Wednesday, February 24th, 2010...2:01 pm
Preview: Thunder @ Spurs
Coming into the season, most assumed the Thunder would eventually become contenders, it was just a matter of when. The Spurs were put on a different clock, counting down the time they have left as a relevant basketball powerhouse. Tonight the Spurs hope to show that those times have not arrived sooner than expected.
For some Spurs fans, the Thunder are a second favorite team, due in part to the connections with general manager Sam Presti. But for all the former ties and talks of coaching/front office trees, Presti has created something the Spurs have never been: a young, up-and-coming team.
Since the day Tim Duncan arrived the Spurs have been championship contenders and a veteran team. For that matter, the Spurs have not been a young, up-and-coming team since the early 90′s, something no other team can claim with pride, which is something fans should think about when they speak of how frustrating this season has been.
So it’s almost refreshing to see part of the Spurs model applied in a situation unburdened by expectations. Without a need for immediate pieces, Presti has been able to think outside the box. It’s why the Thunder have been able to take a chance on a Shaun Livingston, Thabo Sefolosha or even Russell Westbrook. Do they always workout? No, but they are low cost and have offered some big rewards.
Players like Sefolosha are valuable rotation players on championship teams, and they can generally be acquired cheaply, but the Spurs have not had the luxury of cultivating these talents. Which is a shame. Outside of Duncan with the number one pick, the Spurs greatest hits have been those that were unconventional, or moments of innovation.
Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen as a starter, Stephen Jackson, Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto and George Hill were all great examples of the Spurs making moves free of expectations. Moves that the Thunder and Presti are making now. That’s not to say that the Spurs other moves were failures, but stack up the first list of names with the more conventional moves the Spurs have made as quick fixes to a championship: Kurt Thomas, Michael Finley (okay, this one has worked out well), Drew Gooden, Steve Smith, Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess.
Of course, none of the Thunder’s brilliance would be relevant without franchise player Kevin Durant. He’s a big reason why no one would be shocked if the Thunder win again tonight But tonight is about perspective, and should the Spurs continue to struggle and show that both teams are ahead of their respective schedules would allowing Popovich and Buford to get back to what has made them successful be the worst thing in the world?
57 Comments
February 24th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Hollinger at ESPN, in recent Insider article, believes Thunder to be in top 4 come playoffs and Spurs to be lucky to get either #7 or 8. If this team is serious, it’s time to show up tonight.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
“We should use this game as a measuring stick…”
Ha Ha… oh wait. Heard that one before.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Please refresh my memory…
How well has Durant played against us in the last 5 or so games we’ve played?
What defensive strategies might work against him tonight?
February 24th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I’m calling it… Spurs are coming back baby… we get a W tonight….
February 24th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I’m tired of Spurs bashers…including myself. I need some hope. I need to cheer for something.
GO SPURS!!! IT’S TIME BABY!!!
February 24th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
I think MANU and TD are going to have big games.
They seem to be the only ones showing up.
I just hope POP doesn’t use the same starting line up he has used in the last 3 games.
It sucks to say but this would be a big win against OKC. WOW. It should be the other way around.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Clap if you believe!!!!! I STILL BELIEVE!!!!! 2010 THE YEAR OF THE SPURS!!!!! GO SPURS GO!!!!!
February 24th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I just want to see this team play a great game against a great team and pull away with a win. Just to give me a little bit of hope for the rest of the year. I hate bashing this team but my patience has worn.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
This is a big game for the spurs. First game home since the road trip. OKC lost a close one so against the suns so maybe they are still thinking about that one. Ill be rooting. Lets go spurs!
February 24th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Thunder are 6-1 on the 2nd end of a back to back >_<.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
maybe DeJuan Blair should play more than 15 minutes tonight, considering he put up 28 & 21 in 31 minutes against them last time….
February 24th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Being a Spurs fan and living in for the past few years, I have watched the Thunder’s development closely. They are making Spur-esque moves and I have a feeling that if they break up their core we’re going to look back in ten years and say, how in the hell did this team not win a championship?
I would like to see the Spurs begin rebuilding by trading Tim Duncan to a contender like the Thunder so he can win a few more rings. I think the team owes it to him to let him go and win where possible.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
So many times I’ve thrown my arms in the air with disgust with my Spurs (76ers & Pistons), and a few times I’ve fully embraced being a Spurs fan (Dallas and Fakers) Tonight, Spurs (RJ) it’s time to pull your heads out and play playoff basketball!! The rodeo road trip is over, the 1st half of the season is over, let’s go at LEAST 25-5 over the next 30 games!
