Friday, February 5th, 2010...6:30 am
Portland Trail Blazers 96, San Antonio Spurs 93
The Spurs had their chances. They had the game by the throat but were unable to finish the chokehold. That’s the difference between this team and former Spurs teams.
TNT’s Doug Collins mentioned it late in the telecast last night, and it’s been something I’ve thought about as the season went on. The Spurs lack the instinct to execute down the stretch and finish off their opponent.
The typical formula for wins in past years was keep it close through three quarters, clamp down on defense in the fourth to get stops, and execute on offense for the win. Now San Antonio can build a 10-point fourth quarter lead and still lose.
It’s not the talent or the matchups. The Spurs have lineups that can excel in every area. They have a deep roster. This team is making small mental mistakes late in games that undermine their efforts over the whole game.
One series late in last night’s game the Spurs gave up an open three-pointer because George Hill didn’t pick up Andre Miller in transition. This forced Tim Duncan to leave the lane and stop the ball. As a result, Antonio McDyess had to slide over to cover Duncan’s man and left his own man open in the corner. Miller was able to get into the paint and get the ball to his teammate (I want to say it was Martell Webster) for the corner three.
These mental lapses late in games are what do the Spurs in. And they’re not limited to the defensive end of the floor.
This year’s San Antonio Spurs turn the ball over more in the fourth quarter than any Spurs team I remember. The Spurs committed only six turnovers against the Trail Blazers last night, but two or three of them came in the fourth quarter.
Couple turnovers with ill-advised shots, like the three-pointer than Manu took from several feet behind the three-point line, and you have a recipe for disaster late in games. The Spurs can get by in close games against bad teams on talent alone. But this season shows that teams need to execute down the stretch to beat playoff teams, no matter the talent and the Spurs aren’t doing that.
81 Comments
February 5th, 2010 at 6:43 am
Spurs suck, and I’m disappointed to not see any leadership from anyone.
In the Celtics you can see Garnett, talking, come on, lets win this, lets play some D, pump up the players.
Not us, Tim is just quiet and uncaring. Tim lacks leadership and all the Spurs lack swagger.
Sometimes I feel like slapping them all and saying “wake the **** up, you are about to lose the game, there’s still time on the clock and you already stopped playing”
p.s. … checking….. Oh Yes, I Still Hate Jefferson.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:44 am
If the Spurs cant figure out whats wrong and flip the switch they will not make the playoffs. I really hate to see a good team play like scrubs. They are a better team than they are putting out on the floor. I think Pop needs to chew some serious @ss to get this team going.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:52 am
@JT
Tim lacking leadership, really? Probably he is the first ever NBA player having leadership during his first 10 years and losing it later. If talking = leadership, then Arenas is the best leader.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:53 am
This was a very disappointing loss. I do not think trading manu or Tp is the solution. However, we need to shorten the rotation and make some changes. I think we need Brendan Haywood or Tyrus Thomas and Shane battier. That will give us the athletic center and the wing defender/3 point shooter that we need. Both of them make a convined 13 million. Not that bad. If we can give finley+ Bonner+ Mason+ bogans+ Ian+ Theo we are in the 12 million range (we can put dice and keep one of them). I think that will give us some nice players and shorten our rotation. I know that sounds a lot but we can fill the roster with some D league talent (not that they will play either way…0
February 5th, 2010 at 6:59 am
Another disppointing performance! Man, these games are getting painful to watch. Andrew, I believe that corner 3 was Martell Webster, and it absolutely killed us. There were a few points in the game where we could have pulled away in the 4th if we had gotten a wide open 3 to go, but it just didn’t happen. One miss in particular, by George Hill, comes to mind. A few games ago against the Nuggets it was a Roger Mason missed 3 that allowed them to pull away. We just don’t have those cold blooded shooters anymore.
I also thought Manu should have had the ball in his hands the final few minutes of the game. He was the only one creating anything. Juwan was doing a good job of manning up on Duncan, and Hill/TP weren’t doing much from the PG. And I don’t understand why we don’t just run a pick-and-roll with Manu/Dejuan every single time they are in the game together. That is by far, the best P&R combo the Spurs have.
@JT - I don’t think it’s that Tim lacks leadership skills - he’s just a different type of leader. Garnett is a loud-mouthed trash talker, so he can’t help but constantly jaw. I do think Tim is trying to do his typical lead by example, it’s just not as obvious and Garnett’s style.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:01 am
Ill-advised is an understatement for that Manu three-pointer. I turned off the TV after I watched him clang it off the rim. I wish that Jefferson would get his head together and just play some basketball.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:05 am
This is one of the more frustrating games I’ve ever watched the Spurs play. They had their chances and they let it slip away. Portland definitely deserves some credit, but by and large (as the author points out) it was the Spurs’ mistakes that gave it away. From turnovers to stagnant offense, that 4th quarter made me have to go outside and take a few deep breathes.
I also saw something you don’t see often from the Spurs - frustration - Pop slamming his fists on the scorer’s table, RJ after a terrible sequence in the 2nd quarter, to TD on the bench.
Where we go from here is anyone’s guess. Hopefully the frustration that I saw marks a turning point….sigh…..
February 5th, 2010 at 7:08 am
That was so fucking shit it was unbelievable.
1) HOW DO YOU GET OUTREBOUNDED BY A TEAM WITH NO CENTERS?
2) AWFUL DEFENCE
3) And was it only me or did we start playing small against a team without any fucking bigmen? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:14 am
TD leads in his own way. I don’t think leadership is the problem with this team. Leadership didn’t blow all those assignments/rotations and turn the ball over last night. The problem was our inability to make basketball plays. Lamarcus Aldridge made plays for them. No one on our side did.
