Why inconsistency is sometimes fun

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 26, 2012 1:15 PM CST

As an unabashed Washington Redskins fan, I know the stigma of rooting for a losing team. It sucks, but eventually you succumb. You rationalize. You gain sanity (that's saying something considering the minute amount that I actually have). You begin to enjoy the little things and latch onto any semblance of hope.

Spurs fans have been incredibly spoiled in this regard. We vividly remember the days when we absolutely expected Timmy to carry the team, when we expected exceptional defense every night, when we expected a championship every year (Damn you Derek Fisher and Dirk Nowitzki). We expected this because defense is consistent. Defense never slumps, it endures. With Timmy and a solid supporting cast anything was attainable. Anything.

Now? Not so much. Now I expect the unexpected. As the Spurs transition into a free-wheeling explosive offensive team, we have come to witness inconsistency at it's finest. You can't bank on Bruce Bowen making the opposing teams premier scorer miserable. You can't bank on TD to post 20-10's every night. Admittedly, it was a little unnerving to see the Spurs suddenly post the second best offensive rating (per Basketball Reference). Their defense, while strong enough to rank 11th in defensive rating, never felt quite the same. The Spurs were a mediocre defensive team and I didn't know what to do with myself. Should I embrace the new, young exciting Spurs or lament their fading defense? What the hell was going on here?

Although the Spurs are already a full year in their attempt to win with TD's declining skills, it's definitely not reassuring that we're No. 27 in defensive eFG% and No. 19 in defensive rating. It's alarming, really, and no championship caliber team can sport a defense so mediocre if they really want to contend. Somewhere, Steve Nash is raising his hand solemnly.

Yet, in this insane condensed NBA season, I'm finding myself more excited about my Spurs than ever before. I have no idea how Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph will perform from here. Over time, I've learned to accept these Spurs and their (hopefully not fatal) flaws. We can't defend as well as Pop would like (although I like what I see from Splitter, Green, Kawhi and Cory), we can't compete with any semi-reliable frontcourt and TD is not the same. The Spurs are not the same.

And that's OK. I've learned that inconsistency is fine. It's better than being consistently awful, right? We can still enjoy this season (we do have basketball to watch), warts and all.

That being said ... I can't guarantee that I won't be the first Spurs fan to yell at Matt Bonner for a missed defensive rotation.

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Comments

Well said. Thanks for posting. Also, why would you ever root for the Deadskins?

by Big50 on Jan 26, 2012 4:17 PM CST reply actions

Thank you for your reply. I feel my post wad a little too pessimistic and I’m holding out hope that Blair can grow 4 inches overnight and lose 20 pounds.

Regarding my Redskins fanhood, it was my dad’s decision. Naturally, I followed him and I’m cursed (sounds appropriate in this context) to root for the Redskins. I’m praying we don’t screw up. Again.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 26, 2012 4:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, I’m with you on the Blair growing. I somehow doubt we’ll be so lucky.

As a Cowboys fan, very little gives me more pleasure than watching your team struggle, but I have a feeling with a better QB y’all may just be on the upswing. Besides, I’m getting awfully tired of the Giants and Eagles (then again I’m always tired of those teams).

by Big50 on Jan 27, 2012 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

And I respectfully agree as well. I thoroughly enjoy watching the Cowgirls lose especially considering the never ending media hype when something inevitably goes wrong.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 9:20 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

My beloved Cowboys always manage to shit the bed when the chips are down, unfortunately :P Honestly, though, it gives me no joy to see the ’skins suffering as well—I actually respect that franchise. Unlike the one located in the City of Brotherly Shove.

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by Trey Felder on Jan 27, 2012 9:25 AM CST up reply actions

Well, I appreciate the respect. I wish I could say I respected the Cowgirls (sorry it’s a reflex) franchise as much as you respect the Redskins. I really appreciate it though. It’s just too hard considering all the shit I take from Cowgirls (can’t help it) fans every year.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

At least we can agree on roundball!

And welcome to the site, LWMS. Excellent first post.

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

Way to make an entrance with both the post and user name. I too am enjoying watching Pop play mix and match with the old farts and the young’uns.

...as we find to our astonishment that we can still function, and even thrive within the chase. - Alex Dewey

by CapHill on Jan 26, 2012 4:56 PM CST reply actions

After enduring Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley, Nazr Mohammad, Tony Massenburg for so many years, it’s refreshing to watch our young guys grow as basketball players. We’re not better, but it’s refreshing.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 26, 2012 5:03 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Out of curiosity, how did you find our site? And how long were you lurking before you eventually joined and posted?

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 12:19 PM CST up reply actions

I’ve been a loyal Spurs fan (most people I know would substitute “obsessive” instead of loyal but, hey, that’s there decision) since I was 5. I stumbled on PtR about two years ago because I was craving some new Spurs insight. Just recently, I made the conscious decision to start posting because I really wanted to see what people thought of my (usually awful) commentary.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks for delurking and providing us with your (not) awful commentary. :)

...as we find to our astonishment that we can still function, and even thrive within the chase. - Alex Dewey

by CapHill on Jan 27, 2012 2:29 PM CST up reply actions

I like the term delurking. (Awkward moment). Hopefully, I can become a valued member of PtR with some time.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

You’re there already!

