Spurs fans where are you?

[westkoast]

You guys have been MIA and have not been talking about the Spurs much.  Spursx3's excuse is he plays Modern Warfare 2 on XBOX too much im sure.  Lurker I assume has been busy because of end of fiscal for many companies.  What's the deal?

- Spurs are currently ranked 3rd by Hollingers Power Rankings, 5th based on Marc Stein (who I swear mainly goes off record)

- Only Dallas, LA, Boston, and Cleveland have less losses currently

And it looks like the defensive out there has been slipping.  I can't remember the last time the Spurs were not in the top 10 in defense.  Has that ever happened since Duncan has suited up for them?

Any concerns?  I know the Spurs tend to use Nov-Feb more like a warm up lap than battling for top spots but is there anything out there you guys think should be changed?

[jn]

Also, whatever happened to 101? 

[Lurker]

I have been lurking, of course.  But my firm went through a merger effective 1/1 and we moved offices in the middle of Dec.  Then my wife & I spent New Year's in New Orleans.

I will try to post more about the Spurs in the next couple days.  In short their defense has been improving and Pop has started to tighten his rotation.  The concern at this point is their record against good teams.  They have been in the games but seem to falter down the stretch.  Turnovers have been high but are slowly coming down.  Big tests coming in the next week:  Dallas (1-1 this year) comes to town and then the Lakers (first game).

[westkoast]

Also, whatever happened to 101? 

Tried to email 101 a few months back but did not get a reply.  No bounce back either.  The email account is still active but I don't know if 101 is checking it anymore.

[westkoast]

I have been lurking, of course.  But my firm went through a merger effective 1/1 and we moved offices in the middle of Dec.  Then my wife & I spent New Year's in New Orleans.

I will try to post more about the Spurs in the next couple days.  In short their defense has been improving and Pop has started to tighten his rotation.  The concern at this point is their record against good teams.  They have been in the games but seem to falter down the stretch.  Turnovers have been high but are slowly coming down.  Big tests coming in the next week:  Dallas (1-1 this year) comes to town and then the Lakers (first game).

I'll be in New Orleans in 2 weeks!

Have the Spurs ever been out of the top 10 in defense in the league since Duncan showed up?  I wanted to say 'They never slipped that low' but didn't want to be wrong.

[Reality]

Yes come back 101 and Xs3 and we can keep turning Laker threads into Spurs threads. 

[jn]

This seems like a good time to mention that I will be off the board for a coupleweeks while I'm in Hawaii.

And by mention I mean gloat.  

[westkoast]

Yes come back 101 and Xs3 and we can keep turning Laker threads into Spurs threads. 

Why would you need to turn Laker threads into Spurs threads when YOU make the most Laker threads out of anyone?  Why not just make Spurs threads yourself lol  Maybe you meant turn Spurs threads into Laker threads?  Once again, instead of discussing your supposed favorite team, you wanted to bring up THE LAKERS in a SPURS thread.

[ziggy]

This seems like a good time to mention that I will be off the board for a couple weeks while I'm in Hawaii.

And by mention I mean gloat.  

Where will you be staying, which island?  Got any big plans or are you just going to sleep on the beach so you can surf all day?

[Lurker]

I'll be in New Orleans in 2 weeks!

Have the Spurs ever been out of the top 10 in defense in the league since Duncan showed up?  I wanted to say 'They never slipped that low' but didn't want to be wrong.

Not sure where you are getting the outside the top ten defensively.

Per efficiency ratings they are 7th.  By scoring defense they are 5th.  By defensive fg% they are 10th.  By scoring differential they are tied for 4th.

Have a great time in the Big Easy!

[jn]

zig I will be on Oahu most of the time, though I plan to spend a few days either on Kauai or the Big Island.  I'm lucky in that I will be staying with my Aunt and Uncle who live just 3 blocks off Lanikai beach.   Great location plus they're great people PLUS he's ex military so we'll be able to get discounts. Some good friends of mine will be in Honolulu at the same time visiting family so I'll have some other excellent guides. 

I don't know how winter has been out your way but I will be very glad to step outside and not have to worry about slipping and falling or having my car slide through an intersection.  This whole state is an ice sheet right now.

[westkoast]

I'll be in New Orleans in 2 weeks!

Have the Spurs ever been out of the top 10 in defense in the league since Duncan showed up?  I wanted to say 'They never slipped that low' but didn't want to be wrong.

Not sure where you are getting the outside the top ten defensively.

Per efficiency ratings they are 7th.  By scoring defense they are 5th.  By defensive fg% they are 10th.  By scoring differential they are tied for 4th.

