Saturday, April 25th, 2009...5:17 pm
Prolegomena to a Notebook
Tough Loss. I’ll offer a few brief thoughts on this afternoon’s loss but I plan on composing a detailed recap sometime tomorrow.
I was very disappointed with our shot selection during the closing stretch. After Michael Finley made a technical free throw with 4:20 left on the clock, the Spurs were down 92-87. After Tony Parker missed 2 free throws with 3:47 left on the clock (and still down by 5), the Spurs took 8 field goal attempts. All 8 were 3-point attempts. Only 1 was made. It was completely unnecessary for the Spurs to begin heaving up outside shots. We needed stops on the defensive end and penetration on the offensive end. We produced neither.
In contrast to his court time in Games One and Two, George Hill played 14 key minutes this afternoon. He closed out the game alongside Tony Parker, Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Tim Duncan. While on the floor, he provided the reliable man-to-man defense we’ve come to expect and was a controlled and efficient presence on the offensive end of the floor (2-3 from the field, 2-2 from 3-point range). I imagine Hill will see a fair amount of playing time in Game Five. Those of us who have argued he should have been seeing a fair amount of playing time all series should feel vindicated.
Aside from Duncan and Parker, who scored 68 of our 90 points, The Spurs were completely impotent on the offensive end. We shot 6-23 from 3-point range. Tony Parker and George Hill were the source of 4 of those 6 makes. Roger Mason went 0-3 from outside. Michael Finley went 1-5. Matt Bonner went 0-3. The bench only managed to score 10 points all game. The only bench player who made a field goal was George Hill.
Check back in tomorrow morning for further thoughts on the game. For the time being I am going to have a few beers with my friends and attempt to relax. I suggest you do the same.
14 Comments
April 25th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Sadly, it’s time for the Spurs to go fishing and get ready for a relatively major overhaul this summer.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Spurs definitely have the pieces to put away this Mavs team. They just don’t have the confidence. Everyone is hesitant and looks like they don’t know what they’re doing. No one wants to step it up. Roger Mason is non-existent.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
The defense often appeared poor but the Mavs shot under 39%. That they were hot from 3pt land is to their credit, something I wish could be said for our guys. The defensive rebounding was awful and is hurt in part by TD having to help on the many occasions one of our guys gets beat off the dribble. That usually leaves a guard or Bonner to board and it’s not happening.
For all the poor rebounding and 3pt shooting, cutting the foul line misses in half would’ve won the game. As was said before the playoffs began, we are no longer good enough to leave 4-10 points on the floor. I’m not asking for perfection but better than 65%.
The game was there for the taking in the 4th. IMO, the three biggest plays all happened with under 6 minutes: the charge foul on TD when down by 4; we got none of the 50/50 calls in the 4th but TD could’ve also slowed up and posted Dirk. Next were Tony’s two missed FT when down 5 which would’ve made it a one possession game. No doubt he was gassed but the misses were critical. Lastly, Tony settling for a 3 with just under 3 minutes left and trailing by 5. Again, more patience on offense and going for a 2 would’ve made it a one-possession game. We wasted chances to put the pressure on the Mavs thus allowing them to keep a two-possession lead and play more freely. For me, that’s a theme for this series. We wasted opportunities to place pressure on dallas while they never stop putting it on us.
I also don’t see anyone not named Duncan or Parker thrusting themselves into the limelight by taking and making big shots. Where is our Horry, Barry, Jackson or Kerr?
April 26th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I don’t see why guys don’t get fired up by Duncan and Parker. I’d love to see some energy. It’s definitely NOT because they’re old.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Where the hell was Gooden today???
I think the Spurs will win the next game, Mavs will take the sixth. Either way, if the Tony Parker era means Tony Parker and no one else, we’re looking dark times for the Spurs.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Another close loss. IF we had made more freethrows, IF we had hit just 40% from 3, IF Mason had only scored 10 points….However none of that changes the fact that we did lose. Its pathetic really. If TD and Tony are going to be our only scorers than Pop needs to bench Mason, Finley, and Bonner. Start Bowen, Thomas, and Hill / Udoka and suffocate them with defense.
