I agree with most in this thread.
I will be rooting for them to win, and I'll be very happy if they comeback in the series and eliminate Dallas. I have not given up, and I think there is still a chance.
However, this no defense crap has to stop. Winning or losing, there is one thing quite clear: Pop has been outcoached so far in the series.
The most ridicule thing is that the Spurs are not able to impose their pace and their style in the game. They must force Dallas to adjust to them, not the other way around.
Spurs were always able to get 4 consecutive stops when they needed it at critical parts of the game, and shutdown the opponent. The current Spurs' defense is a sponge... holes everywhere.
If we win this series, I can see the Pop's homers in this board saying Pop was great, his adjustment were increadible, small ball rules, and continue hanging on his balls. If games 6 and 7 go down the wire and the Spurs are not able to produce stops, in my book Pop has been outcoached, win or lose. If Pop presents a team with two real frontcourt players guarding the paint and the Spurs start playing hard-nodes D, then I'll change my tune.
These are sad times for those that like hard-nosed defense, box out, rebounding and defensive intensity.
Go Spurs Go.
My point was this: When you allow a "winning has more to do with offensive execution" series, you've already lost the war. Besides, the Spurs' offensive execution is better with their conventional lineup, if for no other reason than it keeps Manu from fouling out.
Your concerns are the concerns of many Spurs fans who are scratching their heads at Pop's strategy. I wouldn't go so far as to rule out a Spurs victory in this series, but it is definitley a bigger mountain to climb without the bigs. I can understand Pop losing faith in Nazr because the man keeps disappointing with his bad ball-handling, but Rasho is pretty reliable as a ball handler and as a defender. Nowitzki is playing very well with an injury and still Pop is afraid. The Little General has been given a free reign as to who he can use---even so far as using KVH, and still Pop has to react rather than act.
The Spurs can play excellent small ball for limited minutes (the regular season game against Phoenix in 2005 comes to mind, but that fantastic fourth quarter involved PASSING and SHARING the ball and a super human effort from Manu), but I still feel that this tempo is perfect for Dallas more than for San Antonio.
The analysts on TNT have made some remarks about the Spurs new style, but they are holding back. If the Spurs lose playing Dallasstyle football, I expect the analysts to absolutely roast Popovich for giving up on what he is best known for---DEFENSE.
Sorry, not footbal---basketball. That was a Freudian slip.
More of the truth.
C'mon CIA Pop, time to pull out a Rasho-Nazr-Duncan-Horry-Ginobili lineup and grind them into the ground!
But seriously. Start Rasho, rotate the guys on Dirk and attack his bad ankle, see if it works, go from there.
Pop's blindness on this is out of wack with his excellent coaching since 2003... maybe he knows something we don't? But still, none of us can see it, so I think in this case he's the insane one.
Oh, and chain NVE to the bench, PLEASE. Free Beno if needs be, just don't do it in the last 2 mins of the quarter.
He came in cause Diop and Dampier were on the edge of foul trouble in the first half. It wasn't cause of luxury. Even after Van Horn came in, he got...what, 4 fouls in 3 minutes.The Little General has been given a free reign as to who he can use---even so far as using KVH, and still Pop has to react rather than act.
I definitely wouldn’t go as far as to say that we can’t win with small ball. However, I don’t think anyone would argue that if you play small ball then it will be a close game and you have to rely on getting a good “bounce” or “call” at the end of the game to win…and we all know how hard its going to be to get a good bounce or call in Dallas. So why not give Spurs ball a chance? I’m not saying commit to it the entire game but at least give it a shot. Put another big in there and give Duncan some minutes on Dirk. Yeah, yeah…I know Duncan will get in foul trouble and Dirk will blow past him. But, are you forgetting that 1) Dirk is playing on a hurt ankle 2) Duncan is playing out off this world and 3) that Dirk is a puss. Dirk will get past Duncan sometimes, but so what, have your other big defending the paint give him a “good hard playoff foul”. Keep this up over 1Q and you can guarantee Dirk will turn into the Dirk of old…the sackless 7ft wonder who wouldn’t come anywhere near the paint.
If ing Tim Duncan can't handle some time guarding Dirk, the Spurs have no chance anyway. What happened to the days when the superstars actually went head to head? Besides, Dirk isn't the one beating this team, it's that red carpet the Spurs are rolling out to the rim.
You read my mind. I would like to see Dirk v TD. But I dont know how often or how long that will last. I think both would easily pile up fouls bc both of them can score at will on each other, but Dirk is the weaker defender and I'm sure AJ knows that so he isnt trying to have that happen either.
The red carpet has been laid since game 2 - I still attribute that to Harris who is not afraid to get to the interior of the Spurs D or lack thereof lately. Maybe this series is too concerned with 1 on 1 defending rather than team defending? Maybe each team is more concerned with guarding the big three rather than the small ppl. Both teams have a great bench and can pull any random player out for a lil amount of time.