I’m suprised Pop didn’t re-insert TP earlier in the 4th last night. With about 6 minutes to go, our offense really started to bog down. TD wasn’t getting good looks, Manu didn’t get too many looks and he turned it over - I thought we needed TP’s creativity at that point to manufacture a couple buckets.
That’s the most frustrating thing - a bucket here or there and we win the game!
February 5th, 2010 at 7:14 am
We have to make a move this team just makes me sick on how we can’t close games we need a closer and Manu is not that man anymore….we should put a package together and trade for Joe Johnson ASAP or sit back and watch the Lakers pop bottles in june again its that simple.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:17 am
The blame for the Spurs poor performance lies directly with Pop. He has gone away from the Suprs identity of two bigs and stiffling defence. Instead he plays a lot of small ball and rapid offence.
He should go back to playing two bigs and lock-down defence. He should be jumping on McDyess and Jefferson for always missing on the defensive rotation and for staying too far from their man.
Blair is good but should not start and should not be in during crunch time until such time as he learns to defend the pick & roll. Pops should try putting Ratliff into the game and see what he can do to improve the defence.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:21 am
I use always to say GO SPURS GO But now NO SPURS NO. Can anybody still confident that we (SPURS)will be in play offs. absolutely no. Suck of the defense and 4th qtr offense. no confidence in any player no single player. i will challenge is any player can hit a shot confidently beyond 15 ft the answer is no. i am repeatingly saying again WE NEEEEEEED some SHOOOOOOOOTERS. don’t blame pop (except for his small ball approach). it’s fantastic to see how good pop draw a last play which Manu missed three. Shot is good but missing confident in that shot. no shot is going to fall if you are missing confident. i f i ‘ll be in place of Manu that shot should be in, it was that much is easy shot. Every time if i see the game after the game i disappointed and decide to not see the next game but as a big fan i can’t control and hoping that they will improve but same repeated story since season start but now it’s over man they are done for the season. Forget the spurs at least for this season and hope we will see a better team next season.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Your description of Martel Webster’s corner 3 with 3:38 left is inaccurate. George was trying to communicate with Tim in transition and moved into position to pick up Miller but Tim either did not hear him due to the crowd or misunderstood or felt he needed to stay in position. Whatever the reason, George slid back over and picked up LaMarcus Aldridge. Meanwhile McDyess picked up no one. He glanced at Webster early but never positioned himself to defend, eventually turning his back on him completely to watch Miller’s drive.
Even more aggravating is that play was 4-on-5. Juwan Howard had not even crossed halfcourt when Webster got the ball. Manu stayed outside the 3 point line, though, and was never a factor defensively.
Pop went bananas on that play, repeatedly pointing at Webster and screaming as the play developed then walking in disgust to the scorer’s table and slamming both hands on it.
Doug Collins also blamed Webster’s next 3 on McDyess. Antonio was defending Aldridge on the high side, so when Andre Miller rubbed his man off on the screen he had a free path to the basket. The other Spur defenders all collapsed to prevent a wide-open layup so Portland rotated the ball for a wide open 3.
This kind of execution is the difference between winning and losing and the difference between previous Spur teams and the current one. People who do not understand this basic fact think salvation lies in making a trade.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:44 am
Oh no! The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!
Not to make light of the situation, but isn’t this the same team we’ve seen all season?
Did anyone really think the Spurs of old were going to show up just because they are on the rodeo road trip?
I know I didn’t. This team is still miles away from playing consistent b-ball.
Last night’s loss was not as bad as it felt. Aldridge hit amazing shots, Webster went 5-5 on 3′s when he had been in a slump and they won on their homecourt.
Things I liked:
1. Spurs fought even when the shots weren’t going in.
2. The 3 Pop drew up for Manu was brilliant and we couldn’t have gotten a better look.
3. I also enjoyed Pop’s intensity. He gives a shit and if anyone can pull these guys together it’s Pop.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:45 am
As upsetting as the lack of finishing may be with regard to this current roster I can’t help but feel positive.
I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but hear me out.
We are baby steps away. As was pointed out in the original post, the team failed in transition D, and allowed an open three at a key moment.
We have the people, we have the ability, we just need to finish as a team.
No one that is underperforming is 20 years of age. No one that is underperforming is a tenderfoot rookie.
These things fill me with hope.
If this roster can find some kind of common bond, some kind of chemistry and start being a cohesive unit, this can be turned around post haste.
I see this loss against a hard fought oponent as a very tough and needed lesson. Tim & Co have been reliant upon this Rodeo Trip year in and year out. Maybe this is the wake up call that gets the roster on the same page and brings spurs basketball back to the masses.
Sorry for the positive spin but i honestly believe in Pop and these guys.
They have repaid my faith too many times for me to just drop the ball and scream trade/rebuild now.
I think we can still make some post season noise.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:46 am
Trade is absolutely not a solution
February 5th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Too funny, the vp of common sense’s post directly above in different time zones is all about the same stuff.
I just got in from the pub though at 3.AM so maybe he is more on the money than me. Either way I am not that disheartened right now.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:49 am
doggydogworld, I’d have to agree with you. Most people seem to think that a trade is going to salvage the year, and they are wrong. This team has talent, it’s the execution that is terrible. Bringing somebody with immense talent and no knowledge of team schemes is not going to solve anything. A trade may help next year’s team, but certainly not this year’s.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:52 am
Based on our struggles to date, I don’t think there’s any player on the market that will remedy the Spurs’ problems.
Realistically, (and I hope I’m dead wrong) chances are against us winning a ring this year anyway. Why add to next year’s salary cap that is going down?
