San Antonio Spurs 90, Indiana Pacers 87: The Spurs win ugly, but not ugly-lucky

by

Tim Duncan isn’t a robot. That much was obvious last night. With 1:10 left in the game, Duncan picked up a technical foul for arguing with the officials. The foul took a one possession game (83-86) to two possessions (83-87). Gregg Popovich could be seen pointing to his temple and mouthing the words “That’s bad” to Duncan as both teams cleared space for Darren Collison, Indiana’s designated free throw shooter. Â

The technical foul did not prove fatal; the Spurs were able to squeak out the win.

The Spurs won the game on the strength of two of the next three offensive possessions: a George Hill and-1 and a pair of Manu Ginobili free throws. Two solidly executed possessions to take away the goof that was Duncan’s technical foul.

Duncan’s badly timed technical foul is representative of the game as a whole. Indiana played well, and they deserve credit, but the Spurs were nearly guilty of beating themselves for the majority of the game. For every two wonderfully executed plays, there was a third that careened between meh and ugh.

Earlier in the season, I wrote about a Timberwolves game in which the Spurs should not have won. It was an ugly-lucky win. This win against the Pacers was also an ugly win, but it wasn’t lucky. It was the sort of ugly win good teams produce. Â It was a good team battling through bouts of poor play, but ultimately winning the battle.

The Spurs made a lot of mistakes in this game. The Duncan tech, as one example. Manu Ginobili had two costly fourth quarter turnovers. Gary Neal spoiled an otherwise stalwart defensive possession by fouling Mike Dunleavy on a 3-point attempt. Â After one missed close-out that allowed a Danny Granger three, Gregg Popovich erupted from the bench for a team-scolding timeout. I think he may have yelled “DUCK!” at the front end of the timeout, but it’s difficult to say.

Simply put, the Spurs had their moments of an ineptitude.

But if one wanted to quantify the good in this game, they wouldn’t have to look far. The first two places to start are Tim Duncan’s stat line (15 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks, 33 minutes) and the tremendous defense played by the Spurs in the 4th quarter. Tim Griffin summarized the Spurs’ fourth quarter defensive effort with these numbers:

The Pacers missing 16 of their last 17 shots, including a 1-for-15 effort in the fourth quarter. After missing their final two shots in the third quarter, Indiana clanked their first seven shots of the fourth quarter along with two turnovers before Dunleavy hit a floating jumper with 6:42 left. They then finished the game by missing their final seven shots with two turnovers.

Again, if you want to quantify how the Spurs beat back their own poor play, that’s where you start. But what I want to say is a game like this is better qualified than quantified.

Here’s the point: the Spurs came together in the fourth quarter and corrected their mistakes. They scored when they needed to score, and they played great defense for the final quarter. They didn’t luck their way into a 15-point comeback; they earned every point of it.

Ultimately, games like this will mean more to the Spurs’ title hopes than, say, scoring 115 points in a blowout. Â Losing two of three games on this road trip is probably better for the Spurs’ title hopes than either of their double-digit winning streaks. I guess this makes me a Spurs Sadist, but I’m convinced these stretches make the Spurs a better team.

  • NYC

    Didn’t catch the game last night, but this article tells me everything I want to know. Great job.

    Also, couldn’t agree w you more in terms of outlook at our recent wins and losses.
    +10

  • ChillFAN

    The best record is nice for collective confidence, but they will be better if they recognize what is going wrong lately. The circumstances the Spurs faced in the Celtics loss is really not that big a deal-but the Knicks and Pacers games reveal
    1.) Lack of control of pace….They cannot solely be a Mike DAntoni type team and expect to win when things slow down in the playoffs
    2.) Vulnerable low post defense… against athletic big men like Kevin Love, Amare, Griffin, and now Tyler Hansborough. If Kobe ever figures out he only need to force feed Gasol the ball against the Spurs the matchups look very different.
    Not enough credit has been given to Popvich for changing from last year and just sticking to a rotation instead of last’s years dramatic game to game changes that younger players can’t handle.

