I actually thought Bertans played surprisingly solid defense when he was in. I'm not surprised that a rookie is still feeling his way offensively in his first playoffs. I didn't think he'd even play as much as he did given Pop's (and every other coach's, really) tendency to lessen minutes for unproven players in the playoffs, so I don't know how anyone could really be disappointed in him. He looked like he belonged out there.
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DTP02 said:
I actually thought Bertans played surprisingly solid defense when he was in. I'm not surprised that a rookie is still feeling his way offensively in his first playoffs. I didn't think he'd even play as much as he did given Pop's (and every other coach's, really) tendency to lessen minutes for unproven players in the playoffs, so I don't know how anyone could really be disappointed in him. He looked like he belonged out there.
I agree with this. He battled on defense, usually stuck gaurding ZBo. Davis has a very high basketball IQ, he's tall and athletic. He should play a huge role against Houston because Pau isn't going to be able to play that much. Honestly, my biggest frustration with Davis is he tends to pass up shots. The guy is a GREAT 3 pt shooter and at 6'10" should be able to cleanly get off a lot more shots. I know he wants to be a team player but against better defenses you need to take the first good shot IMO.
Imo, the Spurs need to start by hammering Capella with Aldridge/Gasol in the post. Try to draw a couple fouls, then go to work with the normal offense.
The real key is Green though. Green has historically shot very well against Houston because the shots come in rhythm with clean airspace while Harden is daydreaming on the other side of the court. That has to continue, because Green has to be on the court defensively and the Spurs can't have 30 mpg not contributing offensively against Houston.
Anderson can contribute, but it has to be limited minutes. He gets by on defense with tricks, but that doesn't work for long.
Defensively, gotta get a body into Capella/Nene on the pick and roll to take away clean lobs, show early on Harden so he settles for fade away jumpers instead of slashing to the rim, and close on shooters. So as long as we can play 7 men everything should be fine.
The real key is Green though. Green has historically shot very well against Houston because the shots come in rhythm with clean airspace while Harden is daydreaming on the other side of the court. That has to continue, because Green has to be on the court defensively and the Spurs can't have 30 mpg not contributing offensively against Houston.
Anderson can contribute, but it has to be limited minutes. He gets by on defense with tricks, but that doesn't work for long.
Defensively, gotta get a body into Capella/Nene on the pick and roll to take away clean lobs, show early on Harden so he settles for fade away jumpers instead of slashing to the rim, and close on shooters. So as long as we can play 7 men everything should be fine.
Methinks there are gonna be a lot of "Green breaks out of shooting slump" posts regarding this series. But like you said, truth is he always has a little sumn sumn for our friends up I-10. 
tbirdspur2010 said:
Methinks there are gonna be a lot of "Green breaks out of shooting slump" posts regarding this series. But like you said, truth is he always has a little sumn sumn for our friends up I-10.
I sure hope so.
As bad as Danny's offensive production was against Memphis, I was even more disappointed in his defense. He was downright mediocre defensively in that series. I'm a big fan of his, but he's got to step his game up on both ends of the court. We can't have Kawhi being forced to play all out defensively all game long, with as much of the offensive load as he's carrying these days.
DTP02 said:
As bad as Danny's offensive production was against Memphis, I was even more disappointed in his defense. He was downright mediocre defensively in that series. I'm a big fan of his, but he's got to step his game up on both ends of the court. We can't have Kawhi being forced to play all out defensively all game long, with as much of the offensive load as he's carrying these days.
Memphis is a tough match up because our best defenders are wings and Memphis's wings are terrible. Green/Leonard are too small for Gasol/Randolph but big enough that it's pretty tough for them to chase Conley through screens with his quickness. Houston is a much better match up in terms of allowing strength-on-strength, because Green/Leonard can match up physically with almost everyone on that team. Not that I'm predicting an easy win or anything, but Harden is a lot bigger and a little slower (obviously making up for it in other ways), so he'll have a tougher time putting the 6'6 and 6'7 Green and Leonard out of the play.
That said, our bigs' help defense has been atrocious all season. If they don't figure out how to recognize a penetration threat about two seconds sooner, it's going to be a long series... or a short one.
