Before I start, I know the Spurs did not step up. They didn't show up this series. Hard to be Phoenix when all of the role players turn themselves into liabilities on the court.
As well as Manu, Dejuan, Duncan, and Dice played, it wasn't enough. Even the Red Useless splashed 75% of his threes, something all of us fans would never imagine. And to the Suns credit, they played well. But a lot of them playing so well is on Pop.
There were a lot of things to blame, clearly, but the Spurs were never going to win by allowing the Suns, the best 3 point team in the league, shoot the number of wide open threes as they did. It was a result of switching on literally every chance possible and the Nash pick and roll killed us. I found myself yelling at the Spurs players for letting them be so open, but I had to realize they would not be doing it if Pop seriously stressed the importance of this. Every game, from game 1 through game 3, the Spurs never adjusted. with Nash not even in the game, when Dragic drives to the rim, why would the entire team (literally all 5 players) collapse to the paint? Even in game 3? And I understand how tough the Nash-Amare pick and roll is to defend, at some point you have to start getting on those perimeter shooters unless they aren't making the shots, but they were, all series long. Both teams shot 50% or better from 3 tonight, with the Suns at nearly 58%. The difference was Phoenix made 15 of them.
I was just completely baffled that even in a must win game 3, the Spurs didn't adjust to guard that 3 point line. It was unbelievable how many wide ass open threes they took, this series was basically an extended 3-point shooting drill for Phoenix. It was practice. And those re ed switches were a complete failure. I would have rather had the Spurs switch back to their originally assignments in many of those times when both players involved in the pick for Phoenix stood right next to each other after the picks. Instead they would double, leaving someone completely open for three, or they would leave the mismatch and find themselves confused and late on the rotations...the one play that stood out for me was when they did this while giving up the game as the Spurs scrambled to find a man to guard on the perimeter, Duncan was floating around not able to find someone for a few seconds because of how ineffective the rotation strategy was.
Granted Phoenix shot very well from the perimeter this series which makes a difference. Most of that can be explained by how open they were half the time, and that will not cut it against Phoenix. We can blame a lot of the role players for not stepping up, but Bonner was splashing tonight. Dice got us off to a good start and played well. Manu was knocking down the outside shot. Blair came in and provided a spark. And it didn't turn into a win, even at home! I was amazed by the lack of adjustments, I couldn't stand watching wide open three after three. Sure Phoenix was hitting from everywhere, but the Spurs never had a chance if they weren't going to get out on that three point line.
Didn't help that the Spurs couldn't hold on to even half of any given lead for over 3 minutes. The only way they could have won one of these games was if Manu was on creatine the whole series providing him enough energy to play the entire game. When he was resting, the offense was usually , and once the Suns started chipping away at any lead, the Spurs had no idea what to do but watch helplessly, they had no drive.
Bonner sagging back on that Dragic 3-pointer to end the 3rd and cut the lead to 6 started the debacle imo and summed up one of the major issues with the defense: the team never respected the Suns 3-point shooting enough from top to bottom to just stay home. The Suns often passed up decent looks inside just to throw the ball out for a 3 and Frye spent more time camping out there than he did inside going for rebounds. Granted, the Suns ball movment was pretty good and we did get it right on a few occasions, but not enough to make a difference.
Remember, George Hill was the reason we beat the Mavs. We needed a repeat performance from him because the Big 3 cannot carry this team anymore. Pop is not on the court, so he can't be the only one to point the finger at. This series has been about role players - and the Suns simply have the better ones....
You gotta give Pop credit... his gameplan to stop Amaré worked to perfection...
/sarcasm
Its not on Pop. Its on players making mistakes and playing that defense poorly.
and clanging wide open shots. but you're right, even trying to trade baskets is not spurs ball.
Agree.
What do you want from Pop with a team that have Mason, Bonner, Jefferson and Bogans.
Pop did a great job put this team in the 2nd round
What bothers me the most is the Phoenix fans deserve this series the least. Nash and Grant Hill deserve an NBA championship, I'd do anything to have Nash as my PG, complete class act and stud player who you know will show up every game. No one else from that roster deserves a ring. That said, I don't want the ego-inflated Lakers to win either, so if this series is over (99% chance it is), go Cavs, start racking up those rings 'Bron.
pop was not to blame for hurting tp elbow and changed the whole ing game
You think James' ego is any smaller?
gargic was 2-12 before tonight
he won the game
spurs d plan was great to begin with
Pop brought in Mason, Bonnr, , and his center piece Bogans. I want Pop to stop bringing gots to this team.
gargic was 2-12 before tonight
he won the game
spurs d plan was great to begin with
I thought Pop did an excellent job in the Dallas series, but not really this one, that's just me. Of course it wasn't nearly all of his fault, but the Spurs still put up a lot of points in every game. Somehow someway, they put points on the board, but the defensive scheme was a complete failure. I think that had a much bigger effect than scoring slightly less than what the Spurs would have say if Hill showed up one or two games. Not every player plays well in the same game, not during the Mavs series either. It just can't always happen.
The Spurs shot 45.8%, 50.6%, and 50% in games 1, 2, and 3 respectively. And they lost all three of them. What's particularly interesting is that in game 2, this is what happened:
Spurs shot 50.6%, Suns shot 42.4%..quite a big difference, and still lost by 8 points. Spurs even turned the ball over less times, only 12 in that game. Free Throws and the 3-Ball baby! They ed us.
I thought Pop did an excellent job in the Dallas series, but not really this one, that's just me. Of course it wasn't nearly all of his fault, but the Spurs still put up a lot of points in every game. Somehow someway, they put points on the board, but the defensive scheme was a complete failure. I think that had a much bigger effect than scoring slightly less than what the Spurs would have say if Hill showed up one or two games. Not every player plays well in the same game, not during the Mavs series either. It just can't always happen.
The Spurs shot 45.8%, 50.6%, and 50% in games 1, 2, and 3 respectively. And they lost all three of them. What's particularly interesting is that in game 2, this is what happened:
Spurs shot 50.6%, Suns shot 42.4%..quite a big difference, and still lost by 8 points. Spurs even turned the ball over less times, only 12 in that game. Free Throws and the 3-Ball baby! They ed us.
this is the best suns team spurs faced and the least talented spurs team suns faced
spurs always corrected the problem they lost before but suns beat them in a different area
Sure I know he's pretty y but I don't think it's necessarily out of control for how in good the dude is. I just don't like the Lakers, and I'm a complete fan of Lebron's game.
you better hope Atlanta wins the Chip.
if onl y we had a guy named Tiago SPlitter
Maybe true with the Spurs part but the Sun's have had some good ass teams.. they've had teams with Shawn Marion (when he was more effective) and Joe Johnson before, and a more in control and effective Barbosa off the bench.
I'm Sad. Manu can´t win a series on his own... in this moment is when the guys must appear to overcome our trouble. I don't want to say it, but that's all folks!
LeBron is allowed to play in another league from just about everyone else in the league primarily because of his athleticism (e.g. He doesn't get called for goaltending on those come from behind blocks when the ball is clearly over the cylinder beecause the refs are in awe of his closing time/speed and give him the benefit of the doubt, etc.). He claims he's a "no excuse" kind of guy but has an excuse for every major blunder he encounters, and weak ones at that.
If he were to win a championship he'd become a bigger monster than the one he himself claimed those who adored him in High School made him in terms of ego. JMHO.
I think the spurs just wasted all there energy on the mavs that they don't have nothing left....duncan ain't the same anymore....
This is the first series I actually see the spurs collectively playing D - whatever the strategy is - no hard fouls.. not one and they got bullied around in all the 3 games.
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