Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Hornets Mar. 12

[ancestron]

Spurs are a mess right now

[Zarko's Ghost]

Although the Spurs haven't been very sharp the last couple of weeks, I don't think this game tells us much about how they will fare in the playoffs. Although New Orleans is a tough matchup with all of their good mid-range jump shooters, the game looked like one between a well- rested team and a tired team. Also, I don't think I've seen a team all year that hit more fadeaway jumpers than the Hornets did tonight.
I wouldn't mind avoiding the Hornets in the playoffs, but I don't think Spurs fans need to panic if we were are matched up with them.

[Budkin]

Your analysis usually makes me feel better about losses. This one made me feel worse about our chances to repeat than I have all season. It's hard to keep the faith in this team but of course I will. I believe.

[LEONARD]

believe!!!!
believe!!!!
believe!!!!
believe!!!!
believe!!!!
believe!!!!
believe!!!!

[thousandth]

New rotation didn't work out well in the end on last six games we lost three. Mike, Udoka, Oberto were playing their worst game with the new rotation. Surely Pop won't make further changes at this state of the season but we should return to Rodeo starting lineup. We ended up with a very good record.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

I think the Spurs are fine in the playoffs if they're able to get homecourt advantage in every round. They won't be able to bite the bullet come playoff time if they've dropped so low that they would not have homecourt advantage in every round.

[remingtonbo2001]

I think we need to re-insert Oberto into the starting lineup and consistantly bring Gino off the bench.

[Obstructed_View]

New rotation didn't work out well in the end on last six games we lost three. Mike, Udoka, Oberto were playing their worst game with the new rotation. Surely Pop won't make further changes at this state of the season but we should return to Rodeo starting lineup. We ended up with a very good record.

Manu and Finley starting with Tony Parker watching from home?

[SpurYank]

Sorry, but I can't go along with this "Manu is tired" bit. Tim, Bruce, Tony, all play similar minutes. There was nothing in Manu's performance last night that caused the loss. It's a team concept, and there are 10 or 11 other members who also have to contribute. It was mostly the terrific shooting from the Hornets, our defense, and our offense. I watched the Suns do something quite similar on a Sunday on national TV recently. The Pistons did it last night. The Celtics don't do it because that team is hungry as . They've been dry for a long, long time.

Hopefully it's a waker upper.

[1Parker1]

I also blame Pop for Damon's downfall.

Stoudamire was actually playing decently, knowing when to distribue, how to run the offense, etc, before Pop went out and told him he needs to shoot more. Since then, all Damon does is look for his shot instead of running the Spurs offense which should be his primary goal.

[Obstructed_View]

I also blame Pop for Damon's downfall.

Stoudamire was actually playing decently, knowing when to distribue, how to run the offense, etc, before Pop went out and told him he needs to shoot more. Since then, all Damon does is look for his shot instead of running the Spurs offense which should be his primary goal.

I agree with that. MM was doing a pretty good job within the offense and then the whole train started to derail about the time he started jacking up shots.

[thousandth]

Manu and Finley starting with Tony Parker watching from home?

Not. Seriously, Mike're so bad coming off the bench. Oberto, too. Even Udoka plays bad with the new rotation. 3 of 6 so bad.

[phxspurfan]

Tired Spurs = Spurs loss. I blame this one on the schedule.

[Obstructed_View]

Not. Seriously, Mike're so bad coming off the bench. Oberto, too. Even Udoka plays bad with the new rotation. 3 of 6 so bad.

So the what? They need to learn how to contribute. ty play shouldn't earn you a starting spot.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Thanks for the great analysis Timvp!




18 games. That what the Spurs have left to right the ship. 18 games.

[carina_gino20]

Sorry, but I can't go along with this "Manu is tired" bit. Tim, Bruce, Tony, all play similar minutes. There was nothing in Manu's performance last night that caused the loss. It's a team concept, and there are 10 or 11 other members who also have to contribute.

There was a long stretch when Tony was out that Manu played very extended minutes from his usual playing time. For years, Pop has done a good job pacing Manu, because Manu doesn't know how to. He plays with only one speed. This year, because of the way the West is playing and with TP's injury, Pop has been forced to play Manu more to salvage some games.

Manu may not have cost them the game last night. But it was obvious that he couldn't contribute much because he is tired. He already said it after the Denver game. He needs to rest.

In addition, Pop needs to make a decision about that starting lineup. Soon.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

And Manu looked like Manu from 2006. I don't know what it is, but something was not right with him last night. I hope he is able to recharge his batteries, because it is not going to get any easier.

