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yes, and when we beat the cavs sunday after they were destroyed tonight, you will put them out and us in.
At this point, I would include Lakers, Cavs, Magic, and Celtics. Until the current dive, I would have put the Spurs in there, too.
yes, and when we beat the cavs sunday after they were destroyed tonight, you will put them out and us in.
so cavs lose to wizzards and then get whipped by magic
and are starting to look like tired players
cavs are not elite
Hill would last 10 minutes... besides of James being unequivocally bigger, stronger and more athletic he gets every whistle under the sun, especially when pitched against a rookie who still hasn't earned the refs' respect.
Bowen is the right answer here to attempt to slow Lebron a bit. However, I bet Finley and/or Udoka are going to take turns at him and he will drop 50+ on us.
Prove me wrong Pop!
I think it's funny how noone has mentioned how literally every team's gameplan since the week of Duncan restage after his tendenosis diagnosis has been to attack him relentlessly. Every team's coach has been telling their slashers to attack Duncan without fear--and I think they've been having pretty damn good success.
Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
They lost a b2b on the road, so what? You say some stupid things, but that's about the dumbest. They've lost one game at home, and they lead the league at 61-15, but they are not elite. GTFOH.
And yeah, I like Hill a lot, but LBJ would SLAUGHTER him. He has 7 inches and 100lbs on the rook. We don't have anyone who can slow down LBJ, unless Pop is holding SuperBowen back in a CIA move for the playoffs (which I very much doubt).
I love the big guy, but lately on defense Duncan is like Rasho out there. Only difference is Rasho would hold his arms straight up like a re while getting scored on, while Duncan holds his arms at a 25 degree angle.
Duncan's defense has been solid lately..I didn't watch this game, but if he had a bad defensive game, it would be his first one in a little while IMO..
the last game vs. OKC, he blocked a few shots, altered many, and made Jeff Green miss 2 dunks..
I haven't seen it..
other teams strategy has been to attack us ALL year..even when Duncan was healthy..it's because they realize Duncan is the only big near the basket, and that our perimeter D is weak with Parker/Mason/Finley..they'll either get beat and put Timmy in a bad position, or Timmy will go alter/block the shot, leaving Bonner as the only other guy around the basket for the put-back..
this game wouldn't be a concern though..Duncan has trouble guarding guys like Murphy, even when healthy..he had the same troubles with Bargnani earlier..jump shooting bigs give him trouble, because Duncan is obviously a C playing PF..he's never been an elite man defender..he's known for being the anchor in the paint..he isn't mobile enough to guard 3-point shooting mobile bigs, even when healthy..
Shhh. Please don't bring this up.
We're all terrified about Timmy. We're clinging to semi-rational hopes that he can turn it on in the playoffs. We know what the end of his dominance means for our team and we'd rather not think about it.
People are giving up to early on this season and on the team in general. The last couple of games have not been encouraging but they have been through rough patches before. This late in the season is obviously not the time to be struggling but I don't think its unfathomable that we manage to right the ship in these last eight games. I'm not quite sold on the Spurs are beat scenario yet. If Tim Duncan can fight through that Tendonosis like a number of injuries he's had in the past and if Tony Parker plays some incredible basketball we can still make some noise (meaning WCF at the least and a shiny new ring at the best). Ultimately, i'll reserve my judgement till the post season has come and gone.
With all that said, even a depressing first round exit to a mediocre team such as the Jazz or the Blazers wouldn't mean the end for the Spurs. They have a lot of great players still, some young ones who will only get better, some veterans to stabalize the team and a Superstar. It would simply signify a shift in their style of play. I think Tony Parker can truly be a franchise player for the Spurs if Tim Duncan is finally past his prime. The Spurs will need to adjust their playsyle and the pieces to fit with Parker but I think they could realisticaly build another sucessful team around him and that should be the next course of action if the worst has come and the window around Timmy has finally closed.
Yup, he was excellent on D against OKC. I think his quality of play at the moment is highly dependent on the pain in his knees, and today they were hurting him (thus the lazy D in the 4th).
However, I'd say he IS an elite man-on-man defender as long as his man doesn't stray more than 15ft from the basket. He has trouble when he has to go out to 3pt land, as you said.
Pop keeps on toying with the rotation... today he played Hill and Bowen, and sat Udoka.
Manu played more, and I noticed that he cut a bit on Finley and Mason minutes.
I haven't looked at the stat sheet, but it felt we were hitting our treys today. If that's the case, this game was too close for comfort. Tony had a great game, pretty much as usual when he finds a lane to the basket with no shot blockers in sight.
All in all, I'll take the win because we needed it, and coupled with the games dropped by Dallas, Utah, New Orleans and Houston it gives a little extra margin for error.
But I wish Pop would just settle down on a rotation...