  • idahospur

    “The first two places to start are Tim Duncan’s stat line (15 points, 15 rebounds, 5 boards, 33 minutes) and the tremendous defense played by the Spurs in the 4th quarter.”

    I think you may have meant 5 blocks, not boards. Of course he may have stopped at Home Depot on the way home?

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    You’re right, of course. I’ll fix it.

  • wayne

    Great game summary and analysis. I too like the fact that their noses got a little bloody on this trip with the two losses. Nothing like a couple of losses to help them understand there is still work to be done in getting better.

    Go Spurs.

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  • duaneofly

    As weird as it may sound, I too am glad the Spurs lost to the Knicks and Celts. When you are winning, and having a 29-4 record, it’s kind of natural to get into the idea that you are great, and perfect, and nothing can touch you. But losing back to back games is a reality check, and losses allow you to learn, to see where you need to improve.

  • LPspursFan

    Include me in the group that thinks tough, hard-fought, come-from-behind wins like this build character and instill confidence in the team that the game is never over.
    I’d also like to be in the group that says when your defensive strategy is to force a player to settle for an 18-20 foot jump shot, and he makes it, that does not all of a sudden become poor defense.
    Tyler Hansbrough? If he could regularly hit jumpers like he did against us last night he would be an all-NBA candidate.
    Last, just because we as fans get all excited and giddy about the team’s record and various regular season successes, I think we are all in agreement that Pop and the players see the big picture and are never really satisfied. After all, the mantra “Keep pounding the rock” is indicative of that attitude and is the reason this team has 4 championship banners hanging from the rafters.
    Go Spurs go!!!

  • Maverick1948

    I disagree with you on the Tech by Duncan. He was really more motivated after it. He was right and he knew it. Also, that was the only point Indy got in the last 2:25 of the game. I watched the Knicks and Celtics games and saw only one player who looked angry after either. Manu. Maybe the Tech will put some fire back in the Spurs.

    As for the game, Hansborough was playing the game of his career. It seems like we are seeing more of this happening every game. That is the only reason it was close. With the win, we are overcoming such players. Our guards are the key to most of our wins. Against Indy, 62 points between Manu, Tony, George and Gary. I would love to see more of Splitter that is the only thing this team needs. A young big.

    GO SPURS GO

  • Tim

    I have not watched enough games to know if this is true but it seems like our defense is really bad against guards who get into the paint: JJB (L against Dallas), Rondo (L against Celtics), Felton (L against Knicks), Arenas (L against Magic), Brooks (OT win against Rockets) and Nash (W, 118-110).
    Our defense seems to do better against jump shooting teams: Lakers the way they played in the game against us, NOH (CP3 has become more of a jump shooter), Pacers etc.

    Folks who watch the games, is this really true?

  • SpursfanSteve

    Tim, that’s true of every team. Teams who settle for jumpers on a regular basis are always going to have worse records, while teams who can penetrate and get into the paint are always going to have better ones. This is why Tony Parker is especially valuable for the Spurs, and why Bonner being able to put the ball on the floor when he gets chased off the 3 pt line is a MAJOR improvement for him.

    Our defense has done much better recently against penetration. Felton didn’t penetrate much- even he did most of his damage on jump shots.

  • SpursfanSteve

    Actually, the same is true of Rondo, who only got into the paint once or twice but hit the long range jumpers we wanted him to take.

  • ITGuy

    What a game by Manu, he put the team on his back at the end of the first half and the Spurs were able to get the lead before halftime. He did it agin in the 4th period and the Spurs were able to win the game.

    In the Boston game he almost did the same but he ran into some good D.

    Now, what if Pop had left him in the game in NY instead of giving up? I think he would’ve got us at least closer to winning then the bench did.

    Go Spurs Go!!

