I agree NVE will have "huge moments" in the playoffs. But my worry is his defense and his decisions can sometimes make those moments bad for the Spurs. Still, with the cold blood running through his veins, he will get some time, especially in the early rounds to shine.
That said, I feel the Spurs will be best, especially against teams with bigger or more physical guards, with the ball kept in Tony's and Manu's hands, placing more extreme pressure on the opponents the entire game.
Playing Manu at the point while Tony rests allows the Spurs to stay bigger and better on the defensive end. It also keeps the enourmous pressure of Manu's penetration, while also spreading the floor with threats of long range bombs from Manu and either Finley, Bowen and Barry in deadly combinations.
Right on the money Tool, I've always thought Manu could play point sufficiently especially when they need to go big. He pretty much does that at some point in the game already. He brings it up, drives to the rim drawing the the defense in, then finds the open man and hits him with an on the money pass. Thats with Tony on the floor too.
Sequ, when you say you continue to be "right on", you use the word "continue" liberally and quite blindly.
First of all, Tony was the best offensive player on the court last night. He had a career night and it's a good thing. He saved a W...especially with Manu and Robert out of the game, 2 guys the Spurs like to use to close-out games.
This year, Tony has been a consistently good scorer and playmaker for the Spurs. Is he their best player? Some nights he is. To say he is the Spurs' best player when you have the only player in NBA history to be named to both an All-NBA Team and an All-Defensive Team in each of his first eight seasons, makes you look like you are trying to justify wearing number 9 to bed every night.
Over the course of this season, Tim Duncan has led the team in rebounding every game except two and he has been the scoring leader a couple of more times than Tony Parker has, so I would not give the "best player" award to Tony Parker just yet. You can't exactly say that Tony anchors the defense or the middle, now can you?
Oh, and the backpatter is timvp's adaption of a wacky U.S. patent, and is now an FSP asset. If you want a backpatter for last night, you can have one. You can print it out and put it on your mantle along with your Bumper Bowling trophies and your orange participant swim meet ribbon from the 7th grade.
Manu's threat to drive puts great fear into the entire defense. As the defenders begin to shade over to help with expected penetration, Manu's size, exceptional site and creative passing allow him to get the ball to the shooters in their sweet spots, time and again. And, if they don't help to stop his penetration, there is not a better player in the game to take it all the way to the rack.
The shots in motion by Finley from passes off of Manu's penetration that grabbed and sealed the victory against the Bucks will be common when the Spurs let Manu penetrate with shooters spreading the floor.
Wait, no I have a better idea. Why don't we start Sean marks at Pg and rest Tony parker for the season. And also lets not forget we can start Beno at PF so that Td can rest for the season. And while we're at it we can play Mohammed at SF so that Manu can rest. (Tell me the truth what kind of drug are you on, since when has Manu played PG. He either plays SG or SF.) I don't have the time to back this up but i'm positive that there are no players of Manu's height that play PG.In the playoffs, and expecially in a potential finals series against the Pistons, I think we will see Manu getting many more minutes as the point guard. This will allow Tony to stay fresh to excell at the speed work he does best. It will also keep Bowen and Finley on the floor longer, and even allow long stretches when the Spurs can have Manu, Finley, Bowen, Rasho/Horry and Duncan all on the floor together, when Tony rests
Last year when Popovich got frustrated with Beno Udrih's turnovers, Manu played quite a few minutes as the back-up point guard, where he would bring the ball up and initiate the offense. In fact, he it was even in the playoffs.
As for other players Manu's height that play PG, JOE JOHNSON (6-7) started the season logging a lot of minutes at point guard, SHAUN LIVINGSTON (6-7) plays exclusively point guard for the LA Clippers, MARKO JARIC (6-5 to 6-7, depending what sources you read) starts at point guard for the Timberwolves, both JALEN ROSE (6-8) and JOHN SALMONS (6-7) haved played the point guard position for their respective teams, BORIS DIAW (6-9) is one of the primary ball-handlers for the Phoenix Suns when Steve Nash is not in the game. And, don't forget that perhaps the best point to ever play the game, Magic Johnson, was 6-9.
When Manu can come back and play for a few games, we can discuss his assets to the team.
Right now, he is the Grant Hill of the Spurs.
Parker didn't do much today ...and neither did the best player on the team.