Tim's defense right now is the worst of his career. The last few years he's still been solid and has been able to cover for the gross deficiencies of players like Barry, Finley, Elson and others. I thought his quickness and mobility were poor tonight. Obviously, he's doing everything he can but his knees are giving him problems. It's not surprising that as Tim's defense suffers our team defense suffers.
It would help if Bowen was out there to lend a hand... otherwise, every perimeter guy ends up coming at full speed at Timmy, and there's only so much you can do at that point... But if we keep putting Finley on Durant, Granger, etc we're just gonna see more of that...
Tim looked fine on defense, the announcers commented on the subbing by saying Pop was taking away the three ball. Playing 5 smalls allowed us to switch every pick and chase guys off the line. With a 5 point lead and less then a minute to play they were willing to give up the layup.Taking him out to save wear and tear is fine. It's beginning to look like more than that.
I went from concerned about Duncan's left knee to worried when he was diagnosed with the tendonosis in his right. I'm moving to the next level. If he can't defend...
I wouldn't worry.
Tim's defense is OBVIOUSLY the worst of his career, regardless of his knees..every year Duncan is going to get older, and his D is going to get worse..it's natural decline with age, there's nothing you can do..
we're the 5th ranked D in the NBA, and we jumped about 8 spots in the rankings of FG% allowed in the past month and half to 2 months..this is with starting an average defender in Parker, along with below average defenders in Mason, Finley, and Bonner..you guys don't think Tim has anything to do with that?..
Proof that he doesn't have a CLUE about what he's doing. How nobody in that entire organization can see what's going on is just baffling.
I watched the game.
My impressions.
1) Duncan. Physically better than 2 weeks ago, but just anybody could score OVER him. He still got the winning basket. There were stretches without Duncan in which the Spurs played some good basketball.
2) Parker. The guy is just unstoppable. he's evolved in an MVP candidate. Spurs are tuning into Parker's team. That will probably require some philosophical adjustments.
3) Manu. Terrible on defense, slow/non existent lateral movements, burnt in a backdoor in the first half! When did you see that happen? Pretty good on offense, except that he still lacks confidence and speed in penetration. However he is so freaking intelligent and winner that he always contributes.
4) Finley. Let's make things clear: if this veteran has to play more than panick-button or garbage time roles from the bench, the team is doomed. His defense was worst than terrible. Anybody could penetrate. And this is being said on a great offensive night.
5) Bonner. Copy-paste from Finley. having a big who can't rebound, sets soft picks and has a lateral mobility of an obelisk, is like having a shooter that can't score or a PG who can't dribble. I don't care how many points he scores.
6) Gooden. Played a great game, perfect on offense and actually quite decent on defense. This guy is a great acquisition and he is not nearly as dumb as somebody thinks (and wrote here). Playing him 13' is pure nonsense.
7) Mason. He is quickly becoming an irrelevant player. He seems to have a Manu problem. I wonder whether these "rotations" changes have affected his confidence.
8) Thomas. A big that rebounds, intimidates, sets picks that are rock solid, hits his jumpers and sink his FTs.
9) Vaughn. He is inexplicably the back-up PG. Does nothing but passing the ball. The defender helps out in the paint 3 meters from him, as he has no offensive game whatsoever.
10) Hill. Drafted as back-up PG. Started as such many games (mostly won). He is obviously a gem. He now plays 2 and only in clutch times. Good effort on offense and defense. Bad mistake on that last foul on the +1. I just dont' get what his role is supposed to be.
11) Bowen. Hard to judge, but he made Granger work for his points.
Popovich. The notion of "rotation" -whatever that means- is getting everybody sick. He needs to play the BEST players in the CORRECT positions. He needs to KEEP the hot players in. Benchin Gooden -as for original gameplan- no matter how ridiculously unstoppable he is, makes no sense. He needs to bench those that play no defense.
Start Mason.
Start Thomas.
Start Bowen.
Manu 6th man.
Duncan and Gooden compete for minutes.
Hill back-up PG.
Go back to basics.
compete for minutes?..
We desperately needed this win and got it, so this a plus. Timmy and Manu looked pretty decent for most of the night. But it was devastating to watch Finley getting abused by Granger (or any other decent perimeter player in countless other games this season). Well, at least Bowen and Hill got some minutes - hopefully, this is a good sign.
Duncan is 33, slower and appears to have chronic health issues.
Even if he's still a great player, and will be for a few years ahead,
there is compe ion, expecially because Gooden looks like a legitimate back-up.
Moreover, this is clearly Parker's team.
I know Spurs' fans don't want to read this, but this is road ahead.
So you're saying that Duncan is comepting for back-up minutes? You can't be serious.
Meaningless win --and barely one--because Pacers are nothing these days.
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