I agree with Enzo. I thought Davis played valuable minutes against Memphis.Enzo The Baker said:I disagree. I thought Bertans played some great minutes. He shot 41.7% overall from three in the five games he played and was well into the black in the +/- for the series. I thought he was really solid on both ends in his limited minutes against Memphis.Quote:
The bench player that disappointed the most in the first round was Betrans. He will be better in future years but he did not play his role well at all in the important minutes he got in his first NBA playoff series. He will get coached up. When he catches the ball from KL who then reposts against a smaller defender, the ball has got to go back to KL. And Bertrans has got to knock down about half of his wide open treys, instead of the 20ish percent he shot vs Memphis. A hot Betrans could put us over the top v Houston, because the Spurs are going to need a lot of offense
I thought that by game 6 Memphis had figured out that Bertans is pretty weak and was exploiting that on the boards, but as a perimeter threat that could warp the defense he was a solid piece. Still think he needs to play sparingly because he lacks NBA grit-and-grind seasoning, but a very valuable asset in those minutes because you can't give him cushion (quick release three) or play up into him (drive and dunk or dish). He's a good defender in space and his weak side help is both athletic and fundamentally sound, but like Anderson if he plays too long good teams will iso him in situations he isn't ready for.
I think Danny should have been able to make Conley work harder but he might as well have been a turnstile. I doubt Pop wanted to play that Parker/Mills backcourt as much as he did, but Green's total inability to slow Conley made him useless since he wasn't hitting outside shots either.
I should say I thought Davis played well when he was in against J. Green. The short time he was in against Zebo he was obviously overmatched in the low block.Ulrich said:
I thought that by game 6 Memphis had figured out that Bertans is pretty weak and was exploiting that on the boards, but as a perimeter threat that could warp the defense he was a solid piece. Still think he needs to play sparingly because he lacks NBA grit-and-grind seasoning, but a very valuable asset in those minutes because you can't give him cushion (quick release three) or play up into him (drive and dunk or dish). He's a good defender in space and his weak side help is both athletic and fundamentally sound, but like Anderson if he plays too long good teams will iso him in situations he isn't ready for.
Happy Birthday to David Lee!
I like the late tip offs because kids will already be in bed.
Vinsanity was pushing him around too, but you're right.
It is time to do the thing I never thought I would do.
Cheer for the Jazz.
Cheer for the Jazz.
Guitarsoup said:
It is time to do the thing I never thought I would do.
Cheer for the Jazz.
Way ahead of you. The Clippers are the team we just don't seem to have an answer for.
I hope Boris Diaw averages a triple-double in Golden State.
As much as I historically hate the Jazz, this team isn't that hatable.
George Hill and Boris Diaw.
Gordon, Gobert, Favors and Joe Johnson? No real reason to hate any of them.
As much as I historically hate the Jazz, this team isn't that hatable.
George Hill and Boris Diaw.
Gordon, Gobert, Favors and Joe Johnson? No real reason to hate any of them.
Yeah these aren't the Malone/Stockton/Sloan Jazz. Love IUPUI and the LandWalrus, Gordon Hayward is white Manu, and Quin is the man.
Would love a rematch of the 07 WCF for a plethora of reasons. Wishing them well!
Would love a rematch of the 07 WCF for a plethora of reasons. Wishing them well!
I hate that I really like this Jazz team. I hope they give the Warriors some trouble.
My favorite thing about the Jazz is that Hayward is good enough to get Kawhi fired up about proving who is the better small forward, but still not nearly as good as Kawhi. Kawhi is at his absolute best with a quality small forward to match up against.
A lot of the apparent travels are actually sneaky good footwork. Hesitation mid-stride, euro steps, jump stops, crazy long strides, and good use of the pivot foot... but he does travel a fair amount.
I mean, not really unique to Kawhi. Harden uses a change in pivot feet for one of his step back moves.Ulrich said:
A lot of the apparent travels are actually sneaky good footwork. Hesitation mid-stride, euro steps, jump stops, crazy long strides, and good use of the pivot foot... but he does travel a fair amount.
If you really want to go in deep, Harden's game is built around his ability to stop and start and change speeds and it often comes with him carrying the ball to change the ball speed, especially in transition.
Here's a fun little video.
No team with Harden can complain about any kind of officiating, traveling or foul calls.
Brace yourself. Arm hooks are coming.
My old pet peeve is the pump fake and jump into the defender (which I still think should be an offensive foul).
My new one is where the ball handler goes into a shooting motion as the defender tries to go over the screen, often in conjunction with either grabbing the defender's lead arm to create contact or the man setting the screen bumping the defender into the shooter. It's not an honest attempt at creating a good shot, just an attempt to game the officials into calling a three point foul. And it works a LOT.
My new one is where the ball handler goes into a shooting motion as the defender tries to go over the screen, often in conjunction with either grabbing the defender's lead arm to create contact or the man setting the screen bumping the defender into the shooter. It's not an honest attempt at creating a good shot, just an attempt to game the officials into calling a three point foul. And it works a LOT.
