Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Pistons Jan. 10

[Capt Bringdown]

I know we shouldn't truly be worried because this is just a regular season game, but the Spurs sure are making it hard for fans to stay interested at this point.

And sometimes we complain and wonder why the Spurs aren't more appreciated outside of Bexar county. I was hoping this regular season would be about making an emphatic statement.

OK, I'd rather we save our statements for the playoffs.
Rant over

[Bruno]

Thanks for the recap. I won't even bother watching this game.
I'm not really concerned about Spurs right now. Most of Spurs players have shown this year that they were at least as good as last year, the team struggles to find his rhythm with all these injuries.

To me, the only real concern is Horry. He is playing really poorly this year. He isn't even at the level of the regular season Horry. He is struggling that bad because of his troubles at the start of the season or is he done ?
Pop will have to figure that before the playoffs. If Horry has still something left in him, he could bring a lot in the playoff. It would be stupid to bench a player that valuable.
If Horry is done and if Pop stick with him, it will be NVE part 2 in worse because Bonner>Udrih.

[some_user86]

Thanks for the recap. I won't even bother watching this game.
I'm not really concerned about Spurs right now. Most of Spurs players have shown this year that they were at least as good as last year, the team struggles to find his rhythm with all these injuries.

To me, the only real concern is Horry. He is playing really poorly this year. He isn't even at the level of the regular season Horry. He is struggling that bad because of his troubles at the start of the season or is he done ?
Pop will have to figure that before the playoffs. If Horry has still something left in him, he could bring a lot in the playoff. It would be stupid to bench a player that valuable.
If Horry is done and if Pop stick with him, it will be NVE part 2 in worse because Bonner>Udrih.

I don't see it as Horry vs Bonner in terms of minutes for playoffs. I see it as PFs vs Centers (IOW, Horry/Bonner vs Oberto/Elson) competing for minutes. Bonner has received consistent time during Horry's surge of minutes. Oberto and Elson have suffered.

[Bruno]

I don't see it as Horry vs Bonner in terms of minutes for playoffs. I see it as PFs vs Centers (IOW, Horry/Bonner vs Oberto/Elson) competing for minutes. Bonner has received consistent time during Horry's surge of minutes. Oberto and Elson have suffered.

Bonner has had consistent playtime because Pop has decided to start Horry. If you start Oberto, Bonner will be the one who will get less playtime when Horry will get minutes.
Right now, three players deserve to get consistent playing time at PF/C : Duncan, Oberto and Bonner. If playoffs started tomorrow, I hope it will be Pop main PF/C rotation. These players should play the bulk of minutes at PF/C. The few minutes left at PF/C should be given to Elson, Horry or small ball.

[urunobili]

to be honest... i fell asleep after the first quarter... knew what was about to come.. and sorry for my prediction of manu going for 30+

[George Gervin's Afro]

I'm just gald I didn't blow any money on tickets for this game..

[1Parker1]

I don't understand why Udoka didn't play more after the first quarter? Instead more minutes went to Finley and Ginobili, neither of which were doing much. Udoka wasn't hesitating with his shot, his defense was good, and he looked to be in some sort of rythmn for the first time in a while. Of course, Pop decides not to play him. How does he expect Udoka to grow and become part of the system when Pop doesn't play him when he's playing well and then just randomly gives him more minutes here or there other games?

And I agree, Spurs greatly miss Barry. Not just his 3 point shooting, which is honest enough that most teams know to stay on him, but his passing, and chemistry he has with Parker and Ginobili....

[Southwest Texas Fan]

The spurs lost this game in the first quarter. I remember yelling at POP to call a time out and by the time it was all said and done the Pistons had already scored a third of their points in one quarter. Grant it the team kept them under their season average but the Spurs just sucked.

[TampaDude]

I honestly didn't bother watching this game because it's January and I figured the Pistons were gonna beat the Spurs, considering the way both teams have been playing recently. It doesn't really matter right now. We'll see Detroit again in the Finals.

