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Spurs have a nearly insurmountable lead for home court throughout, have everyone playing relatively low minutes, everyone contributing, and are poised to have everyone healthy for a playoff run. No reasons for concern so far.
I've read multiple threads about the Spurs' improvement from a defensive standpoint, and I actually agree that the Spurs had been making strides, as of late(prior to the poor game vs. the Bulls)..
The Spurs' defense has improved as the season has progressed, however, how much of a factor has the compe ion been during this successful run?..by looking at the matchups, it appears that the schedule has had a significant factor in the defensive progress..
Spurs defense vs. +.500 teams:
FG% allowed: 46.4%
3-point FG% allowed: 38.7%
FTA allowed: 20.9 FTA
TO per game: 13
RPG: +1.8
Celtics defense vs. +.500 teams:
FG% allowed: 44.2%
3-point FG% allowed: 34.9%
FTA allowed: 24.9 FTA
TO per game: 15.2
RPG: -0.2
Mavs defense vs. +.500 teams:
FG% allowed: 45.1%
3-point FG% allowed: 35.5%
FTA allowed: 20.9 FTA
TO per game: 11.9
RPG: +0.1
Lakers defense vs. +.500 teams:
FG% allowed: 45.1%
3-point FG% allowed: 37.3%
FTA allowed: 20.3 FTA
TO per game: 11.7
RPG: +4.8
Bulls defense vs. +.500 teams:
FG% allowed: 44.3%
3-point FG% allowed: 35.1%
FTA allowed: 27.1 FTA
TO per game: 13.1
RPG: +4.5
Heat defense vs. +500 teams:
FG% allowed: 44%
3-point FG% allowed: 32.1%
FTA allowed: 25.3 FTA
TO per game: 12.4
RPG: +0.5
The Spurs have by far the worst FG and 3-point %s on D amongst the "elite" teams in the NBA vs. +500 teams, their only advantage being that they foul at a very low rate..
It should also be noted that the Spurs have played some of these teams, without Dirk, Boozer, Garnett, Billups, Gay, Gallinari, etc..
The Spurs have played 3 +.500 teams in February, they went 1-2 against them, with the only W coming on a McDyess tip-in against the Lakers..they were thoroughly outplayed vs. Chicago and Portland..
Reason for concern?..
Spurs have a nearly insurmountable lead for home court throughout, have everyone playing relatively low minutes, everyone contributing, and are poised to have everyone healthy for a playoff run. No reasons for concern so far.
Their D will improve I'm sure of it, and like Obstructed said they will most certainly have home court to buoy that up a bit.
yeah but why do the spurs suck after a 2 day off....is it just rust
Need more defensive improvements rather than offensive ones. We all know what they're capable of scoring-wise when they're not laying an egg.
I think the Spurs can show a small improvement in those numbers when TD and Manu's minutes are no longer limited. I don't see other teams really doing time micromanagement like the Spurs are doing with their stars.
It's a good measure up besides the injury tidbit. Why should it be noted the Spurs have played teams without some players? I'm sure other teams on the above list have played the bulls without boozer or the mavs without dirk. It shouldn't be taken into consideration at all tbh.
Nine games away from home with five guys ready to board a plane as soon as the game ends and head to LA. I wonder if there's going to be a bunch of discussion on ESPN how the Spurs went on vacation a little early.
spursfans are beginning to be like fakerfans, skeptics my arse thinkn the defense will improve when playoffs roll around....
we are playin like on the defensive end and just coasting atm
Yes, the evidence points that they, and we, need to be concerned, unless they don't want a championship.
If they are just playing to go deep into the playoffs and that is it, then the Spurs are already there.
But to win a championship, their defense is going to have to be a of a lot better.
And so far, I don't see it happening, at least against the top defensive teams anyway.
Has anyone seen the Spurs play better defense against any of the top defensive teams?
The last second win against the Lakers was luck. Besides, the Lakers haven't been a top defensive team in a while now anyway.
I'll always stand by the Spurs and go down with them, but I won't make excuses.
Defense plus all these factors means you're a real championship contender.
HCA and all the rest minus the defensive capability to back it up means you're the Mavs or Suns.
how are the Spurs doing against .500 teams in the west?
I'm no fan of the "flip the switch" theory. That's why I said "small improvement". That said, the time limiting is not an excuse. It happens, it's measurable.
This team has shown flashes that it can play at a high level defensively. It just hasn't been consistent. Last time we played the Bulls we held them to 12 points in one quarter. We've locked up other teams over .500, like the Hornets on occasion. Guys like Hill play a lot better at home than on the road.
It is what it is, and I agree we need to use the remaining games to improve in that aspect.
Oh, math. Here's one: Duncan playing 40 minutes >>>>>> Duncan playing 28 minutes. Defense goes way up at that point.
I agree about Duncan's minutes increasing = defensive improvement, that's the primary hope I'm holding onto, in regards to the potential improvement of the Spurs' D, later on in the season/in the playoffs..
The Spurs seem to have adapted well to the Lakers' style of play, but they seem to struggle against grind-out teams like the Celtics, Bulls and Mavs, which is what concerns me IMO..
While I do expect improvement in the playoffs, I'm not an advocate of "turning on the switch"..I don't want to see the Spurs exerting too much energy, but it would be nice to see some consistent defense in these types of games, for continuous stretches, at least to build good habits/chemistry on the defensive end..
I agree completely especially the part about CONSISTENCY which I put in bold in your quote.
I want this team to win a championship not just go deep in the playoffs like the Suns used to do, and then get knocked off. I want the whole enchilada!
I hate to say it but I think the FO may have to pull a miracle of a trade to get Mbah Moute even if it means giving up some young talent like Anderson, which I really don't want to give up, but it may be necessary.
So flip the switch and no worries? Very simple math, I hope you're right. How does playing Duncan marathon minutes improve our perimeter D, btw?
A couple other factors to consider, is that Pop will have a game plan in place. No b2bs, and like others who have mentinoned this point in this thread, the big 3's minutes will go up in the playoffs.
I don't think it will improve by heaps and bounds, but Manu getting his usual 35+ in the playoffs will help, IMO. I love Neal, what he brings on offense, and the tenacity on defense, but there's no doubt he can be a foul machine and he gets no respect from the zebras (being a rookie, not surprising).
We're not at the bottom of the barrel defensively. It's the small improvements that count.
Really? 26 games left and Dallas is down 6 after tonight if they win, thats not that damn big when you think of it. They might win it yes, probably will! But it is not that huge.
It's been a reason for concern all year, win or lose. We are scoring more but allowing more. Still, we are winning more and that's not a bad thing.
One game at a time.
, I wouldn't feel butt hurt if the Spurs were down 6 to Dallas if the Spurs were 2nd in the West. We would have taken that at the beginning of the season.
This is true. Neal and Blair are foul machines. They see a play near them and try to get involved. That gets them in trouble. Blair needs to trust Tim when he's on the floor, and funnel to him. If Tim cannot stop the shot, Blair won't either.
I think Pop first coined the phrase "fools gold". I might be mistaken.
But I think our record is that because the Spurs are not paying focused attention to defense, and might even think they can win it all just on their offense and record alone and get lazy.
Fools Gold.
I'm less concerned about the big 3, although simply playing them more minutes, seems a bit, well simple. This ain't 2005/2007. There's no Horry or even Oberto, but rather Dice and...
I guess it a bit strange that even with our record, it's hard to say what we can expect in the PO. I'd feel better if we were playing better, improved D as the season grinds on. Hope to see it after the all-star break.
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