Calm Down

[Kori Ellis]

1 is completely false. .

So you think Duncan did a good job guarding Dirk?

Because whatever the reason (psychological or physical) Dirk owned Duncan both ways.

[Kori Ellis]

Oh well, where's that Tanqueray?

We have a bottle of Scotch that ShoogarBear gave us

[MannyIsGod]

And why was the Red Rocket only given a whiff of PT? He should have had all of Barry's minutes.

At least Bonner wouldn't have given up an inbound layup with 3 seconds on the shot clock.

Oberto getting off to a good start was a reason for him hardly seeing any action in the first half, but with the way Barry and Horry played it was inexcusable that Pop couldn't find some time in there for him.

I don't ing get it. The man has been our best bench player for a few weeks now, and is playing very solid basketball and he can't get any burn in the most important game of the year to date? It doesn't make any damn sense.

[objective]

He wants him to shoot .. but within the offense. Beno doesn't do that. He's a frickin' chucker.

then his transformation into Nick Van Exel is complete. He's learned his lessons well.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

So you think Duncan did a good job guarding Dirk?

Because whatever the reason (psychological or physical) Dirk owned Duncan both ways.

One of the most frustrating events of the night was late in the 2nd quarter Avery had Dirk on Tim.

And we didn't go at him once in three possessions. Dirk ended up with four fouls. Just think if they would have gone after Dirk when he was guarding Duncan and got a foul or two on Dirk in that situation. Would have changed the whole complexion of the game.

But what the am I talking about? Asking Pop to get creative on offense is a lot like asking mouse to only use one user name a day on the site

[supaphly119]

can we just get devin brown back?

[MannyIsGod]

So you think Duncan did a good job guarding Dirk?

Because whatever the reason (psychological or physical) Dirk owned Duncan both ways.

No, I just feel Duncan allowed it. I guess saying its completely false is incorrect, but rather that Dirk wasn't tested on defense. Duncan's passive wait and see bull allowed Dirk to sit back and take breaks inbetween his schooling of Duncan.

I expect Dirk to get his. He's virtually unguardable with his quick release and accuracy. But I don't expect Duncan to wait for Manu and Tony to bail his ass out. He needs to take the damn game to Dirk.

Tim Duncan still has more than enough game to force his will upon others. Someone just needs to remind him sometimes.

[ShoogarBear]

Also, what the was up with inbounds plays? I know of at least 3 situations where the Spurs forced the ball out of bounds on defense with a block or deflection with no more than 4 on the shot clock. On all 3 of those possessions they got murdered on the inbounds play and gave up 2 layups and a wide open jumper for Dirk which might as well be considered a layup. That kind of is inexcusable. You shouldn't give up ONE layup in those situations, much less let it happen multiple times in one game. That needs to be reviewed hardcore in the film sessions.

The Deavean George one was when Brent was doing godknowswhat and let him come down the lane with 3 on the clock.

Then, even more embarassing, Tim was yakking with someone on the sideline with the camera on him closeup, then you see him look up suddenly as he realizes the ball has been inbounded and run over late to Dirk burying the open jumper. Pretty much the showcase play of the game for the Spurs.

[MannyIsGod]

One of the most frustrating events of the night was late in the 2nd quarter Avery had Dirk on Tim.

And we didn't go at him once in three possessions. Dirk ended up with four fouls. Just think if they would have gone after Dirk when he was guarding Duncan and got a foul or two on Dirk in that situation. Would have changed the whole complexion of the game.

But what the am I talking about? Asking Pop to get creative on offense is a lot like asking mouse to only use one user name a day on the site

We went to him, but Duncan waited for the first sign of a double team and decided to pass it off. The doubles were so weak that the rotations were easily made and they rarely got anything other than a late in the shot clock forced shot.

Pop did plenty bad tonight but that was mostly with player rotations which he usually finds a way to up. I'm not going to blame him for Tim's ty reads though.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I expect Dirk to get his.

Actually, when he works on the low post there's a huge flaw to his game. Manu has hit on it once, and Barry did as well.

He s the ball back over his head when he shoots, which makes it impossible to defend from the front.

But both Manu and Barry owned him on jumpers by coming in from the top. I'd love to see the Spurs take advantage of that more and have someone come down from the top when he fades away and stuff him from behind.

They'd only have to do it a couple of times before he'd start worrying more about who is coming from where to block him than actually making the shot.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

We went to him, but Duncan waited for the first sign of a double team and decided to pass it off.

Yeah, but that's part of our offense for Tim to wait for the double to free up the shooters.

I wanted to see him take it straight at Dirk in that situation. He did it in the fourth and racked up two quick ones on Dirk. Whenever Nowitzki is guarding TD, that should be an automatic clear out and get it into Duncan. And he shouldn't be waiting for a double, he should be making his move as soon as he catches the ball.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Tim was yakking with someone on the sideline with the camera on him closeup, then you see him look up suddenly as he realizes the ball has been inbounded and run over late to Dirk burying the open jumper. Pretty much the showcase play of the game for the Spurs.