Joe Johnson? Stephen Jackson? Igoudala? Even if they were available, looking at their contracts, they’ll do more harm than good going forward. Retaining cap flexability, especially for a small market team, is what will allow the Spurs to get better. The front office has always done a great job of making moves that allow for short term results, yet don’t damage the long term outlook - this thinking is even more important now.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:52 am
We desperately need a guy like Shanne Battier to replace the anchor that is taking this team down (Obviously Richard Jefferson). How could people say that RJ was the best trade of this summer in NBA? The guy has absolutely no capacity for defense, and is not making any huge shots late in games. And come on, 12ppg is something that even Tony Allen can do it. The team is always better when he is not on the floor.
I think Timmy, McDyess and DeJuan are doing a good job rebounding the ball. But we have no perimeter defense, despite Manu’s constant effort and hustle. We need a guy that can add some strong defense on the perimeter and can also shoot some 3′s. Come on, the Spurs were the team of the 3 points late in games. Robert Horry, Brent Barry, Bruce Bowen. Without 3 point range we are not get anywhere.
And please RC, let’s say goodbye to RJ, for God sake!!!
February 5th, 2010 at 7:57 am
I agree with VP. The one game at a time analysis like this can be a little overblown, but we can some long term trends.
I also agree with his shout out the 3-point play Pop drew up. Wow, what a thing of beauty. We couldn’t have gotten a better look and Pop knew it…you could see Pop running up the sidelines when Manu shot the ball and usually he is so stoic when the Spurs are on offense.
Our defense was solid in the 3rd quarter. We contested shots and held them to 15 points but this article and Pop are right: too many mistakes in the 4th quarter. 4-17 from beyond the arc doesn’t help, either.
And I’m somewhat confused about RJ. I’m rooting for him to succeed as much, if not more, than most and on some plays he just looks like he’s not hustling, and for someone who’s struggling that should be a given. He looked aggressive on some plays but come on, RJ.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Well if people are content in waiting on next year to win a ring then don’t make a move but if u wanna win it this year the roster as it stands now will not get it done no matter how many different spins you try to put on why we are not winning…its simple we won’t win it all b/c we are not good enough it just kills me that everyone is ok with being mediocre…not me but i guess this is our so called rebuilding stage…wtf???
February 5th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Spurs need to go and draft a flat out shooter. Not a player for down the road or who will stay in europe or something. I think bad drafts have been a problem. Since Manu/Parker the spurs Id say have brought in 2 talented players Hill and Blair. They gave away scola for no apparent reason. This falls on management. I want to see the spurs go find a guy ready to play and shoot now. Transition from College to Pro for a shooter isnt impossible. Please draft a talented shooter
February 5th, 2010 at 8:19 am
@Renato,
If only it was that easy. The way the NBA is set-up the bad teams are rewarded for futility and the successful teams like the Spurs are prvented from drafting higher than the late first round.
You can only hit homeruns on so many of those late first and second round picks.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Erin - no one, especially the Spurs is content with mediocrity. But how do you get over the hump? Do you risk taking on more money when there is no guarantee that the team will perform any better? More money on our cap will only serve to limit our options in the future. That wouldn’t be my strategy.
Renato - we gave away Scola b/c he had a $15M buyout - it was hardly for “no apparent reason”.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Well at least Richard Jefferson played really well…
February 5th, 2010 at 8:29 am
@Tyler,
From my knowledge we traded Scola to Houston because management were concerned that Scola and Duncan could not play together.
Correct me if I’m wrong Spurs faithful.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Being a long time spurs fan, i’ve found it increasingly harder for me to root for them these days. Its one frustrating loss after another, there have been countless times this season where i’ve witnessed spurs giving up the lead after the 3rd quarter due to lack of execution and poor defense.
I use to anticipate watching every spurs came, but now I’ve lost all confidence in the spurs. It’s pretty obvious to guess the result of their matches, any +500 team is a 90% loss for the spurs. I honestly believe the best days of the Spurs are behind them, time for me to find another team to root for.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Tyler- winning should be the number 1 priority and sure no one is guarunteed a championship but at least be in the talk and our team as it stands now is not in the conversation and we can wait as long as we want but when Timmy is gone that future looks pretty bleek…so we should take the risk in my opinion.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:34 am
The Spurs have been swept by the Jazz and Trailblazers. Let me repeat - swept! That means every single time we’ve played these 2 teams we’ve lost. When was the last time the Spurs got swept by both teams? Anyone know?
Tony Parker was 1 for 6 in the 2nd half. When Pop went small ball I believe the Trailblazers got 7 of their 10 offensive rebounds. Stop playing Jefferson at the 4 spot!
Spurs need a trade.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:36 am
VP of Common Sense,
Regarding Scola, the logical move that year was to release Oberto and sign Scola. The “problem” was that in 2007 Spurs won a Ring, remember? then they attached themselves to the philosophy of “if it aint broken, don’t fix it” so they resigned Oberto and got no place for Scola in the Roster.
As much as I love Scola for what he did for our National team, I don’t think the Spurs should have taken 3 Argentines into their line up…
Maybe winning the 07 ring prevented front office to think about the future and they did not make the reasonable movement of releasing Oberto and signing Scola…
February 5th, 2010 at 8:40 am
VP - that was also part of the decision. We also didn’t want to keep Scola from pursuing a spot elsewhere in the NBA.
At the end of the day though, I think it came down to $. If his buyout had been substantially smaller (say $1.5M instead of $15M), I think we would have rolled the dice and brought him over.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:56 am
on the Scola topic, I think it is a combination of things mentioned by Martin and Tyler. The buyout was enormous AND there just wasn’t a spot for him on the 2007 team, which won a championship - the ultimate goal. Our bigs that season for TD, Oberto, and Francisco Elson. I would NEVER trade a championship season for anything. It was totally worth the current struggle.
