So what is the Spurs' excuse?

[KingSpeed]

They've been mostly healthy and they're in 9th place at 9-9. Makes me feel better about our 13-9 record.

What's up with the Spurs? Most had them finishing 2nd in the West and some had them winning it all?

What's their excuse?

 

[julius]

Their best players are old, and are playing like they're old.

Are best players are young, and the rest of the team is getting hurt like they're old.

 

[Buzz Killington]

They turn it on for the playoffs. they have the rings that allow them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm sure that it's that no-ACL-havin' clown Blair's fault. Dude's only putting up 6 and 5 with a PER of 18 in 15 mpg.

 

[Natebishop3]

They were overrated. I think a lot of people saw this coming before the season started. Their additions of RJeff and McDyess were vastly overrated.

 

[J_Ray]

The offense is still built around Duncan and Manu, yet they are obviously ineffective, yet they don't get Parker and RJ more touches or Isos.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I don't know, but Richard Jefferson has been SUCKING for my fantasy team!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Strength of schedule

SA - 12th

Port - 28th

 

[Sug]

Wait they got Richard Jefferson, I was told by several people he would put the Blazers over the top. I guess he must be a niche difference maker.

 

[maxiep]

It's a number of factors.

1. They're working a lot of new pieces into the mix. Pops likes to tinker with the lineup at the beginning of the year.

2. Tim Duncan has finally lost that step that his skill can't overcome.

3. Manu seems to have lost a step as well.

If there's one team I don't think will have a problem about putting it together later in the season, it's SA. If they're healthy coming into the playoffs, I don't want to face them, even if I have home court advantage.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Manu has been hurt off and on all season and Jefferson has been very inconsistent.

 

[Blazer4life]

Well, I think that the Spurs are not scrappy enough. They are just coasting by on talent and are not getting after it. They need to get back to basketball basics, box out, rebound, hit the floor for the loose balls. Be scrappy. Because as we all know, if your not scrappy, your not going to win. Did I say scrappy enough because if I didn't I can have McMillan give coach Pop a few pointers on how to coach and fix the Spurs problems as well. I think his recommendations would begin and end with them becoming a scrappy team.

 

[PapaG]

They've been mostly healthy and they're in 9th place at 9-9. Makes me feel better about our 13-9 record.

What's up with the Spurs? Most had them finishing 2nd in the West and some had them winning it all?

What's their excuse?

They need to start George Hill and DeJuan Blair to see what they have in them.

 

[LittleAlex]

They've been mostly healthy and they're in 9th place at 9-9. Makes me feel better about our 13-9 record.

What's up with the Spurs? Most had them finishing 2nd in the West and some had them winning it all?

What's their excuse?

They start slow every year. If they are still struggling in Feb then it is time for some concern from Spurs fans.

I still think they will be good. They will not be good enough to defeat LA though.

 

[axs88]

2. Tim Duncan has finally lost that step that his skill can't overcome.

Actually Duncan is having his most efficient season since 2004-2005.

 

[hasoos]

The offense is still built around Duncan and Manu, yet they are obviously ineffective, yet they don't get Parker and RJ more touches or Isos.

This. I was watching the other day and I was amazed at the lack of execution by that crew. Manu looks like a shadow of himself. Tim Duncan made about half of what I would consider "big shots' when he would have hit all of them if he was his old self. Tony Parker was rarely touching the ball in situations where he should have been asked to do more.

 

[maxiep]

Actually Duncan is having his most efficient season since 2004-2005.

Ooh, you're right. I haven't seen TD play in a couple of weeks and went off what I saw then. I went to go check his stats and it appears he's really playing well. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Kaydow]

They turn it on for the playoffs. they have the rings that allow them the benefit of the doubt.

Just like last year? Dallas embarrased them in the post season. This isn't the prototypical Spurs team we saw from '97-'07. Duncan is still effective, but he's lost a step which hurts him more defensively than offensively (where he's still crafty & fundumentally sounds enough to make up for loss of athleticism ) But he can't dominate a game defensively anymore like he used to. It's not just TD, the complection of the team has changed with new role players - they are no longer a defensive stalwart. Gone are guys like Bowen, Rose, Nesterovic, & Horry - gritty guys who play defense & rebound. In are guys like Bonner, George Hill, & Roger Mason - guys who can score but aren't anything to brag about defensively.

The Spurs in their hayday were always among the league leaders in defensive FG%. They were just tought to score on, and they intimidated you. That isn't the case anymore - they get carved up pretty good on a semi-regular basis. They are still a threat, but not to win a championship IMO.