He was yakking with Devean, who had knocked the ball out of bounds (but they gave to Dallas). At that point in the game, I don't get what he was thinking.

[MannyIsGod]

Yeah, but that's part of our offense for Tim to wait for the double to free up the shooters.

I wanted to see him take it straight at Dirk in that situation. He did it in the fourth and racked up two quick ones on Dirk. Whenever Nowitzki is guarding TD, that should be an automatic clear out and get it into Duncan. And he shouldn't be waiting for a double, he should be making his move as soon as he catches the ball.

Actually, I believe its on Tim to make reads in those situations. I personally hate it that he waits on the double and tries to play off that far too often. I think an aggressive stance and having him force up bad shots once in a while is a much better way for him to be effective, but ever since I can remember he holds the ball too long and waits for doubles.

I don't think thats on Pop, but I guess it could be part of the offense. I don't know how anyone here would know and I find it more likely that Tim simply has the freedom/responsibilty to make reads in those situations.

[Kori Ellis]

I don't know how anyone here would know and I find it more likely that Tim simply has the freedom/responsibilty to make reads in those situations.

Correct.

[ShoogarBear]

We have a bottle of 12-year-old Macallen that ShoogarBear gave us

Fixed.

[spurschick]

5. Manu looks great. Sure he had a couple critical bad moves (shooting too early in the shot clock, a key turnover, etc) but he has so much will to win, it's amazing to watch.

He was incredible tonight. He was really beating himself up for every mistake he made. At one point when he came out, it looked like Pop went over to him on the bench to console him. While I love Bruce to death, he can't seem to buy a basket over the past couple of games and, with the way Manu was playing tonight, I wish that last play had been called for him and not Bruce.

[Kori Ellis]

Fixed.

True.

I didn't want people coming over to drink it, so I was trying to downplay it

[ShoogarBear]

He s the ball back over his head when he shoots, which makes it impossible to defend from the front.

But both Manu and Barry owned him on jumpers by coming in from the top.

Which actually Bruce did first in the semifinals last year.

[leemajors]

1 is completely false. Duncan allowed himself to become a passer when Dirk began guarding him which was driving me nuts. He should be salivating at the idea of Dirk guarding him and should waste no time in trying to get to the basket. Then if things break down, you swing the ball, but Tim Duncan MUST maintain a score first mentality in those situations. That simply wasn't there.

It drives me nuts that he holds to ball and waits for a double to begin with. But when he does it when he has a chance to a) put the opposing teams best player in foul touble and b) make the opposing teams best player work hard on defense its simply inexcusable.

that was really disturbing, when dampier or diop was on him he made a quicker move, and usually got a foul. if he is getting those calls he should keep going for it against dirk. either he went brain dead or he was unsure where the double was coming from. holding the ball is the worst thing he can do in that situation, and the spurs offense totally stalls when he does it.

[MannyIsGod]

I heard on the post game show that Avery was yelling out a fake "double double" from the sidelines that threw Tim off. Whatever. Stop listening to that ing roach and just attack Dirk.

ATTACK should be the single thing going through Tim's head when he has Dirk defending him. He need not complicate things anymore than that.

[MannyIsGod]

Oh, and too add to that and touch on Manu's play. I don't mind one bit the play where Manu bricked/airballed a 3 early in the shotclock because that was aggressive. Manu was taking it to the Mavs and I'd much rather have a player force up bad shot while being aggressive than being passive and letting the shot clock run down and having a bad shot forced with no other option.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

either he went brain dead or he was unsure where the double was coming from. holding the ball is the worst thing he can do in that situation, and the spurs offense totally stalls when he does it.

I think part of the problem is that when Dampier or Diop play him, Avery doesn't double. He lets them get their fouls and plays man up.

But the moment Dirk goes on him, Dallas is sending help. Going back to last year Avery always runs his D this way, and I think Duncan gets in a mode, either through being coached or just mentally, to know the double is coming when Dirk is on him and to wait for that double.

Which is stupid. He should be attacking Dirk the moment he gets the ball.

[Brianna]

Y'all realize that I deleted the thread

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Oh, and too add to that and touch on Manu's play. I don't mind one bit the play where Manu bricked/airballed a 3 early in the shotclock because that was aggressive. Manu was taking it to the Mavs and I'd much rather have a player force up bad shot while being aggressive than being passive and letting the shot clock run down and having a bad shot forced with no other option.

Actually the play was smart. He jab stepped the defender like he was going to go baseline, then stepped back for the three. It got him an open look, he was just too amped to hit it.

But still, I agree, it's a far cry from Duncan waiting around to see who was coming to double.

[baseline bum]

There were two plays that can't not make your blood boil if you're a Spurs fan.

1. Tim argues a call with the refs while Dallas is inbounding the ball under the basket, Tim's man (Dirk) runs out to the three point line, and buries a wide-open three.

2. Spurs come out of the timeout, dump it to Finley on the right block, he basically just stands there dribbling with his back to Jason Terry, turns around, and throws a disgusting fadeaway hail-mary. WTF was that?