Comments on: Other People: The Loss to New Orleans

By: Timothy Varner

Timothy Varner — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:35:59 +0000

Navin,

The team wide feast or famine trend is odd. I’ve puzzled over that myself.

By: Timothy Varner

Timothy Varner — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:30:15 +0000

Great game discussion, ladies and gents. I had considered writing a full length feature on the subject of Mason Jr. as a point guard, but time won’t permit it. But in lieu of a more a carefully worded post, let me say this: Roger Mason Jr. is not a point guard. I’d prefer to see Pop play Manu Ginobili at back up point and spell Mason Jr. with George Hill. My 2 cents.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:05:33 +0000

I’m with you guys on Mason running the PG. The full court pressure is definitely applied every time he is in there, which ends up taking a good amount of time to initiate the offense. That has really be irking me lately. Hill may not be a natural PG, but at least we can initiate the offense with plent of time on the shot clock.

And Ken, I can’t remember for sure, but was there ever any time last night where one of the big 3 wasn’t on the court? To me, it really seemed that the offense was stagnant when TP wasn’t on the court. Manu couldn’t seem to be able to get the offense going, which illustrates that we still need some time before he is acclimated back to playing condition. In that respect, it just looked like one of the big 3 wasn’t on the court, even though there was. Of course, I could just be wrong… maybe there were times when none of the 3 were out there.

By: Chris K.

Chris K. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:01:22 +0000

I agree with Randy Hill: Tony Parker has been the best player on the Spurs this year and looks to be the best player for the foreseeable future.

The Tim Duncan I saw last night looked old, slow, stiff, and not capable of being the number 1 option on a championship team. It looks to me that Tim is, and will remain, at best the number 2 option – probably number 3, behind Tony, and then whoever is open for a three pointer – Mace, Ginobili, Bonner, Finley.

Tim will continue to be a great safety net, a great security blanket. But he’s not good enough to carry the Spurs to a championship on his post scores and blocked shots like he did in 99, 03, and 05.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:57:17 +0000

I don’t think there should ever be a second of the game (unless we are up or down by a ton in the 4th) in which at least one of the big three are not in the game. Obviously, Manu is not totally healthy yet, but still. I hate those times when I see Tim, Tony, and Manu sitting. Our team just dies then.

By: gospurs44

gospurs44 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:49:41 +0000

agutierrez, maybe it’s Pop’s arrogance that keeps him playing mace at PG? I think he likes to prove people wrong.

By: agutierrez

agutierrez — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:33:03 +0000

And most of the three’s were wide open. Lost count of how many open threes Finley and Udoka had from the corner. It was also irksome to hear that Pop has decided to use Mason at point come hell or high water. It seems to be evident to everyone, including our opponents (notice that when he’s playing point, they begin guarding him closely in the backcourt) that he is not, nor ever will be, a point guard. My fear is that it will effect is shooting.

By: Navin

Navin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:18:47 +0000

Other than the missed 3s and FTs mentioned previously here are a few interesting stats:

Manu 4-11 (4-9 from threes): He only took 2 shots that were not 3s! Guess he is still trying to regain form….

Duncan: 6-14: As has been mentioned previously, he has not been the same player since his knee injury. Back to back Sean Marks blocks! Seriously?

Back to the 3s: I have never understood this in general, how do we always shoot well/poorly as a team? Shouldnt it be that most times we have one shooter who is making them and other ones that are not? Also, would be interesting if somebody looked up Bonner’s 3 pt % since the Gooden signing.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:46:36 +0000

I’m with you Ken. I was more agitated about the lack of a foul call on Parker in the backcourt than I was about the clock situation.

I guess sometimes the game just doesn’t go your way. The Hornets D was collapsing the lane, making it impossible for Manu and Tony to get penetration, forcing the Spurs to jack so many 3′s. We just weren’t hitting them last night.

It was a rather painful game to watch in that respect.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:37:32 +0000

We lost because we missed three pointers and they made free throws. Simple really.

About the last play, the call was correct, but the bogus part was not calling a foul on Parker. That was crap. Anyways, life goes on. Or so I’m told.