Ludden: Spurs stop Wolves

[whottt]

IMO this team is better than the 05 le team...at least in terms of potential, and on paper.


#1. Manu, Parker and Barry are actually having better seasons than they had that year.
#2. Duncan is healthier.
#3. Finley>Devin
#4. Vaugn > Beno

And I like Franberto better than Raszr.


The 05 le team basically had a 2 man bench...Barry and Horry. This one seems to have a lot of bench players that can and will contribute...and it's still got Horry and Barry.

This team has those same two, plus the Big3 are either better or healthier.

07 Bench > 05 Bench

and

07 Starters/Superstars > 05


To me it's a no brainer than this team is better on paper, and in terms of depth and experience.

But that doesn't mean it's got le chemistry...it also plays too much freaking small ball.

Plus the Mavs are definitely better now, probably the Suns as well.

[whottt]

I still haven't seen the big win that marks this team as a champion like I did the 99,03 and 05 teams....I guess maybe the Detroit game...but I'd have preferred something with the Mavs instead.

The years the Spurs become champions they have a habit of winning the big games consistently during the regular season...and this team just hasn't done it to the degree that those teams did.

Still...there's plenty of big games coming up in the playoffs for them to win.

I personally am just not as sold on this team, even though on paper it's better...I guess because in reality, they play a lot of small ball. And it sucks. And they aren't going to win jack if that is their goto lineup.

[timvp]

I still haven't seen the big win that marks this team as a champion like I did the 99,03 and 05 teams....I guess maybe the Detroit game...but I'd have preferred something with the Mavs instead.

The years the Spurs become champions they have a habit of winning the big games consistently during the regular season...and this team just hasn't done it to the degree that those teams did.

True. I also would have liked to have seen more statement games down the stretch.

However, to their credit, the Spurs haven't lost a game to a +.500 team since February 1st. That's 10 weeks now. The schedule just didn't give them many statement games during the SPAM time.

[whottt]

Good point TimVP...we'll be out of the woods once we make it to the post season and don't have to face the Bobcats, Bucks and Celtics any more.


One other difference that you just pointed out...this team has lost to more crap teams than any team of the championship era...


I'm happy we are beating the 500% teams...I'm not happy we're losing to some awful teams in situations we haven't lost in, in decades.

I just don't know what to tmake of that...especially since many of those losses were self inflicted and I don't think the decision makers realize they were self inflicted.

[T Park]

As Timvp points out, look at the sched down the stretch and see if theres anyone worth a crap?


What about the Suns game? That wasn't a statement game shutting down the best offense in basketball?

[whottt]

Yeah...the Suns could be a statement game...except for the fact that they are our .

The Suns haven't really challenged us at any point...we just matchup well with them...I guess that is why that win didn't really seem to be the big one(s).


Like...I had a strong feeling the 05 team was going to win after Devin Brown got injured and I knew Barry would be getting his minutes...

Just kidding...well no I'm not, but that's not the point I actually want to make...

I knew they'd probably win after the back to back double ot wins....

[T Park]

Well this year is really different in the fact they are prepared, they just had such a bad january and february they lost all that ground to Dallas.

[aaronstampler]

I'm encouraged by the fact that they have the same record vs. the West as Dallas. The Mavs have just done a better job of not losing focus against crappy Eastern conference teams, that's all.

Charlotte, Boston, @Indiana, @Orlando, Milwaukee twice... it's a morbid list.

[aaronstampler]

As for big wins, I don't know, those are subjective. We beat up the Suns, who were at full strength, pretty good despite not having Brent or Robert and playing only a "C" game offensively.

At one point when you added up our record against Dal, Phx, Uta, Hou, LAL, Det and Mia, we were 6-10. Now we're 11-10, beating Detroit twice, Uta, Phx, and @Hou.

We've had a couple of nice comeback wins at Houston and at Portland that I enjoyed as well.

Really, I thought the game of the year was at the Lakers that one Sunday when Fin hit the three to win it. We had nothing going that night offensively but refused to quit and played gritty as on defense. It was the ugliest win imaginable but the archetype example of Spurs Basketball. It kind of started LA on their tailspin as well.

In a way I think a true indication about our level is our two recent games with the Warriors. Ever since they got S-Jax and Harrington, they've either beaten everyone or been extremely compe ive. They're a desperate team, fighting their guts out.

