What's the deal with this team?

[T Park]

Bonner or anyone else being singled out is a joke. Finley, Barry, Bonner, Horry, take your pick...none of those guys can guard anyone 1 on 1 worth a anyways. The Spurs defensive scheme adjusts for that. So thats a pretty dumb point you are "trying" to make.

His defense within the system was horrible.

[T Park]

@ my sig

Who dothed me with that?

[PM5K]

Your comeback is even weaker. I don't give a about points differential. I will admit that is a key indicator, but the Spurs led the league in that category last year, yet lost in a heartbreaking series to the Mavs. In short, it don't mean .

It should be obvious to even YOU that this team has not "hit a stride". Look at the teams they've lost to to this point in the season. Look at the flawed execution on the court and defensive lapses. If you can't see that then you're blind.

If differential doesn't mean then why did you bring it up in the first place?

I'm sure they haven't hit their stride, just like every other team in the league they will have their ups and downs, nobody is going to win seventy two games this season...

[PM5K]

Oh n0es, we aren't going to win the December Championship!

[Duncanoypi]

Despite the win over Sac-town, there's no reason to feel good about it for the following reasons:

1. Sac-town playing the 2nd half of a B2B after getting pounded by the Mavs the night before

2. No Ron Artest

3. Spurs coming off a 3-day layoff

All these factors and this team struggles to get a home win over an inferior opponent? Something is wrong with this picture.

All season long this team has played down to the level of its compe ion. Three home losses in the first month of the season - including a home loss to Charlotte. Road losses to GS and Seattle. No matter what type of lead they seem to have, they've somehow allow opposing teams back in the game. Something is wrong with this picture.

It's equally frustrating when I see the Mavs routinely jump out on teams and score in excess of 30 points per game on opponents on a regular basis. Meanwhile, they're on a 12-game winning streak and are beating teams they're supposed to beat - handily.

The Spurs are supposed to be one of the elite teams in the league. However, they're not showing it. So either this team is

A. Not as talented as we've been led to believe

B. Not as mentally strong as a championship contender should be

C. Misses Manu Ginobili terribly

D. All of the above

Perhaps all these factors play a role, but make no mistake - championship-level teams routinely exhibit a killer instinct and a regularly display a mental edge that separates them from pretenders. Thus far, I've not seen that from this team this year.

we won @ seattle...what basketball are you watching?

[THE SIXTH MAN]

Obviously, it is a lonnnng season and there's no need to panic.

Exactly....

However, there are legit concerns with the play of this team as it stands today.

Legit concerns, yes. But at this point in the season those concerns can and will be addressed by the all star break. Its still early in the season and we still have some time to address those issues.

[K-State Spur]

actually, jumping out to a big lead, almost blowing it, and barely holding on for the win reminds me of the best spurs teams of the past.

[T Park]

The 05 team did that with regularity eary and late in the season.

Became notorious for it.

[pjjrfan]

I'm not to worried, right now, for some reason the Spurs have a hard time starting out strong out of the gate. I'll be more worried if they are still playing like this after the allstar break.

I will admit though that Beno is beginning to look like a wash. I know Finley and Horry are struggling, but these guys are pros and will find ways to contribute down the line. I got a problem with Beno's lazy at ude as far as taking care of the ball and towing the line when Tony sits. At first I thought Beno was messing up because he was being rattled or had the jitters, but lately I'm beginning to see why the coaching staff is getting frustrated with his play. He doesn't play with any sense of urgency, other than the Houston game and a couple of plays here and there, the guy is not helping the team on a consistent basis.

And I don't believe Vaughn will be the answer for the long haul as far as this season is concerned, my guess is the FO will make some kind of move.

[TDMVPDPOY]

htf did we let martin go 30 on us, this is lame

[SenorSpur]

If differential doesn't mean then why did you bring it up in the first place?

I'm sure they haven't hit their stride, just like every other team in the league they will have their ups and downs, nobody is going to win seventy two games this season...

Once again, you've somehow missed the point. The point of this thread has nothing whatsoever to do racking up an meaningless stats or with going undefeated. It's the fact that this team is struggling and has noticeable and uncharacteristic flaws - despite their record.

To truly become what we all hope they will become - a championship-caliber team - they're going to have to correct and overcome these flaws. Whether they will or not remains to be seen.

[Kamnik]

@ my sig

Who dothed me with that?