Defending the Spurs
- Thread starter Superman
- Start date
These numbers may be skewed because of the two blowouts, but here's the split for San Antonio's Big Three (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan) in wins vs. losses for the series. I also looked up the team's total assists and FG%.
Wins:
Parker 25-45, 56%, 23 ppg, 15 attempts/game
Ginobili 24-44, 55%, 23 ppg, 15 attempts/game
Duncan 16-28, 57%, 16 ppg, 9 attempts/game
Team: 27 apg, 55% FG
Losses:
Parker 14-33, 42%, 17 ppg, 16.5 attempts/game
Ginobili 4-13, 31%, 6 ppg, 6.5 attempts/game
Duncan 19-31, 61%, 23 ppg, 16 attempts/game
Team: 16 apg, 46% FG
Looks like Manu Ginobili is the X-factor. If we can keep him from getting good looks at the basket and keep him from driving the rim, we can win Game 6. Tony Parker is just as aggressive in losses as he is in wins, but he's having trouble in Arco. Keep Kevin Martin chasing him around and tiring him out. We need to trap both of these guys off the picks and make them throw some soft passes.
Tim Duncan hasn't been stellar in losses or wins, but we can deal with a dominant performance from him; we can't deal with a dominant performance from the other two. And if Bonzi can't keep Bruce F. Bowen from going 7-9, then that presents another problem.
This game is completely winable. Bonzi is dependable for a solid performance. Ron is going to show up, but he needs to score in the flow of the game, not force the action. (By the way, who else thinks it odd that our two best low-post players are swingmen?) Kevin needs to be solid off the bench. I think we can book those three, because they've been pretty consistent so far.
Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Shareef Abdur-Rahim have got to step up and play hard offensively and defensively. Mike needs to shoot well and make the defense pay for collapsing on Bonzi and Ron. We can do without Brad's offense - as we saw in Games 2 and 3 - but if he plays like he's 6'2" on defense and on the glass, we can't win. If I'm not mistaken, Mike is averaging more rebounds than Brad. I'd rather see him get after it hard and foul out than see him play like a WNBA point guard. I'm not asking for an All-Star performance, but we need 13 and 8 with a few altered shots from our starting center. SAR has to be aggressive offensively and get Tim Duncan in foul trouble, just like in Game 2. He has to attack on offense and stay big on the boards. Kenny Thomas just needs to give us 25 minutes of solid defense and hit a couple of shots.
To simplify, if we can keep Ginobili and Parker out of the lane and make shots down the stretch, we can win.
Wins:
Parker 25-45, 56%, 23 ppg, 15 attempts/game
Ginobili 24-44, 55%, 23 ppg, 15 attempts/game
Duncan 16-28, 57%, 16 ppg, 9 attempts/game
Team: 27 apg, 55% FG
Losses:
Parker 14-33, 42%, 17 ppg, 16.5 attempts/game
Ginobili 4-13, 31%, 6 ppg, 6.5 attempts/game
Duncan 19-31, 61%, 23 ppg, 16 attempts/game
Team: 16 apg, 46% FG
Looks like Manu Ginobili is the X-factor. If we can keep him from getting good looks at the basket and keep him from driving the rim, we can win Game 6. Tony Parker is just as aggressive in losses as he is in wins, but he's having trouble in Arco. Keep Kevin Martin chasing him around and tiring him out. We need to trap both of these guys off the picks and make them throw some soft passes.
Tim Duncan hasn't been stellar in losses or wins, but we can deal with a dominant performance from him; we can't deal with a dominant performance from the other two. And if Bonzi can't keep Bruce F. Bowen from going 7-9, then that presents another problem.
This game is completely winable. Bonzi is dependable for a solid performance. Ron is going to show up, but he needs to score in the flow of the game, not force the action. (By the way, who else thinks it odd that our two best low-post players are swingmen?) Kevin needs to be solid off the bench. I think we can book those three, because they've been pretty consistent so far.
Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Shareef Abdur-Rahim have got to step up and play hard offensively and defensively. Mike needs to shoot well and make the defense pay for collapsing on Bonzi and Ron. We can do without Brad's offense - as we saw in Games 2 and 3 - but if he plays like he's 6'2" on defense and on the glass, we can't win. If I'm not mistaken, Mike is averaging more rebounds than Brad. I'd rather see him get after it hard and foul out than see him play like a WNBA point guard. I'm not asking for an All-Star performance, but we need 13 and 8 with a few altered shots from our starting center. SAR has to be aggressive offensively and get Tim Duncan in foul trouble, just like in Game 2. He has to attack on offense and stay big on the boards. Kenny Thomas just needs to give us 25 minutes of solid defense and hit a couple of shots.
To simplify, if we can keep Ginobili and Parker out of the lane and make shots down the stretch, we can win.
I'd just like to point out that Ticha Penicheiro, the Monarchs' starting point guard, is better at finding the open man than Bibby is... but I could totally see a comparison between Bibby and, say... Becky Hammon?
Sorry for the hijack; I saw the implied comparison between Bibby and a WNBA point guard, and my first impression was that such a comparison was insulting to WNBA point guards.
Sorry for the hijack; I saw the implied comparison between Bibby and a WNBA point guard, and my first impression was that such a comparison was insulting to WNBA point guards.
