Van Gundy's Comment

J

JackofVirginia

Active member
:cheer: During one of the early playoff games between the Heat and Spurs, Van Gundy stated that the coaches of the AAU teams should film and run a clinic of the Spurs outstanding passing. This is definitely the reason for the Spurs current lead in their playoffs. I keep thinking why can't Lavin and staff work on this quick passing and movement to the basket, especially since we are loaded with athletes and not shooters. Let's be a step ahead of the defense as the Spurs have so brilliantly exhibited. As LeBron indicated yesterday, their brisk passes always find the open man. And if you have been watching it's not only the cutting guards but Duncan as well. C'mon Lavin take advantage of the talented athletes you have.
 
:cheer: During one of the early playoff games between the Heat and Spurs, Van Gundy stated that the coaches of the AAU teams should film and run a clinic of the Spurs outstanding passing. This is definitely the reason for the Spurs current lead in their playoffs. I keep thinking why can't Lavin and staff work on this quick passing and movement to the basket, especially since we are loaded with athletes and not shooters. Let's be a step ahead of the defense as the Spurs have so brilliantly exhibited. As LeBron indicated yesterday, their brisk passes always find the open man. And if you have been watching it's not only the cutting guards but Duncan as well. C'mon Lavin take advantage of the talented athletes you have.
Click to expand...

You could say that about a ton of coaches not named Lavin. Not to mention, the Spurs have a TON of experience; many of their players are foreign; most of their group wasn't subjected to AAU ball (you can kinda tie this one into point #2); their coach will be amongst one of the better coaches in the professional ranks when it's said and done; and, lastly, the Spurs are an NBA team (the highest level of professional hoops). I'm sure this will turn into another bash session. No offense, these kinda threads really doesn't serve much purpose, other than to bring out the parrots.

Other than that, I love watching the Spurs play, as they play the game as it's supposed to be played. Poetry in motion. Old school-style NBA, where every player on the floor is a threat to score.
 
It's not inlyl their passing but their selfishness. They play for the name in their chest not the one in their back.
 
It's not inlyl their passing but their selfishness. They play for the name in their chest not the one in their back.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. Many times, in the NBA it's usually about the name on the back, instead of the name on the front. I don't mean that in bad way. There are guys who wasn't selfish players, but you knew their team would be there at the end because of the name on the back of a player or two (Jordan particularly comes to mind).

Overall, I agree with your quote.
 
I can't blame Lavin because his teams don't look like the Spurs, what other team in the world does?

That said, I agree with Dinkins and Gman, their unselfishness makes them very fun to watch. The ball movement is just phenomenal.
 
I understand we are not the Spurs. However, there has to be something in between what we do and what the Spurs do.
 
I understand we are not the Spurs. However, there has to be something in between what we do and what the Spurs do.
Click to expand...

Fair enough but why don't we all give it a rest. If the team bombs next year we will have a ton of time and opportunity to criticise the coach and staff. Until then let's see what we do this season.
As an aside I do find it very strange comparing our group of players to a great NBA team.
 
It is no coincidence the Spurs play the way they do with a ton of foreign players on the roster. The whole shift of thr NBA marketing to the individual when MJ took center stage has come back to haunt the game. Blaming Lavin is silly IMO; blame players who's main focus is priming themselves for the pros. Just a fact of life in American basketball now. Take it a step back and blame Stern and ESPN............
 
Still debatable, but I think last night solidifies that Glen Williams is now the 2nd greatest player from the Virgin Islands.
 
I think a lot of the commentary on ESPN and on the radio lately does the Spurs a disservice; it's not just their style of play, lots of teams run a ton of cuts and double ball screens.... the Spurs players are just very very good. They hit open shots, Duncan converts time and again on the low block, and Parker and Ginobli don't miss the runners and floaters in the lane that many other players do.

Yes, they move the ball exceptionally well, and that is fun to watch. But the Spurs are winning because they're simply better basketball players in many respects. Plenty of other player's in the nba are capable of being unselfish and are willing to work as a team, the difference is those guys can't convert as efficiently as the Spurs do.
 
Spurs also are great at drafting/integrating complementary players & moving out folks not suited or committed to their philosophy, e.g. Blair.
 
I think a lot of the commentary on ESPN and on the radio lately does the Spurs a disservice; it's not just their style of play, lots of teams run a ton of cuts and double ball screens.... the Spurs players are just very very good. They hit open shots, Duncan converts time and again on the low block, and Parker and Ginobli don't miss the runners and floaters in the lane that many other players do.

Yes, they move the ball exceptionally well, and that is fun to watch. But the Spurs are winning because they're simply better basketball players in many respects. Plenty of other player's in the nba are capable of being unselfish and are willing to work as a team, the difference is those guys can't convert as efficiently as the Spurs do.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree; none of the other semi-finalists (OKC, Pacers, Heat) come close to playing the game the way the Spurs do. All 3 are one on one oriented from the time the possession begins as is almost every other NBA team. The Spurs are completely team oriented until they get the proper match up and then the individual skill takes over. I am hard pressed to name another team that approaches the game the way the Spurs do.
 
