McDonald: Spurs Can't Wait To See Ratliff At The Rim

[duncan228]

Spurs can't wait to see Ratliff at the rim (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/63370422.html)
Jeff McDonald

The path to the basket was clear, or so Marcus Haislip thought. He took one dribble, then two, then lifted off to attempt the sort of teeth-chattering dunks that had made him a YouTube mainstay during his 31/2 seasons in Europe.

A funny thing happened on Haislip's way to the basket during a recent Spurs intrasquad scrimmage.

“Somebody came out of nowhere,” Haislip said, “and blocked it.”

It took Haislip a few moments to figure out who that somebody was. In retrospect, he probably could have guessed.

“That's been my calling card my whole career,” Theo Ratliff said.

Ratliff, a 6-foot-10 reserve center and former NBA shot-blocking champion, was an under-the-radar acquisition for the Spurs this offseason. Certainly, he was not as fawned-over as fellow newcomers Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and DeJuan Blair.

Yet if Ratliff has just a few more blocked shots left in his 36-year-old hands, he will have earned every cent the Spurs spent to get him here. The 14-year veteran is poised to bring to San Antonio something the Spurs haven't had since David Robinson last hung up his Nikes: another intimidating rim defender to complement Tim Duncan.

Less than a week into training camp, Ratliff has already made his presence felt — and not just by Haislip.

“He makes you change the way you shoot,” Manu Ginobili said. “We haven't had that in the last few years, ever since 5-0 (Robinson) left. It's good to have a shot-blocker like that.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich hopes Ratliff's come-from-nowhere block on Haislip is a sign of things to come. The Spurs were the league's fourth-worst shot-blocking team last season, averaging four per game.

“It was nice to see,” Popovich said. “Timmy needs somebody else to be doing that. He can't be the only guy doing it all the time.”

The additions of Ratliff and McDyess, another respected low-post defender, were part of an offseason makeover meant to restore the Spurs to the realm of elite defensive teams.

The Spurs finished ninth in the league in field goal percentage defense last season (45.3), their lowest rank in 11 seasons under Popovich. Popovich has made it a professed goal this season to get back into the top two or three in the league.

Though not quite the player he was in his prime, Ratliff could play a significant role in getting the Spurs there.

As the Denver Nuggets proved last season, a shot blocker or two can improve a team's overall defensive outlook significantly. Almost overnight, Denver became a top-5 defensive team thanks in large measure to the shot-blocking work of Chris Andersen and Nenê.

Ratliff's eyes twinkle when told of Popovich's plan to re-emphasize defense this season.

“That's my forté,” said Ratliff, who logged 47 blocks in 46 games with Philadelphia last season. “That's been me my whole career. I know that's what I'm good at, and what they brought me here to do.”

Just in case there was any doubt, however, Ratliff showcased as much in one of his first training camp practices with the Spurs. A few days later, Haislip was still disputing the legality of Ratliff's block.

“I think it was goaltending,” Haislip said, “but Theo's a veteran, so he's going to get those calls over me.”

If Haislip was surprised to see Ratliff get to the ball, well, so was Ratliff.

After all, Haislip is one of the top athletes the Spurs have in camp this year. Ratliff is a creaky vet still in the “getting warmed up” phase of his preseason.

“I guess I've still got some hops in my legs,” Ratliff said. “I didn't know I'd be able to do that this early in camp.”

If the Spurs get their wish, it won't be the last time Ratliff surprises somebody at the rim this season.

[Manufan909]

Can't wait for him to stuff someone as a Spur. If it's in the first reg season game, or even preseason, that'd be great. But if he does so in preseason, then I might not get to see it.:(

[ducks]

“He makes you change the way you shoot,” Manu Ginobili said. “We haven't had that in the last few years, ever since 5-0 (Robinson) left. It's good to have a shot-blocker like that.”

his health in the postseason is important

[iManu]

Yes. Manu's health is very important. He's one of the best players to grace the game..

[iManu]

Haha!!! Just FUCKING with you, ducks!!!!!!

No wait. He really is that good.

[ducks]

was talking about ratliff
he is the shot blocker
block kobe
manu health is important though to

[Blackjack]

As the Denver Nuggets proved last season, a shot blocker or two can improve a team's overall defensive outlook significantly. Almost overnight, Denver became a top-5 defensive team thanks in large measure to the shot-blocking work of Chris Andersen and Nenê.