  • Bankshot21

    I too am in disagreement with the assessment of Duncan’s tech. He was called for a bogus travel a couple of possessions prior to that. He certainly was guilty of the charge they called so I don’t want to give the impression that he can do know wrong. That was a clean block. Would have still been Indiana’s ball but to call that foul is an atrocity. You can tell they knew they messed up when they gave Manu the make up call to put us ahead, but was also not a foul. Duncan wasn’t demonstrative he was just on the line talking. No expletives no flailing of the arms. Just think aloud. I must say Jim O’Brien’s job should be in limbo. He went @ an all nba defensive player the last few trips down the floor. Darren Collison could have gotten to the line, Granger could have penetrated, but he opts to go to Roy Hibbert (I secretly love Hibberts game) against Tim (5 Blocks,15 rebounds @ that point) Duncan? Seems like a poor choice to me. Any thoughts about his play calling with the game in the balance?

  • TD = BEST EVER

    To quote Jesse from another conversation.

    “But the trick is not to allow a team to get in that situation.”

    We were discussing if Derek Fisher still has it in him to burn the Spurs as he has in years past. But it works here as well. We should have never been down by in the 4th Qt. POP should have never put Blair/Bonner back in to that game after the half.

    To your point these losses will only help us later on. I say that may be true, but only if POP starts to use a different starting lineup and substitution patters come playoff time.

    Our biggest problem is Defending and D is mostly EFFORT with a little talent - DBJ doesn’t block out all that well and generally doesn’t use his size as on D the way he does on O. Bonner TRIES, just doesn’t have the strength or talent to play good D.

    So as long as they both keep getting major minutes, average PF’s will continue to light us up.

  • Tim

    While it is true that almost every team will have a problem with penetrating guards I wanted to know if we are worse than the average.

    Also, what about P/R when the guy who Duncan is defending sets the screen? We will have no shot blocking at the rim if Duncan shows on the pick, and if he lags back, which he seems to do a lot lately (at least last year), it leads to open jumpers. Are we better this year?

  • TD = BEST EVER

    @ Maverick1948

    “As for the game, Hansborough was playing the game of his career. It seems like we are seeing more of this happening every game.”

    Which is why we need to PLAY SPLITTER or make a trade for another BIG……….

    @ Bankshot21
    Yes I saw that. Roy did most of his damage when Tim was on the bench, not when Tim was guarding him straight up. But I can live with the other team making mistakes, just hate to see them so much from our guys.

  • DorieStreet

    That season long nemisis -prolonged scoring drought (it happens so frequently I will start using this acronym- PSD) attacked the Spurs again in the 3rd qtr. In an 8 minute stretch: 3TO, 7 misses out of 10 shots. Despite only winning 5 games since Dec 1st, Pacers could have beaten Knicks last Sunday (back & forth game that when down to last minute). They had the entire work week to rest , practice & prepare for Spurs-and that was Tyler Hansbrough’s 1st start this season; he responded with his best performance so far. Good to avoid loss to a struggling team- & an 0-3 road trip.

  • DorieStreet

    @ TD = BEST EVER

    O’ Brien has been hc of Celtics & 76ers. Don’t recall him taking them anywhere; I thought he had a couple of other jobs too (Nets, Mavs) but he did not.

    Pacers were acculmulating a double-digit edge in rebounding from mid 2nd qtr on until the clampdown in the 4th. There’s has to be someone out there who can help us defend the rim & rebound/but no longtoothed journeymen (I don’t know why teams keep giving a uniform to Ratliff-like we did last year). What is being accomplished when Splitter’s playing time goes like this-(since Dec 1st: 8 (min)-7-18-24-1-4-4-8-21-17-5-7-19-3-DNP?

  • Tim

    I would expect Splitter to start playing significant minutes after the All-Star break. We will have 26 games before the playoffs (length of the season in Europe = ~30?) and he shd be our starting center.