[ancestron]

My game thoughts:
@#$%$#$!*&^$#$#@@!%$#

[MoSpur]

I don't like Pop going back and forth with Oberto and Horry in the starting lineup. I think that has a lot to do with the chemistry issue. Oberto hadn't been himself the past games when he didn't start. Last night, he looked a lot better.

[some_user86]

Bonner has had consistent playtime because Pop has decided to start Horry. If you start Oberto, Bonner will be the one who will get less playtime when Horry will get minutes.
Right now, three players deserve to get consistent playing time at PF/C : Duncan, Oberto and Bonner. If playoffs started tomorrow, I hope it will be Pop main PF/C rotation. These players should play the bulk of minutes at PF/C. The few minutes left at PF/C should be given to Elson, Horry or small ball.

Well, Oberto started yesterday (according to the Box Score). Bonner's minutes didn't go down. Instead, Horry's minutes went down. Elson's minutes rose.

[ancestron]

Pop needs to stop messing with the damn lineup. It looks like he doesnt know what he's doing. Like he and his staff are sitting over there saying "uh, I don't know lets try this guy, crap...uh maybe this guy...crap...uh how bout these guys? damn. Since when did Pop become Isiah Thomas??!?!

[phyzik]

With all those turnovers from Parker, for just an instant, I thought I'd like to see Beno on the floor.....

it was just an instant, I swear!

Someone needs to tell parker to make the shot and not focus on getting the foul, that seemed to be what the problem was. He was focused more on drawing the foul than actually making the shot. I wanted to reach into the TV and strangle him.

[SAGambler]

-Udoka was one of the reasons why the Spurs were even in the game at halme.
Over a four minute stretch in the second quarter, the Spurs’ only
points were two three-pointers by Udoka.
His defense was impressive for the most part and he probably deserved
more playing time than the seven minutes he received. In fact, he didn’t
play in the second half until the final few minutes after the game was decided.
He wasn’t playing any worse than any other perimeter player in this game for the Spurs.

This is what's killing me. Has Pop suddenly decided games can be won on defense alone? Same thing a few nights back. DJ comes in, scores like 8 pts in the final 3 or 4 minutes of the half, and then never sees the floor the rest of the game, Same he pulled on Udoka last night. Bonners 3s weren't falling, neither were Fins nor Manus. So what is the solution? Let them keep brickin away while the one man that hit two for you in the final minutes of the first half is sitting and chillin on the bench. Makes sense to me. Not. But apparently, for some strange reason, it makes sense to Pop.

Ok, now that Pop has escaped the ASG maybOk, now that Pop has escaped the
ASG maybe they can start palyig some basketball again.

I hate to think Pop is setting these guys up to lose games, so he can drink wine instead of coach the ASG, but I admit it has crossed my mind.

I think it's time to quit "experimenting" with Horry and tell him to either contribute or turn in his Jersey. Man has been a "stone cold killer" in the past, now he just looks "stone cold". Time to put up or go away.

What happened to our point guard, that since November was driving and scoring, no matter how many bigs were packing the lane? Suddenly he seems to have forgotten how he did that.

And while our backup PG did look capable last night, the "lose ground" tendancy continues when he is in the game.

The way I'm looking at it after the las week or two, is that if a team gets "really physical" with the Spurs, they just disappear. Maybe it's time for the coach to call the team "soft" publicly. Maybe that would light a fire under their collective asses. If they don't pick it up, they are going to be way down the list by the time January ends.

Maybe these guys have come to depend on the Rodeo Road Trip to bring them together, and right the ship. I don't know what it is, but the Spurs certainly aren't looking very Spurs like.

If February is a repeat of the first 10 days of January, I think we can cancel any plans for a "repeat parade".

