Gameday Thread: Spurs at Hornets

[Phreak50]

Offensive rebounds are not really a part of the modern game. Stats have shown it is more beneficial for players to get back on D rather than risk not by going for the rebound.

In saying that, having two players who mostly live out in the high post isn't always working with them both on the floor and while LMA is a very good shooter, he is actually quite decent down low for often refuses to bump and bruise down low.

[Nolan]

A nice gut-it-out win, but I must concur that the last handful of possessions had more to do with things going our way than it did with brilliant execution.

Still, we've got some great momentum going and getting this W against a quality team in their place is always good for a confidence surge.

Yeah gotta agree with you on that. If it wasn't for a couple of mishandles by Kemba this one could of gone the other way. But in the end a win is a win and we just executed better down the stretch, not saying we executed well but we did better than the Hornets and in the end that's all that counts.

The good:
-Kawhi was amazing on both ends last night, MVP form. Loved the job he did on Kemba, things kind of fell apart for us in the 4th when the Hornets started running Kemba through double screens and Kawhi started getting isolated on the opposite side of the floor (this was a brilliant move by Clifford though).
-Danny looks to be back. Shot the ball with confidence and shot the ball well. Made some huge plays defensively as well.
-The bench minus Manu. Mills was great as always, Lee's huge block really shifted the momentum our way and Bertans had his best game as a Spur.

The bad:
-Hated the way we tried to crash the offensive glass late in the game. There was no reason for Danny to be crashing he should of running back, we can't be left with Pau and Tony being the only two guys defending (if you can call what they do defending) in transition because well that's just not going to end well for us and it didn't.
-The defense. Pops must be losing his mind over this. At times we looked pretty damn solid but man do things fall apart quickly. We need Dedmon back and we need him playing majorish minutes.
-Tony. I know he technically had a good game (statistically) but man did he make some questionable decisions down the stretch. He could of sunk us very easily. Also I still don't understand why he refuses to pass to Kawhi, I feel like has been a thing for too long and it has to stop.

[Nolan]

Quick thoughts;

- Kawhi great again and then wasted at times thanks to Parker not looking for him
- Bertans can play and I've said it a few times this year that he is also trying on defended with his blocks
- Glad Anderson is out of the rotation
- Manu really is done
- Although Simmons hasn't been scoring lately he has actually looked a lot more intelligent and unselfish, making good decisions and finding others
- our team defends is horrible

I cannot wait until Bertans finally gets comfortable. Kids going to be a monster off the bench for us.

[Nolan]

Offensive rebounds are not really a part of the modern game. Stats have shown it is more beneficial for players to get back on D rather than risk not by going for the rebound.

In saying that, having two players who mostly live out in the high post isn't always working with them both on the floor and while LMA is a very good shooter, he is actually quite decent down low for often refuses to bump and bruise down low.

Totally agree. I'm fine with LMA crashing, he's actually quite good at getting them and even if doesn't he at least makes it difficult of the opposing team.

I know this slightly off topic but one thing that really frustrates me about LMA is his inability to finish through minor contact. He should of had two or three and 1's in this one. But it seems like as soon as he hears the whistle he gives up on finishing.

[imagump1313]

-Tony. I know he technically had a good game (statistically) but man did he make some questionable decisions down the stretch. He could of sunk us very easily. Also I still don't understand why he refuses to pass to Kawhi, I feel like has been a thing for too long and it has to stop.

I'm pretty sure this is by design. Parker absolutely has to be a threat offensively for us to be effective. I know a lot of people hate on him but we have to have a guard that can do something offensively other than shoot a spot up three. Unfortunately he is the only option we have that can penetrate and score moving twoard the basket.

I don't see Parker having some kind of hate twoard Kawhi. To me it looks as if coaches are insisting that he be aggresive offensively to open up things for everyone else.

Its not a coincidence that when Parker plays decent we usually beat everyone. The problem is we have no other options in his skill set so we are dependant upon an older guy who is going to break down sooner or later.

[Nolan]

-Tony. I know he technically had a good game (statistically) but man did he make some questionable decisions down the stretch. He could of sunk us very easily. Also I still don't understand why he refuses to pass to Kawhi, I feel like has been a thing for too long and it has to stop.

I'm pretty sure this is by design. Parker absolutely has to be a threat offensively for us to be effective. I know a lot of people hate on him but we have to have a guard that can do something offensively other than shoot a spot up three. Unfortunately he is the only option we have that can penetrate and score moving twoard the basket.

I don't see Parker having some kind of hate twoard Kawhi. To me it looks as if coaches are insisting that he be aggresive offensively to open up things for everyone else.

Its not a coincidence that when Parker plays decent we usually beat everyone. The problem is we have no other options in his skill set so we are dependant upon an older guy who is going to break down sooner or later.

I do agree that he has to play that style to be effect and I do agree that him playing well is a huge key to our success. But he's been overplaying his role at times this year and pushing things just a little too far.

Maybe I'm just seeing something that isn't there with Kawhi and Tony. But Tony did look off a wide open Kawhi twice in the last minute and half of the game. Which to me is unacceptable, not only is Kawhi our best scorer but he was killing it last night. He should be getting those touches in crunch time.

Tony's aggression does open things up but it's all pointless if the ball doesn't end up in the hands of guys that he's supposed to be clearing space for.

[Phreak50]

I can't explain Parker not passing or not seeing open Kawhi.

It's concerning.

