Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Clippers - Feb. 6

[jason1301]

After losing the last two at home its nice to get a W. We need to beat either the lakers or Denver. That's pretty much it.

I have no problem seeing Mason go, he will play better if he stays with this team but i don't see him being a contributer during the playoffs.

I can't figure what is wrong with RJ. I like the fact that Pop is staying with him. If somehow manages to find a rhythm he makes us contenders. That's a big if, but since we can't trade him at this point, we got to stick with this. Obviously at this moment we are better w/o RJ, but its still February. I think if he can't take his game on the next level, Pop wil bench him by April.

[Obstructed_View]

I know you said they expected him to average 14-16 ppg, but he is average 12 on 45% FG and that is not that far off. Given, the defensive side is no where near what they want.

He's just absolute vomit on defense. It's amazing to me how many times he just stands there and watches guys score without putting his hands up. A lot of time he's watching people score like he's just waiting to bring the ball from out of bounds.

The other problem with him is that he goes off for one game and then is useless for the next three or four, which is artificially keeping his average higher than it is. When you score lots of points in a blowout and then fail to show up for a close game, you don't have much use.

[DPG21920]

He's just absolute vomit on defense. It's amazing to me how many times he just stands there and watches guys score without putting his hands up. A lot of time he's watching people score like he's just waiting to bring the ball from out of bounds.

The other problem with him is that he goes off for one game and then is useless for the next three or four, which is artificially keeping his average higher than it is. When you score lots of points in a blowout and then fail to show up for a close game, you don't have much use.

Well he has had moments where he does show up, like against the Mavs. He had a huge game against them and led them to a win with one of the big 3 out. It is not like he has not shown at least a glimpse. In fact, I said RJ helps us out against the Mavs more than anyone. I know the Lakers are who you have to ultimately worry about, but it does not hurt that he helps in that match up.

[Baseline]

Pop has jerked him around all season and then publicly blaming him for a loss was another blow.

Timvp hit the nail on the head. Pop is a passive aggressive coach. He jerks some players around, and others he doesn't. His doghouse is legendary. He destroys some players' confidence, while playing favorites with others. In other words, they aren't allowed to just play.

Another poster made a great comment about Brent Barry, which I agree with totally. Pop has made a career out of jerking around guys who are shooters/basketball players, but not great athletes. Guys like Beno and Barry. By the time Barry got to the Spurs, he was older, but he was one of the most savvy players in the league.

But Pop jerked him around hideously, and Brent really only had one good year for us - and that was after Pop tried to trade him, so Barry just cut loose and played, not worrying anymore about what Pop said. He just didn't care. To me, that was glaring. Barry had beena Spur for three years, the same player obviously, but only after Barry tuned Pop out did he really start being himself. Barry was a classic case of Pop getting the least out of a player. But do we ever hear anything about that in the media? Of course not, because Pop is a genius.

I think the same thing is happening this year with RJ, and Mason has become Pop's whipping boy. RJ has no idea who he is anymore. No earthly idea. Why does Pop have to call out Mason publicly? Is that the Spurs way now, really?

My question is...why does Pop have to have a whipping boy? Mason won at least four games for us last year with his shooting. This year there's no way he will be able to do that. Shooting is a confidence thing, yet Pop reaches into some players' guts and rips it out of them.

He prefers guys like Bogans, who presumably play good defense, yet can't hit the broad side of the ocean with a jump shot, and shoot without a conscience. Why isn't Pop calling out Bogans for shooting too much? Because he's a "tough, hard-nosed defender." As if Bogans is really stopping anybody these days.

[Pauleta14]

Timvp hit the nail on the head. Pop is a passive aggressive coach. He jerks some players around, and others he doesn't. His doghouse is legendary. He destroys some players' confidence, while playing favorites with others. In other words, they aren't allowed to just play.

Another poster made a great comment about Brent Barry, which I agree with totally. Pop has made a career out of jerking around guys who are shooters/basketball players, but not great athletes. Guys like Beno and Barry. By the time Barry got to the Spurs, he was older, but he was one of the most savvy players in the league.

But Pop jerked him around hideously, and Brent really only had one good year for us - and that was after Pop tried to trade him, so Barry just cut loose and played, not worrying anymore about what Pop said. He just didn't care. To me, that was glaring. Barry had beena Spur for three years, the same player obviously, but only after Barry tuned Pop out did he really start being himself. Barry was a classic case of Pop getting the least out of a player. But do we ever hear anything about that in the media? Of course not, because Pop is a genius.

I think the same thing is happening this year with RJ, and Mason has become Pop's whipping boy. RJ has no idea who he is anymore. No earthly idea. Why does Pop have to call out Mason publicly? Is that the Spurs way now, really?

My question is...why does Pop have to have a whipping boy? Mason won at least four games for us last year with his shooting. This year there's no way he will be able to do that. Shooting is a confidence thing, yet Pop reaches into some players' guts and rips it out of them.

He prefers guys like Bogans, who presumably play good defense, yet can't hit the broad side of the ocean with a jump shot, and shoot without a conscience. Why isn't Pop calling out Bogans for shooting too much? Because he's a "tough, hard-nosed defender." As if Bogans is really stopping anybody these days.

It also depends on how the player respond! It's like a "natural selection"...
He could have completely destroyed TP for example!
There are no other player that had a worst treatment than Tony endured for like 3 years, and look how he responded!!
I agree it's not very "nice" of Pop, an there are other ways to manage people, but after all, it's a business!
The only thong that matters is.... RESULTS!!!