Tony 13 pts., 7 assists, 3 TOs
Tim 14 pts. 13 rebounds, 6 TOs
I thought Parker was pretty passive today.
Should've been more agressive in taking to the hole.
If Ginobili had played though, alot of that opens up, duncan wouldn't have been constantly doubled, and Parker wouldn't have had 3 guys on him inside the 3 point line.
What a dimwit you are. Manu often is given the rock at the top of the key and left to create the offense off his penetration or dishes. This has happened with increasing frequency since 2004 and was the regular plan of action to finish games in last years playoffs. At those many moments, Manu is running the point guard position.
Ummm.... Rasho gets the ball at the top of the key also....
The Spurs run a high low offense.
If you want to argue that Manu never runs the point, get to it ... and you will again be left in the dust. Don't throw up weak trash like, "Rasho gets the ball at the top of the key" like their is any comparason in under the conditions and roles he and Manu play when they have the ball.
Let's start with a simple matter. In your view, does Manu sometimes run the point for the Spurs? If your answer is no, get ready to be schooled. If you answer is yes, STFU with your pointless baiting.
NVE
Manu
Finley
Horry
Duncan
Who do you leave? That is the question the Spurs will be asking come June.
It will all be about matchups, injuries and hot hands. Any of the above could have huge moments during the potential playoff run. In my view, the Spurs are deep enough to get through the West without Manu and without Tim at full strength. But if both teams advance, against the Pistons they will need both Tim and Manu at their best.
I also don't expect as much from NVE against the Pistons, because the extra length of more Manu, Barry and Finley will be essential on both sides of the ball. However, if NVE gets an opportunity to hit some huge shots, I would not bet against him having an impact.
The problem for the Spurs is that they need a frontline that will keep them in a game versus the Pistons until crunchtime.
Of course Manu runs the offense at times... my point is everyone gets the ball at the top.
As for school, try watching a spurs game and every offensive set except for transition starts at the top either by Bowen, Duncan, Rasho, Muhammed, Barry, whatever...
Manu doesn't even play, again he is becoming the Grant Hill of the Spurs.
He can't help the team if he is injured all the time.
WTF.
Yeah, lets rest Parker, the best player on the team.
since when ???
nazr does a good job of getting extra possesions. the differene is that unlike last year rasheed wallace is really motivated. he's one of the best players when he plays his game.
that and the spurs missed a lot of jump shots.
So what you are saying, is you had no point when you spewed your trash. Like we don't already all know that.
I do watch many Spurs games. More than enough to know that I'm not the one getting confused about who would be considered sometimes running the point in the Spurs offense between Manu and Rasho.
Comparing Manu's games missed to injury to Grant's is like some idiot trying to compare Beno's ability to score to Kobe's, using current statistics. I am sure many can identify you with one trying to make such a comparison.
No move along little one. Your again trashing up the board for those with something of merit to say.
Where do I begin with this one? At least you noticed floor positioning.
Last edited by Solid D; 01-26-2006 at 06:03 PM.
In all due respect, in my view you completly miss why the Pistons so easily handled the Spurs ... so far. I say so far, becasue given time to heel and develop, I think the Spurs have more than enough on the interior, the perimeter and the bench to slay the mighty Pistons.
Tim's lack of mobility, Manu's injury and Spurs adjusting to new pieces have impacted the games much more than any long term weakness in the frontline. Granted, Tim's lack of mobility has greatly effected the Spurs frontline, but somehow I don't think that is all you speak about.
If the Spurs perimeter can stay in front of their man a step or two more on penetration, Big Ben's offense is very limited. The perimeter also needs to do a better job of reading when they must help block off the defensive boards, or get out on the break early to make their man pay if they wrongly go to the boards when the interior has rebounding position sealed.
The Spurs perimeter needs to first seal off the boards. But as soon as they see the Spurs interior has achieved position, they need to spring out and make the Pistons commit to stopping their running. The ability to get out on the break will give the Spurs needed easy baskets, and more importantly make the Pistons perimenter and interior more cautious of getting back than of crashing their offensive boards.
that may be too much info for peter, his thought process is centered around trashing rasho.
I was redundent in the last two paragraphs. Perhaps that helped.
With all due respect the Spurs were obliterated by the Pistons on the glass in their two meetings this season. It's going to take more than good health to contend with that in the postseason.
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