Manu: "We relied a lot on Kawhi and LaMarcus

[skulls138]

Darn. That is not good at all. I just don't think you can win by only taking jump shots in crunch time. This game was a great example. The Bulls went to the rack with the game on the line and drew fouls while the Spurs took a lot of jump shots.

Being last in free throws is very concerning. Spurs needed to get another penetrator that can draw fouls since Manu and TP can't do it consistently anymore. I was hoping Simmons could be that guy which is a big reason why I was so keen for him so succeed in the preseason, but unfortunately it doesn't look like he's going to get into the rotation any time soon. His handles are worse than I originally thought too.

I also want Kawhi to stop settling for jumpers and try and drive it to the rim more. Not sure if that is a handles issue for him or lack of elite athleticism that is holding him back in that area? What do you guys think? Maybe a combination of the two. For example, Tony had supreme speed and very good handles that allowed him to get to the rim whenever he wanted, and Manu had good handles, good speed, and also great athleticism which helped him get to the rim almost at will too.

Yeah theyre trying to make Kawhi into the man but I think they should go back to passing that ball around until it finds the open three point shooter. Kawhi will find plenty of points that way. But also take it to the rack more and get on the free throw line. This mid-range jump shooting stuff is no good.

[skulls138]

I would actually like Pop to coach Kyle to be more aggressive offensively, make plays. The man is so crafty that he gets to the line despite such a low usage rate and timid offense. Most of the shots he has taken are actually bail out end of the shot clock shots, when obviously he has the green light to force bc there is no time for anything else, and surprisingly, he has created his own shots in a jiffy and either gotten to the line, made his jumper, or he finds somebody at the last second. I think that if pushed, Kyle could do more for this team than he's currently doing and Simmons has shown flashes in real NBA games as well, we are not talking about SL here. It might be time to push these two a little more, but alas! Pop won't do it.

We may need KA to step it up the way the bench is playing. He could both solidify and energize it because Ginobili, West and Diaw aint spring chickens and its showing. I also think Pops will do it, if the situation doesnt improve.

[honestfool84]

I'll take Manu's analysis over some idiot troll every day of the week.

[SnakeBoy]

I would actually like Pop to coach Kyle to be more aggressive offensively, make plays. The man is so crafty that he gets to the line despite such a low usage rate and timid offense. Most of the shots he has taken are actually bail out end of the shot clock shots, when obviously he has the green light to force bc there is no time for anything else, and surprisingly, he has created his own shots in a jiffy and either gotten to the line, made his jumper, or he finds somebody at the last second. I think that if pushed, Kyle could do more for this team than he's currently doing and Simmons has shown flashes in real NBA games as well, we are not talking about SL here. It might be time to push these two a little more, but alas! Pop won't do it.

I would too but I think Pop only cares about his defensive development at this point. I can't really argue with Pop's approach though. The only thing that I thought could keep Kyle from becoming a good NBA player was his horrible defense. He's shown more improvement than I expected at this point so Pop has him going in a good direction.

[ducks]

Plus, nobody was passing him the ball. He needs Parker to set him up.

Yeah Parker only had 9 assist and lots of hockey assist

[bic50]

Yeah theyre trying to make Kawhi into the man but I think they should go back to passing that ball around until it finds the open three point shooter. Kawhi will find plenty of points that way. But also take it to the rack more and get on the free throw line. This mid-range jump shooting stuff is no good.

Guys aren't hitting shots though. Green, mills, manu, even aldridge has struggled. I believe only parker and kawhi are the only ones shooting well so far. our defense and play from parker and leonard are carrying us right now. that Bulls game was winnable is we were to get better play out of our bench.

[skulls138]

Guys aren't hitting shots though. Green, mills, manu, even aldridge has struggled. I believe only parker and kawhi are the only ones shooting well so far. our defense and play from parker and leonard are carrying us right now. that Bulls game was winnable is we were to get better play out of our bench.

More pick and roll less pick and pop.

[kaji157]

Like with many others, I dont think manu realizes the changes that needs to happen with a declining parker and him being 38. You cant play spurs 2014 with this personel. Its not possible.

I think what he is asking is that if the big 3 adapted their games to play in a variety of ways, with different game peaces and to maximize the abilities of different supporting casts, now he needs others to adap in order for the team to be what he thinks the team should be.

You are not going to win a championship with 2 midrange jumpers, plain simple. You need something else.

