It's not over.

[Kori Ellis]

key word IF.

Well we can only say IF. The games haven't been played yet.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

And if the Spurs re-group and adjust, figure out how to defend the pick-and-roll, and get back to executing on offense ... and win. Then what?

Then we move on, and pray that someone gets hot from outside.

I think the reasons most people, myself included, are really down is that

1. its' the same old on offense in the playoffs

2. everyone was expecting this team to respond to the game 3 BS, and especially to Seattle's bulletin board statements to the press, and instead we came out and let them bully us around defensively, and on offense Antonio, Ray, and Luke took turns strolling down the lane without ever getting put on their ass.

I hope I'm wrong, but I saw nothing tonight to make me think otherwise.

[nickbroken]

I can understand being down about a loss, but still you took the best game Luke's had and Tony and Manu playing like crap, they wont repeat the same thing even less likely to happen at home I just can't for the life of me see the Spurs losing at home and it's sad because I believe they will come back and take it in game 6, and it will be funny to see how many of you "fans" will come running back and swear we are going to go all the way when that happens, have a little faith in your team sheesh.

[Obstructed_View]

And if the Spurs re-group and adjust, figure out how to defend the pick-and-roll, and get back to executing on offense ... and win. Then what?

Then it will be a refreshing change, and completely out of character, and I'll be happy again. After being dragged behind the boat long enough you'll either learn to ski or let go of the rope.

[boutons]

"figure out how to defend the pick-and-roll,"

when Pop said in the Pop Show "that's the toughest play in basketball", the fact was irrefutable, but Pop's fatalistic tone really hit me. As if "there's nothing to be done".

How long has the p'n'r existed? Why are the Spurs, with the NBA-best defense, still trying to "figure out how to defend it" ? Wasn't that the main task after Game3?

The Spurs just didn't seem well prepared today, not by Pop, not in their personal at udes.

[Kori Ellis]

1. its' the same old on offense in the playoffs

Was it the same old on offense when Tim, Tony and Manu each were scoring 20+ in the first couple games?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Kori, no, and then Seattle thought about LA and though "hmm, we should pack the lane."

And we're screwed now...

I'll put it another way: is there anything impressive about our offense when you can shut it down simply by packing the lane?

Our entire playoff success offensively is predicated on guys who have never been considered pure shooters getting hot from outside. In '99 we had Elliott and Jaren. In '03 we had Buckets and Kerr. But expecting TWO players to get hot outside for a month and a half of basketball is foolish at best, stupid at worst, but that's the Spurs playoff offense for ya, yeah after year.

How long has the p'n'r existed? Why are the Spurs, with the NBA-best defense, still trying to "figure out how to defend it" ? Wasn't that the main task after Game3?

That's the frustrating thing. After game 3 it was obvious solving the middle pick and roll was priority #1, 2, and 3 for our coaching staff. Tonight we looked like we've never seen it before.

Pop doesn't know what to do with that play, because both players are going to the rim from the top of the key, and we can't force anyone to go baseline, effectively neutering Pop's defensive "system." Game over.

[Obstructed_View]

I can understand being down about a loss, but still you took the best game Luke's had and Tony and Manu playing like crap, they wont repeat the same thing even less likely to happen at home I just can't for the life of me see the Spurs losing at home and it's sad because I believe they will come back and take it in game 6, and it will be funny to see how many of you "fans" will come running back and swear we are going to go all the way when that happens, have a little faith in your team sheesh.

I don't understand why anybody thinks that making an intelligent observation about the team and worrying about their having mailed it in two games in a row somehow makes someone a bad fan.

Are we required not to evaluate performances and effort and instead reduced to making stupid statements about our faith in the team? I've got news for you: there are probably fans sitting in New Orleans that believe in the Hornets and they won't be hoisting any trophies this year.

I hope the Spurs don't have your at ude after this game. They apparently had it after game 3. "Gee, we didn't hit free throws and we only lost by 1, we don't have to make any adjustments, we just need to step out on the court and the Sonics will crumble because we are number 1 in the ESPN power rankings."

If that's the case they'll be saying "Gee, we had a lot of turnovers and that's the only reason we lost. We'll be fine once we get home. I can't imagine we would lose again even if we play the same way."

[timvp]

I'll take partial blame for this loss. The coaching staff and I had the same idea on guarding their pick-and-rolls.

The way to stop the pick-and-roll is to make Ridnour score. He's not that good of a finisher and he doesn't shoot well on the move, so the Spurs' bigs should just stay with their man and the point guard for the Spurs should go under the screen. If Ridnour hits a few jumpers, that's better than giving dunks and getting fouls on top of it.

The Spurs did exactly that. They made the guards beat them by scoring the ball.

And you know what? They did. The Spurs made the adjustment and got burned.

I would have done the same thing.