[jjktkk]

Timvp hit the nail on the head. Pop is a passive aggressive coach. He jerks some players around, and others he doesn't. His doghouse is legendary. He destroys some players' confidence, while playing favorites with others. In other words, they aren't allowed to just play.

Another poster made a great comment about Brent Barry, which I agree with totally. Pop has made a career out of jerking around guys who are shooters/basketball players, but not great athletes. Guys like Beno and Barry. By the time Barry got to the Spurs, he was older, but he was one of the most savvy players in the league.

But Pop jerked him around hideously, and Brent really only had one good year for us - and that was after Pop tried to trade him, so Barry just cut loose and played, not worrying anymore about what Pop said. He just didn't care. To me, that was glaring. Barry had beena Spur for three years, the same player obviously, but only after Barry tuned Pop out did he really start being himself. Barry was a classic case of Pop getting the least out of a player. But do we ever hear anything about that in the media? Of course not, because Pop is a genius.

I think the same thing is happening this year with RJ, and Mason has become Pop's whipping boy. RJ has no idea who he is anymore. No earthly idea. Why does Pop have to call out Mason publicly? Is that the Spurs way now, really?

My question is...why does Pop have to have a whipping boy? Mason won at least four games for us last year with his shooting. This year there's no way he will be able to do that. Shooting is a confidence thing, yet Pop reaches into some players' guts and rips it out of them.

He prefers guys like Bogans, who presumably play good defense, yet can't hit the broad side of the ocean with a jump shot, and shoot without a conscience. Why isn't Pop calling out Bogans for shooting too much? Because he's a "tough, hard-nosed defender." As if Bogans is really stopping anybody these days.

Pop is a hard nosed coach. He gets in peoples face. I admire that Pop will get into a stars face like Ginoboli, as well as the end of the bench guy. You cracked me up when you said that once Barry tuned out Pop he started to play like himself. And that Pop got the least out of Barry. Too funny! Yea once Barry left S.A. for Houston, man did Barry start going off or what? Its a wonder that Pop won 4 championships despite being such a "big meany". If whoever is in "Pop's doghouse" can't handle Pop going off on them, then I wouldn't really feel too confident that player can handle the pressure in big games and the playoffs.

[crc21209]

Good to see Dice and especially Hill playing better and better. At the other end RJ is playing worst and worst. It's scary to say this but at this point last year Finley is giving us the same of this year RJ. His D is terrible and he's basically a jump shooter now.

I lost all my hope with RJ. He sucks and if we go anywhere this season we'll need a healthy big 3 and guys like Dice, Blair and Hill stepping up. I have no hope for the soft Jefferson

Of course RJ is basically a jump shooter now, because thats what this system has forced him to be. Notice he takes many 3's from the corner the same way Bruce did..and at times when TP does get the ball to RJ...it is with 1-2 seconds left on the shot clock with no choice but to fire up the shot. RJ just doesnt get enough touches to be able to do something right with the ball. I still wouldnt give up on him seeing as many 1st year guys who have come in (like Finley) have struggled the 1st year only to pick up the system much better the 2nd year..

[siraulo23]

Good to see Dice and especially Hill playing better and better. At the other end RJ is playing worst and worst. It's scary to say this but at this point last year Finley is giving us the same of this year RJ. His D is terrible and he's basically a jump shooter now.

I lost all my hope with RJ. He sucks and if we go anywhere this season we'll need a healthy big 3 and guys like Dice, Blair and Hill stepping up. I have no hope for the soft Jefferson

Fin can shoot better

[TD 21]

If it can't be said with 100% certainty, it's only because Hill hasn't played at this level for very long and Jefferson once exceeded this level for a stretch of seasons, but is there any other way Hill can't be considered the Spurs clear cut fourth best player at this point? In actuality, Jefferson isn't even fifth, nor sixth: he's seventh (behind Blair and McDyess).

In terms of the rotation, the aforementioned four plus the big three have established themselves as locks: six on current play, one on reputation. The eighth, ninth and tenth spots will likely continue to be up for grabs, potentially for the remainder of the season. That's how limited and inconsistent the players in question for those spots are.

Personally, I'd go Mason over Finley. No matter how much he struggles, Mason is simply a better, slightly more versatile version of Finley at this point in their respective careers. Mason can and will give this team the odd night where he's hot and can carry them for a stretch (a la House). It's important to have that type of weapon deep on the bench when playing elite compe ion.

As for the bigs, I'd like to see Ratliff in the rotation and the only reason he's not at this point is because Pop is so concerned with having one shooting big paired with one post-up big, which is why Ratliff is never paired with Blair. I don't think Pop expected quite this much out of Blair and/or thought he'd fade and it would be easy to demote him to fifth big status, which would have made it easy to pair Ratliff with Bonner against elite teams/late in the season and on into the post-season. After getting burned by dropping Hill from the rotation late last season, I doubt he makes the same mistake with Blair this season. Late in the season, Pop may actually go to a three big rotation and leave Bonner and Ratliff out of it. He needs to get over his aversion of playing two non-shooting bigs together (it's not like it would be for that long a stretch) and let Blair play his natural PF. This should happen starting with the Lakers (the team the Spurs need Ratliff for perhaps more than any other).