Quick Grades: Spurs @ Timberwolves - March 12

[Robz4000]

I don't normally agree when people say Pop is tanking, but last night very well might've been a case of it. Many people on here say the Lakers don't worry them in a first round series, but they should. Not because they're all that great of a team, though they're beginning to play better ( though by better they're managing to scrape together wins against bottom feeders rather than moral victories). The fact of the matter is the Lakers are going to get a vast majority of the calls against any team outside of OKC, on top of four/five proven playoff players while the Spurs rely heavily on role players.

If the Spurs play at their absolute best, the Lakers should be non-issue'd in 5. However, lately the Spurs have played anything but their absolute best, even before TP went down, sans the Clippers game in LA. If the trend continues and the Spurs happen to meet the Lakers in the playoffs, I can see the Lakers winning. Therefore, I can realistically see Pop keeping the Spurs close to OKC in the standings in order to fall in seeding order for a favorable first round matchup.

[Slippy]

Considering how the season has gone so far for Tiago, unusual to see him get no respect from the refs this game. That and how tired he looked.

[hater]

I'm sure leonard is fighting some nagging thing on his knee. no reason to rest a 22 year otherwise. unless POP is tanking

[TheGoldStandard]

Last night has been forgotten and it has to be, just another one of the spurs goofs and on to the next. Kawhi should not rest another game this season, can't wait for TP to come back.

[TD 21]

Pop C-
It's impossible to say whether he made the right call sitting Duncan and Leonard without knowing their true status. During the game, he pushed buttons but nothing worked -- it just seemed to make things worse.

Refusing to criticize Pop.

Just admit it: It was a stupid decision, it undid what they did the night before and it makes the road to the 1 seed in the West and the league (both of which they need) that much more difficult. There's not a damn thing wrong with either, it's just typical overly cautious/obsessive compulsive/arrogant nonsense from this coach. Yet you and others continue to drink the Kool-aid.

[Capt Bringdown]

I could say the say thing aout De Colo but that didn't stop Pop from throwing him out there from day 1. It took him nearly 4 months to realize in no way shape or form is ready for this level of compe ion. And Bonner's been garbage for three seasons so giving Baynes minutes over Bonner really isn't hurting the bottom line. The worst he can do is play like Bonner. But his upside is undoubtedly higher.

And if Pop's out to throw a game with terrible rotations, throwing one more body out there isnt going to hurt.

Well said. Blair can on occasion score on set-up passes. But the rest of his game, at this stage in his ACL-less career, is as at a sub-NBA level. Raw, in other words.
So it's a matter of choosing between one raw player or another. Maybe Blair's scoring ability is a + over Baynes. Maybe Baynes's rebounding and defense is a + over Blair.
It seems we'll never know, because Pop doesn't seem interested in sorting out the differences and opportunities.