Blame

[Brodels]

In my mind, this loss is on Tim Duncan. It's hard to blame a player coming back from injury, and it was clear that he wasn't 100%, but if he's healthy and focused the Spurs simply don't lose that game.

If his ankle and his confidence don't improve quickly, it's going to be a short postseason for the Spurs. He couldn't make easy shots, showed no signs of being able to dominate, and just looked hesitant too many times.

Again, you can't really say much about it because he's hurting. But the Spurs need him to get healthy.

Are you confident that we'll see a better, more aggressive Tim Duncan on Wednesday? Is this what we're going to get from him for the remainder of the postseason?

An honorable mention call goes to Brent Barry. When he wasn't missing open threes or looking lost on defense, he was sailing crosscourt passes into the hands of defenders. He didn't do much to live down his reputation of a playoff choker. Disappointing.

[Nikos]

If Duncan is healthy the team can win this series.

If not then I really have a hard time seeing them winning games.

The reason: Duncan is going to see a lot of shots/possesions even if he is 50%. And what that is going to do is make the team dependent on him, and go through those same offensive lulls (ala last night).

The team is in disarray now, and the injuries have really taken this team out of sync.

There is no way a healthy Spurs is worse than the Nuggets (even the second half Nuggets).

It all comes down to Duncan. If he can overcome his funk and rustiness -- they can win this series.

If not.......

[MI21]

I felt somewhat lucky to not be forced to watch this game live, but I got a copy of it and couldn't bare sitting through it so I just skipped to the last quarter.

Ugly. There is blame to go all around. Pop deserves a chunk of it too.

[Nikos]

Obviously skipping to the last quarter is going to make the entire team look bad.

Some players did not play well the entire game, and that hurt as well.

Beno's turnover REALLY hurt as the 2nd quarter ended. The entire momentum changed on that turnover IMO.

[slayermin]

4th Qtr miscues that I recall:
TD missed 7 shots.
Bowen gave up two offensive boards to Melo.
Manu missed two wide open looks and was tied up by K-mart on a drive.
Parker missed a wide open jumper and a wide open tear drop.
Nazr fumbled away a beautiful pass from Manu.
Big Dog missed a forced jumper and a wide open three.

[Nikos]

Awaits rascal post.....

"The Spurs front office are to blame for not signing better talent".

Ultimately this series loss rides on Duncan's health. They have enough talent to beat Denver. But it won't matter if Duncan doesn't play like himself.

[whottt]

An honorable mention call goes to Brent Barry. When he wasn't missing open threes or looking lost on defense, he was sailing crosscourt passes into the hands of defenders. He didn't do much to live down his reputation of a playoff choker. Disappointing.

Since I said I wasn't going to defend Brent Barry if he sucked in the post season...I won't...

I just want to know how you can blame him for this loss, since the last time he was in the game, in the third quarter, we still had the lead...say he hits both of his 3's...that's 6 points...

We lost by 7 points...Denver outplayed the guys on the court a the end to win the game.

The choke occurred in the 4th quarter...specifically in the final 5 minutes of the game...ironically, the portion of the game Barry has played his best in all season long...

Your take makes no sense...I mean Barry did suck...but the fact is that he's sucked often and still come into be money in the crunch...

He didn't get that opportunity, he wasn't on the court for the 0-17....

Why don't you blame Pop for sticking with a lineup that choked.

This game was lost in the final 5 minutes...

[Nikos]

Pop is never going to play Barry in the clutch as long as the other team has a reasonable scorer. Unless Barry goes 3-3 or 5-5 from the field.

[whottt]

Well then Pop is stupid,...because Barry was 1-5 going into the final minutes of that Phoenix game when he scored 6 or 9 points in the final 2 minutes...he sucked until the 4th quarter of that Golden State game...

Pop is stupid...and he's the reason we lost this game, he's the reason we are going to choke again...

Brent Barry, and Tony Parker, Manu, Glenn Robinson etc...those guys werren't even on the team when our legacy of choking began...

You don't yank a shooter for missing his first couple of shots...it destroys his confidence...

