Great game, tbh

[Trueblood]

You could be right. This idea makes better sense than the idea that Pop didn't want to tip his hand. It is odd that he withheld Simmons the entire game, for all intents and purposes.

I don't buy into the secret plan business, but sitting Simmons when he's such a highly ranked defender did have a "don't tip our hand strategy". I wouldn't be surprised to see Simmons come off the bench quickly in a series for a small ball lineup. I think he's tested the bigs and learned the hard way that out didn't work. I think he's trying to find the best lineup (the one that gives him the highest percentage to win) and he'll stick with it. It's what I love and hate about Pop. He doesn't coach with instinct, he coaches like a poker player. He analyzes the games, decides the lineup/sub combinations will give him the best chance of winning and he doesn't often vary from it till it's too late.

[SAGirl]

i didn't really think pop played "big" against the dubs at all. just because you have your bigs out there doesn't mean you're "playing big". aldridge and gasol were on the perimeter taking jump shots. how is that using size to your advantage?

He didn't have them close to the basket bc lately he's been having Pau hit the 3 and Aldridge too. I think that was to open up the floor for Kawhi but you saw how it went.

[rjv]

....and i won't go as far as to say "pop didn't want to tip his hand" but i will say it seemed obvious Pop was doing what he usually does, which is just seeing what lineup works well. That doesn't mean he has some secret formula for how to beat GS or is hiding some secret plan, though.

[8FOR!3]

They took it to that level for a stretch. And then died from the second quarter onward. Spurs looked completely helpless. At no point at halftime onward did it feel like the Spurs were going to win. They were like headless chickens on offense while the Warriors got a layup drill.

The Spurs couldn't have asked for more advantages than Durant being out and Warriors on a b2b. The game had a 40 point swing.

You can't really call playing a back to back a disadvantage when you're shooting the ball that well. Obviously Golden State had their legs under them just fine. So when a washed up Iggy is knocking down shots like that I don't think playing them on a b2b played to our advantage at all. Luckily their role players don't play that well every night.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

You can't really call playing a back to back a disadvantage when you're shooting the ball that well. Obviously Golden State had their legs under them just fine. So when a washed up Iggy is knocking down shots like that I don't think playing them on a b2b played to our advantage at all. Luckily their role players don't play that well every night.

But their starters do, so the Spurs are screwed either way.

[PopTheGOAT]

When GS has Curry/Durant/Thompson on the floor, I'd like to see a Kawhi/Danny/Simmons lineup. Let Kawhi handle the ball, run the O thru him. This is the only lineup that gives us a chance defensively. Parker and Patty just can't keep up with Curry and they're too small for the other 2.

[8FOR!3]

But their starters do, so the Spurs are screwed either way.

Look we have a lot of experience playing against that group. Sometimes the results are good. Sometimes they're not. They should have never lost to the Cavs last season obviously that squad has a in their armor.