Monroe: Spurs' recent problems are easily corrected

[spurscrazed]

San Antonio Express-News

The Spurs have reached the desperate point in which they now find themselves in the Finals because they have forgotten what got them to the Finals.

team that was able to defend inside with the Nuggets, muscle up with the Sonics and run with the Suns did so because it remembered that it could win with team basketball, no matter the style.

In Game 4 of the Finals, in particular, the Spurs turned too often to individual play.

This is more easily corrected than even the Pistons want to believe, but only if the Spurs believe it is possible.

It is going to take plenty of both belief and heart to keep the Pistons from winning Game 5 in the howling madhouse that is the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tactically, the Pistons' ability to guard Tim Duncan without double-teaming him on every touch has made every other aspect of the Spurs' offense more difficult, including Tony Parker's and Manu Ginobili's drives to the basket. Detroit's inside defenders easily are the best the Spurs have faced thus far.

None of that matters as much as selective memory. If the Spurs are to have a chance in Game 5, they must remember what they did so well in their three previous playoff series: share the ball and play team defense.



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SHOOTING OFF

24 thoughts about Game 4

Hour before tipoff: Only three Pistons in locker room, but 19 NBA Entertainment types.

Fan orders "two double shots of whatever white liquor you have ... and a club sandwich."


Now that's getting your game face on.


National anthem is sung by an "American Idol," Carrie Underwood.


Pregame intros: "Pah-kuh," that's Detroit for Parker.


Pre-tipoff and Tim Duncan helps ref Joe DeRosa pick up pieces of confetti from court.


7:14, first quarter: A tech for Popovich. Those weren't Serbian curses hurled at Eddie F. Rush.


6:23, first quarter: Uh-oh, period is not half over and Spurs already have four turnovers.


4:15, first quarter: Ben Wallace nails a 15-footer to beat 24-second clock. Is that fair?


Udrih hits his first two shots, but he still can't handle the Pistons' press.


Rasheed beats the first-quarter buzzer ... Is Derek Fisher coaching these guys?


First-quarter tally: Spurs' seven turnovers produce six easy points for Pistons.


8:05, second quarter: Devin Brown (remember him?) hits a three to stop Pistons' 14-0 run.


Timeout, and Pistons play look-alike game on big screen. Who looks like Eva Longoria?


That's entertainment? "The Spare Tires," 15 dancing fat guys. Avert your eyes.


38.3, second quarter: Another shot-clock buzzer-beater, this time by Billups. Sensing a trend?


Halftime, and Eminem signs autographs behind the Spurs' bench.


11:38, third quarter: Ginobili opens second half with strong drive to basket for a bucket.


Don't get excited. Ginobili won't score again for more than nine minutes.


2:35, third quarter: Hunter, the defensive specialist, scores Pistons' eighth-straight point.


Heckler to Popovich: "You're still the pupil, Pop. Larry's the teacher."


8:32, fourth quarter: Horry's first points of the game. There won't be "Big Shots" tonight.


5:37, fourth quarter: Duncan's done for night and Popovich has a heart-to-heart talk.


2:21 left and it's officially a blowout: Darko Milicic enters the game.



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PLAYER REPORT


Tim Duncan


His ankles are fine. His psyche may be a tad bruised. Duncan clearly was frustrated in Game 4 by his inability to get where he wanted to be in the low post. He held the ball too much and hurried shots as a result. He has to assert himself in Game 5.


Brent Barry


Barry has been frustrated all season by his inability to shoot from long range as he once could. Now he can't seem to hang on to the ball, either. He has to be determined to play error-free, even if his shot isn't falling.


Ben Wallace


What possible sort of adjustment could Wallace need to make for Game 5? Simply to freak that 'fro out even more than it was for Games 3 and 4. With the old-school look came that old-school attitude.



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THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS


NBA assistant says Spurs need more patience on offense


Typically, playoff series involve major adjustments — game to game — as losing teams try to counter what worked well for the previous game's winner and correct their own mistakes.