  • TD = BEST EVER

    @ DorieStreet

    “There’s has to be someone out there who can help us defend the rim & rebound/but no long toothed journeymen…”

    I agree 100% - there’s no need to give up young talent and get back a 32 years old something on his way out the door. I say when we decide to add talent, go for someone 28 or younger. That way they will be around a while.

    Of the wings we can get for cheap
    Rodney Carney - natural SF, nice 3 ball and very athletic. - recently waived by GS would be a very nice pick up, even if we have to cut Quinn to make room. Spurs will need some extra size of the bench….. all we have is Anderson

  • DorieStreet

    @ TD = BEST EVER

    I looked him up when you mentioned him the other day. Played at Memphis -used to intense basketball. Be it for to boster a serious playoff run or continue transition to future, the FO is going to have to acquire athletic multiskilled front court players. Anthony Randolph- are there questions about his work ethic? Have we really put forward the effort to find american collegiate talent for our system the way we always search in Europe (with little results) . It is a generational change now in the NBA-those contributing vets from the last 10-12 years are all almost gone. It is time to really look for players 6 years expierence or less with upside/established skills.

  • Bankshot21

    Joe Smith would have been a good look. Even Kurt Thomas. No they don’t necessarily provide rim protection, but they allow Timmy to be the weak side help. Blair gets burned so quick that TD often doest have enough time to rotate. A savy vet like the aforementioned two can certainly hold their own long enough for TD to slide and protect the basket. I understand the want for a young big but not mid season. Unless it’s a young big for a young big trade. Can’t see us trying to establish 3 young bigs (Blair,Splitter,and Player X). Blair for JJ Hickson would be nice. He has better size, but not as hungry as DeJuan. I love the team we have and wouldn’t change anything but roles (Blair to bench, Dyess to starter).

  • ThatBigGuy

    We aren’t going to find someone on the waiver wire at this point in the season that will impact our team. Think about it. You don’t get waived this early in the season unless you suck. Only the veterans waived near the deadline are worth picking up. Odds are a waived-at-the-deadline veteran was cut because his team wanted to give him a chance to hook up with a contender, not because he stinks. That type of guy will be a more skilled type player than some guy who is waived by the basement dwelling Warriors as soon as possible.

    I don’t think we need roster moves. Our top 10 players are crucial to our success so far. I believe that Anderson can be our SF defender once he’s healthy, so that takes care of that. Splitter will be our defending big, once Pop unleashes him after the All-Star break. I expect our playoff roster will have Splitter starting alongside Timmy, because I think he’s that good. Of course, we have to be patient with that.

    We’re ok, we just need to quit worrying about scoring 115 and keeping the other guys to 87. We have the people, we just need a shift in focus and energy. It won’t take many losing streaks to shift that focus.

  • SG

    “I would expect Splitter to start playing significant minutes after the All-Star break. We will have 26 games before the playoffs (length of the season in Europe = ~30?) and he shd be our starting center.”

    I don’t think this season + playoffs will see much of Splitter….maybe next year? Pop doesn’t like rookies who miss training camp.

  • LPspursFan

    I agree with Bankshot in that I wouldn’t change the roster…as for who starts or who comes off the bench between TS and DB, I really don’t think it matters. The fact that we have them both and they possess different skill sets allows Pop to use them as the match-ups dictate.
    And I’m with ThatBigGuy in that I’ve been convinced that we can compete with ANY team in the league right now. Are we absolutely the best? That won’t be decided until the playoffs, but I am comfortable that we have the team and the weapons to hold our own against all comers.
    I would like to go ahead and hold on to the No. 1 seed, seeing as we went ahead and jumped out to this great start.

  • Kate

    Extremely well-written blog, I attended the game and you definitely found the bigger picture. Very exciting game.

  • TD = BEST EVER

    @ ThatBigGuy

    “Think about it. You don’t get waived this early in the season unless you suck.”