I think Manu's both tired and a liar and he downplayed his contusion.
It reminded me of when he got immobilized after getting Banged up in game 3 of the pistons. Which is why he missed his jumpers; no legs.

He said was tired for the Denver game, but he still played sharply. In this game he was completely stiff when running. Hopefully tomorrow he'll show signs of life against his favorite defense. If he still sucks against the Pistons then he needs to take the Chicago and Sacramento games off next week.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

We have too many players that are LIABILITIES on both ends of the court.


I can live with Bruce's streaky (at best) offense, because he's such a good dender, but these players are liabilities on both ends of the floor:


Finley
Udoka
Horry
Vaughn (good defense at times)
Stoudemire (yikes, WTF did we get a tier van Exel?)


It's sad that we have to rely on KT for a reliable mid-range jumper.

This bench is pretty sad folks.

I don't agree that these guys are generally a liability on both ends, but there are all certainly a liability at one end or the other, and that in itself causes enough problems.

As I've said since the slump, if only we could COMBINE these guys (and Bonner) into one player, we'd be unbeatable!

Imagine Tim, Tony, Manu, Bruce, Brent and KT playing beside UdoFin, Borry and Stoudevaughn. Killah!

[1Parker1]

Here's what I don't understand about Robert Horry;
In years past, even if his shot wasn't falling, his off the charts basketball IQ usually helped the team in terms of +- which made him worthwhile to have on the court. Whether it would be a smart defensive play, rebound, charge, etc. His basketball IQ from all his years of experience in playoff and big game moments was most obvious.

However, this season, it's like he's playing like a Rookie out there. He's just laughing it up, being lazy, and just all over the place defensively and on offense. I don't understand how this has happened to a player like Horry. He looks like a joke out there.

I know Timvp has also always appreciated his Basketball IQ, anyone else see this?

[SAGambler]

I think it's unfair to blame Popovich for overusing Manu the last few months, he has had to in order to stay compe ive and try to win "must win" games. It's not like sitting him out a game or 2 doesn't matter. This year in the West, every game is a crucial to just stay in the playoff hunt. Had he used Manu sparingly during the stretch without Parker, we would be playing for the 7th or 8th seed instead of trying to hold into 1st...

Aha. Someone finally figured out that those Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb Regular Season games actually do count for something.

But if someone says something about Dec, Jan, Feb losses, they are accussed of jumping off the Spurs bandwagon and don't understand it's just an early RS loss and besides, don't you know, Spurs don't start to play till March.

Well, here's a ing hint......It's March. So when is the allmighty SPAM going to begin?

[T Park]

t's March. So when is the allmighty SPAM going to begin?

Seeing as it stands for AFTER March.

Theres your ing hint.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I am so pissed off right now about this loss still. Basically the age of our team is a liability when we're faced with a season in which we have to play every game like its a must win.

Ginobili looks so gassed right now, its depressing. Parker is nowhere NEAR the level we need him to be (in other words the level he was before ankle troubles).

[T Park]

So Parker's 28 wasn't good last night?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

So Parker's 28 wasn't good last night?

Points aren't everything. His footwork is slow, he has not been able to bumrush to the rack on one man fast breaks like he used to, and he's ending up on his ass more than ever now.

He's just begging to get injured.

[whottt]

Here's what I don't understand about Robert Horry;
In years past, even if his shot wasn't falling, his off the charts basketball IQ usually helped the team in terms of +- which made him worthwhile to have on the court. Whether it would be a smart defensive play, rebound, charge, etc. His basketball IQ from all his years of experience in playoff and big game moments was most obvious.

However, this season, it's like he's playing like a Rookie out there. He's just laughing it up, being lazy, and just all over the place defensively and on offense. I don't understand how this has happened to a player like Horry. He looks like a joke out there.

I know Timvp has also always appreciated his Basketball IQ, anyone else see this?

Minutes matter. Horry is trying to stay on the court and thus he's not playing like Horry. He's having his worst season? He's also getting probably the fewest minutes ever as well.

Since Horry doesn't rely a whole lot on physical ability, I'm saying his off season is probably due more to a lack of PT than a steep decline.



But since he's not a getting a great deal of minutes...he cannot be held responsible for our current ineffective play.

Neither can Brent Barry.

Neither can Jacque Vaughn.

Neither can Matt Bonner.


And neither can infamous board whipping boy Francisco Elson.



The guys that can be held accountable are the guys getting the minutes and not having a noticable impact either in the stat column or in the W-L column.



What I want to know...are we better off with Damon Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas and Udoka, than Vaughn, Elson and Barry?


No. We aren't.



I hope Spur fans keep that in mind when they are ripping guys not getting minutes...