Game 5 adjustment..

[r0drig0lac]

David Lee -- DNP

[GSH]

This is such and underrated truth bomb. I've said the same thing to some buddies.

Spurs players think twice before shooting, even if they're wide open, because they have to worry "is this the best shot? Should I be looking for a cutter? How many seconds are on the shot clock? How many shots have I already missed tonight?"

There is no such thing as a bad shot (from 3) for the Rockets. It's completely pressure free chuck horrible 3s because that's their game plan. There is a freedom they are allowed to play without always looking over their shoulder for fear of getting yanked. It's easier to make those shots.

One of the ways to make them think before shooting those long 3's is to punish the out of them every time they miss one. Shoot a bad 3 against some teams and they'll snag the rebound and run it back down your throat for an easy layup. It's automatic for them to get out and run. Most of the time the Spurs bring it up slowly and get the Rockets' defense time to set up.

So, okay... Pop's strategy is to slow the pace. But the Spurs were walking the ball up the court, getting their offense set with 15 seconds left, and THEN taking shots with 12 seconds left. The worst of both worlds.

Aldridge guarding Harden on the perimeter is a recipe for a loss. Stop it. Hedge and recover. Go under and take your chances on Harden shooting the 3? I just know I don't want to have to look at LMA out there cringing in front of the Beard.

The Spurs have been setting up a wall when one of the Rockets heads into the paint. Last night I kept seeing two guys set up inside the freaking restricted circle. Brilliant. But while I'm on that subject - Bertans has been a very good rim defender. The Rockets have been getting a LOT of their points near the rim. Does anyone else see some possible synergy there? And as a bonus, Bertans just might make a few 3's and bend the Rockets' defense a little.

[turkish spurs fan]

admin pls solve my problem. it has been 1.5 years. i can't see who mentioned about me.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

One of the ways to make them think before shooting those long 3's is to punish the out of them every time they miss one. Shoot a bad 3 against some teams and they'll snag the rebound and run it back down your throat for an easy layup. It's automatic for them to get out and run. The Spurs gave up way too many of those rebounds to the Rockets. Most of the time the Spurs bring it up slowly and get the Rockets' defense time to set up.

So, okay... Pop's strategy is to slow the pace. But the Spurs were walking the ball up the court, getting their offense set with 15 seconds left, and THEN taking shots with 12 seconds left. The worst of both worlds.

Aldridge guarding Harden on the perimeter is a recipe for a loss. Stop it. Hedge and recover. Go under and take your chances on Harden shooting the 3? I just know I don't want to have to look at LMA out there cringing in front of the Beard.

The Spurs have been setting up a wall when one of the Rockets heads into the paint. Last night I kept seeing two guys set up inside the freaking restricted circle. Brilliant. But while I'm on that subject - Bertans has been a very good rim defender. The Rockets have been getting a LOT of their points near the rim. Does anyone else see some possible synergy there? And as a bonus, Bertans just might make a few 3's and bend the Rockets' defense a little.

It's jarring how sound the Spurs game plan was in Game 3 and how they did the exact opposite in Game 4. The defense was a joke with the layup drill but what sucked just as much was the fact that the Spurs looked so hesitant whereas in Game 3 they were letting it fly. Pop must have said something stupid in between games 3 and 4 because whatever was working before they completely abandoned it.

[Brazil]

Find a miraculous treatment for Parker's quad tbh

[Big Empty]

I start Forbes and Bertans. Bring Patty Manu and Gasol off the bench. We need scoring.

[coachmac87]

I may be waaaay off here but it's an idea..

But I'd start Simmons or Patty at point and get Bertans the minutes over Murray..

I'd like the kid to get experience but he's just not ready and I feel he's wasting minutes for someone who could be productive

[SAGirl]

I may be waaaay off here but it's an idea..

But I'd start Simmons or Patty at point and get Bertans the minutes over Murray..

I'd like the kid to get experience but he's just not ready and I feel he's wasting minutes for someone who could be productive

No they don't have enough ball handling as it is. Spurs need Murray to play.

[polandprzem]

It's like the Spurs played pretty poorly. Punishing Rox inside must occur more. I mean - Pau when match vs Harden needs to kill the beard there every single time. And Spurs must be more alert when rox double Leo. he needs to get rid of the ball quick or make quick move and split the defenders.
Got to do better job moving the ball and for sakes I know Aldridge was a killer from mid range but this series we need him post up more and make quicker decissions.

Defense was bad - we did not stop the ball and still hesitate with stategy against beard. If we want trap we frickin trap. All those maybe he will do this or that is not good. We need to force him one way and then live with consequences of it and be prepared. And I do not like this kinda 'my hands up' defense as well. You have your hands up and you are closer you will not move your feet quick enough and Harden will use it to drive.

[coachmac87]

No they don't have enough ball handling as it is. Spurs need Murray to play.

Spurs need all the players they can get to make impacts..that's the most difficult thing to over come when you lose a significant rotation player...

I just don't know if Murray can truly make an impact in this series or postseason against possibly GSW etc. Simmons even though inconsistent actually has moments where he impacts games and his strengths are similar to Murray which is attack the paint and make the defense collapse..