February 24th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Fingers crossed
February 24th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
PLAY MAHINMI, DAMNIT! this team is young and we need some legs that can keep up. im getting tired of pop’s stubborn mentality.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Perhaps we can focus our commentary a bit as we look for some semblance of hope to finish the season with a decent level of meaningful accomplishment. Can we try going into the game tonight, and each game the rest of the way, without each of our own preconceived notions about the team, and particularly about Pops coaching and use of players/rotations? Let’s take a fresh approach. Who knows, it might bring the team good luck, and assuage our own frustrations.
More specifically, can we look at each PLAYER’S performance, during the minutes he’s been allocated on the floor, starting with OKC tonight. Focus on their per minute productivity in important categories, like shooting %, FThrow %, 3-pt. %, offensive & total rebounds, truly contested perimeter shots, & lay-ups given up, hustling for loose balls, # of times getting to the line. And look at some team performance measures as well, such as ball movement (e.g., look at assists per basket made ratio – particularly for a team like the Spurs this should be pretty high, like at least 60%), opposing team FG %, and the offensive board differential.
I think we’d get more out of this exercise (blog comments) if we focused on what each player is actually DOING in the minutes they’re on the floor, rather than just making some fairly general comment or complaint to relieve our own frustrations. For example, Blair is 6th in the NBA in minutes played per rebound (2.86), and 3rd in minutes played per OFFENSIVE rebound (7.82). So, for example, ask yourself, at half, or after a game, how did Blair do in this category tonight? Did he do better than his average, worse than his average? How did this impact the team, and the outcome of the game. Perhaps speculate on the reasons for under-performance (e.g., he looked lethargic, he didn’t get enough minutes to get in the flow, he didn’t come ready to play, he struggles against taller opponents, etc.).
I think if we approached our commentary more in this way it would provide a more productive experience for us all, and perhaps our “incisive analysis” (ha, ha!) focused on PLAYER performance (individually & as a TEAM) might even begin to rub off favorably on the team!
PLAYERS, please take YOUR ROLE & OPPORTUNITY seriously tonight and make it happen! GO Spurs!
February 24th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
GO SPURS GO!!!
That’s all I have left to say.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
is that desmond mason in the picture? wtf
February 24th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
man, I think Pop is getting mad at Jefferson, you could see him sigh on the bench when RJ took his first three pointer…
February 24th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
man RJ really is worthless…
February 24th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Poor Manu, hes played amazing and has missed about 5 assist so far because people keep missing shots.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Junier, when listing people who have been showing up lately (and pretty much all season), dont forget about George Hill. He’s played almost as consistently as Tim and more consistently than Manu (although part of that no doubt was due to injury).
February 24th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Minor point, but I’ve noticed many threads and comments claiming that Kurt Thomas was a bust for us. Didn’t he do exactly what he was supposed to do for us — play tight D on Shaq in the 07/08 series against the Suns?
February 24th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
I say the only reason Pop keeps starting Bogans is to piss RJ so much that he might actually dunk from time to time…
February 24th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
im so sick of watching anyone not named Manu play… man, Timmy isn’t a rookie, after a rebound, grab the ball and look around, 3 times in this game someone has come behind to take the ball from him… so frustrating watching them
February 24th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
thank you Manu!!!!
February 24th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Nice game, decent defense. Manu’s going to need a chiropractor after carrying the Spurs on his back that whole 2nd half.
Awesome block on Durant on that fast break dunk attempt!
February 24th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Jefferson came off bench. Pop started 2 bigs. End result:win.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Memo to Pop and RC. Please re-sign Manu ASAP.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Manuuuuuuu…. incredible block on Durant, awesome hustle plays, clutch shooting and ft’s. Re-sign the man.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
http://www.nba.com/games/20100224/OKCSAS/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0020900851
Popovich said Mahinmi simply can’t work his way up from the end of the bench.
