duncan228
10-19-2009, 02:33 PM
2009-10 San Antonio Spurs Preview (http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/nbanews.asp?articleID=266487)
By John McMullen, NBA Editor
(Sports Network)
After 12 Consecutive trips to the postseason and four rings, you could almost see the end of the road coming for a great San Antonio team.
Injuries and age took a toll on Gregg Popovich's club last season and many thought the Spurs would have to start to think about the dreaded "R" word -- rebuilding.
The Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is still as imposing as ever when they are on the floor together but the supporting cast really lacked athleticism. In one fell swoop, San Antonio cured that in a three team deal that brought another All-Star caliber player to the Alamo City, forward Richard Jefferson.
The Spurs sent veteran defensive stopper Bruce Bowen and forward Kurt Thomas to the Bucks, and also dealt forward Fabricio Oberto to Detroit in the deal so they didn't give up much.
Jefferson, 29, averaged 19.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 82 games for Milwaukee last season -- his first with the Bucks after they acquired him in a draft-day deal last year.
"We are thrilled to add Richard Jefferson to the Spurs roster. He is a talented, athletic player - in the prime of his career - who can influence the game on both ends of the court. We think he is a great fit for our team," said basketball chief RC Buford.
Buford was also able to provide the interior bulk the team was missing a season ago by acquiring battle-tested veterans Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff along with rookie DeJuan Blair.
"I think it's important at a certain point to realize that it's time to turn the page," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We felt like that for a couple years and slowly moved toward it, knowing full well at some point we had to change."
2008-09 Results: 54-28, first in Southwest; Lost in first round of playoffs to Dallas.
ADDITIONS: F DeJuan Blair, F Richard Jefferson, C/F Antonio McDyess, C Theo Ratliff, G Keith Bogans
SUBTRACTIONS: F Bruce Bowen, F/C Drew Gooden, F/C Fabricio Oberto, F Kurt Thomas
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:
PG- Tony Parker SG- Michael Finley SF- Richard Jefferson PF- Tim Duncan C- Antonio McDyess
KEY RESERVES: C Theo Ratliff, F DeJuan Blair, G Roger Mason Jr., G George Hill
FRONTCOURT: Duncan is still playing at a high-level but the Spurs would like to limit him to about 27-to-32 minutes a night in the regular season. A wonderful low-post player, rebounder and defender, about the only flaw you can find in Duncan's game is his free throw shooting.
Jefferson is an extremely athletic player that can run the floor and ignite a crowd with his offensive ability, The Arizona product isn't the best rebounder or defender but gives the Spurs another solid scoring option.
The Spurs have a number of options at center after being forced to go with Matt Bonner last year. A high-post center that can nail the three and pass the ball, Bonner is not exactly going to bang with other big men.
McDyess offers a nice mid-range jumper and rebounding ability while Ratliff is one of the game's best shot blockers. Both veterans need to have their minutes limited, however, and the key for Popovich is not who starts, it's who finishes. McDyess will almost certainly be that guy.
BACKCOURT: Parker has always had amazing quickness that enables him to get to the rim at will. He's also improved his jumper to the point that you can't sag off of him defensively, making him one of the best point guards in the game.
Veteran Michael Finley exercised his option to return. He is aging but still has the ability to score and defend, helping the Spurs become one of the most balanced group in the league.
BENCH: I've already used the cliche once. It's not who starts, it's who finishes and Ginobili is the Spurs' best finisher but is coming off an injury- plagued year in which he played just 44 games. He hurt his left ankle in the Beijing Olympics and then hurt his right foot after returning to the floor. Any time you have a leg injury on a player that relies on his quickness and driving ability, you have to be concerned and the Spurts will be holding their collective breath, hoping the old Ginobili shows up this season.
"Just watching Manu in practice makes us remember how much we missed last year and even the year before when he was at half-speed in the playoffs," said Popovich.
Second-year player George Hill will backup Parker. Hill had his moments as a rookie but needs to develop a more consistent jumper and prove he can handle things at the defensive end.
Roger Mason knocked down a number of big shots for the Spurs last season and could push Finley for minutes.
Blair was expected to be a first round pick but fell over concerns about his knee. He brings energy, toughness and offensive rebounding prowess to the table.
COACHING: Phil Jackson has 10 rings but Popovich is still regarded by most as the best pure basketball coach in the NBA. A solid X's and O's guy that preaches defense and communicates effectively. What else could you ask for?
STEVE SCHWARZ'S FANTASY FOCUS: Jefferson (19.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg with Milwaukee) joins the long-time trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. All four should continue to be solid contributors, though Duncan has slowed down a bit from his peak years. Whereas he used to play 38-40 minutes a game, he's down to 33-34 and Popovich will rest Duncan and his bad knees whenever a game gets out of hand. That might limit his numbers. On the other hand, Parker is getting better with age, averaging a career-high 22.0 ppg last season. Ginobili missed 38 games last season and wasn't 100% healthy even when he played. It showed as his scoring average took a dip from 19.5 ppg to 15.5. He's struggling with his health in preseason, so be wary of picking him too high.
OUTLOOK: The last hurrah for the Duncan-Parker-Gonobili trio is fast approaching but San Antonio was focused on getting younger and more athletic in the offseason and managed to do exactly that.
This is still a veteran driven club, however. The core stars are clearly aging but if Duncan and Parker stay healthy and Ginobili returns at a high level, expect another run at a championship in the Alamo City.
"TD [Tim Duncan] is healthy and Tony [Parker] is in good shape," Ginobili said. "I feel like I can be myself again. I feel like we have a shot again."
