has everyone been playing defense better since RJ left?
 

Blair a bit, Bonner more, Neal too. the guys who wouldn't play defense much before just seem to play more than they did, especially last night vs. Dallas.

just a random observation and we'll have to keep seeing the games if it continues, but i can't help but notice that since Jefferson left

Pretty small sample so far. And last night's game may skew things a bit.
I don't think three days off hurt, either.

A couple weeks, and we should have a better idea.

Small sample, indeed. But it looks as if SJax is playing the Mario Elie role from the first Spur championship.

They have been rejuvinated since the trade. Don't really know how to explain it, it could be partially due to RJ's departure. Whatever it is, I like it!

It started happening before the trade. Over the last 10 games the Spurs have held opponents to 44.1% FG percentage, 5th in the league over that time.

So maybe it's just the natural progression of working together over the course of months.

Whatever the reason, more defense gives more hope.

Bonner's been solid this year after his slow start. Obviously, solid is relative to him and bad defense. He's definitely been the 3rd best big, prior to the recent moves.

Neal, ehhh. He's trying more now that he's in better shape.

I think the big difference is Pop trusting Green and Leonard more. And Leonard is just becoming better and better. Then add on the extra layer and motivation of the recent moves.

To quote Larry David: "pretty, pretty, pretty... good"

Will Kawhi hit the rookie "wall"?

IMO, I think SJax's first game back as a Spur against Dallas and how POP matched him defensively against Nowitzki kind of set the tone for the added enthusiasm by the Spurs players.

he hasn't really played all out the whole season. there were stretches where Pop didn't play him in favor of Green (and we had Manu/RJ/TP there). right now he's playing a lot, but i don't think he'll hit a rookie wall. i'd watch for a sophomore slump

He has already. Or he at least experienced a bout with some of it. That's the few weeks where he didn't play a lot and then looked a little out of it when he did play.

Since we are attributing stuff to RJ, I think my food tastes better since RJ left.

I think butts is right, it started before RJ left. I think it may be because we now have some wing guys that don't let their man get by so easily. Before, it was a conga line to the paint where Timmy can't block much anymore.

RJ played a lot of minutes. I think giving those minutes to others has made them better because they play more and get into a better flow too.(Kawhi and Danny) Also RJ is not a good passer so the ball movement is better with him gone. SJax can play 2 and 3 and in Pop's small ball the 4 spot. When RJ played the small ball 4 he sucked. Can't play him at two either. They are more versatile with SJax.It amazes me how so many have joined the SJax bandwagon. Do people watch other NBA games or just Spurs games?

I think the Spurs have more energy with Sjax and w/o RJ.

They are opposites in terms of temperament. So this is not surprising. It is on both offense and defense.

The team defense is rising. In b2b2b we didn't concede more than 86 points.

The defense in the last 3 games has been tremendous. We have so many long, active players now who really want to get after it.

The way the team is playing and constituted now it is the perfect foil for Miami.

Lebron/Jackson
Wade/Leonard
Bosh/Tim

You have Green, Parker, Gino who can shoot passing lanes
You have Diaw/splitter for relief and they can get back on transition D

I hope we see a lot of

http://a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/i...b8d5ccb7/l.jpg

It's crazy that we went YEARS without a guy who could really guard big fowards. Then we got RJ who could do ok but played like he was awaking from a coma every tipoff.

And now we've got a host of legitimate strong defensive players in the 6'7" and above category.

Well, except for a third of the games...

But 87 points is still pretty darn good. Keep 'em under 90, and takes your chances.

I think even a blind and deaf person could tell things are better without RJ!!!

Playing good D is very tiring. Now we have several that can be interchanged there by keeping fresh players on the floor at all times.

we played good D before we got Diaw, after we got SJax those few games. the difference is now we got legit wing players who play good man defense, unlike RJ who needed help constantly. to steal one of Rodney's images on the SR Facebook page:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...29415155_n.jpg

There's an SR Facebook page?

I thought SJax was buried on the bench with injuries and never played on the floor with Milwaukee????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????

yessir

https://www.facebook.com/groups/18672784824/