So i’m guessing everyone should just stop whining about pop never playing ian cause it’s just never gonna happen. LOL. i feel bad for him. he will probably sign with another team because of his length and athleticism.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
i also don’t understand why pop is still playing finley. he missed all five of his shots this game, and i don’t know if he will ever regain his shooting touch after his ankle injury. Roger Mason would be a much better choice. he lost weight this summer and is much faster and younger than findog. also he’s just a clutch and finley minus the experience. just saying pop
February 24th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Ginobili is a tough motherfucker! He is quietly rounding into the form we have come to expect and then some. Look at the box scores for the past 8-10 games and you’ll see that Ginobili is putting the ball in the basket. I like that. Now get Parker going, give him some more time off. I think things will pick up with Ginobili playing like that. However, it is only one win and we did just lose to Philly and Detroit, I’ll just take it one day at a time. Mirroring a lot of comments, I would like to see what Mahinmi can do. I have the feeling we will see him on another team in the coming yrs.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Finley will only get his touch back if he gets back in rhythm. I say give him a few more games until we put him on the pine next to Ian- who will probably get more time next year because it will be easier to resign him than Bonner or Splitter.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
MANU, MANU, MANU, MANU!!!
Oh God, he’s back. Thank the Lord, he’s back.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Shame on all of you that wanted Manu’s head on a stick or called for his trade before the deadline…he’s obviously the catalyst that we need for the remainder of this season. He single-handedly outscored the Thunder bench. Let’s hope this is a specter of good things to come. GO SPURS GO!!!!!
February 24th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Manu’s play is almost the same as the 06 Game7 against Mavs, only this time it was a fab one!…
February 24th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Not to be a negative guy and start anything… but i didnt think Spurs fans were so damned fair-weather and flighty. The last 6 years have spoiled us.
This hasn’t been an easy season, but the “trade manu” cries and the “let’s just get into the lottery” stuff has been ridiculous.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Last comment for this season: When your team’s interior defense is consistently beaten and on your bench sits an athletic 7 footer , as a coach, you must find playing minutes for the big body ( Mahinmi) and see what he can produce ! I do not understand Pop’s refusal to use him
February 24th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I just saw the block on Durant. WOW!!! Thank God for Manu. Maybe that will be the spark that the Spurs need to turn the season around. Go Spurs Go!
February 25th, 2010 at 5:00 am
I dont understand it either. But unfotunately that is how he operates and his ignorance.
Thoughts on game:
Hill continues to be just as impressive as Parker could be. Why did Parker get all those minutes?
McDyess continues to suck. We let Gooden walk when we could have had a better player for less. Blair got less minutes than Antonio and outplayed him in every aspect of the game… 0pts 2 rebs for Mc D…. WTF? Ian couldnt get 2 boards in 17 minutes? Hes THAT BAD?
Finley – 21 minutes 0-5. Why doesnt Hairston get his chance? Are you really telling me that anyone couldnt play 21 minutes and not make a shot?
Bonner- 1 minute 1 foul
Bogans had a nice game. The one shot Mason got went in…
February 25th, 2010 at 5:05 am
Spurs had a sense of urgency in this one…
Ginnobli was himself again.
Good win.
Mcdyess is catching the ball too far out. We have too many bigs that are alergic to the paint.
Thx to Durant’s off night, Great win…
February 25th, 2010 at 5:52 am
we really need parker at 90% or better or we arent going anywhere…i think jefferson will avg 15 for the remaining games….spurs have got good guards and ballhandling to take into the playoffs, have got good closing ability and so so defense and rebounding….they just need to collectively be slapped in the face before each game so they can play with the right mental attitude for 48 and really start wearing down teams, not just hanging with them….
February 25th, 2010 at 6:01 am
I gotta say, the more I see George Hill, the more I’m beginning to believe he may be entering that ‘untradeable’ stratosphere. If he keeps progressing like this, the sky’s the limit. Kid can play, straight up. Mario Chalmers was the one I thought was going to be drafted that night. (I know, I know…) But now, those doubts are clearly outta my head, since it’s now past the halfway point of the season, and Hill continues to progress and impress.
And, how bout Ginobili. Contract year, or what (tho, i don’t think he’s that kind of player), this is the Ginobili we’ve been accustomed to this season: all heart and guts. Man, does this guy play hard. And, a solid game by Bogans. I know this guy is ‘trying’ to fill the shoes of the Almighty Bowens, but he played a very solid game.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:54 am
MANU IS THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT GAME MANU KEEP IT UP.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Great win for us and solid team effort all around. Manu went off!! A lot of good stuff to take away from this, but what I want to focus on is RJ. First off we already knew he was a volume scorer, so he has had to be more more conscience about his shot selection. So 9 points and 9 boards off the bench was good to see.