We beat the holy out of them in their building and toyed with them in ours. That's a good sign.

[Samr]

Still...there's plenty of big games coming up in the playoffs for them to win.

A sweep of Phoenix might have a very redeeming effect.

Then Mavs get all mad that the sweep has one-upped their amazing regular season record, decide they need to reassert their dominance, and blow their load in game 1 against the Spurs. Over in 5.

Or...whatever. As long as the Spurs win, I'm happy.

[whottt]

As for big wins, I don't know, those are subjective. We beat up the Suns, who were at full strength, pretty good despite not having Brent or Robert and playing only a "C" game offensively.

.

They are subjective...sorta, I just trust my bias on that subject.

Simple math really...

Mavs - beat us last season in playoffs, eliminated if you prefer...
Suns - did not, eliminated by Mavs


Therefore:

Late season win over Mavs>Late season win over Suns


Subjectivity at it's finest....



Moreover...the Suns didn't even come close to beating us last time we faced them in the playoffs...

A late season victory over the Heat would have been nice as well...

[aaronstampler]

If the Jazz can somehow beat Phx tonight, then I think we'll treat Sunday like a big game. Whether Dallas does or not is up to them.

[TMTTRIO]

"I think I still need to get more minutes and try to get more confident," Ginobili said. "My shot was falling, so I was feeling pretty good. But I understand Pop's position. That's why I didn't say anything.

"When you don't need anymore (scoring) like today, it was smart. But you can't always be worrying about getting hurt. You just have to play."

I've thought this for a while now. Enough with the limited minutes I think it's time to start giving him a lot of minutes now since we're very close to the playoffs. Let's just hope he gets into some kind of rhythm now before the playoffs.

[exstatic]

I've thought this for a while now. Enough with the limited minutes I think it's time to start giving him a lot of minutes now since we're very close to the playoffs. Let's just hope he gets into some kind of rhythm now before the playoffs.

Pop has to protect Manu from himself over the long haul of 82 games. He's actually playing right around his career minutes mark. 27.5 this year, 27.1 career. His minutes always ramp up in the playoffs, but he still never plays heavy minutes. His career playoff mark is 30.5 mpg.

[T Park]

plays the last 7 minuts of the 4th.

The last 6 of the first, the first 4 of the second.

Last 6 of the 3rd, first 3 of the 4th then the final 7

[aaronstampler]

plays the last 7 minuts of the 4th.

The last 6 of the first, the first 4 of the second.

Last 6 of the 3rd, first 3 of the 4th then the final 7

You've got him playing only 26 minutes, including just 10 in the first half. Is he really supposed to sit out the last 8 mins of the 2nd quarter?


His playoff rotation goes like this..

Last 7 of the first
First 3 of the 2nd, rest for four, then the last 5 of the 2nd.

Last 8 of the 3rd
First 2 of the 4th, rest for three, the last 7 of the 4th.

15 first half minutes, 17 second half, 32 total.

[T Park]

we shall see.

[aaronstampler]

Why would Pop all of a sudden sit him the last 8 minutes of the first half? That makes no sense.

[ArgSpursFan]

Pop has to protect Manu from himself over the long haul of 82 games. He's actually playing right around his career minutes mark. 27.5 this year, 27.1 career. His minutes always ramp up in the playoffs, but he still never plays heavy minutes. His career playoff mark is 30.5 mpg.

I predict for the way manu is shooting from downtown(carrer high this season) and his all around game this year,that He´ll be around the 35 mpg in the playoffs.Pop needs him more tham ever this year.

[whottt]

this sentence almost makes up for your long and distinguished career as a conservative narc

Thanks

evne us conservatives have our moments.

[whottt]

I still haven't seen the big win that marks this team as a champion like I did the 99,03 and 05 teams....I guess maybe the Detroit game...but I'd have preferred something with the Mavs instead.

Winning without Duncan would have been just the sort of thing I was talking about...

It's pretty late in the season but it would have been nice.



Frankly...I see nothing to indicate anything has changed since the last time we faced the Mavs in the playoffs...Pop still wants a frontline of aging 2 guards, half of whom can't pass, score or hit throws, and half of whom can't defend, and Duncan....