Nuggets over Spurs

[Reality]

I don't know what that accomplished, other then give back to Dallas and Detroit what the Spurs had worked their arses off to achieve.

Now with a 5-10 record on back to backers, Popvitch stays in cementhead mode and plays Dunkar, GNob and Parker more minutes then anyone.  Spurs get outrebounded by 31.  Thirty one.

With Denver in cheapshot mode and several times looking like they might have administered season ending injuries.

Barry, Rasho and SuperFabbs play a combined 11 minutes.
Bruce Bowen gets benched in the 4th so after watching the Spurs come back from 18 down to tie, we can watch Marsh'Mello Anthony go off for 10 points on pourous Bricks Finley.

Well the Spurs 25 of last 30 games is still a beautiful run.  Last night was pointless CementHead Pop.

[Guest_Randy]

You know this whole "back to back" struggle for the Spurs is quite interesting.  While I can understand that TD is not healthy and struggling in back-to-backs, why is the rest of the team struggling?  Manu has gotten time off (if you check his stats, they don't really seem to reflect a problem with back-to-backs -- down in some categories, up in others).

However, look at this:
   Horry is 36
   Barry is 35
   Finley and Bowen are 33
   Fabs is 31
   TD and Rasho are both 30
   Manu and Nazr are 29
   Parker and Udrih are both 24

So this squad is up there in years -- of course, a healthy TD makes all the difference.  

However, notice this:
  TD in back to backs:  40% fg%;  9 reb;  15 ppg
  TD 1 to 2 days rest:  51% fg%;  11.5 to 12.8 reb;  20-22 ppg

But look at this as well:
  Parker in back to backs:   52% fg%;  5.1 ass;  17 ppg
  Parker 1-2 days rest:       53-56% fg%;  6 ass;  19 ppg
  Parker 3+ days rest:        60% fg%;  6.8 ass;   23 ppg

Parker has had a GREAT year this year -- he has really helped open the floor with his dribble penetration (he has flourished when coaches got him to give up 3 point shooting and just work on driving the ball).  



Anyway, only comment about last nights game -- the ONLY player for the Spurs who had more than THREE rebounds was TD (who had 6).  

Fabs - did absolutely NOTHING in 3 minutes.
Rasho - did absolutely NOTHING in 4 minutes.
Guess Reality would have played them both 10-15 minutes rather than play somebody who might do something, huh?

However, nobody else rebounded the ball well either.  The Spurs just didn't have any energy -- as an entire squad!

However, look at this as well:
  Nuggets:  +12 points; +21 reb; + 1 made ft (Spurs shot 62% ft%); +5.4 fg%;    
                      +9% 3pt%;  -5 in TO's (the only category the Spurs won
  Question:  How did the Spurs manage to only lose by 12?  When the Nuggets shot a better fg%; better 3 pt%; had 5 less TO's, made one more ft; and had a TWENTY-ONE rebound advantage!  How did they only win by 12?  

[Joe Vancil]

I watched the end of that game.  I was disgusted by what I saw from the Spurs.

"Bricks" Finley nor Bruce Bowen nor God Almighty is going to stop a running fast-break.  The Spurs were slow and lethargic.  Their offense was stagnant.  They played flat-footed, as was well demonstrated by Tim Duncan, who allowed Marcus Camby to go up over him and dunk in an offensive rebound.

Duncan looked *AWFUL*.  He had Camby on his back, but then just stood there instead of clearing Camby out.  He went with reaching shots instead of pulling up.  He tried to play guard in the lane instead of center.  And I'm not even going to talk about his free throw shooting.

The Spurs are playing in "flip-the-switch" mode, and it's going to come back to haunt them.

Tony Parker can play in the lane all he wants, but unless someone is rotating to the top to provide the floor balance necessary to prevent transition baskets, beating the Spurs simply becomes a question of rebounding and running.  Given that that style fits Phoenix, Dallas, and Denver quite well, and given that those three teams occupy the other top three seeds in the west, that's not a good sign for San An.

Let's see how good San An's defense looks when it's on the other end of the court.

 

[guest-koast]

Didn't catch the game but outrebounded by 31?!?!  :puke:

There is no excuse for that whatsoever.  Fatique or back-to-back still does not justify being slaughtered on the glass like that.

[Reality]

Of course when translated with proper math it means the Spurs are 49-5[/size] when games are not back to back.

The playoffs will include at least one day off in between games.
Plus if Pops head can be excavated from his occasional but nonetheless regular arse parking spot, it should all be good.  

Adding to the great rest record is SuperFabs being inserted into the playoff mix.  Thus the combo of proper rest with SuperFabbs?  Spurs opponents are the ones who should be afraid.  Very afraid.