    Or because you are the odd man out on a run&gun team that plays its starters 40 min a game when healthy. Or because you are one of the few people on the team that has 2 guys in front of him. Wright and Radmanovic are better offensive players. Also it saves the team money

    @ SG

    “I don’t think this season + playoffs will see much of Splitter….maybe next year?”

    I agree - POP has no confidence in him right now and it HARD(not impossible) to gain the amount of trust he needs to gain to actually get some major minutes down the stretch.

    @LPspursFan
    “And I’m with ThatBigGuy in that I’ve been convinced that we can compete with ANY team in the league right now.”

    So do I - but understand this year is not about Competing with any team - Its about being the BEST team. We have a rare chance to win a title this year and don’t need to squander it as we have in the past. I think most people take for granted how rare players like TD are. You may never get a players of his caliber again, so don’t just compete with him and be cheap. Splurge and spend and make it happen.

  • Chaprl

    I don’t think adding anybody will help the team. Period. The call for trades or additions seem to come from a plug-and-play fantasy league mentality.

    Anybody added at this point is going to have to learn the system and will likely contribute more to TOs and botched defensive and offensive rotations than they will to improved defense or offensive numbers for the team.

    Plus, Pop would have to have enough confidence to actually play them minutes enough to make an impact. What is the likelihood of that, when Tiago is still riding pine more often than not and Ime has already been released despite his “corporate knowledge?”

    The Spurs are clearly trying to save money with a slim roster. Everybody we lose is going to have to be replaced 1 to 1 with a player of equal or better caliber, who will have to pick up the system quickly, and be able to contribute constant positive minutes. What player in the league, for a reasonable cost, fits that description? Remember RJ last year and decide if you want to gamble with the team makeup that has led to the league’s best record by more than 2 games at this point. This team still has untapped upside in Neal, Blair, Splitter and Anderson and improving defensive focus.

  • ThatBigGuy

    @ TD = Best Ever

    “Or because you are the odd man out on a run&gun team that plays its starters 40 min a game when healthy.”

    Or the bench is so bad you’re forced to play your starters 40 mins.

    I’ll amend my previous post to say that grabbing a guy off the waiver wire is a no risk, high reward action that can’t hurt. If we can bring Carney in for cheapish, then why not give him a chance. However, trading for another player at this point in the season is very dangerous, as we will have to give up too many bodies (due to the low salaries of most of our tradable players) which will screw with our killer chemistry.

    So why not give a few guys some 10 day contracts? See if anybody can out-perform Udoka. Just remember that Anderson comes back next month and bringing in another big may (or may not) mess with Splitter’s development.

  • Hicksman

    @ Tim ,
    Thats good thought, after the Allstar break he’ll have enough time to work into starters shape without over fatigue (well too much) And Ithink with Spillter/Duncan/RJ 2.0 front court with Blair/Dice/Bonner for back up thats a good group.
    GO SPURS GO!!!

  • LPspursFan

    TD = BEST EVER…I just don’t see where we’d be able to make any moves and improve our roster to make an impact at this stage of the game…I mean, we’ve all debated and talked about the importance of Ime, etc., and that’s the 11th or 12th man on the roster. If you look at our 10-man rotation, I think we’re set. I think our best bet is to work with our current roster in order to get the best possible performances out of the players we have. Know what I mean?

  • The Beat Counselor

    A little off topic, but Chris Quinn leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio with 19 assists and 1 turnover.

    Of course he’s only played 139 minutes, but still highly efficient.

  • LPspursFan

    I was actually very unfamiliar with Quinn when we signed him but have been pleasantly surprised with his play as a “true” point guard. As a matter of fact, when TP was possibly going to sit out against Indy, I was hoping Pop would start Quinn and keep George Hill as the offensive spark for the second unit.

  • TD = Best EVER

    @ ThatBigGuy
    “Or the bench is so bad you’re forced to play your starters 40 mins.”

    Nobody’s bench is THAT bad….. most of those players just never get the PT to really improve.