[bdubya]

Spurs were showing signs of leitis, IMHO - the defending champions just aren't going to get all fired up for 82 games out of 82, and will try to play economically (i.e. lazy) rather than bring it 100% all the time. Which, when you're wearing the crown, means frequently getting jumped on early and getting down by 10+. Definitely happened with the 04-05 Pistons, and it seems like it wasn't unusual for the Spurs the next year. Witness the energy that Vaughn and Udoka brought compared to the vets. (I would have hoped that it being the Pistons visiting would have snapped them out of it, but after two straight ECF flameouts, maybe not so much.) Anyhow, couple that with the Pistons being on the rebound after two losses, and a lopsided game isn't surprising. Spurs did well to cut it to six late.

So, not as satisfying a win as it could have been. But this game reinforces how high I am on our bench (both the new blood and Coach Hunter), and it's always a pleasure to grab a W at the AT&T center. Looking forward to seeing how things stack up in a couple of months. Spurs best get their act together for that game, 'cause our bench is only going to get better...

[ancestron]

Its hard to work hard when you're sleeping in silk robes.

[DontHatethePlayer]

IMHO, it was very disappointing - mostly because the Pistons had lost their two previous games and were playing a back-to-back where their hats had been handed to them the night before by Dallas. The Spurs just plain stunk!

[whottt]

It’d also be nice to get Brent Barry healthy again. Barry is perhaps the best player on the team at coming in and instantly improving the team’s ball movement

Sin,

Me

The entirety of Brent Barry's Spurs career.



If you'll allow me...


PWNT!


Next you'll realize he actually is pretty clutch.

[whottt]

By the way on Horry...

It's a mistake to forget about him...

What Horry lacks right now believe it or not, is confidence...he had kind of a rough offseason and I think he himself is wondering if age has finally caught up with him, and if he actually has a place on this team.

The best thing that could happen for Horry is for a situation to arise where he gets extended PT...a lot of minutes for a stretch and finds his place on the team.

[JamStone]

I think it's more evident than in previous years that the Spurs need to seriously look into getting younger and more athletic, especially off the bench. Getting older veterans to round out a championship team is good ... until they get over-the-hill. Obviously, Horry and Finley even in sparse minutes are starting to show they're on their last legs. And, Jacque Vaughn and Brent Barry, while still somewhat effective, are probably not far behind. Tim, Manu, and Tony are as good as any three stars on any other team. They have the skill and IQ. I think Pop and RC need to start looking into surrounding them with better and younger athletes. The Spurs are still going to be in the mix this year, but how much longer with some of the older role players?

[timmy21_4rings]

We lost this match because the whole team allowed 18 points in a matter of minutes and this:
When TD is rallying the team on 2nd quarter, Parker missed/turned the ball over on 3 consecutive possessions. And on 3rd quarter, when TD is again playing good, Matt Bonner (ok but not a good shot) and Manu (ill advised) took unnecessary 3 pointers when they can clearly go inside TD (he was the only one making any shots after all).

I seriously felt Udoka should have been given chance in the 2nd half...

[T Park]

@ all the armchair coaches

[da_suns_fan]

I know you are my husband and all that, but I just wanted to say that this is one of the best recaps that you have written.

That's all.

NO WONDER you threatened to ban me the other day.

I had it completely wrong.

It wasn't because I was dissing Tony Parker, it was because I poked fun at your husband (I had no idea)!

I apologize for making fun. The "nifty pass" remark was just VERY Rosen-esque.

DSF's Game thoughts: The Suns should have just kept McDyess (the second time). They let him go so they could sign Q Richardson (STUPID) whom they traded for Kurt Thomas who never fit the systema as well as McDyess would have.

And McDyess does a great job on Duncan. I remember a Duncan quote way back when he said that Duncan did the best defending him. This was pre knee-surgery McDyess, but still.

[Phenomanul]

Barry is about a 15% slice of the team chemistry pie...

Hopefully his return will spread the defense out some more, and his passing will get the Spurs into a better offensive flow...

Oviously this loss is not because they needed Barry... simply lost amongst all the injuries to the big-three... is the one guy whose outside shot other teams must respect.