And Manu looked like a choker tonight...did Manu look like a choker in the Olympics this past summer?

The only two that remain from our diastrous chokes early in the century are Pop and Duncan...Guess which one causes it(hint, it's not the two time finals MVP)

[Tom_Foolery]

In the end, Popovich is the guy who makes the wheel go around.

We gave props to Pop for picking great drafts. We gave Pop alot of credit for getting the Spurs to compete no matter what injuries were there.

If Popovich deserves credit and recognition for success of the Spurs, it's only fair to blame Popovich for the Spurs shortcomings.


What I saw tonight was an uninspired performance by the Spurs that kind of starts from the top to bottom. I saw an uninspired coach that let the game take it's course thinking "it'll be ok...they'll get it done". Unfortunately, they didn't.

There are trends in the Spurs basketball team that are very disturbing that have been going on longer than just this past season. They are a staple of the team's characteristics.

Weak finishes towards the end of quarters. This has been killing the Spurs. Just like tonight, just like that miracle comeback by TMac, just like that miracle comeback @ Memphis this year. The Spurs have a bad habit of not finishing strong. I don't think there's another team in the league who can let what Tmac do what he did to us...not even the Atlanta Hawks could've screwed games up that bad.

The San Antonio Spurs have a very fragile mindset. Hey, I'm a fan too, but let's get real: remember last year in the playoffs...0.4 seconds??? Yeah we lost, but the very next game, we got humiliiated. We played like we didn't want to play again. Even being down in the series, we didn't compete because we were "mentally whipped".

That is the blame of the coach. It is the coach's responsibility to mentally prepare the team. I'm sorry, but that is true. It is why Phil Jackson has almost 5 times more rings than Popovich. It is a reason why I would completely be open to Phil Jackson coming to the Spurs. Phil Jackson would mentally prepare the team much better than Popovich. I think Popovich developes young players better, but Phil jackson is a way better game planner and mental conditioner than Popovich.

I saw it. Kenny Smith saw it. Barkley saw it. The world saw it: the Spurs did not look interested in playing the game.

You can't blame that on Duncan's ankle. You can't blame that on Parker's horrendous play. You can only blame that on the coach for lack of mentally preparing the team to go compete in the playoffs.


I want to think for the best, but Popovich's press conference looked kinda depressing. He looked lost, confused, without words. I've seen him jovial and in joking manner even after losses. This loss, he looked pretty scared and without words. Very serious.

I think he now knows he will have to do his best coaching if he wants the Spurs to be successful. We can't live on talent alone, just ask the Lakers.


Right now, the Spurs are playing like they can "turn on the switch" anytime they want, and just like the Lakers found out, it's not happening.


Popovich IMO should take majority of the blame for lack of motivation, lack of preparation, and poor subs uting.

Sorry, but as good as Bowen's defense is(Miller made a joke out of him too), it does not in any way compensate for Bowen's 1pt games.

[Nikos]

It is weird, Manu looked bad in the fourth. But was great in the first half. Andre Miller actually followed that same path, he was missing open jumpers as well in the 4th.

But ultimately Denver outplayed the Spurs as a team.

It is just weird how mentally weak this team is down the stretch of games. I think a lot of it has to do with the system, and Popovich being unable to instill any confidence when things get tight.

The defensive mindset is nice, but it won't win them close games as long as Pop remains with that "We just did not make shots...." at ude.

BTW, anyone ever notice that for being the #1 defensive team in the league, the team NEVER seems to get the neccesary stops when they need to? This includes Bowen. Why is it that the defense never seems to prevail when their offense goes sour in the 4th? Why is it they can waste all their energy in the fourth on D and never seem to get stops OR scores when it counts?

It is almost like the Spurs are best putting the team away before crunch time.

Is it just coincidence that any mediocre team can look solid in the clutch against the Spurs while also being able to stop them?

Spurs have had some horrible collapses over the past few years, and some of them were just embarrasing. Folding like cheap suits when things got tough.

I hope the same does not happen in Game 2.