    “bringing in another big may (or may not) mess with Splitter’s development.”

    What development? POP has Splitter in the basement. We are a few games away from the half-way point in the season and I forget he is even on the team at times(not really). I’m sure pop does as well.

    @ LPspursFan

    “I think our best bet is to work with our current roster in order to get the best possible performances out of the players we have. Know what I mean?”

    Yes i know most people want to play safe. We are one of the Best and that’s good enough for most people. Just not me. Yes we do have a lot of things in our favor, and we do present a lot of match up problems for our opponents. But we also have some glaring weaknesses that 85% of fans are just willing to pretend don’t exist. ALL it takes it one really favorable match up to change a series or game. And who ever Blair/Bonner guards could be that match up. They are going to get around 30 min/game combined. That gives our opponents a long time to regain the momentum our starters have created.

  • LPspursFan

    TD = Best EVER…Just to keep the conversation going, doesn’t every team have glaring weaknesses though? I mean, our bigs (TD, TS, Bonner, Blair and Dyess) are diverse enough IMO that Pop can mix and match depending on the match-up. I guess the main point of contention between you and I is that I have not written off Splitter and the contributions I believe he will still make this year. Only time will tell, but I still feel Pop is just hyper-worried about Tiago going down with a stress injury and has plans to make his minutes more consistent in the last 1/3 or 1/4 of the season, plenty of time to be ready for the playoff run.
    That being said, what is your dream scenario?
    I mean, nobody knows who is THE BEST until they play the games. Just because a majority might think one team is superior on paper doesn’t make it so. When I say I think we can compete with any team, that is probably my way of saying I think we are the best but leaving room for the teams to settle it on the court.

  • hemisfair89

    @ThatBigGuy: I agree, we don’t need any roster additions or changes. I would imagine Pop thinks this is the team we roll with. Can’t argue with the results so far. I’m hopeful that Splitter becomes a bigger part of the rotation and contributes in some way. Chemistry is such a fragile thing, especially with how complicated the Spurs’ system is, so I’m of the thought that we just find ways to improve our play on the court. If we remain healthy-I love our chances at the fifth ring.

  • hemisfair89

    Also, a couple of you mentioned Quinn. I gotta say I’m on his bandwagon. I feel confident when he’s on the court, probably due to his playing within his abilities and knowing his strengths and limitations. It’s turned out to be a very good pick up for the team. He has that 3 point range too which is the gravy on top. It’s weird cause I’ll catch a glimpse of him and he looks like a frickinn 16yr old kid.

  • rob

    Perhaps Minnesota would like to tank the season and develop Tiago for the future.

    http://realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5804351

  • LPspursFan

    rob…ok, ok, ok, I was all for keeping the roster the same but the trade you proposed changes my mind!! lol

  • Bankshot21

    @ThatBigGuy

    You hit the nail on the head bro. We are the best @ this point but to be mindful of the other teams you say we can compete with any team. 100% correct. This is the NBA TD=B.E. of course its a game of mismatches, but the same way that can work against us w/ Blair and Bonner it can also work for us. Splitter is not going to be the saving grace and to be honest I don’t think he has what it take to even be a starter. Not yet. He hasn’t figured out how to stay out of the lane on O or D. He’s not very good @ rebounding the ball. He show’s flashes on offense but that’s about it. I’ve seen a big enough sample size to know he absolutely will not go up on the depth chart ahead of Blair,Bonner, or McDyess. He is not Oberto reincarnated. He’s a 25 y/o kid who has way too many bloggers pinning the Spurs championship hopes on his shoulders. For what he has been asked to do thus far he’s performed well enough to continue to be asked to do just that, and nothing more. The Spurs ARE THE BEST. We lost by 2 to the team everyone says is the best (Celtics) when we played the night before and they shot 61%!…think about that for a moment. The Celtics shot 61%, were the fresher team, Rondo has more assist (22) than the entire Spurs team (20) and we lose by 2 frickin points! Not to mention had a great chance of sending the game into OT or winning! We are the best. The only question is when will you guys realize it.

