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Around SBN: SEC Basketball at the Half

Run 'em into the ground?

Given the Spurs' one-night-only fastbreakin' success against the (admittedly disinterested) Jazz and Parker's recent stretch of good run, does anyone else think that the Spurs might be best served by trying to outrun the now ploddingly half-court Suns? I'd feel more certain of this if I had a better sense of what Barry's capable of these days, however.

When the Spurs dispatch The Suns yet again in about two weeks, (which will make what, 4 times in 6 years?) how can we best as a collective and unified front convince their fans to shut the eff up? An appeal to logic and reason doesn't seem feasible -- it would have worked already if it were. Keep in mind, I'm only interested in shutting them up, not in changing hearts and minds.

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We need to play our ball

We’ve won our championships by playing our style of basketball. No one can do it better. I think trying to force the Suns into a fast pace would be a huge mistake. We win this with defense and experience. Grind it out.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Apr 18, 2008 10:44 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Well, we did prove we can run with them, and at the time they didn’t have Shaq dragging them down. It could work.

by LatinD on Apr 18, 2008 12:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I was thinking the same thing after the Utah game. We ran on them with ease, and Spurs teams in the recent past have run quite a bit. The difference between the Spurs running style and other teams is that the Spurs will run only when they can, and they will take smart shots. The Spurs won’t pull a Baron Davis or Leandro Barbosa and hurl up a quick three in a 1 on 4 situation.

We have to take advantage of Shaq. Shaq can easily be forced into turning the ball over. After he is stripped he will be the last guy down the court, so someone will be wide open or there will be a mismatch on Timmy. Either way it is an easy bucket. The Spurs didn’t capitalize on Shaq’s presence the last two times we played the Suns. Maybe it was by design. Pop can surprise and frustrate D’Antoni now and he won’t have as much time to develop a counter.

by VWolf on Apr 18, 2008 12:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Run Selectively

When the opportunity is there the Spurs do need to push the ball, especially when Shaq is out there. If anything else just to kick start the offense. Getting easy buckets will make things easier in the half court. This team CAN’T run the whole game because they’re too old, but they can run selectively.

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." - Muhammad Ali

by DennardC on Apr 18, 2008 12:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Exactly

Well put. We need to impose our will on them. We run, when we want to run. But trying to “outrun” the Suns is a bad idea.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Apr 18, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Opportunistic Running

I always hate watching a game that’s headed into the fourth quarter and seeing the fast break stats flash up, and it’s like 18-6 in favor of the bad guys. But, if it results in a W, then I’m not wondering why we didn’t run more—instead, I’m doing my victory dance!

Um, I don’t really have a victory dance.

Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule. - Dr. Peter Venkman

by jollyrogerwilco on Apr 18, 2008 3:33 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

And also, we HAVE to exploit the foul situation. These guys play us well in the post, but not without amare and shaq having a combined 7-8 fouls by halftime. If Pop will capitalize on this, and tire them out while limitting their effectiveness by getting them in foul trouble early, it’ll be easier than everyone’s thinking. I would like to see Timmy and Frenchie focus solely on drawing their bigs’ fouls for the first 1-2 quarters while maintaining average scoring; then turning it into overdrive in the 2nd half. I think this is the key. The plodding, whistle-dominated game will frustrate them and disrupt their system, and they won’t have the resources to close out games.

Always loved how Pop coaches circles around the posers in the league (led by their President D’oh), and I’m anxious to see him play chess while all others are playing checkers again.

by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 18, 2008 5:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Um, no.

Considering the Suns are averaging more fast break points with Shaq than before the trade, trying to turn the series into an uptempo run-fest would be a poor decision.

The people who mentioned running selectively, particularly if the Suns start turning the ball over every other possession like they tend to do sometimes, were much more spot on.

by Azreous on Apr 18, 2008 11:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

(shaking head with impatience)

Let me clarify. “Overdrive” does not imply run-and-gun. Sorry about that. I just meant, focus on the drawing contact/putting them in foul trouble first; then….. wait…..what am I doing responding to a misunderstanding by someone with “Az” in their name and bearing a picture of a, uh, uh…... cat?

The suns are averaging more fast break points against NON-defensive oriented teams. The SPURS don’t fall in this category. A team that slows their game by forcing them into half court sets and knocks their bigs out of the game can and will be this paper tiger of a suns team. Exploit the foul trouble, and slow the game down. Almost what nearly happened to perfection today. Get ready….. watch Pop learn.

by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 20, 2008 1:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The better question is, what are you doing responding to a person who was responding to the person who started the thread, not you? Hence why it wasn’t branched off your post?

by Azreous on Apr 21, 2008 1:15 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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