Official We Got Outplayed But We're Still First In The West Thread

[carina_gino20]

[101A]

The Mavs losing streak gave the Spurs coaching staff a gift;

Their two first playoff opponents on a dissecting table 2 weeks before the playoffs - both needing to win, and pulling out all the stops.

Anybody realize Spurs had Barry, NVE, Oberto, Finley, Nazr & Bowen in at 1 point?

You think that happens in the playoffs? You think Manu & Tony sit for the first FIVE minutes of a 4th quarter the Spurs are trailing in?

This game resembled a pre-season session more than a playoff game (other than Timmy's minutes; but Pop was probably just wanting to see how Avery would play him - Pop certainly didn't show his hand tonite on the adjustments which will be made to counter that). Remember the pre-season, the 1-8 preseason? People here wanted to jump ship then. Don't now!

It is hard to beat a good team twice in a row - nearly impossible to beat the champs. This WAS predictable; even before the week started.

Watch the Memphis game for some proof (that one matters). Spurs win big.

[MannyIsGod]

Good call on the lineup, I didn't even think about that.

[Extra Stout]

Maybe in the playoffs Pop will play his best players rather than have four scrubs with Duncan in until 6:00 left in the fourth. He isn't going to rest guys in the playoffs right?

Until then, bottoms up!

[yavozerb]

The Mavs losing streak gave the Spurs coaching staff a gift;

Their two first playoff opponents on a dissecting table 2 weeks before the playoffs - both needing to win, and pulling out all the stops.

Anybody realize Spurs had Barry, NVE, Oberto, Finley, Nazr & Bowen in at 1 point?

You think that happens in the playoffs? You think Manu & Tony sit for the first FIVE minutes of a 4th quarter the Spurs are trailing in?

This game resembled a pre-season session more than a playoff game (other than Timmy's minutes; but Pop was probably just wanting to see how Avery would play him - Pop certainly didn't show his hand tonite on the adjustments which will be made to counter that). Remember the pre-season, the 1-8 preseason? People here wanted to jump ship then. Don't now!


Watch the Memphis game for some proof (that one matters). Spurs win big.

[yavozerb]

People, do you not understand that he is not resting players for the playoffs!!The spurs starters were getting outplayed so being an effective coach, Pop was trying some combination that would work..Do you really think resting TD a couple of minutes is going to help his foot??

[1Parker1]

SPAA. Spurs Peak After April.

[spurschick]

It's very difficult to win a game when you're shooting 38% and you let the other team shoot 51%. It sucks to lose, but losing makes you hungrier. The Mavs had three tough losses recently. The Pistons lost to Orlando tonight. happens.

Personally, I was thrilled with Fabricio tonight. Rob was out and Fabri stepped up on the boards. The box score doesn't tell the whole story either. Other players were credited with boards that Fabri had tipped to them. He set some great screens, but we just couldn't capitalize.

[Despot]

SPAA. Spurs Peak After April.

We are not even close to peaking.....and if we are, we are in trouble.

What is the mindset of this club right now???

A. Pre-All Star Game
B. Post-All Star Game
C. First Round
D. Second Round
E. Conf. Finals
F. Finals

Sadly, I feel we are still classified as "A"
I really hope these two losses knock some urgency into them....

[Neuromancer]

You guys do realize that Duncan travelled with the game on the line, right?

[MannyIsGod]

You guys do realize that Duncan travelled with the game on the line, right?

Holy !!! That changes everything!

[angel_luv]

I know all the evidence is still coming but I really think the team is making progress and growing.

They lost tonight yes- but they weren't completely slaughtered.

We'll be aiight!

Go Spurs Go!

[spurschick]

Holy !!! That changes everything!

[Neuromancer]

Holy !!! That changes everything!

The game was on the line against our highest ranked Western Conference Rival for Home Court Advantage.

[smeagol]

Good post Manuel.

[MannyIsGod]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38074

I'm 2 for 3.

[SPARKY]

At some point you expect them to start playing their best ball this time of year. We can try to fool ourselves all we want but this team doesn't have what Spurs le teams past have had. There's no consistency, no killer instinct. What we are left with are coming up with excuses for poor back2back play as if the Spurs never had to play in a back2back prior to this season. What we are left with are empty excuses for a home loss to the primary conference rival 2 weeks before the end of the season.

Sure, we've been through this before. That's why it's not hard to say that there are major problems with this team heading into the postseason if they are supposed to repeat.

[T Park]

we might even see a TPark wagon jump

Unlike Sparky and others,

Im staying.


This team was "amazing" last week in wins against the Clippers, Lakers, WIzards,

and now all of a sudden they stink??


Give it a rest.

[T-Pain]

we got outplayed, but were still first in the west

[samikeyp]

SPAA. Spurs Peak After April.

SPIM
Spurs Peak In May! :p


Well said Manny.

[SpursWoman]

Good call on the lineup, I didn't even think about that.

I did .... I was thinking that was probably the worst/strangest Spurs line-up I'd ever seen, and if that's the way it was going to be, no way were we winning that game.

Fortunately, that's not likely to happen again.

[Samr]

I hate all this chicken little .

Ok, so the Spurs lost. We got outplayed when we were playing really well. But did anyone expect this to be easy? It's not going to be a cakewalk to the Finals and I don't want it to be, but then again, the whole silver and black world didn't come tumbling down last night, either.

Dallas has a harder scheduel than us for the remaining games, and if all we do is break even with them, then there's nothing to worry about.

But I don't want it to be easy for the Spurs. The le in 1999 was great because it was our first, but was it really as satisfying? I much prefer the one last year, down to the wire, in game 7. And I hope the same happens this year. I want to see the Spurs face the best, and I want to see them beat the best, but if they don't, then at least we aren't lying to ourselves.

Props to the Mavs for last night. But last night doesn't change the fact I think our season will end with a win.

The Spurs are a whole new beast come playoffs. We prove it in June.

[boutons_]

Mavs' loss was not "just one game" with me. It's a series of bad games, in March and April, against good teams, or against weak teams that manhandle us, and the head-case problem of B2B. The Spurs don't seem to fight back and manhandle anybody. They are getting outhustled and out-desired frequently in late season.

In the first week of April, the Spurs appear to be a LONG WAY from playoff ready, since I don't belive in the flicking of switches from mediocrity to Championship play.

We've been amazed at how well the Pistons have been playing in some very tough games. How many times have we been amazed this season by the Spurs play?

They aren't clicking, they aren't rolling, they aren't defending, they are depending way too much on 3Gs and jumpers (Spurs hit 10 of 20 3Gs vs Mavs and that's not enough to win a game @ATT?), losing RBs badly, and losing the paint frequently.

And Pop got outcoached. The Mavs clearly were focussing on shutting down the paint, blocking and stripping Tim and Tony. What was Pop's pre-game strategy and in-game tactics? "anybody need a blow?" Do Pop and Tim, with all their piled-up accomplishments and $$$, still have any fire in the belly? Any pride in the game? or is it just in-season don't-give-a- cynicism waiting for the playoffs?

the overall record, previous Spurs teams and all the excuses and pretexts spouting from them.

I'm only concerned about these Spurs and these upcoming playoffs and opponents.

Spoiled? no. When the Championship Spurs play like medocrities, get out-played repeatedly, WTF is wrong with expecting them to do better?
I never buy the argument that "roses smell pretty good compared to ".

[bonesinaz]

boutons-

I am afraid that if someone gave you roses, you would because they had thorns.

[boutons_]

"if someone gave you roses,"

.... I'd expect them to smell like roses. You got a problem with that?