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When Horry's shot missed at the buzzer, it felt like someone kicked me square in the family jewels. I felt physically ill. Like the Basketball Gods were laughing, saying, "you didn't really think they would win did you?"indeed
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Manu needs to get off this "we couldn't buy a shot and they couldn't miss" crap. It's the difference between layups and forced jumpers, or between defense and lack of same.
Didn't Manu take a bad three when they needed a two to tie? Please.
sounds like concerns right before some championship runs - this team will right the ship!
In name only. The team that went 17 - 3 was moving the ball, driving the lane, steadily raining 3s on opponents. That team no longer exists. For one quarter last night, they looked like the Spurs of November. Then they reverted back to the Spurs of December, Januar. I'm beginning to think the Spurs couldn't hold a big lead if it was handcuffed to them.
It's almost like when we started having to sit players due to injury, when they came back, it was without the chemistry of November.
Hopefully, we can put together a win for 7 more games, which should get us into the playoffs. After that, maybe things will come together and we can end the season like we started it.
It's not just mental. They're playing games with themselves, when it's clearly also physical. A good portion of the team cannot bring it anymore, not on a regular basis. They're too old and broken-down, lack so much athleticism. They don't have much hunger anymore, not as a cohesive team. Maybe they can get it together for one more run, but I'm not sure they can do it for an entire single series.
Winning a championship is always the ultimate goal for a team and is almost equally as satisfying for us fans. Personally, I believe winning the championship was last year, with the squad we had in place and with the flaws that existed in that team, has indirectly led to diminished returns we're seeing today.
It's no secret to anyone that this team looked the same way last season. Many of us, including myself, were clamoring for the FO to do something to add some energy and youth to the squad. The FO did nothing - and yet they somehow prevailed. Reaching the goal of last year led to the philosophical mandate on the part of the FO to "stand pat" and not make any major changes with the roster. That championship of last year provided the most conveinent of excuses to do nothing. Who could argue at that time? Of course, this is the same FO that decided they wanted to pursue Jason Kidd after winning a le in 2003, but I digress.
Pat Riley took the same route over the summer of 2006, after winning the first le in Heat history. He elected to keep the same roster of older players, many of whom were at the end of their careers. How'd that turn out?
That decision being made, the team we see now is a year older, a year more worn, and the overall talent level has diminished to a level that they're being outplayed by younger, quicker, more hungrier teams on a nightly basis. I just do not see how this team is going to "magically" correct what is wrong here in time to successfully defend their le. There are no miracles in the NBA. There are no shortcuts - especially when the conference is as tough as anyone can ever remember.
Last edited by SenorSpur; 03-18-2008 at 10:39 AM.
Plus they decided to trade Scola for nothing. Like he'd disrupt chemistry of that 'all-fired championship team'. Can't we recognize that as a massive failure at this point?
When Horry's shot missed at the buzzer, it felt like someone kicked me square in the family jewels. I felt physically ill. Like the Basketball Gods were laughing, saying, "you didn't really think they would win did you?"
That feeling hit me much earlier in the game.
Boy, I didn't want to go there, but a valid point. I'm sure we were all hoping this wouldn't come back to bite the Spurs, but guess what?
at halftime I had a phone call so I was on the phone for a while. I came back to watch the game and Spurs were down 3 with 6 mins to play in the 3rd!!!
I could not beleive it, how in the that happened is out of my comprehension. I knew Spurs lost the game right then
Spurs players and Pop blaming this as all mental problems is wrong. If you can't be mentally stable during regular season games, how do they expect it not to happen in the playoffs?
I disagree with that.
Spurs FO has tried to go younger via trade, FA or draft but they have failed at that.
There isn't a "stand pat philosophy".
NBA.COM called Tony Parker the ballstopper and there was no ball movement. This is the reason for the demise of the Spurs against the Celts.
I also question his statement too because one of the hallmarks of this championship dynasty has been their mental for ude. If this squad IS actually enduring mental issues, it probably from fatigue, age and diminshed skill level.
I told people last summer that the worst thing that could have happened for the Spurs long-term success was winning the le last summer because the FO decided that team was better than it actually was. They spent most of their resources re-signing the same guys and for longer terms-- Bonner, Oberto, Vaughn. They did not even take the time to explore the market. Not only are they tied up for this year but for 1 or 2 more, as well. They even turned the expiring Brent Barry into an additional year and picked up Kurt Thomas' additional year over Fransisco's. They are locked in on alot of guys for next season and that is even with the assumption that Finley and Horry are gone.
The one good move was bringing in Udoka- as it was an attempt to address a real need and an issue facing the team. Otherwise, they pretty much stood pat- and gave away Beno and Scola.
Of course it's a stand pat philosophy. Luis Scola is 28. Younger on team average. You noticed they traded him away for zippo?
Resigning that kind of money for Bonner was ludicrous. It's not big money, but it's money that could have gone elsewhere for a guy who isn't strictly 14th man material. When Oberto opted out looking for more years, I thought that was a bad sign, although smart on his part. Vaughn wasn't a big deal - he's useful and a good presence.
The Kurt Thomas trade was probably okay, but giving up that badly, badly needed first rounder was stupid, and as you say, tacking another contract year onto Barry wasn't great, but it'll not be a lot of money. In the end, since I don't believe we'll go very far in the playoffs (crossing fingers otherwise), getting Thomas for a first round pick over Elson probably hurts more than helps.
Agree. The lack of moves last summer or non moves was not wise. Locking up older over the hill or marginal talented players and jamming up roster flexibility will waste a couple more years off of Duncan's prime. The window for success will close with Duncan.
You noticed that they re-sign for the same money a 28 years old Bonner and offered more money to a 21 years old Amir Johnson.
Losing Scola was the only blunder that Ive read.
But it was a BAD blunder. HORRIBLE!!!!!
Last summer the philosophy was stand pat with no major core changes.
Only problem is time and other teams do not stand pat. So the team that was good enough to win last year is not necessarily good enough to win again this year.
Bonner
They threw inadequate money at A Johnson and called it an offseason. Highly impressed.
Bonner
You might have noticed Bonner was already on the team.
Bonner
And he already sucked.
Bonner
Same here.
I know my English isn't perfect but you have some reading comprehension troubles.Bonner
They threw inadequate money at A Johnson and called it an offseason. Highly impressed.
Bonner
You might have noticed Bonner was already on the team.
Bonner
And he already sucked.
Bonner
Bonner sucking or not has nothing to do with what I've written.
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