For the Spurs, the adjustments they need to make have less to do with X's and O's and a whole lot more to do with adjusting attitude and approach.

Here is how one NBA assistant coach sized up the changes the Spurs must make before Game 5:

"One thing I notice is that the Spurs, who always hang their hat on winning the last three minutes of quarters, haven't done that the last two games. And when they don't do that, they're in trouble.

"So they've got to be focused on that and you might expect to see their starters in the game at the end of the first period, for example.

"Plus, they're taking much quicker shots trying to get back in the last two games, as opposed to a lot of ball movement and unselfishness. It's as if they're rushing to try to catch back up, worried about the score.

"I'd say patience is as important for them as anything right now."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s....1d2eaf23.html

[DULESfreestyler]

For the Spurs, the adjustments they need to make have less to do with X's and O's and a whole lot more to do with adjusting attitude and approach

very true

"Plus, they're taking much quicker shots trying to get back in the last two games, as opposed to a lot of ball movement and unselfishness. It's as if they're rushing to try to catch back up, worried about the score.

"I'd say patience is as important for them as anything right now."

who-ever is responsibile for setting up the offense needs to set the example... the Spurs as a team have gotten away from what got them to the finals.

[Manuac]

Definitely true. It's what everybody saw during the game and what the players, especially Manu, were saying. There is no movement on the court. They give the ball to somebody and wait for something to happen. They didn't help to disrupt the defense, they didn't try to get away from their own defenders and get open. You have to constantly move and make it hard for their defense. Try to confuse their rotations. None of these smart things that we are used to seeing from the Spurs.

[intlspurshk]

Very true. I hope the team will adjust.

[WhiteChocolateJr]

Point. Guard. Play.

Parker and Beno need to actually set up plays and run the offense, rather than dumping it in for 1 on 1 play or taking a rushed shot themself.

[Blake]

I agree that patience on offense is definitely a key, but the Spurs bench can't seem to solve that half court press.......

Hubie Brown was practically telling Beno, "ok, you have to be careful here and leave an outlet for yourself..." and no sooner did he say that than Beno dribbled right into the trap and turned the ball over for an easy bucket.........

[Jason R]

Thing is I can live with the slow offense if the DEFENSE WOULD STEP UP.

[MarineForLife]

Originally Posted by Blake

I agree that patience on offense is definitely a key, but the Spurs bench can't seem to solve that half court press.......

Hubie Brown was practically telling Beno, "ok, you have to be careful here and leave an outlet for yourself..." and no sooner did he say that than Beno dribbled right into the trap and turned the ball over for an easy bucket.........

aahh, but you left out the most telling point: what he did in that very play in Gm 4 was PRECISELY THE EXACT SAME THING that he did in Game 3. Kid was sleeping in film study.

But for that play, you shouldn't need any film study . . . because what Udrih did in that play was worse than a rookie mistake . . . it was a junior high mistake. You NEVER advance the ball toward the sideline when you see a trap waiting for you ahead.

I saw that play as a microcosm of the Spurs' mentality in that game - they were sleep-walking (again), and they did not deserve to win that game (never mind the hideous officiating).

Originally Posted by Jason R

Thing is I can live with the slow offense if the DEFENSE WOULD STEP UP.

No kidding . . . what happened to that #1 D? What happened to that transition D? This is not the Suns we're playing here . . . it's the Pistons! But we are making them look like the Suns on offense.

Originally Posted by WhiteChocolateJr

Point. Guard. Play.

Parker and Beno need to actually set up plays and run the offense, rather than dumping it in for 1 on 1 play or taking a rushed shot themself.

I've said it a million times before: Parker is the single strongest determinant as to whether we win or lose. He plays well, we win. He plays crappy, we lose. When playing a tough D like Pistons', even when he plays mediocre (like he has the past 2 games), we lose.

[Slayer Min]

How about Horry touching the rim and Bavetta called the goaltending?

Didn't Brent Barry give up a bonehead turnover in the first quarter?

This game wasn't as bad as the score indicated. If we kept the starters in, we could have kept it under 20.