@Errin, like you, I’m uncertain that the current team can go out and win a championship. But as far as I can tell, the Spurs aren’t going to be able to go out and get Lebron or Kobe for expiring contracts. The type of talent that we’ll likely get in return is going to have to help out within the Spurs system. As long as it has taken this season’s newbies to get acclimated, I’m not sure a trade is going to help this season. I think I’d rather take my chances that this current roster gets more comfortable with the schemes and put it all together.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Horry was also on that 2007 championship team.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Andrew - I listened to the Portland announcers last night on xm as we were coming home from work. The announcer made the statement after the Spurs gave up a layup in the 3d quarter, that past Spurs teams would have given up a foul to keep the opposition from getting such an easy basket. As the Spurs had given up only 3 or 4 fouls to that point, my question is - have the Spurs gone pussy??
February 5th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Hopefully when Theo Ratliff is dusted off in the playoffs our interior D will improve greatly in tight games down the stretch. I think he can have a real impact.
Also I think we are waiting to see what Houston does, if they pull the trigger on trading McGrady’s expiring contract for talent right now then we can forget about getting Shane Battier, but if they dont make a trade then that means they will be looking to make as big of an impact in Free Agency as possible and in that case our expiring contracts should be able to net us Battier for the stretch run and next year.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Darryl Morey is in love with Shane Battier. He even came up with a statistical analysis to measure the effectiveness of Battier because he has an impact on the game with intangibles that aren’t measured by traditional statistics or even Hollinger’s PER.
Prying away Battier would be like robbing Pop’s wine cellar…
Good luck!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Darryl Morey is in love with Shane Battier. He even created a statistical analysis to measure Battier’s intangibles which cannot be measured by traditional statistics or even Hollinger’s PER.
Prying away Battier would be like robbing Pop’s wine cellar…
Good luck!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:51 am
Bryan- Joe Johnson is a perfect fit he is the closer that we need plus Atl isn’t sure he will resign we should do everything in ability to try an make that happen b/c I just can’t see how we can be content on waiting when the franchises best player ever is in the final years of his carreer we should take a win now at all cost approach.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:20 am
The offensive execution in the last few minutes was absolutely atrocious. These guys are professionals, but they looked scared out of their minds. I typically only get to “see” their late-game collapse via gamecast so it was shocking to actually watch the Spurs choke so badly. I don’t know what to think about this team.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:28 am
I agree with you, Errin. Joe Johnson would be a great fit. But I certainly haven’t been reading anything about Atlanta shopping him around. If we could trade RJ for Johnson straight up, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’m just not so sure that is actually a possibility. Atlanta realistically believes they can compete for a championship. I doubt they would trade Johnson for anything that we have to offer.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Errin - Joe Johnson isn’t going anywhere. This is the best ATL team in decades and even they aren’t going to screw that up. We could offer Manu + TP and I doubt they would bite (I don’t even know if the salaries remotely match up).
Shane Battier? Battier for expirings would be an all-time heist and Darryl Morey isn’t a dummy. Also, if their goal was to attract a big-time FA, why would they trade one of their most valuable pieces? Doing so wouldn’t make them more attractive to a FA.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:44 am
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ygnwzwf
Trade our expiring contracts to the Bulls who are trying to clear cap room for a big free agent run this summer. Bulls will part with Ty Thomas because they of Gibson’s play and doubts about their ability to resign him.
That’s the best (realistic) trade I can see. Our starting lineup stays the same but we bring Ginobili, Bogans, Salmons, Blair, Thomas off the bench (with Hairston and Ratliff rounding out the roster. I think that helps the team. Since we can’t execute anything, we might as well get more athletic.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:50 am
This loss was on Coach Pop. We lost the 10 point lead while playing small ball for extended periods of time. I do not understand his new fascination with small ball. Especially because RJ is not a versitile rebounder or defender like the Shawn Marion’s of the NBA. We were out rebounded 45-36 because of our small lineup. Additionally, our small lineup can’t defend, they allowed 11 back to back points! Another key coaching mishap, was having TP on the bench when it was obvious the spurs could not score and the Blazers were making their push. We had Hill and Manu in the back court and for 5-6 straight possessions we turned the ball over or had poor shot selections (e.g. the Manu 3pt attempt referenced in this article.) TP was having a great game, he had his outsider jumper going and he was getting into the paint with ease. Why not take a time out draw up and play and get TP in the game? This loss was all on coach Pop!!
February 5th, 2010 at 11:01 am
In my opinion, the Spurs are not the same team with Parker as they are without him. He is not a team player - it is all about Parker and I have noticed time after time, how that affects the team. Hill, Blair, Mason and especially Manu do so much better when they can spread their wings and just let it rip. With Parker it all slows down and makes everything difficult. Too bad!
February 5th, 2010 at 11:07 am
first @tyler- the way scola is playing…it would have been worth it. The Spurs got nothing back in return.
VP of Common Sense: I completely disagree with your assesment. The problem is the spurs drafting. Let me show you
2003: 28th Pick Leandro Barbosa (traded t0 the suns)
2004: 28th Pick Beno Udrith, 52nd Pick Ramon Sato
2005: 28th Pick Ian Mahinimi
2006: 59th Pick Damir Markotta (trade to Bucks)
2007: 28th Pick Tiago Splitter 33rd Pick Marcus Williams, 58th Pick Giorgos Printezis (traded to toronto)
2008: 26th Pick George Hill, 45th Pick Goran Dragic(traded to pheonix) 57th Pick James Gist
2009: 37th Dejuan Blair, 51st Jack McClinton, 53rd Nando de Colo
Look at those names, most havent seen an NBA game. I see teams like portland who trade and make moves to get guys and how many late second round guys other teams develop. I agree the NBA draft most ppl expect teams to not do well. But in 6 draft classes, the spurs have gotten 2 good players (hill and blair) one unknown (splitter), traded away a good players (barbosa) and the rest are no longer on the team or dont play. Thats bad player development and/or poor scouting
February 5th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Its the sam song.
