Why are we playing so effectively this year?

[wizardg]

When I see our roster this year I see basically the same players as last year. So why are we that much better?

I'll tell you some of what I se and think and please share your thoughts with me.

Last year I feel Pop made a mistake starting the season. Parker Bogans Jefferson at the perimeter and bringing Manu off the bench. Jeff was new and this lineup put more pressur on him to score than it does now playing with Manu. And also I think it takes wear and tear off Manu because Now we have a Big 3 and a 1/2.

Other than that the REd Rocket is smoking from 3. Even though we were killing while he was out. Toni is sharp as a ginsui knife But Tim is coasting.

Splitter hasn't done much nor has Blair. Last night Dark and Love had 55 pts and 35 rebs against us and we won. What gives why are we so effective?

[Frankie23]

Vet team, healthy and they know each other and th system.

We upgrade from Mason JR, Bogans and Mahinmi to Neal, Anderson and Splitter.

[Nolan]

We went away from the half court sets on offense and we're pushing the ball and uping the pace on offense. I think that's been the biggest change in our style of play this year and its been working well for us.

[Donald Kaufman]

We're at our healthiest and we've never had this depth of talent on any of TD's teams.

[TAI8]

We're at our healthiest and we've never had this depth of talent on any of
TD's teams.

Yup, if I recall correctly we weren't exactly healthy to start off the season this time last year.

[jaypo]

Because Obi Wan Ginobili is really a Jedi.

[Blame Rasho]

Pop has really let the guys play and up and down style. Our pace has increased dramatically. Jefferson has his 2nd year in his belt and most Spur players see a good jump in efficiency... ala Brent Barry.

We are also most importantly.... healthy

[TheRightAnswer]

Even if the Spurs were healthy last year, they wouldn't have had the success that they've had so far this year. If Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan played like they are now at the beginning of last year, they would've been good, and probably would've won a respectable numer of games--that's just how good those three players are--but what really seperates this year from last year is RJ. As we saw against the Hornets, when RJ plays well--is hitting the open three, getting to hole, and playing great defense--this team is good enough to beat the Hornets by 15 (on the flipside, when RJ reverts back to his old form, the Spurs lose to the Mavs by 10 at home).

This Spurs team can't beat LA right now, but down the road, I definitely think it's a possibility. The key for the Spurs to be able to legitamately have a shot at beating LA is Splitter. Being on a great team, he won't have numbers that jump out of the stat sheet, but if he's able to bring to the Spurs kind of what Kendric Perkins brings to the Celtics--great interior defense while giving you 8-9 ppg--the Spurs would have a chance against LA. I also think the Spurs need one more guy off the bench to hit threes and play defense. Neal doesn't bring it on a consistent enough basis; maybe Anderson is that guy.

[FOCUS2010]

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.

[FOCUS2010]

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/s ... ef:nbahpt1

[SApuro_]

Spurs have turned into a deep team. TD's mins are way down. Now we just need to lower Manu's mins by a nose so he is all saved up for the playoffs.

[FOCUS2010]

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/s ... ef:nbahpt1
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXLhcOx0B2U[/youtube]
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1YchiFv-5M&feature=related[/youtube]

[wizardg]

The key for the Spurs to be able to legitamately have a shot at beating LA is Splitter. Being on a great team, he won't have numbers that jump out of the stat sheet, but if he's able to bring to the Spurs kind of what Kendric Perkins brings to the Celtics--great interior defense while giving you 8-9 ppg--the Spurs would have a chance against LA. I also think the Spurs need one more guy off the bench to hit threes and play defense. Neal doesn't bring it on a consistent enough basis; maybe Anderson is that guy.

Jefferson is Jefferson. I'm convinced now that Pop bungled the Jefferson addition and tried to turn him into something he wasn't. Putting Bogans next to Jefferson made RJ have to be a creator/Manu lite because we only had 3 scorers on the court=TP, TD, and RJ. That's not RJs game. Typically when Manu came in RJeff would go out so they hardly played together the first two thirds of the season.
By starting TP, MG, RJ, TD and whoever Pop has put RJ in a position to succeed. Pop did use that lineup in the playoff and we beat Dallas like that but when Manu's nose was broken we were done.

Offense has always been Pops weakness.

I agree Splitter is the key. I think we have the best perimeter play in the league thus far. And we have TD who is coasting, even though he had a trip-dub last night. LOL. Our biggest problem is what I call the other big. The guy who plays next to Tim and the two who play when Tim rests or God forbid he get in foul trouble during the playoffs.


Splitter, Blair, Red Rocket, Dyse vs Bynum and Odom.


Splitter has been disappointing to me. Especially after giving Scola to the Rockets to keep Splitter. The analogy that comes to mind is your buddy tells you about his girlfriends girlfriend from different city that he want you to meet. You here about her for 4 years and when she finally comes ... she's not ugly but she's not a knockout. She's good looking but not gorgeous, or the bomb.


From what I've seen I'd trade Splitter for Verajao in a heart beat.

After seeing the Suns Zone the Lakers bigs successfully for 2 games I think that is an explorable option. Without the zone the Suns prob get swept even though Amare did emasculate Gasol in the game 3. But to zone the Lakers you need lots of depth and energy. Anyway right now all I want is Health and a top 2 seed.

[Frankie23]

1- It wasn't Scola or Splitter. Spurs chose Oberto over Scola cause he was a center to play next to Tim, and he played better D than Luis. I think Spurs didn't want to play Tim as a center, so they bring Oberto and trade Scola cause Luis was coming to the NBA. Scola was known about his footwork in the post, but he develops a lot his jumper and FT's.
2- Tiago Splitter>>Varejao. It's only 17 games w/o preseason. But he's more talented, younger. You can't blame Splitter for what media sayd about him before.

I think he would be making a bigger impact if he plays more minutes and if George Hill knows how to play pick and roll..

[rocopc]

I think he would be making a bigger impact if he plays more minutes and if George Hill knows how to play pick and roll..

Same thing with Blair, I think in this stage of the season Splitter and Blair need to play more with Hill and George need to learn how to feed them the right way for each one.

[co_laper]

Huh? I don't recall that was the reason we trade Scola.

[Nolan]

Huh? I don't recall that was the reason we trade Scola.

Ya I don't remember that either. I thought we dealt Scola because he was asking for too much money?

[inquisitive]

Does Splitter have a consistent 10-12 ft jumper?

[Nolan]

Does Splitter have a consistent 10-12 ft jumper?

Doesn't seem like it.

[Hayabusa]

Team chemistry