Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Pistons Jan. 10

[wildbill2u]

Why rag on the Big Three without giving props to Detroit's defense?

The Pistons had energy, DESIRE and a great defensive scheme and were responsible for the lousy performances by our stars, forcing turnovers, taking away TP and Manu's driving, and generally preventing shots until we had to throw up a prayer at the last second. Our guys simply didn't respond to the Detroit defensive effort and looked like a chinese fire drill at times.

Detroit (and especially Rasheed) shot the lights out in the first half. Some of those shots were impossible to stop but overall our defense in the first half looked amateurish at times. Not Spurs typical defense.

Sure, this is just one game, but there is something unsettling about some of our losses that I can't quite put a name to. Perhaps Pop's mid-season tinkering has us out of rhythm.

[telecomguy]

TD can't do much anymore.15 reb 5 assist per only 1 TO and shooting 50% with the whole defense of Detroit focus on him

and another writer claimed that TD along with TP & Manu was only playing one-on-one and trying to force things into double teams in the paint. What I noticed was that TD only started to try to take control, into his own hands and started going hard to the hoop WHEN he realized TP & Gino could not penetrate or hit their jumpers. This seems to be TD's modus operandi these days....he defers to TP and Gino to generate the offense and only really forces his will in the paint when and if the other two cannot get it going. Personally I would prefer TD to be more aggressive earlier on, and establish his paint presence so that he could start drawing double-teams earlier in the game to free up TP and Gino. It seems to be the other way around in the past few years and I think this is wrong. There is still very few Bigs that can stop TD so why waste that talent? I know in the playoffs we are going to depend more on TD (or at least I hope so) but these regular season games are painful to watch whenever TP has to go one-on-one against tough defensive teams like Pistons, or Mavs with their shot blockers choking the paint.

[telecomguy]

NO WONDER you threatened to ban me the other day.

I had it completely wrong.

It wasn't because I was dissing Tony Parker, it was because I poked fun at your husband (I had no idea)!

I apologize for making fun. The "nifty pass" remark was just VERY Rosen-esque.

DSF's Game thoughts: The Suns should have just kept McDyess (the second time). They let him go so they could sign Q Richardson (STUPID) whom they traded for Kurt Thomas who never fit the systema as well as McDyess would have.

And McDyess does a great job on Duncan. I remember a Duncan quote way back when he said that Duncan did the best defending him. This was pre knee-surgery McDyess, but still.

McDyess didn't do that good of a job against Duncan. He fouled TD a lot. and Rasheed helped a great deal I believe. I think TD is deferring to TP too much. It works when we play a soft defensive teams but against a good defensive team, TP is not usually going to go off and will have problems due to his one-dimensional skill (drive-penetrate).

[duncan228]

And McDyess does a great job on Duncan. I remember a Duncan quote way back when he said that Duncan did the best defending him. This was pre knee-surgery McDyess, but still.

I think Duncan frustrates McDyess everytime they play. At least that's what I see. Duncan usually gets McDyess in foul trouble, and the frustration is easy to see.

It's Rasheed that plays Duncan well and gives him the most trouble, imo.

[nkdlunch]

Duncan completely owned Mcdyess last night

[timmy21_4rings]

I think TD is deferring to TP too much. It works when we play a soft defensive teams but against a good defensive team, TP is not usually going to go off and will have problems due to his one-dimensional skill (drive-penetrate).

You are 200% right....only problem is that not many people see it this way...

[da_suns_fan]

Duncan completely owned Mcdyess last night

Meh...don't forget Duncan scored 36 and 17 on the Suns.

Im pretty sure McDyess would be an upgrade for them.

[telecomguy]

Meh...don't forget Duncan scored 36 and 17 on the Suns.

Im pretty sure McDyess would be an upgrade for them.

heh heh....you have a point there!

actually I really like McDyess, and was hoping against hope that Spurs would have tried to sign him. He is a clutch clutch player who plays with lot of compe iveness and intensity. Certainly much better than Horry or Elson or Bonner. With his mid-range game, his defensive smarts, and his compe iveness, all-around game, he would complement Duncan extremely well.

Oh well......dreams don't always come true

[Kori Ellis]

NO WONDER you threatened to ban me the other day.

I had it completely wrong.

It wasn't because I was dissing Tony Parker, it was because I poked fun at your husband (I had no idea)!

I apologize for making fun. The "nifty pass" remark was just VERY Rosen-esque.

You can make fun of my husband all you want. I don't care. I am just sick of reading the 100's of emails/PMs from people who hate you and want you banned. You don't bring anything of value to the table. Not even amusement.

[George Gervin's Afro]

You can make fun of my husband all you want. I don't care. I am just sick of reading the 100's of emails/PMs from people who hate you and want you banned. You don't bring anything of value to the table. Not even amusement.

the warden has spoken..

