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It was the case of giving RJ more minutes expecting him to give you a better offensive production since he played decent offense in the first 3 games, and RJ completely melting down... but we'll give him 3 more seasons to see if he figures it out...
that must have been tough to write. Sorry your birthday wasn't better.
The Splitter/Blair switch was the only adjustment Pop needed to make. That combined with TP's regression to the mean would have gotten the Spurs back into this series. I'm just surprised that only the least likely of the two occurred tonight.
It was the case of giving RJ more minutes expecting him to give you a better offensive production since he played decent offense in the first 3 games, and RJ completely melting down... but we'll give him 3 more seasons to see if he figures it out...
But, but, but, he was our best option at the time.....................Yeah, but the worst part of it is that's all self-inflicted. It was clear he was a mistake last year, and we go out and ing extend him
Another boneheaded move from Pop.
We're giving Conley the 'Rondo' treatment, and he's nowhere near as bad a shooter...
The blame is entirely on the role players and Pop & RC !!!
Even with their "small" production, with a decent supporting cast, we would be 3-1 and not 1-3 ...
RJ is even worst than last year
Hill is mentaly so weak it's scary
McDyess is too old (and not a center)
Bonner is ... Bonner (shouldn't be allowed to play in playoff)
Neal and Splitter are rookies (can't really blame them)
Blair is overweight (unacceptable for a professional) and have the lowest IQ I've seen
Thanks again Pop for game 1 (the difference in the series)
FU RC &Pop for doing nothing before the trade deadline, when OBVIOUSLY we needed something...
I'm ok with Timmy's, his D can be enough, Manu and Tony 's production should be enough , but you could see in their eyes they don't trust their teamates...
He did the same strategy against Rando in the last game against Boston and Rando killed them. I have no idea why Pop thought that was successful enough strategy to use here.
Just about any player in the NBA can make those shots if not pressured.
Exactly. It's ing annoying, the guy can shoot....
Pop put his trust in two players all along the past two seasons. He called George Hill his favorite for his ability to play defense and be aggressive when needed. Atleast he hoped so that George Hill is the second coming of a more heralded Avery Johnson. Only George Hill is still immature, inconsistent and on and off. Pop trusted Jefferson to be able to transmogrify his game in season 2. RJ did a bit of that, by upping his FG% - especially 3pt FG% in the season and being in position to maximise his output based on touches designed for him. But that was all fool's gold. As the season progressed, RJ regressed, reduced to a 3 pt jump shooter from the corners on offense and persistent inconsistency on defense.
As regards the frontcourt, Pop put too much emphasis on tailoring the game to the abilities of Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair. The former for 3pt shooting and "floor spreading" and the latter for managing to fit smoothly into a fast paced game. Only Bonner's notorious post season frailities have been proven yet again while the latter has been confused to the extent of getting out of the rotation almost.
With the role players hardly fitting their respective roles and 2 of the top 3 in relative decline, the onus was on Tony Parker to carry the unit, which he had done quite so often in the later half of the regular season. Inexplicably, Parker found kryptonite in Mike Conley in Round 1 and has been reduced to a turnover generator and a passive version of himself.
It will take a miracle for the Spurs to get over these weaknesses and mental hurdles to even win game 5 let alone think of doing a Red Sox against the Yankees in 2004.
I suspect, we are in for a very interesting offseason.
why would he suddenly be??
+ the main pb with him is about talent...
Believe me, I know he used the strategy against Rondo, I was there live at the AT&T Center for the game, and I ing hated the strategy after Rondo drained his first 5 jumpers...
The weird thing is that Pop turned into an average SpursTalk poster in game 4 instead of sticking with the rotation in games 1-3 that had them in every game at the end.
But for (I know, cry me a river) Manu being out in game 1, that rotation, at worst, would be 2-2 in this series after tonight, IMO.
We should trade Hill while there are still teams that think highly of him!
Maybe we can get rid of RJ (the top priority) in a package with Hill and/or Neal...
You mean frustrating. With a lockout looming, and the prospect of Timmy calling it quits while being unable to move RJ or Bonner...
Tbh the Spurs ran into ty luck. The Spurs were healthy throughout the season until the end when Duncan hurt his ankle (hurt it in the playoffs again), Manu with his obvious injury, Dice tweaked his knee several times and got that stinger in game 3, and Parker's gone fishing already. The Grizz smelled blood from the get go.
We all know that the Spurs couldn't compete in the playoffs if their starters weren't healthy especially after getting swept by the Suns last year. The Spurs don't have the talent to make up for an unhealthy and declining Big 3.
Parker hasn't been able to carry the team like you'd expect the youngest and healthiest member of the Big 3 to do. Although he shot well he had 7 costly turnovers and just 1 assist. Conley had the opposite with 1 turnover, 7 assists. He's been the biggest disappointment for me in the series.
Spurs just weren't the same after Duncan and Manu got hurt.
I agree that he panicked. And I also agree that leaving Manu out of game 1, after Manu asked to play, only reflects the arrogance of thinking this was going to be a cakewalk, or that at least that potentially dropping a game would not be a series-changer...
I disagree. No rotation caused the epic meltdown that you saw tonight. Nothing he did was too different until the 2nd half. He saw what was going on. MEM took SA's best shot of the series in the first half and it wasn't that good of a shot. I saw it too.
With they way they played, and how great MEM played, it was going to be 3-1 regardless.
I hope to God Pop chokes on that thought with his $50 steak dinner. It wasn't luck Pop when it happens 4 years in a row.
Pop did panic. That was the first thing I said when I saw Tiago.
Indeed.
Although, trade wise, the FO would try to sweeten the deals of RJ/ Bonner by adding the McDyess expiring contract to it. Too early to talk about it, but I suspect the Cavs/ Clippers/ other desperadoes could possibly be tempted.
Excuses, tbh. Memphis was already tanking before Manu got hurt, so they definitely knew what out weaknesses were...
Of course they're excuses, but tbh the Spurs haven't been a compe ive playoffs team with a declining and an unhealthy Big 3. They got swept by the Suns last season and got abused by the likes of Jared Dudley and Dragic. Lost to the Mavs with Manu out and Duncan gassed. Both Dice and Duncan were hobbling before Memphis tanked and it just paid off even moreso when Ginobili went down. Definitely give plenty of credit for the Grizz for realizing the match up though.
Spurs looked like they were finally going to finish with a healthy regular season but they got hurt at a terrible time and most of their legs are old to make things worse. And wtf happened to Parker?
The rebuild is going to get really ugly if there is no season to tank and the Spurs thus get stuck drafting at 30 for a second year in a row.
Wow, meltdown city. Glad I was on a plane and didn't get a chance to watch this one.
Spurs in seven.
Pop ing with the rotation was a function of Manu being out for game 1. At worst it would be 2-2 after tonight.
It's time to face reality. This is the fourth straight playoffs they've either had key injuries or flat out looked worn down . . . and all occurred before the Conference Finals and this time, no one can say anyone was overworked during the regular season. So, if they can't hold up for a round or two, how could they for four? It's no longer just bad luck. They're no longer good enough to even pretend and they're not going to be for the remainder of the Duncan era. And that's what we saw tonight, was them figuring that out. Or accepting it.
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