By John McMullen, NBA Editor
(Sports Network)
After 12 Consecutive trips to the postseason and four rings, you could almost see the end of the road coming for a great San Antonio team.
Injuries and age took a toll on Gregg Popovich's club last season and many thought the Spurs would have to start to think about the dreaded "R" word -- rebuilding.
The Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is still as imposing as ever when they are on the floor together but the supporting cast really lacked athleticism. In one fell swoop, San Antonio cured that in a three team deal that brought another All-Star caliber player to the Alamo City, forward Richard Jefferson.
The Spurs sent veteran defensive stopper Bruce Bowen and forward Kurt Thomas to the Bucks, and also dealt forward Fabricio Oberto to Detroit in the deal so they didn't give up much.
Jefferson, 29, averaged 19.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 82 games for Milwaukee last season -- his first with the Bucks after they acquired him in a draft-day deal last year.
"We are thrilled to add Richard Jefferson to the Spurs roster. He is a talented, athletic player - in the prime of his career - who can influence the game on both ends of the court. We think he is a great fit for our team," said basketball chief RC Buford.
Buford was also able to provide the interior bulk the team was missing a season ago by acquiring battle-tested veterans Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff along with rookie DeJuan Blair.
"I think it's important at a certain point to realize that it's time to turn the page," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We felt like that for a couple years and slowly moved toward it, knowing full well at some point we had to change."
2008-09 Results: 54-28, first in Southwest; Lost in first round of playoffs to Dallas.
ADDITIONS: F DeJuan Blair, F Richard Jefferson, C/F Antonio McDyess, C Theo Ratliff, G Keith Bogans
SUBTRACTIONS: F Bruce Bowen, F/C Drew Gooden, F/C Fabricio Oberto, F Kurt Thomas
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:
PG- Tony Parker SG- Michael Finley SF- Richard Jefferson PF- Tim Duncan C- Antonio McDyess
KEY RESERVES: C Theo Ratliff, F DeJuan Blair, G Roger Mason Jr., G George Hill
FRONTCOURT: Duncan is still playing at a high-level but the Spurs would like to limit him to about 27-to-32 minutes a night in the regular season. A wonderful low-post player, rebounder and defender, about the only flaw you can find in Duncan's game is his free throw shooting.
Jefferson is an extremely athletic player that can run the floor and ignite a crowd with his offensive ability, The Arizona product isn't the best rebounder or defender but gives the Spurs another solid scoring option.
The Spurs have a number of options at center after being forced to go with Matt Bonner last year. A high-post center that can nail the three and pass the ball, Bonner is not exactly going to bang with other big men.
McDyess offers a nice mid-range jumper and rebounding ability while Ratliff is one of the game's best shot blockers. Both veterans need to have their minutes limited, however, and the key for Popovich is not who starts, it's who finishes. McDyess will almost certainly be that guy.
BACKCOURT: Parker has always had amazing quickness that enables him to get to the rim at will. He's also improved his jumper to the point that you can't sag off of him defensively, making him one of the best point guards in the game.
Veteran Michael Finley exercised his option to return. He is aging but still has the ability to score and defend, helping the Spurs become one of the most balanced group in the league.
BENCH: I've already used the cliche once. It's not who starts, it's who finishes and Ginobili is the Spurs' best finisher but is coming off an injury- plagued year in which he played just 44 games. He hurt his left ankle in the Beijing Olympics and then hurt his right foot after returning to the floor. Any time you have a leg injury on a player that relies on his quickness and driving ability, you have to be concerned and the Spurts will be holding their collective breath, hoping the old Ginobili shows up this season.
"Just watching Manu in practice makes us remember how much we missed last year and even the year before when he was at half-speed in the playoffs," said Popovich.
Second-year player George Hill will backup Parker. Hill had his moments as a rookie but needs to develop a more consistent jumper and prove he can handle things at the defensive end.
Roger Mason knocked down a number of big shots for the Spurs last season and could push Finley for minutes.
Blair was expected to be a first round pick but fell over concerns about his knee. He brings energy, toughness and offensive rebounding prowess to the table.
COACHING: Phil Jackson has 10 rings but Popovich is still regarded by most as the best pure basketball coach in the NBA. A solid X's and O's guy that preaches defense and communicates effectively. What else could you ask for?
STEVE SCHWARZ'S FANTASY FOCUS: Jefferson (19.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg with Milwaukee) joins the long-time trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. All four should continue to be solid contributors, though Duncan has slowed down a bit from his peak years. Whereas he used to play 38-40 minutes a game, he's down to 33-34 and Popovich will rest Duncan and his bad knees whenever a game gets out of hand. That might limit his numbers. On the other hand, Parker is getting better with age, averaging a career-high 22.0 ppg last season. Ginobili missed 38 games last season and wasn't 100% healthy even when he played. It showed as his scoring average took a dip from 19.5 ppg to 15.5. He's struggling with his health in preseason, so be wary of picking him too high.
OUTLOOK: The last hurrah for the Duncan-Parker-Gonobili trio is fast approaching but San Antonio was focused on getting younger and more athletic in the offseason and managed to do exactly that.
This is still a veteran driven club, however. The core stars are clearly aging but if Duncan and Parker stay healthy and Ginobili returns at a high level, expect another run at a championship in the Alamo City.
"TD [Tim Duncan] is healthy and Tony [Parker] is in good shape," Ginobili said. "I feel like I can be myself again. I feel like we have a shot again."