Perfect example:
Harden wasn't trying to make a basketball play, he had no intention of jacking up a 28' three unless he could hook the guy's arm to get an easy foul. The whole play here is to initiate contact to get a foul called and three FTs. That's it.
Harden wasn't trying to make a basketball play, he had no intention of jacking up a 28' three unless he could hook the guy's arm to get an easy foul. The whole play here is to initiate contact to get a foul called and three FTs. That's it.
I miss Boris
Most Interesting Spur in the World
Same here.
19-Year NBA veteran referee and 5-year head of the NBA refs Ronnie Nunn says that Harden is committing a foul by hooking the arm and then pretending to take a shot.
To piggyback off of that video, here's an outstanding read from PtR on how to defend Harden (which OKC did better than folks will give them credit for):
http://www.poundingtherock.com/2017/5/1/15485742/nba-playoffs-james-harden-andre-roberson-kawhi-leonard-spurs-rockets-thunder
http://www.poundingtherock.com/2017/5/1/15485742/nba-playoffs-james-harden-andre-roberson-kawhi-leonard-spurs-rockets-thunder
Interesting read. I think the Spurs might give Simmons some minutes on Harden when Green sits to try to keep Leonard fresh for offense. Then have a fresher Leonard guard Harden in crunch time.
Hopefully Green and Simmons can at least slow Harden a little.
Those 3pt fouls were laughable. Can't wait for Pop to blow a gasket after one if those. I bet the refs get the message pretty quickly after that.
Hopefully Green and Simmons can at least slow Harden a little.
Those 3pt fouls were laughable. Can't wait for Pop to blow a gasket after one if those. I bet the refs get the message pretty quickly after that.
In addition, I would considering lining up defensively like this:
Capela <-Kawhi
Anderson <-LeMarcus
Ariza <- Lee/Gasol
Harden <- Green
Bev <- Parker
Capela is their go-to screener. You limit them wanting to use him if you have him there and Harden knows that when the Spurs switch, Harden now gets the toughest defender.
Overall, I would want to go under, not over the screen. Dare Harden to jack up threes.
Harden was .347 on threes for the season. That's 1.04 points per possession when he shoots a three. Against the Thunder, he was .240. He feasted on hooking the defender's arm and pretending to shoot a three - he did that 11 times to get 3 FTs. He can't hook if you go under.
Harden has to shoot better than 38% from three to keep up with the Rockets' 114.7 offensive rating.
If he is hitting 35% from three, I'm good with him jacking up threes all night.
Spurs offensive rating was 111.
I'd also be good with going small with Simmons replacing one of the bigs.
But if LeMarcus can capture some of what he did against Houston in Portland (averaged like 30/12 with games 1&2 over 40 points) then going big is the way. Their bigs of Nene, Capela and Harrell aren't going to strike fear into Gasol, Lee, and LMA's hearts (assuming LMA has a heart.) Get one or two of them in foul trouble (and Nene and Capela are very foul prone and Harrell is a nobody that won't get the benefit of the doubt) and the Spurs will be able to walk all over the paint at will. Good luck guarding LMA with Ryan Anderson or Sam Dekker.
Capela <-Kawhi
Anderson <-LeMarcus
Ariza <- Lee/Gasol
Harden <- Green
Bev <- Parker
Capela is their go-to screener. You limit them wanting to use him if you have him there and Harden knows that when the Spurs switch, Harden now gets the toughest defender.
Overall, I would want to go under, not over the screen. Dare Harden to jack up threes.
Harden was .347 on threes for the season. That's 1.04 points per possession when he shoots a three. Against the Thunder, he was .240. He feasted on hooking the defender's arm and pretending to shoot a three - he did that 11 times to get 3 FTs. He can't hook if you go under.
Harden has to shoot better than 38% from three to keep up with the Rockets' 114.7 offensive rating.
If he is hitting 35% from three, I'm good with him jacking up threes all night.
Spurs offensive rating was 111.
I'd also be good with going small with Simmons replacing one of the bigs.
But if LeMarcus can capture some of what he did against Houston in Portland (averaged like 30/12 with games 1&2 over 40 points) then going big is the way. Their bigs of Nene, Capela and Harrell aren't going to strike fear into Gasol, Lee, and LMA's hearts (assuming LMA has a heart.) Get one or two of them in foul trouble (and Nene and Capela are very foul prone and Harrell is a nobody that won't get the benefit of the doubt) and the Spurs will be able to walk all over the paint at will. Good luck guarding LMA with Ryan Anderson or Sam Dekker.
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