Grades: Spurs @ Mavericks - Mar. 17

[silverblk mystix]

This season can't and won't end well...sorry to say...

Despite all the possibilities...despite acquiring on of my fave all-time Spurs...it will come down to this;

Can this Spurs team win despite Coach head?

I just don't see how you can when Coach head will play Bonner this many minutes and have Blair guarding Dirk...
Spurs make a run...coach head calls a timeout and takes the hot players out...

Everytime the Spurs play the Mavs...it is a small ball fest....Coach head will never try something new...he will just blindly try to match DOWN to the Mavs smalls....
(Why not try to play TD/Splitter...then throw in a zone to throw off the mavs and especially to STOP CHASING THEIR QUICK GUARDS THROUGH MULTIPLE SCREENS?????)

head Coach will be the downfall of this promising season...hate to say it...but the writing is on the wall....

[loveforthegame]

Thanks for the grades. Best write up around.

My biggest concern against the Mavs is that our guys fail to attack the basket when they have no one inside to protect the rim. Twice this season they've done a good job at keeping Parker outside. Last night you could tell he was tired but he's going to have to figure the defense out.

Ginobli attacked a couple times, Leonard and Jackson once, Green and Neal used floaters but didn't make much effort beyond that.

Duncan and Splitter did some nice work down low.

But if we don't have anyone constantly attacking to have the defense sag then they not only keep guys out of the paint but can stay home on the outside shooters as well.

On the defensive side of things I'm hoping Pop didn't want Dirk to get too used to Jackson and Leonard on him so he could save that for the playoffs. Those two made Dirk work at least. Made him a bit uncomfortable. Let's be real he's going to score on them because he's that good but at least they made him work for it. Blair and Bonner on Dirk is like shooting practice for him and he just lights up.

I'm not too worried about the scrambling because I think some guys were unsure of their role and that left guys open. What I don't get is some of the doubling they did and the lazy sagging where they weren't guarding anyone that left the Mavs open to let the 3 ball fly. That definitely needs some work which thankfully there is enough time to get that right before the playoffs.

[GSH]

Tony Parker C+
After the game, Tony Parker admitted to being tired. And following yesterday's exhausting outing, I can't really blame him for being gassed. But with Parker not at 100%, the Spurs really didn't have much hope against the Mavs. Typically, he has been attacking so early and often that the opposition has to be wary of his presence on the court at all times. Tonight, he never got his own offense going and that allowed the Mavs to concentrate on everyone else more than usual. On defense, Parker wasn't closing out on Jason Kidd and the wily vet made him pay. Despite that criticism, Parker still handed out 11 assists and turned the ball over only once. And while he gave up open shots to Kidd, the Mavs point guard came into the game shooting 32% from the field on the season, so it's not like Parker was supposed to close out hard on him. The bottomline is that Parker has set a high bar for himself and wasn't able to clear it tonight.

I'm glad the Spurs signed a backup PG. I hope Pop just throws him right into the water, and lets Tony get some rest before the post-season. This schedule is a grind. But the weight of the whole team has to be a grind, too.

[DMC]

That's because Pop is the best coach by far.

Pop still not recognizing he needs to play Splitter more
Pop lovers
We have the pieces to have a very strong defensive starting lineup but the "defensive minded coach" won't allow it

So the best coach cannot have any flaws?

Pop is the best coach in the league. Tell me one better.

[Giuseppe]

Pop is the best coach in the league.

Probably. But, for sure he's the most frightened.

[silverblk mystix]

Probably. But, for sure he's the most frightened.

This might be the first time I have ever agreed with you...

[T Park]

Probably. But, for sure he's the most frightened.

whats he scared of?

[DPG21920]

whats he scared of?

Putting his highest potential defensive team on the floor, his old defense first principles & that his players will literally die if you play them normal minutes?

[ChumpDumper]

head Coach will be the downfall of this promising season...hate to say it...but the writing is on the wall....

[DMC]

Probably. But, for sure he's the most frightened.

Red herring. Has nothing to do with what I was saying. Why even interject?

I want someone to name a better coach in the NBA right now. What, Thibs?

[dbestpro]

So what is it that you figure happens? Fire Pop? Replace him? With? Please expand on that. I don't see another coach in the NBA that can handle all the minutes he does on a nightly basis and manage to win games. If you say he is the problem then what do you suggest? Pop sits down with Pop?

No you don't fire Pop, but you do hold the assistant coaches accountable for not getting Pop to see the obvious. That is there job and they are not getting it done.

[tlongII]

You truly think the Mavs are the favorites in the West? C'mon dude, you're better than that! .

[silverblk mystix]

whats he scared of?

In simplest terms;

Playing-not to lose-instead of playing to win.

[silverblk mystix]

Putting his highest potential defensive team on the floor, his old defense first principles & that his players will literally die if you play them normal minutes?

...and this...

