The Notebook: Preaching to the Choir

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As the comments have made clear, I don’t need to explain to any of you why last night’s blowout loss to the Cavaliers was such a pleasure to watch. Having racked up wins against LA, Boston and Cleveland would have been a nice little achievement, but I would be lying if I said I thought we were going to win this game. Even a player of Parker’s caliber can’t bail us out offensively every night. A few days ago I said I thought Parker was developing into one of the league’s premier field generals but in order for him to orchestrate victories over championship caliber squads your lineup has to possess more talent than we do sans Ginobili and Duncan.

Our over-reliance on Parker’s offensive production wasn’t the only problem made evident by Duncan’s absence last night. Against a team like the Cavaliers, who are so adept at getting to the rim, Duncan’s interior defense (and rebounding) became sorely missed. But are any of you in the mood to talk about what went wrong last night? Of course not. Neither am I.

What we should be talking about is the electrifying fourth quarter performances of Malik Hairston, George Hill, and Pops Mensah-Bonsu. If you don’t know what I am referring to, make sure you check the videos Tim posted below.

If a few months back you had told me Jacques Vaughn, Ime Udoka, a couple of D-leaguers and some unknown kid from IUPUI would make me grin ear-to-ear I’d probably ask you what you’d been smoking. But there I was, in a bar with my buddies, completely entranced by a hastily thrown together combination of has beens and never beens.

Listen, I love the San Antonio Spurs. I love our style on both ends of the floor. We dunk less than any team in the league and I like what that says about the players’ need (or lack thereof) to make a personal statement out there on the court. But the air show we saw from Pops, George and Malik last night brought out the child in me. It takes me back to my junior high days when my friends and I would lower the rim in my backyard, get a women’s-sized ball (so we could palm it easily), and just go at it. The truth is, for all of the consistency and execution Pop gets out of our guys, sometimes he can be a bit stifling. It was nice to see him cut the boys a little slack and let them have their fun.

Last night’s game also raises some new and interesting questions. Pops played excellently last night but his minutes were primarily against second or third string players with little to prove. Without a doubt Pops impressed, but I’d love it if Popovich gave him some quality minutes against the opposing team’s starting frontline. After we’ve seen Pops execute during more critical moments in a game (i.e. while the outcome remains unclear) we’ll have a better sense of exactly what kind of contributor he is prepared to be.

The Spurs next stop is in Portland on Sunday night. With Wednesday’s loss fresh on their minds, I’m sure the Blazers will be looking for a little payback. I also assume Duncan will be a gametime decision as he was last night.

  • Krista

    I stayed until the game was over, and I commented that everyone who left missed the best part of the game.

    Those kids, plus Vaughn, were fun to watch. I’d love to see Pops take passes from Manu and see what happens.

  • Latin_D

    I also liked Malik’s defense on LeBron. He was as effective as any other played in his one-on-one defense, and when BronBron was able to choose, he immediately switched and went after Bonner or someone slower.

    Krista, I’d also like to see Pops finishing Manu’s alley-oops. Hopefully, it’s in the cards for the near future. But for the record, it’s never fun to see The JV play. Or Udoka.

  • Chris K

    Agree with your sentiments, but the only way Pops earns key minutes is with defense, and I didn’t see much of that last night (not that he had much opportunity).

  • Pop-Pop

    The “Pop” and “Pops” thing is already confusing. If he makes this team he will need a nickname or I’ll get lost with whose doing the stifling….

  • The Narwhal

    Pops had four offensive boards, a blocked shot, a steal and was scrapping for the ball in a way that no other Spur was. While I still think it’ll be a while until Pop feels he has the handle on the Spurs’ defensive strategy necessary to earn significant minutes, we can at least hope that by the playoffs he’s earned at least ten minutes of playing time a game.

    To be honest, I’d love to see someone with his ability on the court with Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Mason/Finley/Bonner/Hill.

    It seems fated, too, doesn’t it? Pop and Pops?

  • GMT

    I was just wondering if 10 day contracts are actually just 10 days or 10 games. I’m sure someone here knows.

  • Latin_D

    It’s 10 days, GMT, hence the name. But he could sign another one when the 10 days are over, I believe.

  • ThatBigGuy

    I think one of the announcers in the videos called him Bonsai. I think that could certainly catch on, seeing as the guy is an athletic freak like we haven’t had in awhile. After understanding that he’s playing to impress the coaching staff and grab some garbage time stats, all I can say is wow. He looked like Malik Rose plus a half. All energy, all out, having fun, and doing the right things. One game does not an all-star make, but he and Hairston sure impressed me and my old school flavors.