[imagump1313]

-Tony. I know he technically had a good game (statistically) but man did he make some questionable decisions down the stretch. He could of sunk us very easily. Also I still don't understand why he refuses to pass to Kawhi, I feel like has been a thing for too long and it has to stop.

I'm pretty sure this is by design. Parker absolutely has to be a threat offensively for us to be effective. I know a lot of people hate on him but we have to have a guard that can do something offensively other than shoot a spot up three. Unfortunately he is the only option we have that can penetrate and score moving twoard the basket.

I don't see Parker having some kind of hate twoard Kawhi. To me it looks as if coaches are insisting that he be aggresive offensively to open up things for everyone else.

Its not a coincidence that when Parker plays decent we usually beat everyone. The problem is we have no other options in his skill set so we are dependant upon an older guy who is going to break down sooner or later.

I do agree that he has to play that style to be effect and I do agree that him playing well is a huge key to our success. But he's been overplaying his role at times this year and pushing things just a little too far.

Maybe I'm just seeing something that isn't there with Kawhi and Tony. But Tony did look off a wide open Kawhi twice in the last minute and half of the game. Which to me is unacceptable, not only is Kawhi our best scorer but he was killing it last night. He should be getting those touches in crunch time.

Tony's aggression does open things up but it's all pointless if the ball doesn't end up in the hands of guys that he's supposed to be clearing space for.

This is where I think he is struggling. I think Parker is being told to be aggressive, aggressive, aggressive and he is playing like that means shoot, shoot, shoot instead of creating and dishing it to someone with a better shot. I don't think it has anything to do with him being a ball hog or a dislike for Kawhi.

[Nolan]

This is where I think he is struggling. I think Parker is being told to be aggressive, aggressive, aggressive and he is playing like that means shoot, shoot, shoot instead of creating and dishing it to someone with a better shot. I don't think it has anything to do with him being a ball hog or a dislike for Kawhi.

I can buy that, it's tough to tell what the issue is. I feel like a part it may also be that he's not quite ready to hand the reins over yet.

[popfan]

I agree with imagump1313 that Tony isn't a ball hog or disliking of Kawhi. I also agree with Nolan that Tony isn't ready to hand over the reins yet.

We're in the post-Duncan era. Duncan was the leader of the team in many ways. Who's the leader now? Rhetorically, I ask -- is there a leadership vacuum on the Spurs?

The deficiencies that I perceive in Kawhi's leadership are on and off the court. On the court, while it's evident that Kawhi's summer research into the game's of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant (MJ-KB) has impressively transformed his offensive game, Kawhi is showing negative tendencies of a dominant scorer. He's averaging just 3 assists per game, 2.5 less than MJ in his prime. At times, watching Kawhi and Carmelo play on League Pass feels redundant. Both can shoot quickly, shoot often when cold, and not pass. I've seen games where LMA looks bored while Kawhi wears his Superman cape. Will such tendencies translate into trust and chemistry for a Spurs 2016-17 championship?

Off the court, Kawhi doesn't seem to have a game. He's quiet. He seems to lack close friendships. He's less sociable than Duncan, which is saying something. He's lacks MJ's outgoing personality that led him to obsessively golf and gamble with friends. He's lacks the narcissistic charisma of Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas of the 80's. He lacks the ruthlessness of of MJ, KB, MJ and IT; these guys were ruthless with their teammates -- just ask Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Stacy King, George Gervin, Shaq O'Neal or Dwight Howard. This is what the videos of MJ-KB don't necessarily reveal. IMHO, this is the next step for Kawhi -- becoming a more assertive, off-court team leader.

The deficiencies that I perceive in Tony we all know at some level. Ambition and betrayal. Married Eva, slept with teammate's wife, two divorces follow, and the dismissal of an innocent teammate. Big time betrayal. Threw the Spurs under the bus in 2011 while negotiating a contract extension by publicly questioning if the Spurs could win another title. Pop must have thought "Ouch!" So when Tony declines to pass to an open Kawhi in 2016, is he doing so because he's a wily veteran & leader or because he wants to be the team leader, pandering to new vets like LMA and Gasol. Is Tony avoiding Kawhi in the half court for the right reasons or for the wrong reasons?

I believe that Kawhi's development into a 2-way dominant player can and will happen. It's happening now. But it will take more time, more than a season. Meanwhile Tony has perspective, experience and ability. Tony wants a championship now. So both can be leaders on this team in the absence of Duncan in 2016-17. Both need to complete a process in which one eventually becomes the team leader under Pop's good guidance. Kawhi needs to push Tony in the waning years of Tony's career. And Tony needs to push Kawhi to take the reigns of the team rather than inheriting them from Pop. In the end, I believe they need each other to win another championship, to develop the trusting chemistry that the Cavs enjoy today.

Tony was once quoted:

"When there is talk about the best point guards, sometimes they don't talk about me. But that's not my main motivation. They can talk about Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Chris Paul. I still have the most rings."

Long post but it's been on my mind throughout the week. BTW - I missed the Hornets game so I didn't catch Tony's transgressions.

This is where I think he is struggling. I think Parker is being told to be aggressive, aggressive, aggressive and he is playing like that means shoot, shoot, shoot instead of creating and dishing it to someone with a better shot. I don't think it has anything to do with him being a ball hog or a dislike for Kawhi.

I can buy that, it's tough to tell what the issue is. I feel like a part it may also be that he's not quite ready to hand the reins over yet.