THE old SPURS wouldve beat that team by 20.
THe Spurs just can’t hit wide open 3s.
Again the other team can.
Webster alone out shot the Spurs from the 3 ppoint line.
For example:
HILL misses a three that couldve buried the Blazers. Instead It gave the Blazers an opportunity.
THey hit two WIDE OPEN THREES to seal the gam pretty nmuch.
Then MANU gets a WIDE OPEN 3 to tie the game and misses.
Forget this example. All this was late in the game.
YOU can search the whole game. The whole game was littered with wide open shots that they missed.
Then you get a guy like ALridge who can’t miss.
That’s why they can’t beat the good teams.
THE GOOD TEAMS JUST SHOOT BETTER THAN THE SPURS.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Of course this loss was all Tony Parker’s fault and he should be traded immediately for Joe Johnson and LeBron. Then, let’s dupe Daryl Morey into giving us Scola and Battier for Finley. Perfect. RC better be working those phones.
In all seriousness, let’s see how things go this month before trading half the roster. I think we’re finally starting to play with some semblance of passion, so there’s still reason to be optimistic.
4 words: In Pop I trust.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
SAS you say don’t blame Pop but I said he has to shoulder some half of the blame because if you look at the spurs through the years weather we drafted someone or signed free agents half the time some of those players don’t even see the court or barely like Theo Ratliff or perhaps a Ian or Malik Hairston when not in D-League, I just feel as those if some of the talent was utilized in a better manner we’d be far more successful I mean look Ian and Andruw Bynum were drafted the same year and if given a HOF center like David Robinson to tutor him like the Lakers did for Bynum and or perhaps minutes on the court in which to grow on the pro level he’d be of some use to the spurs now like Bynum, I certainly don’t think teammates would say you have a lot of talent if you don’t and why let it waste? Pop?
February 5th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I met Shane Battier in a bar in Houston… What an Ass. i would prefer him not coming to the Spurs, regardless of defense.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Most of you just don’t get it. There’s no way this team is getting turned around between now and the end of the season. They’ve been together since training camp and they’ve seemingly learned nothing over the past 4-5 months. The problems that have plagued the Spurs (defensive rotations, missed assignments, inability to score in clutch moments, general lack of aggression, the list goes on) have not been addressed one bit since the beginning of the season. We are now 48 games into the schedule and have only 34 games left.
Those who say its too late to make a trade that will immediately reverse our current fortunes are right. However, it’s time to blow this experiment up and begin to look to the future. There will be good trades out there that could net us good talent and young prospects. I know how dedicated we all are to this team, but a championship is not in the cards this year and its time to fold while we can still get something for our efforts.
P.S. Those who are optimistic and think this team needs more time need, please wake up and believe your eyes. You’ve been saying the same thing since October. Then you said the RRT would iron things out. We see how thats gone so far: a 2pt win against 3rd worst team in the conference and the horrible loss last nite.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@Texxus_Boi
Im wit you man, the spurs have wasted alot of talent. The spurs concentrated too much on the now and never cared about the future. Now, the tried a quick fix in jefferson and it did not work out. In my opinion Jefferson, Bonner, Finnely, and Manu should be made available. They did this after the 99 championship when lots of players left. I believe its time to do this again. They should try and get a high draft pick in this years draft and young players. The Duncan era is over, but the spurs could do like what the did with robinson and prolong duncans career by switching the focus off him with younger and better players
February 5th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Thinking about a statement a few days ago concerning any Western team beating Lakers in 7 on the road. Spurs are 8-1 vs. Pacific Division (one loss Dec. 15 vs Phoenix). Spurs vs. NW:2-10! (Wins: Dec. 29 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 13 vs. OKC).
The point I’m making is that the Spurs most likely will have to face some team from the NW, since 4 (Denver, Utah, Portland, OKC) are likely to make the playoffs. So we may be able to run with Phoenix and Lakers, and hopefully with Dallas, but that leaves still 4 teams we aren’t beating to be potential playoff opponents. What will this team need to beat these 4 teams?
February 5th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Really STRANGE lineups changes from POP on this one…
Lack of efficiency in wide open 3′s…
Seeing TP juggling like this is nice tough,
but seriously this loss is on Pop and really but reallhy really lack of defense
February 5th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
With that all being said if all that had been done more rings would be won, Tim Duncan could chill and Tiago Splitter Wouldn’t have to be the spurs last hope at winning a championship. Because as a spurs fan in my own true personal opinion there is no longer a big three there a small, medium, and large which in order means Tony, Manu, and Tim. Because to be realistic Tony gave us a great year last year and we expected more of the same but didn’t happen, we were optimistic about Manu who shows us flashes of his brilliants and Tim who is the only one that despite the injuries remains pretty much more often then not the same Timmy we grew to know and love. But as we know the truth hurt and Manu and Timmy are both breaking down before us Spurs fans and the first thing that has to be realized is you can’t beat a dead horse and as great a coach as Pop is he has some what of a one track mind that only the older players really can make an impact, on a team but isn’t it true that we were all young once, so if not given a chance to gain experience then how would you ever grow as a player. Yeah we have George Hill and Dejuan Blair but we have to build from them he has to start giving more players a chance to shine despite a mistake if we’re ever going to move forward because as the recent past and present is showing us an old foundation championship or not will falter without enough young athletic and a few knowledgeable players look at the Celtics and Lakers not too old yet not too young either but a nice balance to complement the team to get where they need to be like the spurs should look to start, with balance.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Overall Balance=Wins
February 5th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Finish the damn game(s)! Period. Execute and finish! Losses like this make it very hard to watch………….What was up with the two stupid turnovers Tim Duncan committed over their last few possessions. That killed them! I don’t remember TD losing two consecutive possessions in that fashion. Ever.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
My comments above are not limited to just this game. I’ve watched all spurs games on NBA league pass broadband. Like many contributors on this blog, I have noticed the spurs have relied on small ball for extended periods this season more than ever before. This is a drift away from the Spurs identity of playing two bigs that protect the paint, prioritize defensive rebounding and are the anchor to the spurs “funnel” defense. For some reason we’re devolving or evolving, depending on your perspective, into a small-ball team. If you check out this link from 82games (http://www.82games.com/0910/0910SAS2.HTM) our most effective rotations include two bigs, and our least effective rotations are the small ball lineups. (I’m sure many Matt Bonner hatters are surprised to see how effective the spurs are with him on the floor.) Our long stretches of small-ball coupled with our new defensive philosophy, to switch on the pick and roll, has to be the leading cause of our poor defensive field goal percentage, 45% which is 14th in the league.