[Tom_Foolery]

It is weird, Manu looked bad in the fourth. But was great in the first half. Andre Miller actually followed that same path, he was missing open jumpers as well in the 4th.

But ultimately Denver outplayed the Spurs as a team.

It is just weird how mentally weak this team is down the stretch of games. I think a lot of it has to do with the system, and Popovich being unable to instill any confidence when things get tight.

The defensive mindset is nice, but it won't win them close games as long as Pop remains with that "We just did not make shots...." at ude.

BTW, anyone ever notice that for being the #1 defensive team in the league, the team NEVER seems to get the neccesary stops when they need to? This includes Bowen. Why is it that the defense never seems to prevail when their offense goes sour in the 4th? Why is it they can waste all their energy in the fourth on D and never seem to get stops OR scores when it counts?

It is almost like the Spurs are best putting the team away before crunch time.

Is it just coincidence that any mediocre team can look solid in the clutch against the Spurs while also being able to stop them?

Spurs have had some horrible collapses over the past few years, and some of them were just embarrasing. Folding like cheap suits when things got tough.

I hope the same does not happen in Game 2.

I don't think there's a more mentally fragile team in the NBA. As good as we are, teams smell blood and the Spurs get scared, even if they are up by 8pts with 30 seconds in the game.

I can't explain it.


I don't think any of Phil Jackson's teams were ever this mentally fragile.

[Nikos]

I think the Spurs style of play and coaching is not conducive to winning close games.

They tend to get tight when things aren't going their way. Even despite the clutch shots in the 2003 playoffs, they still looked shaky in their wins and during their losses (Phoenix Game 2, Dallas Game 1 etc...).

[firepopovich]

In the end, Popovich is the guy who makes the wheel go around.

We gave props to Pop for picking great drafts. We gave Pop alot of credit for getting the Spurs to compete no matter what injuries were there.

If Popovich deserves credit and recognition for success of the Spurs, it's only fair to blame Popovich for the Spurs shortcomings.


What I saw tonight was an uninspired performance by the Spurs that kind of starts from the top to bottom. I saw an uninspired coach that let the game take it's course thinking "it'll be ok...they'll get it done". Unfortunately, they didn't.

There are trends in the Spurs basketball team that are very disturbing that have been going on longer than just this past season. They are a staple of the team's characteristics.

Weak finishes towards the end of quarters. This has been killing the Spurs. Just like tonight, just like that miracle comeback by TMac, just like that miracle comeback @ Memphis this year. The Spurs have a bad habit of not finishing strong. I don't think there's another team in the league who can let what Tmac do what he did to us...not even the Atlanta Hawks could've screwed games up that bad.

The San Antonio Spurs have a very fragile mindset. Hey, I'm a fan too, but let's get real: remember last year in the playoffs...0.4 seconds??? Yeah we lost, but the very next game, we got humiliiated. We played like we didn't want to play again. Even being down in the series, we didn't compete because we were "mentally whipped".

That is the blame of the coach. It is the coach's responsibility to mentally prepare the team. I'm sorry, but that is true. It is why Phil Jackson has almost 5 times more rings than Popovich. It is a reason why I would completely be open to Phil Jackson coming to the Spurs. Phil Jackson would mentally prepare the team much better than Popovich. I think Popovich developes young players better, but Phil jackson is a way better game planner and mental conditioner than Popovich.

I saw it. Kenny Smith saw it. Barkley saw it. The world saw it: the Spurs did not look interested in playing the game.

You can't blame that on Duncan's ankle. You can't blame that on Parker's horrendous play. You can only blame that on the coach for lack of mentally preparing the team to go compete in the playoffs.


I want to think for the best, but Popovich's press conference looked kinda depressing. He looked lost, confused, without words. I've seen him jovial and in joking manner even after losses. This loss, he looked pretty scared and without words. Very serious.

I think he now knows he will have to do his best coaching if he wants the Spurs to be successful. We can't live on talent alone, just ask the Lakers.


Right now, the Spurs are playing like they can "turn on the switch" anytime they want, and just like the Lakers found out, it's not happening.