Pretty poor example when they've had the likes of Camby, Martin, Nene, Anderson before last season..

They became a better team defensively, and overall, because they acquired a genuine floor leader that gave them structure and accountability on both ends of the court.

Shot-blocking isn't always the greatest indicator for defense, especially when your first line of defense is a couple of turnstiles and the last line sacrifices fundamentally sound, disciplined defense for the glory of a blocked shot.

That being said, I'm definitely pleased with the Ratliff addition.

I've said he'd be this year's Willis in prior posts, mainly because of the advanced age and expected limited role, but a better comparison might actually be Mutombo; someone who, regardless of age, still changes and altars shots with his mere presence on the court.

And if the Rattler can give the Spurs anything close to what Mutombo gave the Rockets over the last couple of years, it'd be quite the coup.

Hopefully that back of his will hold up and he'll give the Spurs a handful of turn-back-the-clock moments along the way.

[honestfool84]

haven't seen any of these around..

this made me all that much more EXCITED for this upcoming season.

5aCz-Yepz-0

[Hooks]

It's gonna be fun having a guy besides Timmy that can actually block shots. This dude ain't what he used to be, but he still has some solid shot blocking in him. I just wonder how many minutes per game he's gonna get and how good of a tandem him and TD will make guarding the rim.

[timvp]

Pretty poor example when they've had the likes of Camby, Martin, Nene, Anderson before last season..

Yeah, that's the first thing that stood out to me too. The Nuggets had way more blocks two years ago than they did last year. They actually lost shotblocking but improved their defense ... mostly due to Marcus Camby being a vastly overrated defender.

[timvp]

As for Ratliff, it'll be really interesting to see how much he has left in the tank. Pop may lean him on him a bit more than expected if Ratliff provides a healthy amount of shotblocking. Considering that the Spurs can easily put four scorers around him, his defense alone should be able to earn him minutes.

We'll see but Ratliff could be more important to the 2009-10 Spurs than we are expecting.

[Buddy Holly]

Image a line up of:

Hill
Hairston
Haislip
Duncan
Ratliff

wow.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Just so incredibly bittersweet that the spurs finally get us a shotblocker when he's old, and probably doesn't have anything left, and a legit bigman next to duncan when he is pretty old, and playing year 1 of what will probably be his last decent contract.

bitter sweet.

[Obstructed_View]

Latif!

[MaNu4Tres]

We need to trade all of our trading assets for Jeff Foster so he can make this article irrelevant. Jeff Foster would be so much more effective than Ratliff in the whole 12 minutes he would play.

[024]

sounds like ratliff will be on the floor whenever duncan isn't. his blocks per 40 has hovered around 3 for the last few years so hopefully he maintains that stat. this will give popovich the capability to play potential defensive liabilities like blair or mahinmi more. i love how the spurs at least attempted to fill all the holes and weaknesses on the team. other than the uncontrollable factor of health, this spurs team has no weaknesses.

[BWS-1994]

sounds like ratliff will be on the floor whenever duncan isn't. his blocks per 40 has hovered around 3 for the last few years so hopefully he maintains that stat. this will give popovich the capability to play potential defensive liabilities like blair or mahinmi more. i love how the spurs at least attempted to fill all the holes and weaknesses on the team. other than the uncontrollable factor of health, this spurs team has no weaknesses.

I see Pop playing TD and Ratliff at the same time against Pau and Bynum :hat

[TimDunkem]

haven't seen any of these around..

this made me all that much more EXCITED for this upcoming season.

5aCz-Yepz-0
lol He smacked Yao's shit twice! :lol

[SenorSpur]

One of the side-benefits of having a proven, veteran, big like Ratliff, is that he can mentor some of the younger bigs - particuarly Ian. I hope Ian watches and learns the true technique of shotblocking from Ratliff. If that happens, it will benefit the Spurs as much as Ratliff's actual on-court contributions.

[raspsa]

We need to trade all of our trading assets for Jeff Foster so he can make this article irrelevant. Jeff Foster would be so much more effective than Ratliff in the whole 12 minutes he would play.
If only it were possible but Foster just signed an extension.. he wants to retirre a Pacer and he's Larry Bird's kind of player.