Bertans hopefully cracks the rotation too

[SAGirl]

Spurs need all the players they can get to make impacts..that's the most difficult thing to over come when you lose a significant rotation player...

I just don't know if Murray can truly make an impact in this series or postseason against possibly GSW etc. Simmons even though inconsistent actually has moments where he impacts games and his strengths are similar to Murray which is attack the paint and make the defense collapse..

Bertans hopefully cracks the rotation too

He may but not at Murrays expense. You bench Lee and Anderson and see what he has, but Murray needs to play. Bertans isn't going to guard in the perimeter any of their quick guards etc. Guys need to realize he's a big and stop with the fantasy basketball.

[bklynspursfan]

It'll be interesting to see the adjustment when Anderson is in at the 5.

[UZER]

One of the ways to make them think before shooting those long 3's is to punish the out of them every time they miss one. Shoot a bad 3 against some teams and they'll snag the rebound and run it back down your throat for an easy layup. It's automatic for them to get out and run. Most of the time the Spurs bring it up slowly and get the Rockets' defense time to set up.

So, okay... Pop's strategy is to slow the pace. But the Spurs were walking the ball up the court, getting their offense set with 15 seconds left, and THEN taking shots with 12 seconds left. The worst of both worlds.

Aldridge guarding Harden on the perimeter is a recipe for a loss. Stop it. Hedge and recover. Go under and take your chances on Harden shooting the 3? I just know I don't want to have to look at LMA out there cringing in front of the Beard.

The Spurs have been setting up a wall when one of the Rockets heads into the paint. Last night I kept seeing two guys set up inside the freaking restricted circle. Brilliant. But while I'm on that subject - Bertans has been a very good rim defender. The Rockets have been getting a LOT of their points near the rim. Does anyone else see some possible synergy there? And as a bonus, Bertans just might make a few 3's and bend the Rockets' defense a little.

I posted this about GSW awhile back but it applies to Houston too...

Stay home in the shooters at the 3 point line! Over play three point line to chase guys off of it, but don't help on drives. If they score two, fine. You can stay in that kind of game if you slow the pace down.

When you help, the defense starts scrambling and chasing and you still end up giving up a 3 at some point in the defensive chain reaction. Why tire your guys out? Why let them feel demoralized?

When the bigs get switched, you immediately go out to pressure and overplay them to force the drive. If someone is standing in the low lost area, you can help, but don't help off of guys at the 3pt line.

This isn't the traditional scheme defense where you funnel guys to the helping bigs and collapse the paint. This is the new NBA and when you're dealing with team like Houston and GSW can hit 25 threes in their sleep, you have to adjust you defensive strategy accordingly. Threes are such back breakers and momentum killers or generators. They get the crowd going too.

It's ballsy to give up twos, and it goes against everything you've been taught, but you are still being successful in your​ strategy if you don't allow the 3s., and slow the pace down. It's not guaranteed to work, but it's a war of attrition when you players Houston, and especially GS.

[UZER]

The other strategy is you let harden, or curry, get whatever the the want and let them beat you by themselves, and stay home on everyone else.

[tmtcsc]

The beautiful game is dead and gone

Yep. The spacing is gone, the passing is gone, making defenses chase the ball is gone. Its not plodding, predictable and at the mercy of Kawhi Leonard. WTF did they have to change it? Did the Spurs' talent drop that much?

[Indazone]

The talent hasn't changed, the game has. Now you're facing Moreyball. The game is designed for shooting three's and penetrating to get a foul and two points at the foul line without any time coming off the clock.

[coachmac87]

Yep. The spacing is gone, the passing is gone, making defenses chase the ball is gone. Its not plodding, predictable and at the mercy of Kawhi Leonard. WTF did they have to change it? Did the Spurs' talent drop that much?

People forget the "Beautiful Game" was due to the Spurs not having a dominant scorer or someone who can consistent drop 20ppg..

Spurs got exposed in 15' series against LAC when Parker was "hurt", Kawhi wasn't "ready" to be the leader, Tiago was hurt and Duncan arguably was our best player. Spurs knew they couldn't sign all the effective role players but also knew they needed a consistent scorer to help Kawhi..

So instead of trying to replace a couple role players they swung for the fence in LMA and got that "dominant" scorer. The only problem is Kawhi took a HUGE leap in his game and became a dominant scorer...so now the Spurs had TWO scorers with limited playmaking. I honestly believe if PATFO knew Kawhi would become an MVP candidate they probably would've went the role player route in the offseason instead of signing LMA.

Spurs have been establishing a new style of play for almost two years..and the foundation pieces (Duncan, Manu, Parker) fell apart due to age. I also don't think it's a coincidence that ONLY Kawhi has thrived in this "New System" every player has declined even the one you invested so much in (LMA).

[NameLess Scrub]

Game 5 adjustment: hope they don't make the shots.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

It'll be interesting to see the adjustment when Anderson is in at the 5.

Anderson has been destroying the Spurs this series, more minutes for him is a terrible thing for SA, unfortunately.

[bklynspursfan]

Anderson has been destroying the Spurs this series, more minutes for him is a terrible thing for SA, unfortunately.

Well he was pretty quiet in game 3. He hasnt been the most consistent player in these playoffs. Just need to hope he has more downs... also would help if our bigs attack him