OT_How does SA do it?

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The_Lillard_King

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The spurs beat the Jazz tonight in Utah. Not too surprising, given their records, but SA is a mystery to me.

I know they have Duncan and Parker. But they round out that starting line up with Matt Bonner at center, Finley at guard and Mason at forward.

Then off the bench they really only have Manu and I guess Bowen, although he only played 9 minutes tonight.

IMO, the Spurs roster looks old and very thin . . . but they keep getting it done night in and night out.
 
Good team, great coach.

Almost all of their players (including Manu) are just excellent role players.
 
Nobody really seems to like to hear it around here, but veterans win on the road for a reason; they don't rely on the crowd's energy to get them up, they have the knowledge that they've been there done that and they execute more off of muscle memory.

Of course it doesn't hurt the Spur's chances that Utah is like the walking wounded and definitely not playing the best ball of the season.
 
Nikolokolus said:
Of course it doesn't hurt the Spur's chances that Utah is like the walking wounded and definitely not playing the best ball of the season.
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Let's hope it stays that way. Nothing would be more sweet than the Jazz missing the playoffs. Well the Lakers missing the playoffs would be better, but it's not going to happen
 
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JFizzleRaider said:
Let's hope it stays that way. Nothing would be more bittersweet than the Jazz missing the playoffs. Well the Lakers missing the playoffs would be better, but it's not going to happen
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Bittersweet? That would be candy-coated, sugar sprinkled, whip cream topped, caramel gooey, icky, sticky butterscotch sweet.
 
Listening to the Game this morning, they played a clip from the Oklahomo City game. The announcer called Durant ( or his shot, didn't catch it all) cotton candy . . . because his shot is so sweet.
 
the spurs have duncan, parker, and manu and surrounded them with shooters so the floor is always spaced. just look at the 3 point shooting percentages. mason is at 45%, finley 38%, bonner 45%, george hill 39%, and bowen 45%. those are the top 8 players in the rotation and after that they have kurt thomas who has a reputation of being a good midrange shooter and post defender and another veteran big in oberto.

they are successful because everyone plays defense and then on offense they just let their big 3 go to work while everyone else just spots up.
 
Yep, at the end of the day, how many young and up and coming teams have gone to the finals? Really, I can't think of any recently. Experience pays.

But if we were to miss the playoffs this year it would be a travesty, heads should roll, everyone should jump off the bandwagon. KP and Nate should be fired. Greg should be traded for one (or maybe 2!!!) 2nd round picks. Travis should be waived, and we should start from scratch because, hell, if our young guys can't win now, they never will, and nothing short of the playoffs is acceptable this year.
 
Three excellent players. A cadre of role-players who make open shots and play good defense. A strict coach who seems to get the most out of players with limited talents or upside (using guys like Bonner or Francisco Elson effectively). A good front-office who grabs opportunities especially with intentional players.

That's how they do it. We aren't there yet but we certainly are on the right track with a GM from the system, a coach known for defense and improving young players, and a load of talent and future picks. We're not a lock to be the next SA (multiple titles in the next decade) but outside of any team that has LBJ, we are about as close as it comes. Just have to lock up Roy/LMA/Oden to long term deals. Which I don't think will be a problem.
 
SA has been allowed 8 players (3 refs) on the court in every game for many years now.

That is their key to success.

No team has ever gotten away with as much as they continually have.
 
1) Great defense
2) Two NBA Finals MVPs
3) Great coaching
4) Great shooting
 
rocketeer said:
the spurs have duncan, parker, and manu and surrounded them with shooters so the floor is always spaced. just look at the 3 point shooting percentages. mason is at 45%, finley 38%, bonner 45%, george hill 39%, and bowen 45%. those are the top 8 players in the rotation and after that they have kurt thomas who has a reputation of being a good midrange shooter and post defender and another veteran big in oberto.

they are successful because everyone plays defense and then on offense they just let their big 3 go to work while everyone else just spots up.
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guys know/play their roles and they can spread the court for their go guys to operate on one end and they play solid team D anchored by Timmy on the other end. Duncan is an all time talent and he's healthy. Both Manu and Parker are healthy and in their primes. It's pretty obvious why they are so successful... they're good.

STOMP
 
Just remember, the Spurs have pretty much won the finals every other year, for a really long time now. It is that every other year, this year.
 
They're a remarkably disciplined team that just wears you down with execution and smart play.
 
The Spurs' success is exactly what we're trying to build here. Be championship contenders for a decade or so -- and NOT rush into making trades to get into the playoffs for only this season or else this year would be a failure like some poster continues to advocate.
 
it's_GO_time said:
Thank god . . . because now (in another thread) I am questioning if the rockets are really a good team. :D

Go ahead and respond, I bring it upon myself . . .
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One of the fifteen best players in NBA history, one of the best point guards in the game and an All-Star-caliber shooting guard, plus great coaching and a strong team defense. It really is a mystery how San Antonio succeeds.

Next: How on Earth do the Celtics do it?

:)
 
Minstrel said:
One of the fifteen best players in NBA history, one of the best point guards in the game and an All-Star-caliber shooting guard, plus great coaching and a strong team defense. It really is a mystery how San Antonio succeeds.

Next: How on Earth do the Celtics do it?

:)
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Now come on, they have Matt Bonner as a starting center. That alone should say they are vulnerable.

They also have washed up Finley starting at SG . . . and the only real quality person coming off the bench is Manu.

I would continue trying to make my points but I see I'm fighting a losing battle . . . not just what other posters are saying, but it's hard to argue against 30-14 :D
 
Duncan is still one of it not the top big man in the league. I'd take him over every single one, actually, including Howard, for the year.

Parker is a top 5 guard both in individual production and his ability to help his team.

Manu is not epic Manu from 1.5 years ago, but few teams have a better third option than them.

Better coaching, system than everyone else in the league.
 
it's_GO_time said:
Now come on, they have Matt Bonner as a starting center. That alone should say they are vulnerable.

They also have washed up Finley starting at SG . . . and the only real quality person coming off the bench is Manu.

I would continue trying to make my points but I see I'm fighting a losing battle . . . not just what other posters are saying, but it's hard to argue against 30-14 :D
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Isn't Finley playing SF? I thought Mason was there starting SG.

Bowen is still a great defender off the bench
 
it's_GO_time said:
Now come on, they have Matt Bonner as a starting center. That alone should say they are vulnerable.

They also have washed up Finley starting at SG . . . and the only real quality person coming off the bench is Manu.
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Yeah, but Ginobili is really their shooting guard, for all intents and purposes, even if he doesn't start. And a really good one. Ginobili is pretty underrated...he's been a star-level shooting guard for a number of years and adds excellent defense. A Duncan/Parker/Ginobili trio is every bit as good as Garnett/Pierce/Allen. Actually, I'd probably prefer the Spurs' trio.

It's the players surrounding the trios that separate the Celtics and Spurs. Bonner, as you note, is not so good. The Celtics have Rajon Rondo which really gives them a fourth excellent player. And the Celtics have a better bench.
 
it's_GO_time said:
Now come on, they have Matt Bonner as a starting center. That alone should say they are vulnerable.
Click to expand...

Bonner has been a pretty effective player in his career. Nothing great, but not bad, either.

They also have washed up Finley starting at SG . . . and the only real quality person coming off the bench is Manu.

I would continue trying to make my points but I see I'm fighting a losing battle . . . not just what other posters are saying, but it's hard to argue against 30-14 :D
Click to expand...

The thing is that Duncan is SO good and Parker is better than almost everyone else at his position... Manu is really good, too. The team doesn't have to be bulletproof at every position to be really good.

Ed O.
 
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