[Horse]

I know it's just part of it but what's with the FT shooting lately? Even Manu, Parker and Neal missing. I thought it really hurt us tonight.

[slayermin]

Ehh. Damn, free throw shooting. If the guys just hit a nominal pct., game would have gone down to the wire.

Also, Pop saw the way Jax guarded Dirk. He didn't show it but I bet he was downright giddy on the inside. I know Pop zigs when we want him to zag sometimes. But there is no way he doesn't use Jax as long as he can on Dirk in the playoffs.

[Nathan89]

So the best coach cannot have any flaws?

Pop is the best coach in the league. Tell me one better.

The best coach can have flaws. One of those flaws shouldn't be not playing your better players more minutes than your worse players. The best coach in the league would prepare his team for the playoffs. Even after benching Blair last year in the playoffs Pop goes back to starting him this year. Pop continues to not play Splitter and Duncan together. Does he not care about a possible matchup with Lakers or Memphis? Is Blair or Bonner supposed to play against Pau?

IMO his flaw is a huge flaw. His flaw was a major reason for the Spurs first round exit last year. He's doing the same this year. Therefore I have to believe there are many coaches that could do a better job than him.

[Jodelo]

You truly think the Mavs are the favorites in the West? C'mon dude, you'de better than that! .

More than the Blazers or are they still your favourites like you always claimed?

[TJastal]

The best coach can have flaws. One of those flaws shouldn't be not playing your better players more minutes than your worse players. The best coach in the league would prepare his team for the playoffs. Even after benching Blair last year in the playoffs Pop goes back to starting him this year. Pop continues to not play Splitter and Duncan together. Does he not care about a possible matchup with Lakers or Memphis? Is Blair or Bonner supposed to play against Pau?

IMO his flaw is a huge flaw. His flaw was a major reason for the Spurs first round exit last year. He's doing the same this year. Therefore I have to believe there are many coaches that could do a better job than him.

rofl the ol' whose gonna coach the team line... a re ed monkey could coach a team with 3 HOF'ers and a solid supporting cast. And at the very least the re ed monkey would know to give Splitter more minutes than Bonner.

[therealtruth]

The best coach can have flaws. One of those flaws shouldn't be not playing your better players more minutes than your worse players. The best coach in the league would prepare his team for the playoffs. Even after benching Blair last year in the playoffs Pop goes back to starting him this year. Pop continues to not play Splitter and Duncan together. Does he not care about a possible matchup with Lakers or Memphis? Is Blair or Bonner supposed to play against Pau?

IMO his flaw is a huge flaw. His flaw was a major reason for the Spurs first round exit last year. He's doing the same this year. Therefore I have to believe there are many coaches that could do a better job than him.

He refuses to acknowlege his flaws. That's what so ridiculous. He refuses to acknowledge their weak frontcourt had anything to do with losing to the Grizzlies.

[T Park]

Putting his highest potential defensive team on the floor, his old defense first principles & that his players will literally die if you play them normal minutes?

I see.

Id ask if theres anything to substantiate this but, I've learned my lesson.

[TJastal]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the spurs' F.O. consisting of RC & Greg Popovich has done quite well overall with only a few blips on the radar (IE Jefferson, Bonner, Scola).

That part has always been Pop's strongest suit IMO, followed by strong coaching of players on an individual basis.

The part he seems to be keep dropping the ball at repeatedly is making game adjustments and picking the right rotations and distribution of minutes. This is most puzzling because it should be the easiest part of his job. It should have been clear long ago that Tim Duncan and Splitter would be a dominant front line and that it might be a smart coaching move to get those two adapted for the playoffs.

[DPG21920]

I see.

Id ask if theres anything to substantiate this but, I've learned my lesson.

There's plenty. See the Spurs defensive numbers, see that RJ played the second most minutes on the team and see Tiagos minutes vs Blair and Bonners.

Also see how pop manages minutes like no other coach, how he tanks games to rest players.

I'd say it's all substantiated quite easily. Now, arguing the merits of said moves and if you agree is another thing entirely.

[Johnny RIngo]

Most of his shots are set up from the pick n'roll, I mean honestly he can't create his own shot & really does struggle against similar sized players on the low post...at least he's finishing but still he needs to be better in those situations.

He finishes better than Blair, is a much smarter player, and actually has enough size to block/defend in the post. As long as Blair is on this team, Splitter should be free from criticism.

[TJastal]

He finishes better than Blair, is a much smarter player, and actually has enough size to block/defend in the post. As long as Blair is on this team, Splitter should be free from criticism.

+1

What's exciting is Splitter is still learning how to use his size and strength in the post. Just watching him work against the mavericks post defenders last night it's clear this is obviously not something he has always done in the past in Europe when his game was more centered on finesse mainly using the P&R as his main bread and butter. The adjustment to the nba has toughened him up, made a man out of him. He's literally a tank out there now and still getting used to how to play with all that added muscle and size. The only thing holding him back is the dip in charge.