Popovich IMO should take majority of the blame for lack of motivation, lack of preparation, and poor subs uting.

Sorry, but as good as Bowen's defense is(Miller made a joke out of him too), it does not in any way compensate for Bowen's 1pt games.

wow i agree 100%

AMEN

[slayermin]

Well, the '99 Team played great under pressure, imo.

Before we start getting the stakes ready, let's see how the guys respond on Wednesday.

[BigVee]

Pop made at least as many mistakes as the players....why does he insist on using that ty zone, (with Person in the game) that fools no one and usually ends up with a three for the other team? Why does he take TD out with 1:29 left in the first half when the team was starting to roll? Why does he put Beno (who is NOT ready for this level) into situations he can't handle? Why, when the team can't make a shot in the 4th does he keep Horry, Barry and Robinson on the bench? He knew after the game that he made major mistakes. I know he doesn't shoot the ball, but his subs uting and in-game management sucks.

[Extra Stout]

I saw it. Kenny Smith saw it. Barkley saw it. The world saw it: the Spurs did not look interested in playing the game.

With Duncan in his current condition, I wonder if even Popovich really believes the Spurs have a genuine chance at winning four playoff series.

We all saw him out there. Dude's on one leg. The pounding of the playoffs isn't exactly rehabilitative. What you see is what you get.

Seriously, unless Ginobili all of a sudden becomes to the Spurs what he has been to the Argentine national team, all on the fly, is this team really going anywhere?

I guess one could blame the coach, because it's his job to motivate the team somehow, but I just don't see how this team can get excited about hobbling their way to the WCF only to get annihilated by Phoenix or Dallas.

[ducks]

does not matter if spurs bring in a allstar or james
pop will go to duncan in 4 evenif he shots 30% that night

[boutons]

"unless Ginobili all of a sudden becomes to the Spurs what he has been to the Argentine national team"

Pretty hard for Manu to take over a 4th qtr when Pop is making (suicidal) 4-down hand-signals for a hobbled Tim.

Pop should have been calling for Tony and Manu to run high pic n rolls with Time with the other 3 players clearning out, but with Nazr crashing offensive boards. dammit, I don't know what he should have done, but ANYTHING than what Pop ran last night.

Pop should also insist the that the Spurs shoot less 3's, 3-14 last night, giving 11 RBs. I note that the Karl Nuggets shoot a lot less 3's, esp Carmelo, than the pre-Karl Nuggets, or most NBA teams, do. They seem to refuse to live by the 3, and they sure haven't been dying by not shooting the 3.

WTF. I ain't the coach. Just quit doing the same old that doesn't work.

[Tom_Foolery]

With Duncan in his current condition, I wonder if even Popovich really believes the Spurs have a genuine chance at winning four playoff series.

We all saw him out there. Dude's on one leg. The pounding of the playoffs isn't exactly rehabilitative. What you see is what you get.

Seriously, unless Ginobili all of a sudden becomes to the Spurs what he has been to the Argentine national team, all on the fly, is this team really going anywhere?

I guess one could blame the coach, because it's his job to motivate the team somehow, but I just don't see how this team can get excited about hobbling their way to the WCF only to get annihilated by Phoenix or Dallas.

18pts, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, one turnover...not bad for "dude on one leg"(lol).

If the coach can't motivate it's players to play better (Flip Saunders & previous coach of Nuggets), then maybe the coach should seriously consider stepping aside(Pat Riley) to let a coach come in and make an impact.

I'm not calling for Pop's resignation just yet.


All I'm saying is Pop deserves to be blamed just the same when things go bad as when he gets recognition when things are good. To give Pop all the credit in the world when things are great and then refuse to give Pop any blame when things go bad is a bit biased, don't you think?

[BigVee]

Pop is stubborn as . He will go with his best defensive team the last minutes of every game regardless of whether he needs offense or not. Bowen better heat up or a sweep is coming, because TD aint goin do it.