    Did anyone catch the camera pans to Timmy? The man was all smiles for the whole quarter. He knows what’s up.

  • Sam Robb

    Today in Portland, I’m getting the chance to fulfill one of my dreams. I’m 20 years old, and have never been to San Antonio. Yet I’ve been a die hard Spurs fan for over a decade. As a kid I was really into playing basketball, and collecting basketball cards, but the turning point for me was when I started watching the Spurs play regularly during Tim Duncan’s 97-98 rookie season. At this young age I fell in love with the Spurs selfless, disciplined style of basketball. Timmy became my hero, and my role model, both in how I modeled my personal set of b-ball skills, and with the person I desired to become. I wanted to be humble, to let my actions speak louder than my words, but most of all to command the respect of others in the way only he does. I bleed silver and black. when the Spurs lose, I’m devastated not because of the implications it usually has for my fantasy team, but because I know the pain and frustration my heroes are feeling at the same time. When Derek Fisher hit the 0.4 second shot, i was angry, but more so I was sad for how emotionally devastated the team I care about so much must be feeling. It’s an odd thing to feel so connected to a team half way across the country, and players who I’ve never met. Yet I do, the Spurs mean the world to me.
    Currently, I’m a sophomore at Portland State University, and I’m going to the Blazers-Spurs game today. I’ve got to see the Spurs play many times before, but today is different. At school, I had the unbelievable fortune to meet someone with a connection to the Spurs. Will and Hadley are friends of mine who’s parents own a vineyard. So what right? Well, as Spurs fans know, Gregg Popovich is somewhat of a wine aficionado, and is an investor in my friends’ parents’ vineyard. So my friends are close with Gregg, and get tickets and VIP passes every time the Spurs come town. Today, one my friends is being generous enough to take me to the game and give me a VIP pass. I will get to meet Gregg, who I have a huge amount of respect for, and hopefully get a chance to get close to some of my heroes. What are the chances that I would make friends who had a connection like this to any NBA team, much less the one that happens to be my favorite? I really feel like it’s fate. I’m trying not to get my hope up to much, but I’m bringing my Sports Illustrated (June 9, 2003 Issue: “Who’s Going to Stop TIM DUNCAN”), just in case I get a chance for autographs. I’ve dreamed of having this chance for so long, and it’s finally coming true… Go SPURS!!!

  • GMT

    @Latin D: that’s what I assumed, but then I wondered if it might mean 10 games. Thanks.

    @Sam Robb: Wow, what a great experience that should be for you today! It’s good to hear from a Spurs fan up there. I’m from San Antonio, but have never had a VIP pass. Hopefully some day I’ll be just as lucky.

    GO SPURS GO!

  • Chris K

    Kings just waived Drew Gooden, and Marc Stein says the Spurs are interested.
    Do we have a spot now that we signed Pops, “Bonsai”??
    (Maybe we should just waive JV…)

  • Daniel

    Pop should have tried Pops on Aldrige last night. Nobody in the rotation is quick enough, strong enough, AND long enough to guard him. That’s why Elson was such a great help. Aldrige could be a great player, but he normally stays too far from the basket to make much of a difference on offense, and he hasn’t figured out help defense yet. With an athlete like Pops keeping tabs on him at the rim, he would most likely jack up 18-footers instead of getting great looks at 10 feet and just rising over defenders. Thomas was just terrible last night.

  • dtm

    gooden hasn’t played many games due to his groin injury, which was later called a sports hernia.

    if the pain is too much to play through, he’s going to have surgery.

    if we could cut vaughn for gooden, then yes.
    but if we have to let pops go, then i say no.

    although shorter, pops already looks better than guys we’ve had in the past in that position, nazr, elson, and maybe even oberto!

  • VI_Massive

    We definitely let PMB go for Gooden if we can get him. Gooden has his flaws but is a proven NBA player who provides the size, scoring, and rebounding we could use. There is no way PMB will play any meaningful minutes in the playoffs whereas that possibility exists (disagree about how likely it is, but its certainly possible) with Gooden. Popovich doesn’t play young new guys. He didn’t bring PMB in last night until about 8:30 left; and that was as big a blowout as any of ours this season.

    At least with Gooden, there is a chance of getting some good production in the playoffs, and little risk, if any.

  • VI_Massive

    Plus, I think we could still be able to grab PMB in the offseason and bring him to camp if we want for next season.

    Also, I like having Vaughn as an insurance policy on our rookie back-up PG. I know Mason and Manu can run the point if need be, but Manu’s health is questionable and I like the idea of having JV in case of injury or in case Hill takes a dump in pressure situations.