I'm done being rational. The defense has improved but its not good enough to be a bad offensive team. These guys need to get it together and run some consistant offense if they want to go anywhere. I'm sad to say that after watching quite a few games, the two big culprits seem to be Parker and Ginobili. I guess they've been the big dog so long they forgot how to run team offense. Numerous bad shots and bad turnovers have plagued these guys.

Honestly, if they can't turn the corner and figure this out I wouldn't be shocked to see either or both gone next season. Manu's contract is up and he hasn't shown to be worth more than the MLE so far. Parker has another year but with George right there you know the heat is on to snap out of this funk. Neither guy is playing great defense at this point either. So many open shots are being given up just because somebody's not paying attention. And every time it happens I look and it's Tony or Manu. I really don't know what going on. It's almost like they're distracted.

Meanwhile, Tim is back to being MVP caliber. I never would have predicted that, but he's been outstanding so far this year. So you can't just blame everything on rust or getting to know your teammates.

I haven't seen but maybe two games this year. And each one made me want to flip it off...

yep.

there are two guys who need get their acts together. one's french, the other's from argentina.

Season one-third over with lots of ball to play.

They just need to get to the post-season.

TP is the biggest problem- he is tired and playing horrendous

Manu needs to start at the 2

However, as crappy as the spurs are playing they are only 3 games out of the 2 seed-

They will go on a 21 of 24 streak very soon and all will be ok

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they are only 3 games out of the 2 seed

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Yeah, they are also only 3 games out of the 12 seed too. not a real rational argument.

the spurs probably won't make it out of the first round again this year. right now they are playing piss poor.

fortunately for the spurs, no one below them is playing any good. new orleans is a huge disappointment and have the talent to be way better. if OKC makes a run and strings together some consistent ball they could be scary.

but, the spurs will probably make the playoffs as a 6 seed and play denver in round 1 and get bounced.

[This message has been edited by Simplebay (edited 12/25/2009 12:00p).]

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no one below them is playing any good.

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Since getting rid of the A.I. contract (when they were 1-8), the Grizzlies have gone 12-7, and have knocked off 3 division leaders within the past 9 games (Denver, Cavs, Mavs). They lack depth, but probably have one of the top 3 PF/C combos playing now with Randolph and Gasol.

the spurs are now 2-10 against teams that have a record above .500.

[This message has been edited by Simplebay (edited 12/26/2009 8:52p).]

Always remember the Spurs are a second half team, probably even more so this year with all the new bodies and chemistry still being developed. I would be more concerned if we were having this discussion in April.

the problem with that is that they may fall so far behind that they'll end up with a 6-7 seed and get bounced early.

I"m not that concerned with the standings. I'm just annoyed that it seems to be the vets that aren't "buying in". Tony is clearly suffering from playing over the summer and he needs to move the rock. Manu needs to understand that he's a better passer than he is a scorer right now as well. There's too much talent on this team for them to play like this.

Once again they look great against a bad team. I'm sure they'll be great against the Knicks as well.

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the spurs probably won't make it out of the first round again this year

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Care to wager?

Oh, and BTW- to the original post.

The Spurs have now put together an 8-2 stretch, they've made their formerly abysmal road record more respectable, they just won back-to-back road games on back-to-back nights, and Parker/Ginobili were huge down the stretch against the Knicks. Dejuan Blair is getting serious minutes and pulling down serious rebounds.

Best of all, last night against the Knicks, after being tied at 84 late in the game, the Spurs held the D'antoni Knicks to 4 points in the last 3.5 minutes of the game to seal the win. Sure, it isn't a finals appearance but it looked a little like the vintage Spurs.

They've improved immensely over the last month, and it isn't even February yet. I still like this team's chances.

I agree that it's way too early to panic.

The biggest glaring sign to me looking at the stats is that the Spurs now rank 15th in defensive efficiency (points allowed/possession). They used to always be top 3, then slipped to 5th last year. As I predicted in the offseason, the inability to replace 2007 Bowen with a strong perimeter defender and to add a good defensive big next to an aging Duncan have caused the defense to slip.

The Spurs still have a top 4 WC point differential, and it looks like the standings are settling in to how it will look in April:

1st tier:
Lakers

2nd tier:
Mavs
Nuggets
Spurs

3rd tier:
Suns
Jazz
Blazers
Rockets
Thunder
Hornets

So the Spurs probably need a 2 or 3 seed to avoid the Lakers until the WCF, but really they will play the Lakers at some point so the focus should be on doing what it takes to defeat the Lakers in May, regardless of seeding.

[This message has been edited by InternetFan02 (edited 12/28/2009 9:26a).]

Another point of positivity; for all of you Hollinger nuts out there (personally I think his rankings/stats are WAY overblown but I know some of you guys think he's the bees knees):

The Spurs are now playing #2 in the west to the Lakers according to Hollinger's power rankings.

Similar thing happened in 2007 when Hollinger showed the Spurs were better than the Mavs despite Spurs fans abandoning hope on this board and Mavs fans gloating.

Hollinger doesn't account for defensive stats though - just point differential and strength of schedule. The Spurs have countered their sub-par (for them) defensive numbers with a top-5 offensive efficiency. I think most here agree though that it's more important to have an elite defense than a high scoring offense in the playoffs.

Tim, Tony and Manu haven't forgotten how to play defense, nor has McDyess or Jefferson who are pretty good in their own right, and George Hill is becoming a problem for opposing guards. I'm pretty confident that the defense will come along at some point. Bogans may or may not be the answer on the wing; is Bruce Bowen REALLY retired, or is he just Brett Favre retired?

As a longtime mavs fan, I suggest you not worry. If I've learned anything over the past decade, it's that the Spurs are never down and out...

I'm not that worried about the defense overall. Pop will figure that out. That Portland loss seems to have really pissed him off. I noticed a little more urgency the last two games. Really, these guys have to pressure the ball handlers and hedge or trap on every single pick and roll. They've been trying to keep the big man in the paint and the good teams have been absolutely torching that strategy. IT was good to see them hedge every screen against the Buck and Knicks. Holding the Knicks under 90 is quite a feat.

And on offense Manu needs to be a playmaker but should only be getting up 6 or 7 shots a game unless he's hot. With the other shooters on this team he's much more valuable driving and kicking out than he his trying to take step back 3s all the time.

It is encouraging that they're blowing out the average to bad teams right now, that wasn't happening last year. But they need to get a couple of quality wins against above average teams soon.

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That Portland loss seems to have really pissed him of

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They probably read texags, and they have drawn the proverbial line in the sand.