Have a great time in the Big Easy!

From here  http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable1.html

1
   L.A. Lakers
35
45.25
43.22
+2.02
5.22
4.51
+0.71
7.97
7.25
+0.71

2
   Chicago
33
45.03
42.45
+2.57
6.18
6.06
+0.12
6.63
7.57
-0.94

3
   Minnesota
36
44.00
43.50
+0.50
3.44
5.88
-2.44
7.55
8.75
-1.19

4
   Memphis
34
43.76
38.50
+5.26
4.47
5.61
-1.14
7.52
7.73
-0.20

5
   Dallas
35
43.54
43.25
+0.28
6.05
4.00
+2.05
7.40
7.20
+0.20

6
   Orlando
35
43.34
40.77
+2.57
5.25
3.48
+1.77
6.62
7.20
-0.57

7
   Oklahoma City
35
42.88
41.00
+1.88
5.85
4.71
+1.14
7.68
7.82
-0.14

8
   Indiana
34
42.67
45.82
-3.14
5.88
5.29
+0.58
6.70
8.76
-2.05

9
   Milwaukee
32
42.56
43.93
-1.37
4.21
5.59
-1.37
6.75
7.43
-0.68

10
   Sacramento
34
42.50
42.05
+0.44
4.41
5.44
-1.02
7.05
7.20
-0.14

11
   Cleveland
37
42.16
38.35
+3.81
5.75
4.13
+1.62
6.89
6.43
+0.46

12
   San Antonio
33
42.09
38.00
+4.09
4.87
5.12
-0.24
6.21
7.03
-0.81

They compare all the defensive stats the team posts and against their opponents.

I will def enjoy the Big Easy!  I find the people down there to be very nice and great to talk to. 

[jemagee]

All Depends on which stats you want to look at

http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2010/

Spurs 9th in Defensive efficiency

4th offensively (but still one of the 'slower' teams in the league )

Interestingly - the spurs are terrible at forcing turnovers?  http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2010/o_oe.htm

[Lurker]

Interestingly - the spurs are terrible at forcing turnovers?  http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2010/o_oe.htm

They always have been.  Pop is more concerned with transition defense and non-gambling.  Funnel drivers to the baseline; chase shooters off the 3 point line; force the opponent into a contested jumper.

But a better metric is turnover differential.  And the Spurs are usually near the top in that category.

[Lurker]

I'll be in New Orleans in 2 weeks!

Have the Spurs ever been out of the top 10 in defense in the league since Duncan showed up?  I wanted to say 'They never slipped that low' but didn't want to be wrong.

Not sure where you are getting the outside the top ten defensively.

Per efficiency ratings they are 7th.  By scoring defense they are 5th.  By defensive fg% they are 10th.  By scoring differential they are tied for 4th.

Have a great time in the Big Easy!

From here  http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable1.html

1
   L.A. Lakers
35
45.25
43.22
+2.02
5.22
4.51
+0.71
7.97
7.25
+0.71

2
   Chicago
33
45.03
42.45
+2.57
6.18
6.06
+0.12
6.63
7.57
-0.94

3
   Minnesota
36
44.00
43.50
+0.50
3.44
5.88
-2.44
7.55
8.75
-1.19

4
   Memphis
34
43.76
38.50
+5.26
4.47
5.61
-1.14
7.52
7.73
-0.20

5
   Dallas
35
43.54
43.25
+0.28
6.05
4.00
+2.05
7.40
7.20
+0.20

6
   Orlando
35
43.34
40.77
+2.57
5.25
3.48
+1.77
6.62
7.20
-0.57

7
   Oklahoma City
35
42.88
41.00
+1.88
5.85
4.71
+1.14
7.68
7.82
-0.14

8
   Indiana
34
42.67
45.82
-3.14
5.88
5.29
+0.58
6.70
8.76
-2.05

9
   Milwaukee
32
42.56
43.93
-1.37
4.21
5.59
-1.37
6.75
7.43
-0.68

10
   Sacramento
34
42.50
42.05
+0.44
4.41
5.44
-1.02
7.05
7.20
-0.14

11
   Cleveland
37
42.16
38.35
+3.81
5.75
4.13
+1.62
6.89
6.43
+0.46

12
   San Antonio
33
42.09
38.00
+4.09
4.87
5.12
-0.24
6.21
7.03
-0.81

They compare all the defensive stats the team posts and against their opponents.

I will def enjoy the Big Easy!  I find the people down there to be very nice and great to talk to. 

So you are using something that looks at rebounds, blocks and steals for the team and its opponents.  Default sort is rebounds per game.  If you click on rebound differential SA is #2.

GIGO.