Why are we not playing Theo Ratliff? He fits the above description of the side-kick spurs’ big!! Why not use Theo and his shot blocking skills in regular rotations, especially in defensive sets to end quarters? I thought this team was assembled to compete with the lakers bigs? How will Theo be useful to us against the lakers if he does not get any playing time and subsequent chemistry with his teammates?
I can only speculate at the change of philosophy to small ball and switches on the pick and roll (PnR). I think both moves have been made to preserve the health of our bigs, but I’m not entirely sold this speculative reason. Especially because the excessive precautions are costing us games and game time reps that develop team chemistry. I don’t think the spurs can win in the playoffs with small ball.
On the trade front, I don’t think our problems are going to be resolved through a trade. I think looking forward to significant changes on the roster at this stage is a lazy man’s solution. This current roster is very talented, possibly the most talented roster of the Tim Duncan era. This roster made coach Pop retort, “If we don’t win I should be fired”!
February 5th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Pop should just let his players know he means business by letting the players THEMSELVES communicate on the floor. Pop, throughout the next few games, should NOT say a single word to his team so they know he is flat-out disappointed, and then maybe, just maybe, the team will play with a damn sense of urgency.
Obviously, Pop’s current methods aren’t working. Did you see when Jefferson got chewed out by Pop after taking an ill-advised shot? RJ was hiding like a scared dog behind his teammates, and it seems that Pop has lost all faith in him. Ginobili plays well but is not himself: He overly thinks his shots and rushes his shots, and he has been playing pissed throughout the past few games, which shows he’s not normal. Duncan is slow at this midway point, but Blair and McDyess have been picking up the slack.
Still, however, it is the perimeter defense that is the chink in our armor. We won’t win against teams that have at least decent shooting guards because we make them look like All Stars. Juwan Howard making shots was pissing me right off, too.
I’d say make a not-so-sexy trade for a smart, savvy defender; notice the keyword is SMART. We got Bogans this offseason, but he doesn’t move his legs fast enough like Bruce would, and his lateral speed lets defenders pass by him, and the same goes for RJ. And plus, they definitely aren’t SMART, and don’t prepare enough for the games, or else they would have gotten the Spurs system by now.
A smart defender would be like those mentioned above, like a Shane Battier, for example. But we should trade for a Tayshaun Prince, or even (in a worse case scenario) Trenton Hassell, Raja Bell, Dorrell Wright, James Posey, or Dahntay Jones. Well, it remains to be seen whether Dahntay Jones or Dorrell Wright are SMART players, but they will be better off than Bogans, RJ, and Mason right now.
Still, I’d prefer any of these players playing — as of right now, midseason, raw to the Spurs’ corporate knowledge and all — and maybe we could get better defined role players other than the bum of Bogans and the walking paycheck of RJ.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@VP of Commen Sense, you do realize that it has been heavily speculated that Battier has been on and off the trade block for over a year right? In fact it’s rumored that the main reason the Rockets gave that reporter so much access in following around Battier last year was to increase his trade value.
Now no doubt he is a valued player in their system and that’s why I said if they do end up trading T-Mac in an attempt to bring players back then they would keep him.
But if they decide to not trade McGrady then that means they are taking their chances in Free Agency and Battier’s contract becomes a hinderance in that situation. You mentioned he would be used to attract a free agent, but I disagree, that would be Brooks, Ariza and Landry.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
I just don’t understand - we need a three to tie the game: where is Mason?
Hill lost the game last night. How? He missed three open three pointers including one that would have been a dagger in the 4th.
Bowen was more than a great defender - he also had that shot nailed down. Led the league in three point percentage one year just with that shot. It was a killer weapon and a game clincher.
The Spurs were awesome at ending games in the middle of the 4th quarter. Build a lead and watch Manu get to the line and pad the lead. Poor Manu can’t get a whistle this year no matter how hard he’s fouled. Never seen anything like it.
Why does every damn team get hot against the Spurs? It’s more than mediocre defense. It’s hard luck and being on the wrong end of it. Webster was five for five from three’s last night!!! Aldridge couldn’t miss - even tough shots! Even Howard was nailing everything.
Unbelievable. When TP’s shot to take the lead went halfway down and came out late in the 4th, I knew we were done.
I don’t know about any trades at this point. We may be better off in the lottery. Seriously.
Easily one of the toughest season’s to endure since I’ve been a fan (dating to the days of the Iceman).
So many open shots late in the game - couldn’t make one. Unbelievable.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Just an FYI folks, Matt Bonner played five minutes last night and Roger Mason Jr. picked up a DNP-CD.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
BTW - I heard the Scola trade was about money - mainly to have space on the roster and salary for Splitter and we know how that worked out.