[SequSpur]

Was it the same old on offense when Tim, Tony and Manu each were scoring 20+ in the first couple games?

All I can say is.......

Lakers vs. Spurs... 2004.

Whut happened?

Popovich didn't make anything happen.

Late.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

it will be funny to see how many of you "fans" will come running back and swear we are going to go all the way when that happens, have a little faith in your team sheesh.

I have faith in my team. I've been a Spurs fan 20 years, and I will be until the day I day.

I don't, however, have any faith in Pop's offense come playoff time.

If you came up to me with a gun and said my life depends on Pop drawing up a play to win a playoff game, I'd take the gun, pull the trigger, and get it over with.

[T Park]

at least bring a take you spineless wonder.


BTW,

TIMVP, I was thinking about that on the ride home.

The Spurs did waht TIMVP wanted, and they got blown out, WTF lol.

[nickbroken]

It's one thing to be worried about things ,but when I see loads of posts saying how we are done?What kinda is that, that isn't a good fan we still have atleast two more games and everyone swears we are finished when we've had only one bad game in this series it happens, last I looked the Heat were the only ones to of swept in the second round everyone is having to play, it's not like we are playing a scrub team in the sonics, but I have faith and am not stressing the small stuff.

[Obstructed_View]

when Pop said in the Pop Show "that's the toughest play in basketball", the fact was irrefutable, but Pop's fatalistic tone really hit me. As if "there's nothing to be done".

Wow, I'm surprised to hear that too. It's not like they're defending Stockton and Malone or Nash and Dirk out there. , it's not even like it's Ray Allen out there very often. It's Nick Collison and Jerome James, or Luke Ridnour and Antonio Daniels. If you don't have the personnel to defend those guys there's something seriously wrong.

[Kori Ellis]

The Spurs did exactly that. They made the guards beat them by scoring the ball.

And you know what? They did. The Spurs made the adjustment and got burned.

Exactly.

I don't know why people keep saying the Spurs did nothing to adjust from games three to four. They did adjust ... they did exactly what you said and got killed by the guards. Instead of Jerome James dunking on them, they had Ridnour put up a 15 point quarter. They'll need to adjust again. And they will.

[SequSpur]

The Spurs didn't do . They never showed up. From the tip off, they got their asses spanked. Turnovers, missed shots, sissie play, ref calls, etc. etc...

Then a time out. The time to adjust, come back and get ass spanked again.

[SequSpur]

The Sonics came out with a 3 guard rotation, the Spurs should've slammed it down their throats but Duncan settled for shooting Dirk shots. Game over.

[T Park]

Duncan settled for shooting Dirk shots

Now I know you didnt watch the game kingpin...

[nickbroken]

You think maybe you are putting too much on the whole Pop's offense suck things?I mean if it was as simple the offensive philosophy Wouldn't you see Phil Jackson take and scrub team to the playoffs year after year instead of trying to find a team with two hall of famers aleast,This loss is on the Spurs not pop, I didn't see pop out there telling them to make bad passes, or turning the ball over, or passing up open shots.

[SequSpur]

When Duncan is a part of the offense just inside the 3 point line, I have a problem with that.

[Obstructed_View]

It's one thing to be worried about things ,but when I see loads of posts saying how we are done?What kinda is that, that isn't a good fan we still have atleast two more games and everyone swears we are finished when we've had only one bad game in this series it happens, last I looked the Heat were the only ones to of swept in the second round everyone is having to play, it's not like we are playing a scrub team in the sonics, but I have faith and am not stressing the small stuff.

If there's a "we are done" post in here, I know I didn't post it. And just to clue you in, the Spurs have had two bad games in this series and they were in a row. The second one was a blowout loss and they were torched by a team that has two of their top three players out of the game, and that's as close to a scrub team as there is left in the playoffs. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili being afraid to drive to the basket is not small stuff.

The fact that the Spurs made the same mistakes for a second game in a row should set off alarms for anyone that watches. It doesn't mean I'm not hopeful that they'll turn it around, and it doesn't mean that I don't think absolutely that this series is the Spurs' to lose and that the Sonics can't possibly beat the Spurs if both teams play their best ball, but it does mean that it's starting to smell like 2004 in the WCS.

[Obstructed_View]

When Duncan is a part of the offense just inside the 3 point line, I have a problem with that.

That's two plays, what about the other 80?

[HB22inSA]

The Spurs are officially in trouble.

One more bad game, and...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

nick,

Forget it man. The Spurs are great, they have no issues, Pop's a genius, forget any of us ever said anything.

[nickbroken]

nick,

Forget it man. The Spurs are great, they have no issues, Pop's a genius, forget any of us ever said anything.

Will do, I'm just not stressing it, and everyone is up and arms over it, they were freaking out over the loss to Denver and I just have faith, I'm more of a football fan then a basketball fan so its harder for me to stress losing two games out of a best of seven series.