In my class, everyone starts with a 100, you only get points off for egregious errors, and there’s always plenty of opportunities for extra credit to get your score back up.

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

In the Fin era (at least at the beginning until it got dragged out) and Nazr era, Spurs bigs weren’t that bad. And well, they won a championship…

Winter is coming

by grego21 on Jan 27, 2012 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

What about the Rasho era? He was the Blake Griffin of the Spurs. Well without the athletic ability. And charisma. And the hair. And without a Kia endorsement. And 20-10 ability. And ballhandling.

I digress.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

So, what you’re saying is that

He was ~~the Blake Griffin~~ of the Spurs

I can agree with that.

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

Rasho wasn’t that bad. honestly, him on the team right now would be a good thing with his abilities from back then. His shot fell off on the team, but he had size and played good position defense. Nazr though was a good trade. Too bad we couldn’t then flip him for Shane Battier or someone else from the Grizz, since Jerry West (at the time) was in love with Nazr.

Winter is coming

by grego21 on Jan 27, 2012 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

A very common sentiment, the excitement of new around here and I am with you LWM sucks. Very exciting time to be a Spurs fan. Not the same as 5 years ago when anything less than a championship was a huge disappointment but it’s sort of refreshing I guess. I can cheer for every game as a single entity and not with worry about seeding or what the Lakers or Pistons or any other team is doing that night.

by Manuwar on Jan 26, 2012 7:07 PM CST reply actions

It’s taken time to adjust my expectations. I knew it would eventually happen (Timmy declining, I mean) but now that this transition period is seemingly in effect, I’m just going to enjoy the ride.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 26, 2012 8:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Welcome, LWM sucks! (love the username btw!)

by Trey Felder on Jan 26, 2012 9:29 PM CST reply actions

Thanks!

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 26, 2012 11:39 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

A real fan of a team will always be there, even when his team sucks. When Duncan and Manu finally retire and the spurs start to miss the playoffs, the real fans will still be there, while the bandwagoners jump off.

"Kevin Garnett once described defending Tim Duncan as "trying to guard a tree"

by Chilai on Jan 27, 2012 2:39 AM CST reply actions

Ideally, PATFO are masterful enough to prevent us from becoming a small team with nowhere to go. Either way, I know I’ll be there.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 9:18 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Honestly, most of the bandwagon should have left by now. Spurs chances at a ring are next to zero unless everything goes absolutely perfect.

Winter is coming

by grego21 on Jan 27, 2012 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

I don’t necessarily agree. I feel that if our young guys develop fully and we get lucky (it would be really nice to face a 1st round opponent without two solid bigs for a change), we can make a run. Don’t get me wrong, I think the likes of OKC, Chicago and Miami are going to be tough to topple. But that’s why fanatics will always be eternal optimists.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

I’m talking about bandwagon fans…. Yes, Spurs can win, but it will take a lot. “If” is a big word, especially for a short season. Unless they can learn the defense quick enough and gain the respect from refs, it’ll be tough for them to be what they could be in 2-3 years…

I’m an optimist. I think the Manu injury is a slight blessing in terms of timing and what it does to the team. The TJ one, not so much (since he’s new to the team)..

Winter is coming

by grego21 on Jan 27, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

I kind of see where you come from when you say Manu’s injury was a blessing. Well. Sorta. I guess. As you can tell from my username, I think LWM sucks. It has, however, opened up the door for Pop to experiment with Green, Kawhi, Joseph and Splitter which could make our rotation that much more dynamic when Manu is healthy. So that’s a positive. The whole six weeks thing, though, isn’t a good thing. He was playing at an MVP level (small sample size aside) before his unfortunate injury.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

I think LWM sucks.

Oh, and here I was thinking that your name was Larry Wilberforce Matthews, and you just had no self esteem to speak of. =]

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

Did I not mention my name was also Larry Wilberforce Matthews in my post?

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 8:22 PM CST up reply actions

No.

No you didn’t.

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

I’m sorry for the confusion. How dare I miss that pertinent info.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 9:42 PM CST up reply actions

Well, you can’t edit comments, but you CAN edit posts!

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 31, 2012 3:28 AM CST up reply actions

Hey, I’ll take a slim chance at a ring over NO chance and rebuilding.

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly. I will not let go of any shred of hope as long as I see No. 21, No. 20 and No. 9 donning the Silver and Black. And that Coach Pop guy seems like a genius too.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

Which Coach Pop guy is that?

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

What I meant to say is for bandwagon fans, the door has already been opened…

Winter is coming

by grego21 on Jan 27, 2012 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

I see. For those people, I think the door closed in ’08.

by The Big Fundamental on Jan 27, 2012 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

I gues I should have said closed. I guess opened to leave… hmmm..

Winter is coming

by grego21 on Jan 27, 2012 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

Keep your head up, grego. You’ll get there. =]

The 2012 season: the Spurs have a chance, but only if Manu can be Manu in the playoffs. - CapHill
Pounding the Rock

by J.R. Wilco on Jan 27, 2012 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

I think there are still some bandwagoners left, specially after what the Mavs acomplished last season. After all, we won 61 games last season. Bandwagoners love 60+ win regular seasons

"Kevin Garnett once described defending Tim Duncan as "trying to guard a tree"

by Chilai on Jan 27, 2012 6:29 PM CST up reply actions