Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Sixers Mar. 15

[timvp]

Tony was also crap defensively the night before, against Rip Hamilton. I'm surprised you didn't mention that in the detroit game thoughts.

The Spurs were in a zone for 90% of the game. How can a player in a zone be responsible for one player? And the 10% of the time when Parker guarded him, he did a pretty good job against Rip.

[timvp]

I refuse to believe Kurt Thomas isn't an upgrade from Francisco Elson.

No one can say that with a straight face because its plain not true.

I would be more confident in Thomas but T Park was a hardcore Rasho supporter, Nazr supporter and Elson supporter ... this is some bad mojo, historically speaking

[rasho8]

-Tim Duncan was terrible against the Sixers. He was soft on both ends of the court. His activity level was extremely low and he was playing as if he was sporting a pair of cement Adidas. Duncan finished with 16 points and six rebounds in 33 minutes of play. In Duncan’s defense, fatigue had to be a major culprit. And since Duncan has done a very good job overall this season in keeping his energy level relatively high, I can give him a pass for this exhausted effort. The Spurs have played 11 games in the last 17 days, which is just an insane amount. Duncan sucked but I’ll issue a reprieve. That said, no more mulligans will be issued for the rest of the regular season. The Spurs need to actually start winning basketball games once again.

Wait... Rasho gave Timmy his shoes? Tell Timmy to give the Rasho shoes back to Rasho.

Only one slow big guy is allowed on the Spurs.. and thats my boy Nesterovic

[dbreiden83080]

This has just been such a tough year to figure out who the Spurs really are. They started the year in dominant fashion, 17-3 looked very good. Then the injury bug hit them and they understandibly fell off. After the all star break they got healthy and looked to be cohesive, playing very good ball and on a roll. Since then they have gone into the toilet and look like a B level team. You have to believe that with a lilttle more time between games, get Barry back get a little healthier, they will pick it up but will it be enough to get a good seed and have a real shot come playoff time??? I just don't know, but obviously remain hopeful.

[urunobili]

Six games into that seven game stretch and the team is stands at 1-5. Their latest loss coming tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.

the Sampson Jinx?

[polandprzem]

-Bruce Bowen started his first consecutive game and played 37 minutes for the Spurs. Offensively, he was one of the few role players who hit their shots, finishing with ten points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field. Defensively, Bowen seemed surprised by how Andre Iguodala attacked him. Bowen was giving Iguodala space and Iguodala didn’t hesitate to knock down the jumpers. Bowen never really adjusted and Iguodala was able to score 25 points.

As funny it may saound it is accually sad


I still got a faith in Spurs no matter what. I'm bit mad just because the spurs are not using maximum potential. But life never goes like it should and you can't control everything so being perfect is sometimes impossible, sometimes

Few things must be fixed before playoffs

1. Gino's energy. Lack of energy caused by being exhaused or bit banged. Decrease his munutes Pop! crowd shouts.
2.Starters - it's SG and C. Finley, Udoka or Manu. Kurt or Fabio? IMo they should go with Finley and Kurt leving the bench impact to Oberto and Manu. But it's all about who is gonna be on fire come playoff time.
3. Rotations - mainly the swings, we still need to wait for Brent and where is he in a term of being healthy. We need his offense esp. the slight havoc he is creating running on offensive end.
C -IMO Pop should stick with Kurt and Oberto as the main options leaving Horry 5-8 minutes/game
4. Confidence and being hungry at the same time. Being down in the playoff picture could help.
5. TD - If this guy still have it, well left it for the playoffs spurs got a chance for roll.

Still many things must go our way. Other teams got less problems I guess.

[polandprzem]

btw. I thing Jaque and Damon will be left off to the minority

[T Park]

I would be more confident in Thomas but T Park was a hardcore Rasho supporter, Nazr supporter and Elson supporter ... this is some bad mojo, historically speaking

Realisticly Thomas is the best out of all of them.

I only supported Elson and Rasho out of necessity. I honestly liked Nazr, but out of all of em I've liked Thomas the most. Even you can't argue hes the best out of the bunch.

[Holt's Cat]

So the Spurs won't win the March championship.

[Harry Callahan]

They are really going to have to pull one out of the hat to make a long run this year in the POs. There is little room for error.

I still would like the Spurs chances if an early series is with a team not used to playoff pressure (Houston, New Orleans, Phoenix).

