Three Things Spurs Can Fix In Two Losses To Clippers

Written by Jose Grijalva on Tuesday, 20 November 2012 09:30.

In the first meeting between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers, the Spurs knew their opponents were hungry for revenge and didn't know what to expect. In the second meeting, they knew more or less what to expect from the Clippers, but they didn't expect what was going to happen to their backup-moved-to-starting small forward Stephen Jackson when he fractured his right pinky on his shooting hand.

With the exception of the first quarter (where the Spurs outscored the Clippers 28-18), San Antonio had a tough time containing the Clippers with a combination of good Los Angeles offense, bad San Antonio decision making, and some questionable calls by the referees. The Spurs didn't give up and had a unlikely hero in Matt Bonner hitting some tough three point shots and savvy shots close to the rim, but in the end they couldn't get close enough for a tie. Are the Clippers the better overall team or can the Spurs be if they tweak their schemes and decision making? These are some problems that the Spurs faced that can be fixed:

The Blake Griffin Effect: No one is going to argue this - the guy is a beast. Griffin has burned the Spurs this season in game one (22 points, 10-16 FG, 10 rebounds) and game two (16 points, 8-18 FG, 12 rebounds). The plan the Spurs have had is to guard Griffin with whoever is starting next to Tim Duncan (Boris Diaw in game one, Dejuan Blair in game two). One of the main reasons coach Gregg Popovich has created this defensive match up is to counter DeAndre Jordan's size and capitalize on his lack of shooting, which allows Duncan to stay close to the rim to help. The problem that Griffin has given the Spurs is that he's developed a mid range jump shot to go with his quickness, which forces his defender to either give him room or play him close which forces Duncan to commit to help and leaving Jordan open. Once Duncan helps, that forces a Spurs small to help on a pass to Jordan, which forces another Spurs player to rotate (the scheme that the Spurs had against the New York Knicks when Carmelo Anthony was playing the power forward position). If the Spurs still want to go man defense against the Clippers for their third meeting, don't be surprised if Duncan is defending Griffin at the start or for the majority of the game. Even at 36 years old, Tim Duncan still has a combination of wingspan, height, and speed that some NBA big men wish they could have.

Tony Parker's Decision Making: Parker is one of the top point guards in the NBA, but he's still human. During game two of four against the Clippers this season, he seemed to be lagging a bit on offense (he did play great defense on Chris Paul). A couple of times while Parker was managing the offense, the Spurs got a match up that was heavily in their favor: a pick and roll switch with Parker being guarded by a Clippers big man. Parker was overall not too efficient in those situations, he either made it obvious he was going to drive which gave the big a step ahead of him to contest at the rim or he settled for a long shot that could've been way easier. Parker has a number of options in that situation that can help the team score more easily:

Roam Around The Top of the Key: This makes the big follow Parker from one side of the court to the other or might force an opposing player to

help out, which would leave their guy streaking to the basket on a double team or open for a shot. If the big decides to play man the whole time or gets no help, that'd give Parker a wide open shot with his speed.

Ask For Another Screen: This is probably an option that not a lot of point guards choose because they think their match up is always best. Parker could ask for a screen from another guard or a small forward, which could confuse the opposing team because not a lot of teams coach a 1-2 or a 1-3 pick and roll/pop. Tony could also ask for a screen from a teammate who's being guarded by the remaining big of the opposing team. This would have the primary defender either fighting over a screen or the help defender not having great position because of slower feet. This may force another play to sink into the paint to contest Parker, then giving Parker a tear drop shot or an open man somewhere.

Pass It To The Big With The Small On Him In The Paint: This seems like the obvious choice. If the switch is with Duncan, it should be a no brainer. Even if Parker's man is blocking a passing lane, he can dribble or pass the ball around while his big man gets position on the opposite side. The shot by the big would be a high percentage shot with an easier view of passing lanes if someone decides to help.

Keep A Cool Head During The Game: There's little doubt the Spurs get emotional about foul calls on them or lack of foul calls for them. The team seemed deflated once Stephen Jackson broke his finger, but this got worse when a few (or a lot depending on what Spurs fan you talk to) calls went the Clippers' way. From Duncan getting a technical for screaming at a referee that he should have gotten an And 1 to a questionable Manu Ginobili offensive foul call against Matt Barnes. The Spurs seemed flustered, driving to the lane hoping to get a call or taking an outside shot instead of driving because they weren't going to get a foul call. The team needs to play with a mindset of scoring without expecting a call. That's where we've seen many classic moments from Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan in the past. This Spurs team is a younger, inexperienced one compared to the championship teams of the past, but they still have their big players since 2003. The veterans have to lead by example so everyone else can follow suit.

These are just a few things the Spurs can fix for their match up against the Clippers, but also may help against the other teams in the NBA. San Antonio still have a veteran coach and veteran leaders on the team, they're bound to turn their problems around and they know they have a full season to work with.

(photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, US Presswire)

7 comments

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UsernameAlvin

You guys worry too much about the Clips. They nothing but a bunch of kids who consider playing against every Spurs game as a championship game 7 "game". They just wanna get even but in the end they're still gonna end up losing. I don't worry about this crap team. Griffin? highlights w/o a D. that's who he is. If there's some teams we should be wary of, It's Memphis and Miami and nothing more.

CraigThomas

lol if a picture could speak 1000 words, oh what a tale the picture accompanying this article would tell. How perfectly apt to explain to Spurs fans where we go wrong. Matt Bonner struggles to defend a chair, much less Blake Griffin. The issue we really have with Bonner on the floor however is rebounding. Bonner has to be among the worst in the NBA at giving up offensive rebs. We must get some big man help for Timmy D who is working himself to death trying to get us dubs. Hey FO, are you listening?

TomArmstrong

I agree with the statement by rtesoro440...we need a big defensive person to protect the lane and guard other teams bigs. Too many guards and two "bigs" that are just too small.

merkin

The Spurs struggled vs. the Clipps last reg. season as well, and if not for a fluke t.o. would have lost the series 2-1. But in the playoffs we saw what happened, so I wouldn't take too much away from these losses other than the Clipps are the best team in L.A. right now.

JohanBeijer

That Griffin jumper sure didn't look scary to me.

Just play a full game and we'll beat them.

mdeleon

@Pooreuph So sorry that's been so terrible. I'm frustrated with it myself. Thanks for reading

rtesoro440

2 Like

These are all reasons why the Spurs lost twice already to the Clippers. In all, I think it boils down to mismacth to a guy playing against Griffin. The guy is just too big, mobile and has developed tremendously. And, the Clippers have too many big men for the Spurs to contain - Jordan, Hollins and Turiaf and good shooting guards who are a match if not better than the players of the Spurs. Discussions on how good Parker and TD is, not the issue. The glaring fact is, Blair and Diaw are too short to guard Griffin. As long as the Spurs continue to hold on to Blair or Diaw, Griffin will score with impunity. So, we go back to the need for another guy who can protect the rim, guard Griffin more effectively. They don't need a guy who can shoot, but one who can protect the interiior. Even with Leonard and Jackson healthy, the situatiion will be the same. Admittedly coach Pop is good but, with the same lineup the result will the same - they will lose to the Clippers. This made worse by shot selections. 3 pointers are good but, it will not last long. Perimeter and undergoal stabs are better and more effective. How many 3 points can Green, Neal and Manu shot? These situation must be tolerated. They have 7 guards right now. They have to give up some of these guys and sign a player who can protect the rim and neutralize the height advantage of the Clippers. Is this too difficult? Are they waiting for somebody? .

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