He can’t get here fast enough. We need length and youth.
I also agree with all of you who believe we should use Theo and Ian in spot situations on the floor. It’s crazy to me that they’re just rotting on the bench.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
@ Anthony - pls go and support anthony team !!!
Don’t be a fair weather friend !!! Be here for the long haul or not at all!!!
Call me crazy and many will, but I do BELIEVE this unit can win and win well. We have beaten good teams (not much but we have) when we get consistant 4 qtr effort we have the talent to blow teams away. All we need to get back to is SPURS BBall. With consistant gritty effort
SHOW SOME NUTS SPURS AND HAVE A FLAT OUT GO!!!! We absolutely SUCKED in the last qtr and STILL only got beat on the last 5-8 possesions
Manu hits that OPEN (and I mean OPEN) 3 we’re in front, Timmey doesn’t lose the steal he just got
With all the bad (and there’s been plently) we are right there in the end! Imagine if this team actually gets some sort of cohesion ???
Come on POP take us back to what WON us rings
HARDCORE SPURS BASKETBALL!!!!
I still have faith and so should all of you !!! Offer help not just rambling critisism !!!!
GO SPURS GO
February 5th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
David Robinson is not walking through that door! Bruce Bowen is not walking through that door! (Had to channel my inner Pitino)
I don’t understand why everyone is bashing the FO for the Jefferson trade. Give the Spurs some credit, they made a gamble for a championship but Jefferson just isn’t working. At least the FO grew some balls and tried something. If anything, bash Jefferson for obviously not giving a shit on the court.
Pop’s second to last play he drew up was brilliant. It only proves to me that he’s an amazing coach. It just makes me wonder what he and his staff see in playing small ball. There has to be some sort of huge redeeming factor that we fans just can’t see.
I’m frustrated.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Caoch Pop is behind all of the losing, not the players. Time for him to kick rocks. He is so full of himself, he cant see the obvious. Horrible rotations, no sense of urgency, terrible use of his roster, and continuing to play the wrong guys. Bogans couldnt get heavy minutes in New Jersery, yet Pop trots him out night after night.
Hariston is a better player than Bogans, Finley, and Mason….
Yet, “Pop the Great” sends him back to Austin.
Bottom line…
Bonner and Bogans. Coach Pop has 4 banners hanging in the ATT center, and is a futrue Hall of Famer…Yet, he starts Bogans and gives him heavy minutes?
He plays Bonner heavy minutes when he clearly cannot defend anybody on any night and has zero toughness? At 6’10, he doesnt even rebound…Yet he is paid!
I dont blame Marcus Haislip for bolting. How could any competitive player sit on the bench, while Bonner and Bogans log heavy minutes?
Haislip did the right thing..Mahinmi should follow him out the door. No way in hell would I sit on the Spurs bench and allow Coach Pop to destroy my marketability.
Out with this Pop guy…Enough already…
Bring on Avery Johnson…
February 5th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
lvmainman, by my count Portland got 3 of 10 OREBs while the Spurs were playing small ball, not 7.
Vikombe, you are precisely wrong when you say the Spurs blew a 10 point lead playing small. Small ball created that 10 point lead in the 4th and the lead was still 8 when the Spurs went big with 8:00 left. The entire collapse happened while playing big ball.
I get the small ball hate but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to just make stuff up.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
A loss is a loss, but Manu looked close to his old self. If he returns to his old form regardless of who the spurs play in the playoffs it will be a battle for the other team. Except for the mistakes in the last few minutes I liked the way they competed. Jefferson’s performance, of course, not withstanding . If he had Manu’s heart the championship would be guaranteed. The guy simply does not compete hard enough every possession. He has no passion
February 5th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
@doggydogworld Unfortunately I cannot go to league pass and re-watch this game because it was on TNT. Nationally televised games are blocked out on NBA league pass broad band. To jog my memory at this point all I have to reference is the NBA play by play transcript (http://www.nba.com/games/20100204/SASPOR/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0020900730#Q4) You are right, the spurs got the 10 point lead 86-79, at the 10:26 mark of the 4th Q while playing small ball. A second big, McDyess, got back in the game at the 8:00 mark with a 7 point lead. Duncan replaced Blair at the 7:10 mark with a 6 point lead. TP left the game at the 8:00 mark with the spurs leading 78-71 and got back in at the 1:46 mark with the spurs down a point 88-87, so in this sense I’m also right.
In my second post on this game I pointed out the 82games.com starts that list our most efficient lineups. I stick by my earlier observation that our small ball lineup have not been very effective. I’m of the opinion we’ll not be successful in the playoffs especially against the lakers. Small ball is not the spurs identity! I have not lost all hope because this story is still developing, we’re on page 48 of 82 (games).
February 5th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
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February 5th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
I just want to clarify something, If anyone watched the post game on TNT then you heard charles and kenny both say that the play the spurs were running were getting them open shots and they just wern’t falling but in the long run the statistics would even out. and the Blazers were hitting contested shots that they shouldn’t make. other than ginobili crashing down on the drive and allowing a open webster three we win this one. or a ginobili missed contested three 5 seconds into the shot clock, but thats his game and I love him for it.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Also Pop said a trade is probably not going to happen and he thinks this team can win it.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
I always hear about “chemistry.” The fact is, chemistry is FAR FAR FAR overblown. It is about TALENT and the mentality that you play with (are you a winner like Kobe or a loser like Vince Carter? A winner like Manu or a loser like Richard Jefferson?).
If you have the mentality to play like a winner, then it is all about a team which compliments one another, talent and coaching. Chemistry plays such a small part of it. In football or soccer i would say there is something to chemistry. But basketball? I don’t think so.