  • TD = BEST EVER

    @ LPspursFan

    “I guess the main point of contention between you and I is that I have not written off Splitter and the contributions I believe he will still make this year.”

    I haven’t written OFF Splitter. POP has, or it appears that way. To allow Psycho T and other average bigs go off on us - to be getting whopped on in the paint and still not TRUST him. Pretty much means you have no trust in him. Also its gonna take more that 30 games or so to get Splitter ready to face Dirk, Gasol, Milsap and company. He needed the entire season.

    @ Bankshot21

    “This is the NBA TD=B.E. of course its a game of mismatches, but the same way that can work against us w/ Blair and Bonner it can also work for us.”

    Really? You have no idea what you are talking about. Name me one mismatch These two have given us all year long. With the exception on Golden State or some other bottom feeding team.
    They give up more than they can get and that’s why we need an addition. We only have 12 on the roster so we are gonna add somebody anyway. That some body needs to be a young, defensive minded front court player. The Celtics loss was a bad Loss - They were w/o 2 starters…. KG and Perkins…… So they can say that they will be a lot better in a few weeks when they are all healthy. While we are hanging our hopes on developing players in season, which if you know anything about the NBA, is VERY difficult.

    There are several Bigs in the playoffs that could hurt us and we need to start addressing that as well as the fact that off our bench our guards are a little small as well. The better teams take our little guys in the post and get easy buckets.

  • LPspursFan

    @ TD = BEST EVER

    “We only have 12 on the roster so we are gonna add somebody anyway. That some body needs to be a young, defensive minded front court player.”

    First, there’s no way we’re gonna find a player on the market that’ll fit that bill, and if he does, he’s not gonna be able to break into the rotation.
    And I disagree with you on Splitter…It makes more sense to me that Pop is guarding against injury than to think Pop has “written him off.” He can come off the bench today against any team and give us 10 solid minutes. We wouldn’t be asking him to carry us, just play solid, positional D and set picks and roll to the basket as a reserve. I think you’re over-analyzing our deficiencies.
    Yeah, the Celt were without Perkins and KG, but they replaced them with Shaq and Big Baby with Jermaine as their fifth big.

    Anyway, none of our arguments are provable until they play the games…I say 30-6 shows that we have made improvements from last year and we are ready for the “elites” this year.

  • Bankshot21

    @LPspursFan

    I agree whole heartedly with your assessment of Splitter. He’s good for what he is asked to do as I previously stated and you so eloquently reiterated. Those solid 10 mins he can give us will prove vital.

    @TD=B.E.
    “You have no idea what you are talking about. Name me one mismatch These two have given us all year long. With the exception on Golden State or some other bottom feeding team.”

    So you missed the Lakers game when Blair imposed his will going for a gaudy 17 points and 15 rebounds. I mean unless I’ve been asleep for a decade or so and the Lakers have suddenly gone from Reigning World Champs to bottom feeders then idk. To say I don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about is simple minded. We are all sharing our opinions. Some of which can be proven with games that have been played thus far. Splitter will help us, but in the capacity that he’s been helping us. He’s not a lost cause or a wasted talent. And because you want to see him get more burn doesn’t make that the best move. I will go along with Pop on this 1. I understand your wanting to improve. I’ve been saying Blair should go to the pine for months now, but Pop has a formula that has us playing better than any team in the league. Now as far as the injuries to the Celtics those are the breaks of the game. They shot 61%. The defense executed the way Pop wanted them to and the Celtics were efficient. Rondo was hitting a jumpshot. The scouting report says let him shoot. We lost by 2 and played horrible and they played well. That wouldn’t happen 4 out of 7 games. We were on the 2nd game of a back to back. Half of our losses are due to such circumstances. You’re being over critical on the teams success thus far. But I won’t say you don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ll just chalk it up to you having a different opinion than I, which isn’t a crime last I checked.