Another thing to be thankful for is the abandonment of small ball, RJ staying at the 3 spot.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Jefferson_will_play_strictly_small_forward.html
February 25th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Mahinmi fans need to get a grip. He can’t even get minutes on the French National Team. Other NBA teams have shown zero interest in trade talks, else the Spurs would have picked up his extension. He’s a nice kid but on the court he’s basically Francisco Elson with less basketball IQ. He’s perpetually a little out of position, resulting in foul-a-minute defense and gear-jamming offense. I really like him and hope he figures it all out someday, but the Spurs have tutored him for years and it still hasn’t clicked.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:40 am
@TradeTP – Tony played regular minutes in the 1st half but only three short stints in the 2nd (less than 9 minutes, mostly as decoy). George is playing great but he’s not effective running the offense. George’s role when Tony sits is to dribble upcourt, hand it to Manu and go stand in Bruce Bowen Corner. Manu is the backup PG.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:35 am
@Doggyworld
I’m curious to know how you can assess Mahinmi when no one has seen him play against NBA caliber competition? Watching and judging him against international competition is not the best way to evaluate a player (a la Darko). Have you sat in on practices or seen some inside tape? I would like to see him get on the court to prove that single, 17 point game against the Nets wasn’t an enigma.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:57 am
doggy
if Hill isnt effective at running the offense why do we look so much better when TP is out?
February 25th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
@Colin, I’ve watched Ian play summer league, intrasquad scrimmages, etc. Plus a little court time with the Spurs this year and two years ago. He’s got the NBA body and hops, that’s why the Spurs drafted him and invested so much effort into him. He’s obviously coachable; his shooting stroke and 1-on-1 moves have improved noticeably.
He’s not dumb, he’s learned the scripted plays and defensive sets. He just doesn’t seem to “get” the improvisational parts of the game. He’s always a bit out of position or moving the wrong direction or turned at the wrong angle. He’s the opposite of DeJuan Blair in this regard. Buck Harvey said it better than me in a column last fall:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_see_what_a_lab_can_never_replicate.html
February 25th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
@doggyworld
I agree with a lot of that article and I don’t disagree with your observations, etc. If he can’t play, then why is he on the roster? There are minutes to be had with all of the shuffling going on with the roster (this is the most players I have seen Pop give minutes to). We need productive bigs, not guys to take up a seat on the bench.
February 25th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
doggydogworld
February 25th, 2010 at 8:19 am
February 25th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
My sentiments exactly.
Colin
February 25th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Good questions. I would only extend the logic to if we (us fans) don’t know enough of him (Mahinmi) to NOT play him, how do we know enough of him to play him? (although doggydogworld shed some light on the matter, which unsurprisingly supports Pops decisions in this case) The fact is, Pop knows him and has determined, no matter how desperate some us feel, Mahinmi ain’t good enough right now to crack the rotation.
There’s always 2-3 players that hardly ever play, collecting pine at the end of a teams bench. Mahinmi obviously has SOME potential or he wouldn’t even have made the end of the bench this season. That said, I’m afraid his time has about run out. Don’t expect him back next year. The flashes of talent that you or I see of Ian is why he’s been kept around as long as he has. Pop sees him in practice everyday (unlike us), and I’m quite sure the experiment is now over. I think he’ll be waived at seasons end.
February 25th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Jim Henderson
Agreed. I don’t pretend to know more than the coaches, front office, or players in regards to who plays and who doesn’t. It’s been 4 years since he’s been in the program no (Austin Toros included)? My thinking is that if he hasn’t done anything to earn some minutes now, then he is taking a potential spot from someone who could be productive. It’s a shame because he has the athleticism to match up and compete with the likes of our nemeses Gasol, Odom, Boozer, Kirilenko, Bynum, Camby, Nene, and other Spurs killer this season and the past.
February 25th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
………but evidently lacks the b-ball IQ
February 25th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I share your frustration with knowing that we do need a fairly young talented big to compete. We just have to accept it ain’t Ian. With some chagrin, I suspect, Pop now has.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Ian’s still on the bench because he’s under contract. When everyone is healthy he and Malik are in street clothes or at the end of the bench — not taking a spot from someone who could be productive. No NBA team gets production from their 13th guy.
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