And i am pretty sure that where Manu wants us to be is the same place Duncan and Pop wants us, and thats winning.

[Ice009]

It's hard to tell what it is. Vince Carter was incredibly explosive but I remember him being criticized for settling for 3s too often and not driving to the basket enough.

True. I remember a game against the Lakers in the early 2000s and all Vince did all game was take long 2s and 3s. While watching that game I was thinking something along the lines of - what is this guy doing? He's playing soft, is he scared of Shaq? I always thought that if you're that athletic and explosive, you should always try to get to the rim as much as possible to finish and/or draw fouls while also mixing in jumpers to keep the defense honest/guessing.

[DMC]

San Antonio Spurs
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF	23	3-10	0-0	0-0	2	7	9	0	0	5	1	2	+3	6
Kawhi Leonard, SF	25	3-12	0-1	7-8	2	1	3	4	0	0	0	1	+14	13
Tim Duncan, C	20	7-11	0-0	2-2	3	7	10	1	1	0	2	1	+11	16
Tony Parker, PG	18	2-6	1-1	3-4	0	1	1	3	2	0	1	1	+16	8
Danny Green, SG	21	1-5	0-4	0-0	0	4	4	2	2	0	0	3	+15	2
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
David West, PF	13	2-5	0-0	0-0	1	5	6	2	2	1	0	0	+18	4
Kyle Anderson, SF	7	1-1	0-0	2-3	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	+3	4
Boris Diaw, C	16	2-4	0-0	0-0	1	2	3	3	0	0	1	1	+10	4
Patty Mills, PG	18	3-8	2-4	0-0	0	2	2	3	0	0	0	0	+5	8
Jonathon Simmons, SG	8	3-3	0-0	0-1	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	+8	6
Manu Ginobili, SG	12	2-5	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	3	1	0	1	1	+2	5
Rasual Butler, SF	Has not entered game
Matt Bonner, C	Has not entered game
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		29-70	4-12	14-18	9	31	40	22	9	6	7	11		76

This is what Manu was referring to: Team scoring, not relying on Kawhi and LMA to carry them. Just FYI

[tholdren]

San Antonio Spurs
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF	23	3-10	0-0	0-0	2	7	9	0	0	5	1	2	+3	6
Kawhi Leonard, SF	25	3-12	0-1	7-8	2	1	3	4	0	0	0	1	+14	13
Tim Duncan, C	20	7-11	0-0	2-2	3	7	10	1	1	0	2	1	+11	16
Tony Parker, PG	18	2-6	1-1	3-4	0	1	1	3	2	0	1	1	+16	8
Danny Green, SG	21	1-5	0-4	0-0	0	4	4	2	2	0	0	3	+15	2
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
David West, PF	13	2-5	0-0	0-0	1	5	6	2	2	1	0	0	+18	4
Kyle Anderson, SF	7	1-1	0-0	2-3	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	+3	4
Boris Diaw, C	16	2-4	0-0	0-0	1	2	3	3	0	0	1	1	+10	4
Patty Mills, PG	18	3-8	2-4	0-0	0	2	2	3	0	0	0	0	+5	8
Jonathon Simmons, SG	8	3-3	0-0	0-1	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	+8	6
Manu Ginobili, SG	12	2-5	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	3	1	0	1	1	+2	5
Rasual Butler, SF	Has not entered game
Matt Bonner, C	Has not entered game
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		29-70	4-12	14-18	9	31	40	22	9	6	7	11		76

This is what Manu was referring to: Team scoring, not relying on Kawhi and LMA to carry them. Just FYI

Lol plus minus

[Manudona]

I'll take Manu's analysis over some idiot troll every day of the week.

And twice in spurstalk.com...

[Ice009]

That may be what Manu was referring to, but tonight we saw that Kawhi's jumper was not falling and he at least was able to draw more fouls which was a good thing. I think these guys need to realize that you can't win just by shooting jumpshots all the time. You've got a mix it up and get some fouls or finishes inside for higher percentage shots.

[DMC]

That may be what Manu was referring to, but tonight we saw that Kawhi's jumper was not falling, but he at least drew more fouls which was a good thing. I think these guys need to realize that you can't win just by shooting jumpshots all the time. You've got a mix it up and get some fouls or finishes inside for higher percentage shots.

"But"? That's my entire point. KL and LMA didn't dominate, but the rest of the team found some offense.