Game 6 is crucial to both teams - and I dont think either of the teams have the luxury to say "one ball, once bounce" or "the lil things" ... its time to execute them and I think both teams will come to play Fri/Sat. But thats just my 2.
Game 5 was a win....but it's fool's gold.
If we play the same way like game 5, we will get beaten in Dallas.
The lane defense by the Spurs, especially in the 1st 3 quarters, was nauseating.
Dirk would light 'em up from the outside, and Tim would have a field day inside. Point advantage to Dirk with the 3's until he fouls out trying to defend Duncan.You read my mind. I would like to see Dirk v TD. But I dont know how often or how long that will last.
Start Rasho!!
Throw them off!!
Dirk's right ankle is done after half-time, he can't explode to the right, that's when putting Timmy on him may not be as costly. Then the Spurs can play either Nazr or Rasho on Dallas's centers without there being 'switching difficulties'. Also, there is no need to double Dirk in the middle from the right side. If he goes right, he's only gonna take one step and pull up and shoot or pass, too quick for the trapping defenders to do any good, and it leaves a man open.
Also, if the Spurs swing the ball to the left, then swing it to the right, and have Manu play on the right-side (Dirk's side on D), instead of the left, that lane is gonna be open all-night long, because Dirk just has no explosiveness on his right leg. This is what led to the tremendous Finley dunk, and I was surprised more Spurs haven't taken advantage of it. The only thing I can surmise is that the Spurs haven't noticed this trend on game film yet.
Couldn't agree more.
Spurs have 2 time MVP, 3 time NBA champion, 3 time NBA finals MVP, NBA All-star game MVP, 9 time All NBA team memeber (8 1st team, 1 2nd team), 9 time All-Defensive team member (6 1st team, 3 2nd team), only player in NBA history to recive All-NBA and All-Defensive honours in his first 9 seasons.... and now somebody is thinking that this man can't stop Dirk.
small ball.
What the are you talking about? You really think you've noticed something on "film" that the coaches and other players haven't seen yet? Dirk's ankle is fine. I've seen you post this drivel on a number of other threads and you've been incorrect every time.
Couldn't agree more.
Spurs have 2 time MVP, 3 time NBA champion, 3 time NBA finals MVP, NBA All-star game MVP, 9 time All NBA team memeber (8 1st team, 1 2nd team), 9 time All-Defensive team member (6 1st team, 3 2nd team), only player in NBA history to recive All-NBA and All-Defensive honours in his first 9 seasons.... and now somebody is thinking that this man can't stop Dirk.
small ball.
Last edited by Sway; 05-18-2006 at 02:11 PM. Reason: Messed up quote
People who think that the Spurs should play their own game and make the Mavericks adjust are arrogant. These are not Jordon's Bulls. They do not run roughshod over the entire league. There are other elite teams like the Pistons and these very Mavs we are playing now who are just as good. It's all about adjustments. What the do you think the Spurs did last year? When they played the Suns, all the sudden they were running, fast-breaking fools. That's how they beat them. Cus as many points as the suns scored in some of those games, they sure as weren't beating them with defense. They beat them at their own game. The difference between that series and this one is the Mavs are way, WAY better than those Suns.
Put Rasho or Nazr in for defense, you say? OK, what if Nazr causes an 8-pt swing like he did in the last game he played? With the games as close as they are, even one minute of Nazr could mean the difference between winning and losing.
How does not liking small ball make you arrogant? Cant posters have difference of opinions? Or do we all have to like the Jim Jones Kool-Aid?People who think that the Spurs should play their own game and make the Mavericks adjust are arrogant
It is arrogant to assume the Spurs are so much better than the Mavs that they can disreguard their game.
Yeah, that's why a 6'8 ninja blocked the shot of a 7'0 caveman.
Or it could be because the 7'0 caveman was going right and has nothing left in that right foot. He might as well be playing on one leg.
It was a good block and was well-timed. But that has absolutely nothing to do with any trumped-up injury that lives on in your head as the Mavs Kryptonite.Yeah, that's why a 6'8 ninja blocked the shot of a 7'0 caveman.
Or it could be because the 7'0 caveman was going right and has nothing left in that right foot. He might as well be playing on one leg.
PS - Bowen is 6'7".
Well, timed?Go back and look at the second half of game 5 and tell me how many times Dirk scored by going right.
I'll give you a hint, it rymths with hero.
6'7" or 6'8" he still Blocked the out of that Ball!!!PS - Bowen is 6'7".
head - it was well-timed in the way that he caught the ball at the right point in Dirk's arc of shooting.Well, timed?
I'll give you a hint, it rymths with hero.
You're right. Dirk absolutely, positively can NOT go to his right AT ALL. Why even bother putting him out there for all those minutes. Hey everyone! This guy's figured out how the beat the Mavericks all by himself! He's seen the "tape"! THE TAPE! Dirk can't go to the right!
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