  • TD = BEST EVER

    @ LPspursFan
    “And I disagree with you on Splitter…It makes more sense to me that Pop is guarding against injury than to think Pop has “written him off.””

    How much longer does POP have to guard a Grown Man from injury. If he is trying to keep him healthy after a full 3-4 months of not really doing much then we are really in for it. He is 26 I think now, I can’t imagine what happens to him at 30 trying to play a full year healthy. he should be able to go by now if he is gonna go at all.

    @ Bankshot21

    “To say I don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about is simple minded. We are all sharing our opinions.”

    You are correct, and I’m sorry to have said that…….

    “So you missed the Lakers game when Blair imposed his will going for a gaudy 17 points and 15 rebounds.”

    If He played well and had a good night on where LA didn’t pound the ball inside to expose his weaknesses. He CAN’T do that in a 7 game series. Plus I said created a MISMATCH(something in your teams favor and that everybody knows it…..aka Parker>Fisher), and I promise you POP wasn”t in the huddle saying “get the ball inside to DBJ, Gasol couldn’t guard him in a phone booth.”

  • LPspursFan

    @ TD = BEST EVER…whatever dude. It’s cool. You’re right and everybody else is wrong. No problem.
    Eventually, they will play the games and the season will be over, and one of us will be able to stand up and say, “You see…I was right!”

    In the meantime, you can keep attributing instances where stats prove you wrong to the other team having an “off night” and make factual statements like “He CAN’T do that in a 7 game series” based on…whatever you want to base it on.

  • TD = BEST EVER

    @ LPspursFan

    “In the meantime, you can keep attributing instances where stats prove you wrong to the other team having an “off night” and make factual statements like “He CAN’T do that in a 7 game series” based on…whatever you want to base it on.”

    He has started all 37 games and only had like 7 double doubles or something…. that is like what 1 DD out of 5 games. So if he could do it 7 straight games vs some of the best in the West. Why would he be not doing it vs some of the worst in the East?

  • Bankshot21

    @TD=B.E.

    Where did you get your definition or criteria for what a mismatch is? Mismatches can be recognized in game and exploited. It means zilch if it isn’t exploited. So Blair out hustling a zombie Lakers front court is a mismatch because they kept him in the game allowing him to exploit this. Blair is more NBA advanced than Splitter. Plain and simple. Do you think games are the only chance Pop has to assess his players? There’s obviously something missing in practices that’s causing him to receive limited play and or DNP-CD. I do agree with you that the whole protecting him idea is foolish as well. Him not playing is equivalent to an injury so it really makes no sense to try to shield him from one as many on here suggest.

    I once told you that your tone was a bit Jim Hendersonish. That was not to accuse you of being him, but he was a blogger whose incesant over confidence in Blair cause many of us (myself included) to look for all the holes in Blairs game and criticize Blair. I like Blair’s game but Jim would knock the team and boast on Blair. There is a similar thing occuring with Splitter and you. Many of us like Splitter but your over confidence in him and pessimistic view of the team leaves many of us pointing @ his short comings. It’s a free world and you can blog as you please, I’m just excercising that right as well.

  • LPspursFan

    Bankshot21…I’ve certainly been one of those saying Tiago doesn’t play cuz Pop is protecting him, mostly because I have a hard time seeing another reason. When TS has logged playing time, he has generally looked like a pretty good albeit somewhat inexperienced NBA player in my I’m-not-a-coach-or-NBA-talent-scout eyes.
    I’d love to have a crystal ball and know what is inside Pop’s head in regards to Splitter.
    One thing I think in regards to the Splitter/Blair debate is that it gives Pop so much flexibility when matching up with other teams because they bring different strengths to the court.
    BTW, has TD=BE been posting here long enough to definitely NOT be Jim Henderson? I’ve been surprised that after being banned Jim didn’t come back with another moniker.