It certainly was enjoyable watching the Spurs play offense but the Spurs and SJU rosters consist of the complete opposite style of players. The Spurs had 3 or 4 players on the court at all times who required the defense to be in their face along the perimeter. Pointer and Sampson were not only not covered on the perimeter but they were encouraged to take wide open shots by defenses.
Harrison and Greene and in the second half of the season Jordan were players who required the attention of the defense but that was it.
As far as throwing the ball into the big man and running plays off him SJU big men haven't made 10 baskets in 3 years on plays like that. SJU pass the ball around the perimeter like the Spurs and the players are unselfish but they haven't shown the ability to put the ball in the basket. Jordan and Obepka have to show considerable improvement this year for SJU to be successful. I'm afraid the rest of the roster is what it is.
 
Spurs also are great at drafting/integrating complementary players & moving out folks not suited or committed to their philosophy, e.g. Blair.
Click to expand...

Very true.
 
I think a lot of the commentary on ESPN and on the radio lately does the Spurs a disservice; it's not just their style of play, lots of teams run a ton of cuts and double ball screens.... the Spurs players are just very very good. They hit open shots, Duncan converts time and again on the low block, and Parker and Ginobli don't miss the runners and floaters in the lane that many other players do.

Yes, they move the ball exceptionally well, and that is fun to watch. But the Spurs are winning because they're simply better basketball players in many respects. Plenty of other player's in the nba are capable of being unselfish and are willing to work as a team, the difference is those guys can't convert as efficiently as the Spurs do.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree; none of the other semi-finalists (OKC, Pacers, Heat) come close to playing the game the way the Spurs do. All 3 are one on one oriented from the time the possession begins as is almost every other NBA team. The Spurs are completely team oriented until they get the proper match up and then the individual skill takes over. I am hard pressed to name another team that approaches the game the way the Spurs do.
Click to expand...

Russell Celtics
Reed Knicks
Unseld Bullets
Walton Blazers
Maybe a few others and maybe I'm fixated on teams with centers who enable ball movement and make their teammates better.
 
I think a lot of the commentary on ESPN and on the radio lately does the Spurs a disservice; it's not just their style of play, lots of teams run a ton of cuts and double ball screens.... the Spurs players are just very very good. They hit open shots, Duncan converts time and again on the low block, and Parker and Ginobli don't miss the runners and floaters in the lane that many other players do.

Yes, they move the ball exceptionally well, and that is fun to watch. But the Spurs are winning because they're simply better basketball players in many respects. Plenty of other player's in the nba are capable of being unselfish and are willing to work as a team, the difference is those guys can't convert as efficiently as the Spurs do.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree; none of the other semi-finalists (OKC, Pacers, Heat) come close to playing the game the way the Spurs do. All 3 are one on one oriented from the time the possession begins as is almost every other NBA team. The Spurs are completely team oriented until they get the proper match up and then the individual skill takes over. I am hard pressed to name another team that approaches the game the way the Spurs do.
Click to expand...

Russell Celtics
Reed Knicks
Unseld Bullets
Walton Blazers
Maybe a few others and maybe I'm fixated on teams with centers who enable ball movement and make their teammates better.
Click to expand...

I think he was referring to the present day NBA.
 
Some posters think coaching can get a group of unskilled players to play like the Spurs. No coach in the world could get Dom Pointer, Sampson and a few others to pass and play like that. These mid-majors get guys who are usually a notch below the big boys athletically, but are often extremely skilled. If Lavin coached a school from the Missouri Valley Conference, he'd probably look like a genius. Four or five kids on the floor will be able to dribble-drive, shoot from anywhere on the court, and pass effectively. The problem is they will have to play a near perfect game to beat a taller, longer, and more athletic team that has a much bigger margin of error.
 
My NBA guy spends a lot of time in the Spurs locker room. The word among the players is that Popovich is the biggest reason why they're so good. He avoids taking credit but they know the deal. He is a brilliant man with credentials that go far beyond basketball and he's the best in the business What a pleasure to watch his team operate.
 
:cheer: During one of the early playoff games between the Heat and Spurs, Van Gundy stated that the coaches of the AAU teams should film and run a clinic of the Spurs outstanding passing. This is definitely the reason for the Spurs current lead in their playoffs. I keep thinking why can't Lavin and staff work on this quick passing and movement to the basket, especially since we are loaded with athletes and not shooters. Let's be a step ahead of the defense as the Spurs have so brilliantly exhibited. As LeBron indicated yesterday, their brisk passes always find the open man. And if you have been watching it's not only the cutting guards but Duncan as well. C'mon Lavin take advantage of the talented athletes you have.
Click to expand...

You could say that about a ton of coaches not named Lavin. Not to mention, the Spurs have a TON of experience; many of their players are foreign; most of their group wasn't subjected to AAU ball (you can kinda tie this one into point #2); their coach will be amongst one of the better coaches in the professional ranks when it's said and done; and, lastly, the Spurs are an NBA team (the highest level of professional hoops). I'm sure this will turn into another bash session. No offense, these kinda threads really doesn't serve much purpose, other than to bring out the parrots.

Other than that, I love watching the Spurs play, as they play the game as it's supposed to be played. Poetry in motion. Old school-style NBA, where every player on the floor is a threat to score.
Click to expand...


Wow, bash session? First of all, I am not criticizing Lavin nor am I comparing the Spurs to the Johnnies. Merely suggesting we could use all the help we can get and if it leads to improving our passing and movement then that's one step in the right direction. My post doesn't serve much purpose? Didn't realize I had to first check with Dinkins before posting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top