[Extra Stout]

18pts, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, one turnover...not bad for "dude on one leg"(lol).

the stat line. You saw the game. Tim can't finish in the lane -- he looked like Rasho in the fourth. 18 points on 21 shots is bad. He has no explosiveness. He can't get those key defensive rebounds. Seriously, do you see the Spurs with any prayer against Phoenix, Dallas, Miami, or Detroit with Tim playing like that?

If the coach can't motivate it's players to play better (Flip Saunders & previous coach of Nuggets), then maybe the coach should seriously consider stepping aside(Pat Riley) to let a coach come in and make an impact.

It's his job to figure out a way to motivate the team. Somehow. I would think with Tim so limited he should make those guys feel like they're huge underdogs with no pressure on them, so that they're just out there seeing how far they can go.

Instead, they got into the mindset that once Tim came back, voila, everything would be great, he'd carry them again, and with their playoff experience, they should win the West.

So now, up against a team that frankly is better than they are when Tim is only at 70-75%, they're up against the wall with huge pressure not to suc b to an embarrassing "upset." And we know how this team performs under pressure.

I don't see the point in making Manu, Tony, et al. feel like they're behind the 8-ball. They can develop confidence in their ability to perform in the playoffs without having the undue pressure of unreasonable expectations. This team has no business winning anything with half a Duncan.

So yeah, I think Pop is screwing up. He should have them in the mindset that just winning a playoff series would be an accomplishment, and making the WCF would be a heroic effort.

But by the same token, I acknowledge that would be a tough sell to a team that has tasted glory.

Perhaps it would have been better from a basketball standpoint to shut Tim down for the season. However, we all know that wasn't going to happen because then the playoff home games would not have sold out.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I think its time those guys we sign last summer live up to the contracts they sign, we want resultz now!!!

[ALVAREZ6]

I think its time those guys we sign last summer live up to the contracts they sign, we want resultz now!!!

You're right, Manu sucked last night...and BTW, he is underpaid.

[Tom_Foolery]

the stat line. You saw the game. Tim can't finish in the lane -- he looked like Rasho in the fourth. 18 points on 21 shots is bad. He has no explosiveness. He can't get those key defensive rebounds. Seriously, do you see the Spurs with any prayer against Phoenix, Dallas, Miami, or Detroit with Tim playing like that?

It's his job to figure out a way to motivate the team. Somehow. I would think with Tim so limited he should make those guys feel like they're huge underdogs with no pressure on them, so that they're just out there seeing how far they can go.

Instead, they got into the mindset that once Tim came back, voila, everything would be great, he'd carry them again, and with their playoff experience, they should win the West.

So now, up against a team that frankly is better than they are when Tim is only at 70-75%, they're up against the wall with huge pressure not to suc b to an embarrassing "upset." And we know how this team performs under pressure.

I don't see the point in making Manu, Tony, et al. feel like they're behind the 8-ball. They can develop confidence in their ability to perform in the playoffs without having the undue pressure of unreasonable expectations. This team has no business winning anything with half a Duncan.

So yeah, I think Pop is screwing up. He should have them in the mindset that just winning a playoff series would be an accomplishment, and making the WCF would be a heroic effort.

But by the same token, I acknowledge that would be a tough sell to a team that has tasted glory.

Perhaps it would have been better from a basketball standpoint to shut Tim down for the season. However, we all know that wasn't going to happen because then the playoff home games would not have sold out.

Dude, you drink too much.


18pts/11 rbs/2 blocks/ 1 Turnover(now THIS is extremely important) shows he was able to play.

Even Duncan said that after the game.

He missed 7 shots, all within 8ft. You don't need "explosiveness" for a baby hook.

Mello had 5 fouls and Martin had 5 fouls but Pop didn't do anything. He could've put in Big Dog, made Mello play some defense and possibly get Mello out of the game.

Instead, Popovich watched for 10 minutes while the Spurs show 0-17 without making a subs ution.

Forget "defense", Spurs still lost by 7pts. What we needed was someone who could put the ball in the whole.


He should've taken Bowen out of the game and put in Big Dog...period. Bowen's 1pt does not compensate for limiting Mellow to 6pts his average. That's a differential of 13pts. Put Big Dog in the game, and he'd probably score 10pts.