[Obstructed_View]

The offensive stagnation has reached heights unknown even to the Spurs, and the defense is simply not there. Hopefully the playoff matchups give us a non-nightmare opponent in the first round, that's all I can hope for.

You must not have been a Spurs fan very long. These shooting droughts are reminiscent of the 90's Spurs. Antoine Carr and Doc Rivers were great as subs because they could come in, hit their jumpers and calm everyone down.

[Obstructed_View]

And most of you guys will be shocked at how good the Spurs will be as soon as they start competing for rebounds and hustling again.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

as far as this era of spursdom, the offensive droughts at this time in the season are not normal

[BIG z]

Timmy was afraid of Samuel throug out the game.... He got block on two crucial possesions...

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

And most of you guys will be shocked at how good the Spurs will be as soon as they start competing for rebounds and hustling again.

You are in denial. They are competing for boards (although zone hurts rebounding) and hustling. By saying that they are not, in essence that they aren't trying, you are highly disrespecting them and calling their professionalism into question.

Wake up and smell the roses - the losing is not for lack of effort.

[SequSpur]

You are in denial. They are competing for boards (although zone hurts rebounding) and hustling. By saying that they are not, in essence that they aren't trying, you are highly disrespecting them and calling their professionalism into question.

Wake up and smell the roses - the losing is not for lack of effort.

Ruff,

Dude.... Wake up... they are getting their asses handed to them because they can't rebound, they can't shoot, they make poor mental decisions.

Disrespecting them? They are a professional sports team, who gives a ... If the fans think they suck or they aren't playing hard enough then so be it... what is Pop going to kick our ass? They are losing because they are ty, piss poor and less than their opponent. WTF?

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

i think they're coasting

coasting in the middle of march where they are only a few games from the 9th spot?




sorry, it's not that simple

[SequSpur]

i think they're coasting

i think this is a part of it..

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I think Ruff was saying that, yes they are playing worse than their opponents, but NOT from lack of effort... from just being not as good....

That's exactly what I'm saying.

We're getting outplayed by our opponents even though we're trying.

I'm sick of people saying that they are not trying - it makes no sense, and it is patently false if you are watching the games. They ARE trying, they are simply playing poorly.

I hope it's tiredness of the 7 games in 11 days, but I think it's more to do with being old and slow.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

coasting in the middle of march where they are only a few games from the 9th spot?

Exactly. Please elwanko, explain why they would coast when they're 3 games out of 9th spot with a tough schedule ahead?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I think Ruff was saying that, yes they are playing worse than their opponents, but NOT from lack of effort... from just being not as good....

That's very scary, if true.

Very scary.

[roycrikside]

The Spurs were in a zone for 90% of the game. How can a player in a zone be responsible for one player? And the 10% of the time when Parker guarded him, he did a pretty good job against Rip.

Not nearly so much. For the most part Tony had Rip, Manu had Chauncey and Finley had Tayshaun. Watch the tape. Tony was constantly losing Rip on screens and giving him open shots.

[timvp]

Not nearly so much. For the most part Tony had Rip, Manu had Chauncey and Finley had Tayshaun. Watch the tape. Tony was constantly losing Rip on screens and giving him open shots.

The Spurs played zone almost the entire second half. If you want to blame Parker for giving up points to Rip while they were in a zone, I guess you can have at it.

Parker was the Spurs only real option against Rip. With Bowen and Udoka out, the Spurs had no one outside of Parker who Pop puts on players who run through screens. Rip having a bigger than usual game was a given going into the contest.

[wildbill2u]

You can't afford to coast this year in the Western Conference if you want to have at least one series with home court advantage.

There are many opinions about how the Spurs can succeed in their remaining games--and many of them are good.

All we need is better coaching, better defense, better shooting %, better rebounding, more steals, less turnovers, more assists, better ball movement, more confidence, more and better effort from the bench, calling up some younger players, giving more time to older players to get into game shape, the return of Barry, recovery from injuries, weakness in our compe ors--and we can win the championship.

Good luck, Spurs!

[duncan228]

All we need is better coaching, better defense, better shooting %, better rebounding, more steals, less turnovers, more assists, better ball movement, more confidence, more and better effort from the bench, calling up some younger players, giving more time to older players to get into game shape, the return of Barry, recovery from injuries, weakness in our compe ors--and we can win the championship.

All they need to do is play Spurs basketball.