Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Pistons Mar. 14

[carina_gino20]

After learning about the suspension, the Spurs had to take on the Detroit Pistons in Motown. All things considered, I thought the Spurs played well and I was proud with the way they play. They fought hard, didn’t give up and played with a purpose all game long. It’s too late in the season to be counting moral victories but I don’t think anyone associated with the Spurs will go to sleep tonight ashamed with how the team responded to the adversity.

+1

Everyone's worried because of the slump, but it's always better when you see your team give the effort. If the Spurs had just let the Pistons run away with the game after entering thr 4th Q down by 10 or 12, I would have been extremely disappointed.

The Spurs already knew they were playing injured. They could have chosen to mail it in, or grind it out and give it their best effort. They did the second one tonight. And it was comforting to see. There are some games that may look like a loss from the start but you still play them because there's always a chance that you could win.

[romsho]

For the first time in a while, there were signs of "Spurs basketball" being played. Although it was a loss and the defensive rebounding was terrible, they actually looked very focused, played excellent team defense in stretches- I have been more concerned following alot of their recent wins than what I saw last night. Will be very interested to see how this carries over in Philly...If they put forth that kind of concentration and effort going forward, it will come around. We need to see it on a consistent basis.

[roycrikside]

This is the 2nd game in a row that Manu started and got completely frozen out of the offense for the first six minutes, basically wasted six minutes of his floor time where he could've otherwise been resting up, getting ready.

This happened A LOT the first half of last year, him checking out of games at the 6 minute mark 0/0, 1/1, or 0/1. It's why we had to move him to the bench, to maximize the most out of his minutes.

Pop uses the first half of the quarter to get Tony and Tim going. Manu should've been on the bench if he wasn't going to get used. I don't care who you start, Bonner, Horry, Damon, whoever, it doesn't matter. That was ing stupid. All these years and Pop still has no clue how to play the three of them together at the beginning of the game. Maybe the middle or the end he figures it out and goes by who's the hottest, but at the beginning, if Manu starts, he always gets frozen out. Why even play him then?

[WalterBenitez]

Welcome back to TP ... anyone saw Manu?

[Kori Ellis]

This is the 2nd game in a row that Manu started and got completely frozen out of the offense for the first six minutes, basically wasted six minutes of his floor time where he could've otherwise been resting up, getting ready.

I think they intentionally went away from Manu because he's having a hard time. He is physically exhausted, really banged up and having a hard time really playing right now.

Why even play him then?

I'm sure they would have given him a day off if it weren't for Bowen/Udoka being out.

[spurschick]

If Stoudamire doesn’t find his shot soon, it’s going to be time to give up on this experiment. He’s playing almost exactly like Nick Van Exel, except Van Exel at least had a reputation of being clutch to fall back on.

Charlie Ward
Nick Van Exel
Damon Stoudamire

The grand experiments need to stop. We keep grabbing these "proven" veteran point guards who inevitably end up being big disappointments and riding the pine in the playoffs. As we approach the post-season, I'm ready to rely on Vaughn, Brent and Manu to back up Tony.

[1Parker1]

I was hoping this would be the game that propels the Spurs to the finish line. I remember in 2005, when we won those back to back double OT games on the road without TD, I knew that team was special and was going to be all right. Last year, when we won 13 straight after a so-so Rodeo Trip and playing like crap for the first half of the season, I knew this team would be ok.

This season, with the West as compe ive as it is, and teams like the Hornets, Jazz, and Rockets playing at a significantly high level, I'm still waiting for that something to show me this Spurs team is special.

[spurschick]

I was really surprised that the game was this close. Really makes you wonder what the outcome would've been if we'd had Bruce and Ime, and even Brent for that matter.

[DarrinS]

Jacque Vaughn played 11 minutes off the bench and basically did nothing. However, producing nothing is better than the production the Spurs are getting out of Stoudamire right now.

I do have to question Pop’s over reliance on Stoudamire. Instead of going small with Stoudamire, why not give Bonner more minutes or even play Horry at small forward? , Pop himself playing small forward is a better alignment than any look which features Stoudamire at this point.

Good take on the game -- as always.


Stoudamire has no business being in a Spurs uni.


In these games, we need Bonner's energy.


Can one person tell me what Stoudamire brings to the table? Anything? Bueller?

[mojorizen7]

2 CENTS:
I would say that only getting 15 assists as a team is not a good thing.

[T Park]

If Stoudamire would be told to go back to being the distributor and run the offense shoot second, he would go back to making shots.

Right now his mindset is "shoot" and its putting pressure on his shooting.

If he would go back to just worrying about being a passer, his shot would come back.

That simple.

[batboy]

Lakers:

Sun, Mar 16 @ Houston
Tue, Mar 18 @ Dallas
Thu, Mar 20 @ Utah
Sun, Mar 23 Golden State
Mon, Mar 24 @ Golden State


Hornets:

Sun, Mar 16 @ Detroit
Mon, Mar 17 Chicago
Wed, Mar 19 Houston
Sat, Mar 22 Boston
Fri, Mar 28 @ Boston


Rockets

Sun, Mar 16 LA Lakers
Tue, Mar 18 Boston
Wed, Mar 19 @ New Orleans
Fri, Mar 21 @ Golden State
Sat, Mar 22 @ Phoenix


Suns

Mon, Mar 24 @ Detroit
Wed, Mar 26 @ Boston
Mon, Mar 31 Denver
Tue, Apr 1 @ Denver

There is a god. Thank you for that.

