Pop's masterpiece..

[timtonymanu]

Imagine how much better it will be when Duncan gives a crap, Manu isn't sick and James Anderson is reintroduced...

dont forget McDyess took the night off too.

[mingus]

it was a good win, but i would've been dissapointed had the Spurs lost. Lakers right now are not playing like the best team in the league, or anywhere close to it for that matter. Bynum isn't close to healthy enough right now and they played a re ed game from a mental standpoint that they probably wouldn't play in the playoffs.

what i can take away from this game is two things:

the Spurs have the potential to be a better defensive than what has been made out. i don't think they'll reach Boston, Miami, or LA defense (when healthy and motivated), but i think they can be quite good, and 4th or 5th best in the league. they played great defense tonight, but LA played low i.q. offense and missed a ton of open shots

the Spurs have won in a variety of different ways and because of a variety of different people. the Spurs have shown grade adaptability in terms of the styles they can play. they can play a grind it out game, as they've shown against LA, or up tempo. they can also turn to many different guys this year outside of the big three: Neal, Hill, RJ, Blair, Bonner, Dice.

[Em-City]

duncan should work on his bank shot and low post hook shots

BAHAHHAAHHAHAHAAHHA!!!!!

u idiot

[greyforest]

His gameplan was solid, but keep in mind this is still the same Laker team that, 2 nights ago, was lit up by a 5-foot-nothing PG on their home floor.

They're ALL outta sorts. The bigger test is Thurs.

yeah if dirk would stop ing his stupid ass knee up. dirkless mavs is just more fodder. i want to see the spurs play the good teams finally.

[sa_butta]

I'm sure the next time we play the Lakers they will try to exploit their bigs against ours...For this game we were able to force them to avoid that...If we can deny the Bigs matchup we can continue to beat LA...We have no answer for Gasol, Bynam and Kardashian when they are getting touches and going inside.

[KenziE]

BTW, who got off the bench in the first half.


But but I thought he was in the doghouse?!!?

you are an IDIOT shut your mouth ...

[spursballer21]

Great words Harlem

Do you all think Pop this style of play from watching the Thunder VS Lakers?

[alchemist]

fire Pop!

[polandprzem]

The way to beat the spurs was to single coverage them.

Pop knew that they need to change something, and it appears that if they want to beat us 1-1 we need to be better at that.

Also he did what he wanted a long time ago IMO - that is to have players that can compliment themselves on the positions> to have few players fill the roles of colleges on the court. So the spurs can play same type of ball through all game. With that he has more energy from the players cause he can reduce minutes to the best of them.

Also Spurs stagnant O was easy to defend, cayuse it was predictable. This team is less predictable and the most versatile. IOf we can continue to improve on D esp. it's gonna be fun

[VI_Massive]

I'm not sure if this has been said above, but my favorite part of Pop's game plan tonight was sticking with Bonner and Blair, two guys who have struggled against LA in the past and sticking with Neal when he struggled at the beginning and showing a commitment to give Splitter run against LA. Those guys need to be a factor for the Spurs in eventual big games and I felt like Pop kind of hid them in the past against LA. I like that he didn't play Dice at all -- Dice knows what it's like to play LA and will be ready when called upon. Splitter and Neal needed the run against those guys for experience and confidence.

[silverblk mystix]

Gasol: eight shots
Bynum: 4 shots (4 for 4)

Kobe came out of the gate wanting to be the hero and kept it up all game. It might have been different if they would have spread the ball around, but overall the Spurs played better.

When are you going to change your sig to the lakers?

You stated before and have stated here for years how the spurs can't beat the lakers.

You predicted an easy lakers victory in the NBA forum.

Why don't you just suck laker dik and at least admit you are a laker fan?

[spurspokesman]

This thread isn't about "solving" the Lakers or predicting that the Spurs would beat them in a series..if you asked me to bet on it, I would probably still bet on the Lakers, mostly out of fear for their reputation and past success..

The point is that Pop has found a way to build the Spurs to give them a realistic chance of beating the Lakers in a 7-game series, as opposed to the former Spurs teams that played a similar style to the Lakers, which would have given the Spurs no realistic shot at beating LA..

If the Spurs had won by a few possessions or a fluky win like Roger Mason's GW, I wouldn't have made this thread..however, this was a legit blowout, with 2/3 of the best players on this team not producing on offense..

Good points

[HarlemHeat37]

Spurs have played 2 games against LA, and have held them to 39% shooting in these games..27% shooting from 3, 26 turnovers..the speed and energy advantage is on display..Kobe has been unable to get clean shots off against Manu and Hill..Spurs continue to send quick doubles in the post and forcing jump shots out of Gasol(he made them last night, but you take that any time)..

A lot of people were skeptical, but it doesn't appear to be a fluke..

[lefty]

The Portland game was a CIA job by Pop

Well done Pop

[HarlemHeat37]

Another key is that the Spurs have completely exploited the fact that Kobe doesn't play defense anymore..in both games, he left his man wide open, while he roamed, and the Spurs made him pay, particularly RJ..no more offensive liabilities on the floor..

[Cane]

Kobe is shooting 29% in the 2 games vs the Spurs; 13-45 FG, 3-10 from 3

Even Bowen would be proud.

[FkLA]

Another key is that the Spurs have completely exploited the fact that Kobe doesn't play defense anymore..in both games, he left his man wide open, while he roamed, and the Spurs made him pay, particularly RJ..no more offensive liabilities on the floor..

Agreed. Its been years since he actually has played defense.

Expect another undeserved first team all-defense nod though.

[BlairForceDejuan]

the def rotations were still slow compared to where they will be come playoff time

[wildbill2u]

I bet Pop was pissed off about all our sloppy turnovers on passes. You have to credit the Lakers for good aggressive in your face defense that left us with bad passing openings while passing the ball around the perimeter without a shot at times, but I couldn't believe how many bad passes created TOs.

[MarHill]

Still too many treys and still got to improve on interior D as well as on moving the ball better

I'm okay with the 3s....because it's in the flow of the offense. And we have the guys to knock them down now.

If Bonner (yes...him) was playing and in good rhythm like he was earlier in the season before the injury...that would stretch the Lakers defense even more.

The problem with 3s is when you shoot out of the set offense and the defense can recover with the long rebound.

But if they are shot in the flow of the offense...even they miss (because it is a low percentage) it will keep the defense honest and floor spaced.

[MarHill]

The Portland game was a CIA job by Pop

Well done Pop

I know you were being funny or sarcastic.

But the Spurs lost intensity in the 4th against the Blazers and Aldridge has a career night.

The game was close for 3 1/2 quarters and the Spurs you will take that on the road but they didn't (obviously) close out the game well.

[I. Hustle]

We need northside ford Splitter. That dude is a beast

[ChuckD]

edit.