Just look at the Lakers. They got Pau Gasol mid season 2 years ago. How much time was needed to acclimate Pau Gasol? The Lakers got him in mid-season and they ended up in the NBA finals by the end of the year. The only reason they did not win the NBA finals that year was because of injuries. 2 starters in Ariza and Bynum were injured. The Lakers obviously won the NBA title the next year (last year, 08-09).
So, you get Pau Gasol, end up going to the NBA finals every year and winning 1 out of 2. How long did it take them to gel together? Was building chemistry an issue?
February 5th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Bryan
February 5th, 2010 at 10:28 am I agree with you, Errin. Joe Johnson would be a great fit. But I certainly haven’t been reading anything about Atlanta shopping him around. If we could trade RJ for Johnson straight up, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’m just not so sure that is actually a possibility. Atlanta realistically believes they can compete for a championship. I doubt they would trade Johnson for anything
———————————-
Why not just trade Richard Jefferson for Lebron James/Kobe/Dwight Howard? Those 3 would be better than Joe Johnson. Maybe you’ll be forced to throw in Ratliff to get the deal done.
February 6th, 2010 at 12:39 am
heartbreaker. we have two glaring problems: 1) richard jefferson’s effectiveness and 2) our rotation
Pop, like any coach is going to have to keep playing Jefferson hoping for him to have an epiphany and breakout. But, like most of us fans are not betting on that to happen. The 30+ minutes Jefferson is getting could better be served giving it to someone who can either shoot the ball (RMJ) or defend (Bogans).
Bonner is also posing a problem for Pop because Bonner is a well-respected 3 point shooter, McDyess is on his way of regaining his old-reliable form and Pop has no idea what to do with Blair. Some games Blair plays exceptional but other games, such as against the Trailblazers, he forces shots when he gets the ball and doesn’t play single-coverage defense well.
Addition by subtraction is what the FO should be thinking. The management of minutes is extremely tricky and I do not envy Pop. Take Orlando for instance, they are in the exact same predicament as the Spurs with Vince Carter and Brandon Bass.
To contradict my addition by subtraction idea, I think we should go after Brandon Bass. Bass was the player I thought the Spurs should have tried to sign in the offseason because he was a Spurs killer and I thought would have played well in our offense. He was athletic, big body, excellent mid-range jumper (not as far out as Mcdyess however) and played earnest defense. I think we should trade for Bass since he is getting almost no playing time.
February 6th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Always been loyal fan, but have to admit TBlazers are fun to watch. Lots of energy, team spirit, young exciting players. Wish we had some of that.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:18 am
@Kaveh, this has more to than just chemistry, the Laker example in my opinion does not apply here due to the fact that you had a superior player in Pau Gasol replacing inferior players like Kwame Brown and Josh Powell. Add the fact in that he was supremly gifted offensive player and was immediately the clear cut #2 scoring option made for an easy transition.
The Spurs on the other hand have had to deal with not only getting used to eachother but Pop had to determine how to best use each player.
Remember at the beggining of the season Pop thought George Hill would mainly used as our back up PG, Richard Jefferson would take on the role of guarding the opposing teams best perimeter player and no one had any idea what to expect from Blair.
Gradually Pop has come to the realization that while Jefferson is getting better on D and becoming more attention to detail oriented he will not be a defensive stopper by any means, George Hill has exceeded expectations but is now our starting shooting guard with Manu playing more of a backup PG role along with his other duties, and Blair’s play has demanded he be in the rotation.
Those are 3 really big changes that effect a team in a variety of different ways and now since everyone is starting to have the role defined, the Spurs should start looking alot better over the next few weeks.
February 6th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Vikombe, I go by the play-by-play as well. Also Popcornmachine.net is terrific for this kind of stuff.
One technical correction. When Manu and McDyess walked onto the court to relieve TP and Bogans with 8:00 left in the 4th it’s true the scoreboard read 78-71. But Blair had only shot one of his two free throws. Manu and McDyess do not get credit for that 2nd free throw, the guys who were on the floor when the foul was committed do. If you think about it for a while (perhaps with the aid of a beverage) this makes sense. Manu and McDyess had nothing to do with putting DeJuan on the line whereas Bogans played a key role by shooting an airball, errrr passing to an open DeJuan under the basket (LOL).
Anyway, for statistical purposes the substitution occurs the instant the clock starts running again. So the score was 79-71 when small ball officially ended as the clock resumed counting down from 8:00 in the 4th quarter.
February 6th, 2010 at 9:06 am
@Kaveh
Again, what a great display of basketball knowledge, oh wait…..all you do is “try” to make fun of other people’s posts and ideas.
What’s the problem no ideas of your own? I should stop, you don’t know any better, you’re probably at most 12-13 years old.
February 6th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@doggydogworld, thanks for the resource Popcornmachine.net I’m loving the game flow user interface.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Cory, don’t let kaveh get to you. Every once and awhile I can tell he does know something about basketball. But that’s not why he posts here. He is a laker homer, otherwise known as a troll. The only reason he posts here, rather than at any number of laker’s boards, is because he thinks he’s “rubbing it in” because he believes we’re down (or done). He also does this because he can’t get the sting of tears out of his eyes when he thinks about the times we kicked the lakers asses out of the playoffs. When he can’t forget when ABC put the cameras on kobe and fisher crying their little eyes out on the bench, trying to hide their faces under towels…
And kaveh, before you come back and talk about when “you all won”. This is true, like all warriors, we have been beaten…sometimes badly. And when the Lakers prevailed, I gave them their due. But you never saw our guys crying, or hiding under towels, or refusing to shake hands.
Go ahead and have your laughs, you think we’re down and out. I’m here to tell you, we “may” be down right now, but we’ll never be out. So go on back to your bench and go find your crying towel.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program…
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