Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Warriors Apr. 1

[honestfool84]

is it just me, or have i seen less comments from houston/dallas/phoenix fans lately, since they kinda don't have anything to jibber about?

i actually love it

[MoSpur]

I am very impressed in how Tony played last night. He was very aggressive and drawing fouls left and right. Too bad he can't make his free throws. Udoka was a beast on defense. Oberto also had a good game. The Spurs defense was solid for most of the game and overall. They let the Warriors get back into the game, but give the Warriors credit for that as well.

They were busting shots from the outside. I cannot stand Baron Davis. The guy overreacts to everything. I'm glad Parker took it to him. I wish Oberto would have pushed Davis off of him.

[Manudona]

-Manu Ginobili had his ups and downs against the Warriors. Overall, it was more good than bad for Ginobili. He scored 16 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished two assists and swiped two steals, while hitting half of his 14 shots from the floor. However, Ginobili turned the ball over six times and wasn’t valuing possessions as much as he should against a run-and-gun team that feasts on mistakes. Defensively, Ginobili had by far his best defensive game against the Warriors this season. Pop deserves some of the credit for keeping Ginobili off of shooters like Stephen Jackson, which gave Ginobili the freedom to roam and cause havoc. A few less sloppy plays and Ginobili would have had yet another great game.
Believe.

Actually it was only one steal, but two blocks. At least according to Yahoo Sports

[wildbill2u]

My take on Pop's coaching--leaving the rotation at 8 players until game out of reach--is that he really wanted this game in particular. Why?

Knowing that the Warriors are on the bubble to gain the playoffs, maybe CIA Pop wanted to help shut the door on them so they wouldn't be an opponent in the playoffs. A running team like the small ball Warriors might be dangerous to the older Spurs in a series.
Could Pop be that calculating?

[polandprzem]

My take on Pop's coaching--leaving the rotation at 8 players until game out of reach--is that he really wanted this game in particular. Why?

Knowing that the Warriors are on the bubble to gain the playoffs, maybe CIA Pop wanted to help shut the door on them so they wouldn't be an opponent in the playoffs. A running team like the small ball Warriors might be dangerous to the older Spurs in a series.
Could Pop be that calculating?

Pobably not.
games before laoffs are statment games and games where the tactic you've chosen realy works.

[The Truth #6]

We would probably do well against GS in the playoffs. I would much rather face them than Denver who would beat us up as much as possible to try and win.

[Spurs Brazil]

Oberto was great last night

Ime is also playing smarter during the winning streak

[Spuradicator]

Great game last night, Im ready to crush the Lakers.......

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Ime is also playing smarter during the winning streak

It looks like he's been getting a better handle on walking the line between "looking for your shot" and "forcing your shot."

[Agloco]

The Nuggets fanbase thanks you for a big win

You could repay the favor by holding onto a lead and beating Phoenix.......

[Agloco]

My take on Pop's coaching--leaving the rotation at 8 players until game out of reach--is that he really wanted this game in particular. Why?
Knowing that the Warriors are on the bubble to gain the playoffs, maybe CIA Pop wanted to help shut the door on them so they wouldn't be an opponent in the playoffs. A running team like the small ball Warriors might be dangerous to the older Spurs in a series.
Could Pop be that calculating?

I think it was more to send a message to the rest of the league. The old guys are waking up, and they want to keep the trophy right where it is.

Crushing two potential playoff opponents one after the other sends that message loud and clear.

[Cry Havoc]

The Celtics are the best defensive team in the NBA and are attempting to become the first team in NBA history to lead the league in Opp PPG, Opp FG% and Opp 3FG%, IOW, arguably the most dominant defensive team in NBA history...and for the record, they lead in all 3 as we speak. Add to that the fact that Finley choked ing ass in the finals last year...and you have to be an idiot to count on Finley(and his sub 40% FG%) shooting well. So you better get some freaking rebounds.


Sin,

The obvious

The Dallas Mavericks won 67 games last year and had a streak where they were arguably the greatest team in NBA history. Because regular season records matter.

Teams haven't figured the Celtics out yet. I think Detroit will push them to 7 in the ECF, and I think that Pop and Duncan taking a full series against the C's would start to cut down on that mighty defensive prowess. They still have no one to guard Parker and no hope of containing Manu when he steps into playoff form. We all know Duncan will dominate in the playoffs, and if Finley is hitting.... I'd take us over the Cs any day in the playoffs. Unless you can point to some past history of them dominating as a team in a grind-it-out 7 game series...

[whottt]

The Dallas Mavericks won 67 games last year and had a streak where they were arguably the greatest team in NBA history. Because regular season records matter.

Teams haven't figured the Celtics out yet. I think Detroit will push them to 7 in the ECF, and I think that Pop and Duncan taking a full series against the C's would start to cut down on that mighty defensive prowess. They still have no one to guard Parker and no hope of containing Manu when he steps into playoff form. We all know Duncan will dominate in the playoffs, and if Finley is hitting.... I'd take us over the Cs any day in the playoffs. Unless you can point to some past history of them dominating as a team in a grind-it-out 7 game series...

Um...I've figured the Celtics out...they're good. They aren't doing it with smoke and mirrors...they are legit good. The Mavs actually were pretty good too...Nelson just built a team that could take them out, since he built that Mavs team and knew Dirk's weaknesses.


Put it this way...just a team built around Ray Allen gave the Spurs all they could handle in 05. Jerome James was like the 3rd best player on that team...


And you know...Ray Allen doesn't back down from Bruce or get intimidated, he gets his shots in. Although I do think Udoka is going to match up well with him.


They are going to be tough. KG is pretty tough when he's got help, Pierce is an insanely difficult one on one match up if not a true franchise player, and as much I hate to say it...Ray Allen is a freaking good player. Rondo is a good defensive guard too.

And to top all that off, to quote Josh Howard, "I've never seen defense like that before"


They're tough...if the Spurs try to win by running small ball on them, it'll be a mistake.

[td4mvp21]

It's also not as important as it was two years ago...except for the fact that if Pop falls in love with it, we won't be repeating.

I get your point, but basically small ball was Spurs Kryptonite except for the Suns version of it...and they don't really play it anymore.

I worry about bigball now...the Suns version of it.


PS: without a doubt Po's love of smallball cost us the last game against the Celtics(and IIRC the first one as well). I sincerely hope Pop isn't going to attempt it against the Celts...that experiement is a failure...about as much as it was against the Mavs.


Small ball down the stretch = Spurs opponents outrebounding us down the stretch. It's a horrible system of closing out games.

I have to agree with whottt on this one. Small ball would be ok as an alternative game plan for the Spurs, but Pop tends to overuse it. I will never understand why he immediately goes to it if the Spurs are losing early in the game. You're losing, so you go small against a big lineup, open up the paint, and sacrifice some defense? I don't understand that. I don't care if he goes to small ball to matchup to the other team well, but don't do it unless you have to. The Spurs are best when two bigs are on the floor.

[T Park]

Well Im glad the forum coaches are out in full force.

[td4mvp21]

Well Im glad the forum know-it-all jackass is out in full force.

[bigfundamental21]

Another great Spurs win. Great recap, timvp.

I like the way the team is playing. Everyone is contributing and our defense has been SOLID!

The game on Friday will be another good test. Utah is tough, particularly at home.