[Barbarian]

You can make fun of my husband all you want. I don't care. I am just sick of reading the 100's of emails/PMs from people who hate you and want you banned. You don't bring anything of value to the table. Not even amusement.

Ouch....Banned by humiliation.

[JamStone]

Duncan completely owned Mcdyess last night

Absolutely. But, this is a very rare time at least from what I've observed where a Spurs fan touted how one player on the other team got outplayed in a Spurs loss.

[polandprzem]

nothing there

[Tigole Bitties]

Brent Barry looked pretty good in the pre-game shootaround. I'm surprised he went back to street clothes for the game.

[WalterBenitez]

I know you are my husband and all that, but I just wanted to say that this is one of the best recaps that you have written.
That's all.

If my brother had got a wife like you he wouldn't be divorced!

PS: That's what a gentleman expect from his wife

[tlongII]

You can make fun of my husband all you want. I don't care. I am just sick of reading the 100's of emails/PMs from people who hate you and want you banned. You don't bring anything of value to the table. Not even amusement.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

[Pistonfan1]

The Pistons have the edge back against the Spurs. I honestly think the Spurs dont have that confidence they once had against the Pistons. If the Pistons have homecourt, I see them in 5 over the Spurs. I think this team is too dominant and too good to let it go beyond that.

[bdubya]

The Pistons have the edge back against the Spurs. I honestly think the Spurs dont have that confidence they once had against the Pistons. If the Pistons have homecourt, I see them in 5 over the Spurs. I think this team is too dominant and too good to let it go beyond that.

You're right - we've proven that the Pistons OWN the Spurs.

Unfortunately, the Spurs have plenty of confidence against the inevitable EC champion Bulls, who clearly hold the le to OUR asses, free of all liens and en brances.

[Silverheart80]

Two thoughts:

1. timvp -- I don't log in very often, but I check out this site at least once a day. Love your assessments, win or lose, agree or disagree (almost always agree though). Great stuff, man, and probably my favorite part of this whole awesome community. Huge props to you.....keep it coming.

2. Lots of great Pistons fans check in via these discussions, so I won't let a few trolls ruin their good name. Funny though, I would think even a Motown troll would know better than to get yippy about a regular-season win. Way to act like you've been there. I'd expect that of a Mavs fan.....

See you in June, when it matters.

[bigfundamental21]

I don't understand why Udoka didn't play more after the first quarter? Instead more minutes went to Finley and Ginobili, neither of which were doing much.

How does he expect Udoka to grow and become part of the system when Pop doesn't play him when he's playing well and then just randomly gives him more minutes here or there other games?

My sentiments exactly. Udoka was one of the few Spurs who showed signs of life. Why not give him more minutes?

I was glad to see Duncan try to take the team on his back. I was just disappointed that no one else on the team responded to his inspired effort. Timmy had to have been super frustrated after the game.

As for the Spurs funk.... we have lived with it, year after year. As Spurs fans, we know what to expect and although we and complain about it, we know that our Spurs will use this as motivation and will come together when it counts.

Oh, and thanks for the thoughts, timvp. You always have a way of bringing out an analysis that trumps any sports website or sports show.

[SpurForLife]

The Pistons have the edge back against the Spurs. I honestly think the Spurs dont have that confidence they once had against the Pistons. If the Pistons have homecourt, I see them in 5 over the Spurs. I think this team is too dominant and too good to let it go beyond that.

Try to get back to the Finals first re then should we meet up you can spout off your nonsense.

[timvp]

I know you are my husband and all that, but I just wanted to say that this is one of the best recaps that you have written.

That's all.

Thanks.

I think it's more evident than in previous years that the Spurs need to seriously look into getting younger and more athletic, especially off the bench. Getting older veterans to round out a championship team is good ... until they get over-the-hill. Obviously, Horry and Finley even in sparse minutes are starting to show they're on their last legs. And, Jacque Vaughn and Brent Barry, while still somewhat effective, are probably not far behind. Tim, Manu, and Tony are as good as any three stars on any other team. They have the skill and IQ. I think Pop and RC need to start looking into surrounding them with better and younger athletes. The Spurs are still going to be in the mix this year, but how much longer with some of the older role players?

Good points but this team doesn't look as the team looked at this time last year. Last year the Spurs looked ooooooold. Right now the Spurs just look like they aren't all hearing the same drummer.

The only player that is looking old right now is Robert Horry ... then again, Horry looked like he was on his last leg a decade ago.

[timvp]

I won't be posting too much in January because I'm studying for a test.

Barry pass Barry

Sin,

Me

The entirety of Brent Barry's Spurs career.

If you'll allow me...



PWNT!

[ShoogarBear]