[SAGambler]

-Matt Bonner only played seven minutes but I thought he played impressively. He entered the game in the fourth quarter with the Spurs down ten points and by the time he exited, the Spurs were down only one point. His aggression in terms of crashing the boards was needed and surprisingly enough, Bonner’s defense was actually really good. He was active in the zone defense and made a number of very good closeouts. What was perhaps most impressive was the fact that he played a substantial part of his time at small forward. His seamless transition to small forward was good to see.

Which makes one wonder....WTF did he only play 7 goddamn minutes. Pop needs to forget his damn doghouse and play the players that can actually help win a game. Spurs getting their asses handed to them on the boards, and Bonner is sitting on the bench, when even Pop in his hardheaded way should have known Bonner could help stop that.

I blame this loss totally on Pop. He plays a guy 7 minutes that can help on the board, and can hit the 3, but barely plays him, because for whatever stupid reason, he is in Pops famous doghouse.

[urunobili]

i LOVE to have TP back... the Spurs can only contend with TP this way and Manu healthier than what we saw him

[T Park]

Which makes one wonder....WTF did he only play 7 goddamn minutes. Pop needs to forget his damn doghouse and play the players that can actually help win a game. Spurs getting their asses handed to them on the boards, and Bonner is sitting on the bench, when even Pop in his hardheaded way should have known Bonner could help stop that.

I blame this loss totally on Pop. He plays a guy 7 minutes that can help on the board, and can hit the 3, but barely plays him, because for whatever stupid reason, he is in Pops famous doghouse.

Yeah Pop didn't rebound.

Genius

Since when did playing a white non defending player become so hardcore?

He came in and played well, but it was only out of desperation he had to be played.


I'd love to know who he should've jumped ahead of last night and played.

[Obstructed_View]

T Park, stop sucking of Pop long enough to recognize reality. It's not that hard to find minutes for a guy when a starter and a second teamer are out.

Bonner hustles when he's out there, he can shoot, he knows the offense and the defense, and he's healthy. When the team is so short handed and they are playing so many games in such a short time, playing Bonner 7 minutes is puzzling.

[T Park]

T Park, stop sucking of Pop long enough to recognize reality. It's not that hard to find minutes for a guy when a starter and a second teamer are out.

Bonner hustles when he's out there, he can shoot, he knows the offense and the defense, and he's healthy. When the team is so short handed and they are playing so many games in such a short time, playing Bonner 7 minutes is puzzling.

Suck off pop?

Wanna recheck what I said last night about him Kurt Thomas?


Greatness

[Obstructed_View]

Suck off pop?

No thanks. That's your job.

Nice to hear you might have said something not altogether positive about Pop. How cathartic for you.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

This team is being coached, playing, winning, like its January. I see no sense of urgency within this team, its really like they fell through a time warp and think theres 30 games left and not 17.

[1Parker1]

Which makes one wonder....WTF did he only play 7 goddamn minutes. Pop needs to forget his damn doghouse and play the players that can actually help win a game. Spurs getting their asses handed to them on the boards, and Bonner is sitting on the bench, when even Pop in his hardheaded way should have known Bonner could help stop that.

I blame this loss totally on Pop. He plays a guy 7 minutes that can help on the board, and can hit the 3, but barely plays him, because for whatever stupid reason, he is in Pops famous doghouse.

I actually think Pop did that because it was a back to back game, and he usually rests Horry on the one of the games. Horry matched up better against the Pistons and was doing Ok than he would do against a more athletic Sixers team. I'm guessing tonight's game we're going to see a lot of Bonner and no Horry.

[weebo]

All we need to worry about right now is making sure we make the playoffs. It doesn't matter who we beat to get there. Come playoff time the Spurs will be poised and ready to give it their best effort. If we lose to the Pistons, Mavs, Lakers, or whoever during the regular season, so be it. Once the second season starts, there's no such thing as one game series. Let's see if these teams have what it takes to beat the champs 4 out of 7.

[T Park]

No thanks. That's your job.

Nice to hear you might have said something not altogether positive about Pop. How cathartic for you.

Yeah cause the guy should be fired I know

Adult comebacks BTW

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah cause the guy should be fired I know

Adult comebacks BTW

Sorry, Next time I'll try to come up with something more mature like "Yeah Pop didn't rebound. Genius."

I don't know what this board would do if you couldn't be counted on to get threatened any time someone dares to criticize the coach and go into smart-ass mode. Nobody's starting a "fire Pop" thread, but if the complaint is how tired everybody is, there's zero reason not to be giving Bonner more minutes. Even you can't defend it with any enthusiasm.

[Obstructed_View]

PS, Did I misread or did you suggest that Bonner should have gotten more minutes in the Bonner thread at the same time you were slamming someone for suggesting it in this thread? Oh, because they were blaming Pop for not playing Bonner, and it was the blaming of the coach that you don't like. Bonner is the one to blame for not checking himself into the game.

[T Park]

Sorry, Next time I'll try to come up with something more mature like "Yeah Pop didn't rebound. Genius."

I don't know what this board would do if you couldn't be counted on to get threatened any time someone dares to criticize the coach and go into smart-ass mode. Nobody's starting a "fire Pop" thread, but if the complaint is how tired everybody is, there's zero reason not to be giving Bonner more minutes. Even you can't defend it with any enthusiasm.

So wear everyone out on the first night of a back to back instead of saving them for the second night?