Bonner+Finley+Mason in game 4 = Crap defense + 7 points in 75 combined minutes.
If their offensive production does not make up for their lack of defensive intensity than why are they playing?
April 26th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Hi to all from a die-hard Spurs fan from the UK.
I am so disappointed with the way this series is going. We are good enough to beat this Mavs team but to me it looks like everyone other than Tony & Timmy (yes that includes Pop) subconsciously gave up when Manu went out for the season.
I love Pop but how in the name of God is Bonner a starter? Why has Hill not been given more minutes in the first 3 games? Why is Timmy not taking more shots? It just doesn’t make sense…
I STILL believe. If we win game 5, we are in with a chance to regain home court advantage in game 6. In terms of the future, the rise of Tony Parker to the top-5 players (IMO) of the entire League puts us in good stead to remain contenders under his leadership for at least another 6 years… as long as we surround him with a strong cast (i.e not Bonner!).
April 26th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Well, we needed some points, so it makes sense to play the best offensive players, even if they are lacking defensively. I think if those guys are on, Pop feels better about playing more of the defensive guys, knowing that he can get some points elsewhere.
Btw, some of those calls were head-scratching, for both sides. All those free throws, for two teams that never foul? Odd.
April 26th, 2009 at 9:06 am
i agree with every comment made here.
I want those guys from Toros on the spurs roster, enough of JV, Bonner and Bowen.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hi to all from another Spurs fan
I am pretty disappointed by Spurs fans who are tired of Bowen and Bonner (I can easily understand people who are tired of JV). It doesn’t take a long time to forget how efficiently Bowen shut down Terry, or they way Bonner was hitting his threes during the regular season (his first real NBA season, BTW).
And asking for some Toros to replace them… All those unbelievable Toros didn’t even win the DNBA title, so why do you think they’ll perform better against the Mavs?
And our poor shot selection during the crunch time is what killed me the most. All those unprepared 3s reminded more of GS of Phoenix than of Spurs - and, of course, the only time we penetrated, Hill hit a 3 with an assist from Mason.
April 26th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
SpurredOn - I think another play under 6 minutes that was critical - When Finley missed the 3 pointer and no one blocked out Hollings. I mean c’mon what was Duncan blocking out - air? And to top it out Hollings goes all Shak like after the dunk (his only basket). Arrrrgh! Yes we are having match up problems but I think right now it’s more of a mental thing especially with the supporting cast. I just hope they can recover.
April 26th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Sorry, on my last post, I meant when Kidd missed the 3 pointer obviously it could not have been Finley on the miss. My mind still not all there after this disappointing loss.
April 26th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Jimbo, Nooooo! I don’t want to see the Spurs “Gone Fishing” Kenny Smith picture this soon in the playoffs, like they are the Memphis Grizzlies or something.
Mason, excellent point, wacthing Roger Mason out there is painful.
Eso, Spurred on, eso.
GMT, I didn’t think energy was a factor for anyone but Tony, but thanks for pointing this out, I’ll try to notice players energy level more this next game.
Duanofly, I like the equation. Another one,
50+21+20+9=100% NBA champions forever
doesn’t work as well when 20 is on the bench.
Vangelis, good points.
RBGinobili, thanks for pointing out that this game was HORRIBLY officiated, inconsistent and really bad for both sides. Early on, a few times there were bad calls against the Mavs youngsters, but then the fantom charge against Duncan at such a critical time!!!
Thanks for all the great comments, lots of great points. We really need a Game 6. Danny Crawford time?
April 26th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
[...] “I was very disappointed with [the Spurs'] shot selection during the closing stretch. After Michael Finley made a technical free throw with 4:20 left on the clock, the Spurs were down 92-87. After Tony Parker missed 2 free throws with 3:47 left on the clock (and still down by 5), the Spurs took 8 field goal attempts. All 8 were 3-point attempts. Only 1 was made. It was completely unnecessary for the Spurs to begin heaving up outside shots. [The Spurs] needed stops on the defensive end and penetration on the offensive end. [They] produced neither.” -Graydon Gordian, 48 Minutes of Hell [...]
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