This Year's 1st Quarter is Last Year's 3rd Quarter: Blazers-Spurs Recap

Nice recap.

Each night is a different reason. In Utah there was no defense. IN Portland there was awful shooting. There are also the little things, such as a missed FT when points are needed, an untimely turnover that quickly pushes a 3 point spread up near double digits, and the inability to end quarters with something positive.

The bad luck bounces will even out. Better individual play will occur when new guys are familiar with the system and all guys know their roles. But the lack of enthusiasm to start games and the poor focus and/or decision making to end quarters must be corrected now.

I do like that Pop put Bogans in the starting lineup. The return to being a defense based team is the priority IMO.

if Parker had stayed in, this would have at least been a whole lot closer. I’m fine with Bogans starting since he’s the best defender at SG we have (though Hill can play SG with his size, I would’ve liked to see his defense on Roy).

Defense was nary the problem since Roy will crush just about any team no matter what (currently have him as #2 on my top-5 SG), but wow if that offense sputtered. Though how often have we seen Parker get fired up and make some truly epic shots to get insane amounts of points in hardly any time?

His momentum and game-changing ability at this point in his career rivals that of Ginobili’s in his prime, and we certainly could have used that last night. Once Parker gets going, perimeter options open up with Jefferson (impressive game last night), Mason, Finley, Bonner, etc. But without Parker, you see games like last night where we go 4-21 from 3-point range.

Parker is the key to our offense more so than Duncan or even Ginobili, without him we’ll struggle to get any offensive game going unless Blair gets back to being a momentum shifter off the bench and Jefferson gets back to Bucks form with 19 point games.

Nice cap Cap. I think that Pop was just playing around with lineups during the game. I’m glad we played some sort of defense in the last three quarters, we’ll be alright. As long as we’re seeing flashes, of good offense, and good defense from the team, I’ll reserve the heckling.

Thanks for the recap, Nan. Ah geez… it’s bad that I missed the game but worse opening your browser and staring at a loss. Damn it all.

Tony’s ankle has me troubled. The fact that it gave under his own body weight is not good. It means his ankle is weak. Once you turn it enough times, it becomes easier and easier for it to give. But, if you don’t severely injure it, the sprain does not keep you out for long.

From my seat on the sofa, it appeared to me the offense picked up a bit when Tony went out. He seemed to be dribbling way too much last night and looking too much for his own shot. Manu’s missed shots seemed to be on-line, but off the front of the rim – a little more energy in the shot and he’s good.

Point # 1.

 Hmm. Heres an observation based on several years watching this team. We are having trouble playing cohesive basketball. “Gelled” type ball. The most cohesive unit the Spurs have ever fielded was the 2005 title team. All the other championship units were able to get by on sheer defensive presence (99) or talent and firepower (2003 ). The 2007 team was probably the weakest title unit San Antonio has ever fielded.

  If this team doesnt learn to play together, lets just say not winning another title will be the least of the teams problems.

  Pops structured approach to coaching might not work this season. There are too many new guys on the team. You cant tell me this team isnt being overcoached, when a club like Boston can go out and play like gangbusters the exact same season they were basically constructed from the ground up. That team played great right out of the gate. We have arguably as much or more talent , and we look like sh!t. Our losses havent been CLOSE.

#2. A few people in here, myself included, have noticed that we are perhaps the shortest Spurs team of the Duncan era.Our interior D has been non-existent. Because well…there is no one down there who can bother or block shots. Tim Duncan either cant do it anymore , or is waiting until February to start. ( I honestly believe its equal parts.) Unless Theo steps into a time machine ( Ian is out of the equation here, I think the organization gave him more than a fair shot ) we are not gonna have anybody bothering shots down there when Duncan isnt in the paint. Therefore our perimeter guys will be under increased pressure to begin defending.

I believe they will , but ultimately if this team wins the title, it will be in spite of being the smallest Spurs team of all time.

Well done, Cap.