[loveforthegame]

One of the side-benefits of having a proven, veteran, big like Ratliff, is that he can mentor some of the younger bigs - particuarly Ian. I hope Ian watches and learns the true technique of shotblocking from Ratliff. If that happens, it will benefit the Spurs as much as Ratliff's actual on-court contributions.

I think the Spurs are hoping he has something left and will probably get more minutes than what most of us are thinking he will.

But, I agree, if nothing else his mentoring and leadership off the court should valuable to the young bigs during the season.

[MaNu4Tres]

If only it were possible but Foster just signed an extension.. he wants to retirre a Pacer and he's Larry Bird's kind of player.

sarcasim? Have you heard of it?

[My Fault]

one of the side-benefits of having a proven, veteran, big like ratliff, is that he can mentor some of the younger bigs - particuarly ian. I hope ian watches and learns the true technique of shotblocking from ratliff. If that happens, it will benefit the spurs as much as ratliff's actual on-court contributions.
+1

[Spursfan092120]

Give me some of this

KPMRyiawrIc XmATdbxr7x8 n5nuGYCWyfM uajY58xD_Ug

[Mark in Austin]

As for Ratliff, it'll be really interesting to see how much he has left in the tank. Pop may lean him on him a bit more than expected if Ratliff provides a healthy amount of shotblocking. Considering that the Spurs can easily put four scorers around him, his defense alone should be able to earn him minutes.

We'll see but Ratliff could be more important to the 2009-10 Spurs than we are expecting.


After playing 63, 55, 2, 26, and 46 games the last 5 years, I was just thinking that in a secondary defender role and fewer minutes, Ratliff might be more likely to make it through the season relatively injury free; but it looks like he never played more than 27.5 mpg during that stretch. I don't know enough about him to know the particulars of all the injuries - I think he took a year off until he signed w/ Boston towards the end of one the 2 game season - but I worry about his durability.

Hopefully, Pop is smart enough to add Ratliff to the list of players who they are being extra careful with about wear and tear, even though he can be such a defensive beast.

I think with two young guns like Blair and Mihinmi to soak up their combined wisdom, Duncan and Ratliff should be in good shape to lead the bigs to a standout year defensively and also get the young guys some valuable floor time - even starters minutes on b2b games. Throw in Dice's professionalism and consistancy and a wildcard 3/4 in Haislip who seems to have a serious chip on his shoulder to prove his worth, and it is incredibly hard not to be excited about how good the frontcourt can be this year. On paper this is the strongest, most versatile frontcourt in the Duncan era.

[cherylsteele]

I vision Ratliff and this year's version on Kevin Willis.

[Blackjack]

As for Ratliff, it'll be really interesting to see how much he has left in the tank. Pop may lean him on him a bit more than expected if Ratliff provides a healthy amount of shotblocking. Considering that the Spurs can easily put four scorers around him, his defense alone should be able to earn him minutes.

We'll see but Ratliff could be more important to the 2009-10 Spurs than we are expecting.

Yeah, that's pretty much the impression I've been getting lately.

The first thought was to go to the immediate Willis analogy but the more I see and hear about him, the more prominent his role seems to get; not that he's going to be a huge contributuor or minute-eater, but that he's seen as a piece to the puzzle and not some insurance policy/luxury-item.

[angelbelow]

It'll be nice to have Theo out there but I don't think he'll have any significant contritbutions until the playoffs.

[benefactor]

If only it were possible but Foster just signed an extension.. he wants to retirre a Pacer and he's Larry Bird's kind of player.
I wouldn't say it's out of the question. He actually signed his extension at the beginning of last season and it only goes through next season. He did say he wanted to retire there...but that was before the economy went into the crapper and the salary cap became questionable. The Pacers may need to move someone for expirings to stay out of tax territory next season. Money >>> Loyalty.

Oh...and MaNu4Tres was being sarcastic. He lives on some strange planet where trading expiring contracts for Jeff Foster would not help our front line one bit.

[The Truth #6]

He'll play more than Caldwell Jones did, but I think it will be situational and there will be several games where he doesn't play at all.

[TIMMYD!]

He'll get about 10 minutes a game but if he can contribute defensively it's well worth it.

