but we've all seen what Pop has done to that.

Tim's recent quad injury has somewhat messed up things. Not too bad though. I think Manu's injury is the one that has hurt the Spurs recently. Him not playing in the begining helped Roger Mason Jr in a big way, but his injury after the All Star break ha caused Pop to mess with the lineup/rotation a little too much.

[Brazil]

We cannot just simply feed Tim anymore like in the past. He is not as good, and He is throwing up weak side shots that are getting blocked by the worst of defenders. He doesnt go up strong anymore. Age is showing in Timmy. Not really much we can do about it.

But for me there is no other choice, this is our best card to win, we are going nowhere otherwise. If it's the season to die, so let's die with class playing spurs BB and not shooting 35 3s even when the team is cold, playing 39 min of Finley, letting Bowen on the bench look at the stars and transforming Tim on a jump shooter far away form the rim.

[Yogurt210]

In all seriousness, I think the injuries early on have somewhat come back to bite the Spurs in the rear. I honestly don't think Tony's injury hurt the Spurs. I thought his injury kind of helped the Spurs as far as George Hill goes, but we've all seen what Pop has done to that.

Tim's recent quad injury has somewhat messed up things. Not too bad though. I think Manu's injury is the one that has hurt the Spurs recently. Him not playing in the begining helped Roger Mason Jr in a big way, but his injury after the All Star break ha caused Pop to mess with the lineup/rotation a little too much.

I think pop has a rotation fetish now.
Late at night he masturbates, while thinking of the next stupid rotation/line-up.

JV - is is super wise and smart
Duncan - he can jumpshoot and shoot threes
Oberto - will stop any offense
Bonner - more 3's!
Udoka - yumm...big lips, big muscles. no talent.

oh yes...I see it now.
Next line up for the cavs game. haha

[SpursWench21]

in all seriousness, i think the injuries early on have somewhat come back to bite the spurs in the rear. I honestly don't think tony's injury hurt the spurs. I thought his injury kind of helped the spurs as far as george hill goes, but we've all seen what pop has done to that.

Tim's recent quad injury has somewhat messed up things. Not too bad though. I think manu's injury is the one that has hurt the spurs recently. Him not playing in the begining helped roger mason jr in a big way, but his injury after the all star break ha caused pop to mess with the lineup/rotation a little too much.

+1

[SpursWench21]

I think pop has a rotation fetish now.
Late at night he masturbates, while thinking of the next stupid rotation/line-up.

JV - is is super wise and smart
Duncan - he can jumpshoot and shoot threes
Oberto - will stop any offense
Bonner - more 3's!
Udoka - yumm...big lips, big muscles. no talent.

oh yes...I see it now.
Next line up for the cavs game. haha

hahahaha.. seriously cracked me up with this. Gosh I hope we get our together soon. SA is becoming nervous town since were not used to these problems this late in the season.

[new_N_town]

i live in tampa no way i can go 2 home games, but why dont the fans stomp there feet clap harder scream louder to pump up the team?? lazy fans

[TheDarkSide.]

“We can’t panic,” Parker said. “We’re still OK. But we have to realize it’s not normal to lose these games. We have to play better.”

[dbreiden83080]

The D just isn't there like the le days. It sucks because the way the west is this year, if this was the Spurs of 2 years ago, finals here we come, but it's a long shot and then some this year..

[temujin]

Ireland went all the way in the Six Nations, this year.

ANYTHING can happen.

[phxspurfan]

Our problem is we don't have any rhythm.

[EricB]

The D just isn't there like the le days. It sucks because the way the west is this year, if this was the Spurs of 2 years ago, finals here we come, but it's a long shot and then some this year..

2007 proved you don't need to be hardcore shut down.

They have been at 2007 levels at times this year.

If they can get the D back to 2007 levels, they will be fine.

[Josepatches_]

I agree ! no more tim manu tp's team, it's Tim team period. In O priority must be feeding our franchise player in the post, let Tony be a scorer and let Manu doing what he wants.

The captain must show the way and regroup the troops to the winning way spurs BB : defense first. We just need a vocal dominant Tim Duncan, the rest will follow.

+1


TD is hurt = This team sucks.The worst March in 10 years.

This is TD's team and as soon as our franchise player begin to feel better the team could be better.The big problem is that we are in April.

The only wrong with the Spurs last month was the health of TD.Of course We can play better.Of course Pop is not coaching very well.But all these things could be irrelevant if TD had been at 100%.

Pop isn't a bad coach but he was very lucky to have TD in his team all these years.Now with TD's problems we could see how good is he.

[silverblackfan]

Just settle on a rotation and stick to it. I like Manu with the second group and Mason only a sg with the first. My rotation

Parker
Mason
Bowen
TD
KT

Second Unit

Hill or JV
Manu
Fin
Gooden
Bonner

Man, I like this line up. I think that is one tough game for any opponent.

[Thomas82]

Just settle on a rotation and stick to it. I like Manu with the second group and Mason only a sg with the first. My rotation

Parker
Mason
Bowen
TD
KT

Second Unit

Hill or JV
Manu
Fin
Gooden
Bonner

I think that's the key to fixing the chemistry problem, and if we can do that and get out of our shooting slump, I think everything else will fall in place.

[Spursfan092120]

It's probably the haterade.

I remember that ...I just about lost it when I saw it...

[TampaDude]

THIS Spurs team (the way they're playing right now) won't make it past the first round.