what do the Spurs have to do?..

[HarlemHeat37]

definitely hoping Barry plays well when he returns..

if Ime could consistently make shots, we wouldn't even need to play Finley..but Udoka is inconsistent with his shot..

Tony Parker needs to start playing more like a PG..I'm seeing too much Steve Francis in him, where he's just overdribbling and taking a bad shot at the end of the shot clock..

Duncan with 8 shots against Boston is inexcusable..

like others said, the seed doesn't really matter in this year's West..as long as you get in..

[Donald Kaufman]

For the love of god... bench Finely... he sucks. He has lost it.

Amen to that.

[SD2042]

I just hope the Spurs get it together before the playoffs begin in April. Considering the fact that 10 teams are competing for the playoffs. Right now isn't a good time for the Spurs to coast and get conplacant on the floor. Although Barry is due back on the 21st. If the Spurs don't turn things around. They may find themselves in the rearview mirror of history.

[aikgtd]

I think they only need to change 1 thing. DEFENSE. Their defense has not been what they are known for. They have really been slacking and it seems they are not putting as much effort into it anymore. I also hope in this off season we pick up some young, fresh, athletic players.

[Donald Kaufman]

I just hope the Spurs get it together before the playoffs begin in April. Considering the fact that 10 teams are competing for the playoffs. Right now isn't a good time for the Spurs to coast and get conplacant on the floor. Although Barry is due back on the 21st. If the Spurs don't turn things around. They may find themselves in the rearview mirror of history.

Bones returning to the rotation will be a big key for us, I think. Fin has sucked big time and Barry's shooting and playmaking ability are sorely needed for us now.

[Blame Rasho]

Bones returning to the rotation will be a big key for us, I think. Fin has sucked big time and Barry's shooting and playmaking ability are sorely needed for us now.

I think most underrate him but if he takes always the touches from Fin... I think that will have a big impact on how our team operates and flows. Fin should just be a set shooter like Bowen is on the corner and that is it.

[co_laper]

I really don't buy the talks that seeding is not important this year. When you talk about 2 teams that are evenly matched, homecourt is the deciding factor. You all listen about how Detroit felt the reason they didn't win in 2005 was because they didn't have homecourt. I would say they're right.

Do i like our chances if we don't have homecourt in any series in the playoffs? No. Right now, considering the seedings and everything else, I'm putting my money on Lakers vs Celtics. I really don't feel we have as good a chance to win it all this year compared to last year or heck.. a month ago.

[Ballings7]

Not counting Finley out yet, because he's played better and more consistent than he has in this stretch on the season. Also I think he'll be better in the playoffs.

Barry back with some games under him will be very nice, regardless

[mkot]

Kenny Smith's column on champs...

1. Style of play: A team should have a defined style. Are they a halfcourt team or a fastbreak team? Are they defensive oriented?A team needs a defined style, so when things aren

[Ballings7]

Like has been mentioned, the team just has to play harder and more focused to get out of this. I think this bad stretch of games is probably going to be a wake-up call for the rest of the season.

I could care less about where we end up in the seedings. We can win on the road and take care of business at home.

Yeah, I feel similar.

For the love of god... bench Finely... he sucks. He has lost it.

I don't know if he'll be benched, but I think, a benching for a period of time might just get re-focus him. If not just playing better than he has been in his slump.

An inside presence? Who on the Pistons was that inside presence? Sheed? He's got the inside game but isn't a traditional low post player that could rebound, block shot, and dominate the paint. And is Luc Longley, who's their leading shotblocker at just over 1bpg, that inside presence for those last 3 Bulls teams?

Obviously not traditional, but Dennis Rodman was an inside presence as a great team-player on both ends (offensively with his passing and finishing ability). Of course especially defensively. Similar with Ben Wallace with Detroit, and while not big men, you had Jordan and Pippen with their interior ability. Rasheed and Ben complemented eachother well, and were like a big-time star split in two.

As well as the bad boy Pistons, they didn't have that star big man inside, but had great versatility, depth, and familiarity as a whole. Strong, stellar wing play led by Isiah and Dumars, along with Aguirre and VJ. And then a diverse group of various front-court players, Laimbeer, Mahorn, Edwards, Rodman, Salley. Aguirre and Edwards being their offensive post-presences, and slashing ability from the perimeter players.

The 04 Pistons were actually similar to the late 80s teams, just not as good overall.

Typically you do need a high-level interior big man, but obviously the Pistons and Bulls are exceptions with the make-up in ability they had. Aside from the chemistry those teams had.

I think what Kenny was getting at was from a general stand-point. Same thing with needing a stand-out PG, of course the triangle system with Jordan, Pippen, Kukoc not requiring one. Like-wise for the Shaq/Kobe Lakers with the point-role player, in Kobe/Shaq's passing. While others chipped in setting people up, and moved the ball.

[Rique]

Honestly, I still believe Finley has something left in the tank. However he does need a lil kick in the rear to get him going. I feel that benching him for a few games will get him to refocus a bit. It's basically a lil sign from Pop saying hey, we believe in you but you need to give us your 110% effort. Quite frankly I don't feel you are giving us that right now. Make him earn his starting spot is what I want.

[HarlemHeat37]

like I've been saying all year, Finley is just a set shooter..he's actually a great set 3-point shooter..we should be able to get our shooters open looks with 3 stars that can break down the D..

[Blame Rasho]

Quick fact

We are only 2 games behind from First....

The season isn't lost...

[HarlemHeat37]

Quick fact

We are only 2 games behind from First....

The season isn't lost...

while that is true, don't you agree we should be concerned with how the team has been playing? I'm not concerned about where we rank, but more concerned about how we've lost 4 in a row, and 6 out of 7..including a game where we were up 22 points!!! and 9 in the 4th, albeit to the best team in the NBA..

[Blame Rasho]

-= original quote snipped =-



while that is true, don't you agree we should be concerned with how the team has been playing? I'm not concerned about where we rank, but more concerned about how we've lost 4 in a row, and 6 out of 7..including a game where we were up 22 points!!! and 9 in the 4th, albeit to the best team in the NBA..

Yeah we should be concerned but I have faith in our team and you can I know that Pop will make the adjustments after the last game.

[Rique]

-= original quote snipped =-



while that is true, don't you agree we should be concerned with how the team has been playing? I'm not concerned about where we rank, but more concerned about how we've lost 4 in a row, and 6 out of 7..including a game where we were up 22 points!!! and 9 in the 4th, albeit to the best team in the NBA..

I agree with this. The offense isn't flowing smoothly, the passing isn't there. These guys usually do a great job of passing the ball around. RIght now I'm not seeing that. I'm seeing more one on one attempts with maybe one or two passes. Before there were 5 -10 passes per possesion. The defensive rotations aren't quite there as well. The guys are missing rotations and what is bothering me is that they look at each other like someone else missed their rotation. Don't try to blame this on someone else. This is a team. Everyone needs to put some blame on themselves. Either way, I feel the Spurs turning it around. Manu just wrote an article about this in Spanish and it was translated by a guy over on spurstalk. I'll make it into a thread. Decent read.

[Ballings7]

I like the rest of the season schedule

[Donald Kaufman]

I like the rest of the season schedule

@ Bulls
vs Kings (btb)
@ Mavs
@ Magic
vs Clips (btb)
vs Rockets
vs Rockets
vs W's
@ Jazz
@ Blazers
vs Suns
vs Sonics
@ Lakers
@ Kings (btb)
vs Jazz

I'm not so fond of it myself. We need to get W's against the good teams - Lakers, Rockets, Jazz.

[Ballings7]

I think we'll do respectably in those games, above .500