[MaNu4Tres]

Oh...and MaNu4Tres was being sarcastic. He lives on some strange planet where trading expiring contracts for Jeff Foster would not help our front line one bit.

Not really my friend. That is not what I said.

I said that I just don't think trading our trading assets for a guy that would come in and play the role Theo would 8-14 minutes a game is worth it. That's what I've said from the beginning of free agency. Signing a defensive post player like Theo Ratliff for the minimum to take on the back up center role playing 8-14 minutes a game is smarter ( business wise) than using your trading assets and 1st round pick for a player that would be given the same role.

I rather hold on to those chips to the trading deadline and see if Blair lives up to expectations and to see if Mason's defense has improved. And make a move then if there's a possibility at improving our 3rd big man spot or 3rd wing spot in the rotation.

[benefactor]

Foster and Ratliff are not the same...but I am not getting into all the reasons why...again...for those that don't understand this truth. The reasons why can be found here (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129411) for those that are interested.

[MaNu4Tres]

Foster and Ratliff are not the same...but I am not getting into all the reasons why...again...for those that don't understand this truth. The reasons why can be found here (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129411) for those that are interested.

I never said they were the same I said they would play the same role.

Provide interior defense help, rebound, contest shots around the rim, set solid screens and convert open opportunities by Tim, Manu, Tony, RJ creating, or score on second chance opportunities after grabbing offensive rebounds. All this in 8-14 minutes a game.

There are some things Foster does better like rebound, and theres some things Ratliff does better like contesting shots around the rim and shot blocking but since Foster has the better durability I'd give him a slight edge over Ratliff. I don't think that slight edge is worth trading our trading assets and a 1st round pick.

[EricB]

Jeff Foster? The always hurt white stiff in Indiana? Really? I mean, really!?

[ducks]

true
he could start and help duncan not get in foul trouble early

[mando6599]

One of the side-benefits of having a proven, veteran, big like Ratliff, is that he can mentor some of the younger bigs - particuarly Ian. I hope Ian watches and learns the true technique of shotblocking from Ratliff. If that happens, it will benefit the Spurs as much as Ratliff's actual on-court contributions.

Speaking of Ian, I haven't read anything on him yet this week. Is he scrimmaging at all? Still injured? What's the latest on him, anyone know?

mando

[mountainballer]

first off, I do think it's not a bad idea to add a veteran like Ratliff for the minimum. I lot can (and will) happen over a season and every team needs some additional options and insurance.
this doesn't mean it is a given thing Ratliff will be a part of the frontcourt rotation at all. (as most here seem to assume)
Spurs won't play a 7-man frontcourt rotation this season, nor a 6-man rotation.
but fact is, we have 7 bigs on the roster (with guaranteed contracts) and the only one who could go to the D-league is someone nobody wants to see there. (Blair)
so (unless a trade happens till season start) two bigs won't play a role at all and be on the inactve list. IMO there is a good chance that Ratliff will be one of them.
for the spot of the 5th big there likely will be a competition between Haislip, Ian and Ratliff.
currently I would think Haislip has the edge.
yes, it's been pointed out that in Ratliff Spurs add shot blocking, something they lacked last season. but Haislip is by far the best athlete and most mobile of the 7 bigs and Spurs had a big hole in that department either.

at the beginning of the season the rotation might look like this: Tim 32- Dice 24 - Blair 20 - Bonner 15 - Haislip 10 - Ratliff 0 - Mahinmi 0

[rjv]

ratliff will be a big factor when playing teams with frontcourt depth such as the lakers, celtics, blazers and cavs.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Pop and Ratliff might be a good match. Ratliff may see more time here than he has in awhile. He may have younger legs than a typical 36 year old NBA vet since he's had really limited numbers the last few years.

[mountainballer]

Pop and Ratliff might be a good match. Ratliff may see more time here than he has in awhile. He may have younger legs than a typical 36 year old NBA vet since he's had really limited numbers the last few years.

:lol
now, THAT's a great example of a glass-half-full approach.

[Ditty]

ratliff seems like he will be a great leader he seemed to understand the system, he was communicating with the guards and yelling at his players, he was playing tim tough giving him problems, and he does alter alot of shots I wonder if he player over Ian the way he did he should defenseivly, but Ian can put up points if he wants too