I don't believe that at all. There're many reasons why a player from the WNBA might appear better than an NBA player, first and foremost being the competition on the court, second being the size of the ball, etc. I have nothing against the WNBA (go Monarchs!), but if you think Bibby and Brad Miller wouldn't completely dominate a WNBA game, you're out of your mind.
Back to the topic at hand...
The key to game 6, IMHO, is Brad Miller. He simply has to step up and play like he's interested in what's happening. One bad game is forgiveable; to see him out there looking like a poor man's version of Joe Kleine is almost too disturbing to even think about.
Brad Miller is getting the really big bucks. It's up to him to step up right now and prove he can earn them when we need him the most.
The key to game 6, IMHO, is Brad Miller. He simply has to step up and play like he's interested in what's happening. One bad game is forgiveable; to see him out there looking like a poor man's version of Joe Kleine is almost too disturbing to even think about.
Brad Miller is getting the really big bucks. It's up to him to step up right now and prove he can earn them when we need him the most.
If Brad Miller could dominate a WNBA game, it would be because he's seven feet tall, not because he's a "FAR better" player. And I have no doubt that Bibby could dominate a WNBA game... on offense; if you think that a quality WNBA player could not score on Bibby at will, then you have never seen Bibby play defense.
I most certainly did not.
Now, I don't watch the WNBA, but I would assume that the average WNBA point guard grabs between 2-4 rebounds a game. Rough estimate. I would also assume that the average WNBA point guard would be hard pressed to grab any rebounds in an NBA playoff game, unless a couple just fell into her lap.
That's the only way Brad Miller is getting any rebounds this series. A WNBA point guard also wouldn't be able to defend the paint against NBA players. Brad Miller has been playing no better than a WNBA point guard, and that's what I meant.
You know what's funny? I debated even mentioning the WNBA in that post, because I was sure it would get mixed reviews. But I couldn't think of anything else more appropriate. Ironic.
Now, I don't watch the WNBA, but I would assume that the average WNBA point guard grabs between 2-4 rebounds a game. Rough estimate. I would also assume that the average WNBA point guard would be hard pressed to grab any rebounds in an NBA playoff game, unless a couple just fell into her lap.
That's the only way Brad Miller is getting any rebounds this series. A WNBA point guard also wouldn't be able to defend the paint against NBA players. Brad Miller has been playing no better than a WNBA point guard, and that's what I meant.
You know what's funny? I debated even mentioning the WNBA in that post, because I was sure it would get mixed reviews. But I couldn't think of anything else more appropriate. Ironic.
I don't think he's the key. But he can help us win by finding his inner $68 million NBA center (do yoga or something, damn), grabbing some rebounds and altering some shots. And maybe hitting a couple of shots for a change.
I think the key is defending Ginobili and Parker. Keep them from scoring at will and getting everyone else involved on offense. We pretty much have the Spurs number offensively, so if we can simply keep them around 90-95 points, we have a shot. Once they break 100, we've lost control of the game.
I think the key is defending Ginobili and Parker. Keep them from scoring at will and getting everyone else involved on offense. We pretty much have the Spurs number offensively, so if we can simply keep them around 90-95 points, we have a shot. Once they break 100, we've lost control of the game.
You don't watch the WNBA but you make comments like that? PLEASE - this isn't about the WNBA. There's no need whatsoever to make disparaging remarks about the league or, by extension, the reigning World Champions who just happen to be the Sacramento Monarchs.
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Let's just drop the comparisons and get back to talking about how the Kings can defend the Spurs okay?
I still maintain one of the main keys to our success the next game and the one after that
is going to be which Brad Miller shows up. If he, in fact, plays like we know he's capable of playing, it makes everything a lot easier for our guys and a LOT tougher for the Spurs. Especially since they haven't seen very much out of him so far.
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Let's just drop the comparisons and get back to talking about how the Kings can defend the Spurs okay?
I still maintain one of the main keys to our success the next game and the one after that
is going to be which Brad Miller shows up. If he, in fact, plays like we know he's capable of playing, it makes everything a lot easier for our guys and a LOT tougher for the Spurs. Especially since they haven't seen very much out of him so far.Was anything in my post inaccurate?
Nothing disparaging meant. I'm not trying to make it about the WNBA. But a WNBA point guard isn't going to be a difference maker in an NBA playoff game. That's not a bad thing; it's just the truth.
I apologize to any who were offended by my comment - aside from Brad Miller. It wasn't meant to be demeaning to the WNBA.
You know what that tells me? Brad Miller isn't earning his money if one's are taking offense at the comparison, on the WNBA's behalf. His play is sub par, to say the absolute least.
Nothing disparaging meant. I'm not trying to make it about the WNBA. But a WNBA point guard isn't going to be a difference maker in an NBA playoff game. That's not a bad thing; it's just the truth.
I apologize to any who were offended by my comment - aside from Brad Miller. It wasn't meant to be demeaning to the WNBA.
You know what that tells me? Brad Miller isn't earning his money if one's are taking offense at the comparison, on the WNBA's behalf. His play is sub par, to say the absolute least.
Well it doesn't matter if we watch the WMBA... we got to see a few WMBA players over the years here in sac. Remember Peja? He was as weak as they come... Still is (cry indiana cry! because we are rejoicing)...
ANd Brad is another... He isn't as bad as Peja... I think he wants to play hard, its just not physically possible IMHO...
ANd Brad is another... He isn't as bad as Peja... I think he wants to play hard, its just not physically possible IMHO...