nkdlunch
12-04-2009, 12:22 PM
First of all I can't beleive most "fans" here are calling last nite loss a bad loss and bitching. Not a bad loss at all. We played the best team in the league in the Celtics and they were at full strength and definitely in "ON" mode, AND Spurs still made it competitive. Our guys fought hard and our D was pretty good.
Why state of the Spurs now? I think right now it's a turning point in the season for Spurs. All new pieces have played together a good amount and we have a bunch of games piled up in the next few weeks.
This season I been watching pretty much all Spurs games for the first time ever so I think I got a pretty good idea. I think so far, things are going good. when you take overall picture, so far for Spurs... everything is going as expected.
Now on to the individual evaluation: (the order matters)
Overachieving and surprising:
http://hoopedia.nba.com/images/e/e1/Act_tim_duncan.jpg
Duncan - what can I say, this season he's as good as he's been for the last 5 years. No slowdown here. One guarantee, if there is a big game, Duncan will be there. No concerns here. Still best PF in the league when you count defense.
http://img.slate.com/media/1/123125/122958/2207904/2234469/091103_EX_dejuanBlairTN.jpg
Blair - He's a fucking beast. All it takes is one or 2 good plays from Blair any given night and the Beast is awoken and there is no stopping it. Fans expectations were high on Blair but unbeleivably he is exceeding them.
http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/San+Antonio+Spurs+v+Dallas+Mavericks+Game+BRYjg1Gz lsXl.jpg
Hill - Best backup PG in the NBA? Could be. By season end, yes he will be. And it's his 2nd year!
Finley - Shooting well, defending decently at times, even driving to the basket? Finley is having a damn good season so far.
Bonner - Eventhough defensively he is below average for a big, he makes very little mistakes when he is on the floor. Must be a reason why he got such high +/- He is having a way better season than last year and he is shooting almost 50% from 3. Should he start? no , but deserves the minutes he is getting.
Doing ok, mas o menos:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rVItnnrpuX0/Rm9vBloIZZI/AAAAAAAAALc/kSsgkSWyebU/s400/tony+parker+2.jpg
Parker - Parker had an active summer and Pop rested him on pre-season. This is why he is starting slow. I expect him to get into his real season form in this december stretch, I have no worries he will get to top form soon. No worries here either.
McDyess - Not playing well but not playing horrible either. Good thing is he seems to be in shape and good health. He is still getting into the system. He will be fine.
http://www.spurscourtside.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Manu-Ginobili1.jpg
Ginobili - coming back from almost a year off. Was not in shape at all to start the season. Probably his worst season start of his career but he has shown some flashes that he still might have it. He's probably the main concern for me. Will he get to top form? Will he stay healthy? My crystal ball is silent on this one.
Bogans - Good defender close to Bowen caliber and way more athletic so he can keep up with young faster or bigger guys. Pop will use the Bogans card when necessary and it will pay dividends.
Underachieving and concerning:
Mason - Horrible start of season for Money Mason. He ain't even Penny Mason at this point. I'm not even gonna list all that's going wrong with Mason cause I don't have the time. BUT 2 things: he seems to be getting over the hump in the last couple of games and he still seems to have the confidence and is not hanging his head yet. Keep your head up Mason and for God's sakes pray God/Allah/Buddah that you will get over this curse you got this season.
http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/images/photos/000/768/134/93207644.jpg.8094.0_feature.jpg
Jefferson - Plain and simple he just does not fit this team so far. It's like a puzzle piece that everyone is trying to force into the wrong place so far. He's another of my huge concerns, and sadly with Jefferson it's worse because it seems he does not have the mental focus yet. He is not even mentally in the team, which is the worst part. I am no expert on contracts/salaries, but if I was the Spurs I would consider moving Jefferson for another piece. Probably not even possible and for sure Spurs won't give up yet on him. But again, it's the "all in season", everything is possible.
Mahinmi - :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss Naming him here because boy, he could have helped us. Not all his fault, he had bad luck but also has low, low bball IQ. Bye bye Ian.
Theo, Hairston - played to little to get any idea. But they are insurance.
All in all so far it's all going as planned. Us fans(the few smart ones) knew there were gona be bumps on the road and the team was not gonna be beasting from day 1. But the best news is big 3 seem healthy. The team's improvement is clearly going forward rather than backwards. Pop is going for the marathon, not the race and that was obvious last night vs. Celts.
Short term goal for next couple of months? Improve defense, get within striking distance of SW division top and don't pay attention to the legions of retarded spurs fans.
My prediction? If big 3 stay healthy and either Mason or RJ turn the corner, watch out. If both RJ and Mason turn the corner, this team is gonna fuck shit up. And I would not be surprised to see a big trade/pickup either. Why not? It's the "all in" season.
Mason, RJ, are you guys gonna show up for the team? Manu keep fighting.
Regardless props to the Spurs franchise for going all out for Duncan. Win or lose this season, Spurs and Duncan have nothing to be ashamed of.
:flag:
Why state of the Spurs now? I think right now it's a turning point in the season for Spurs. All new pieces have played together a good amount and we have a bunch of games piled up in the next few weeks.
This season I been watching pretty much all Spurs games for the first time ever so I think I got a pretty good idea. I think so far, things are going good. when you take overall picture, so far for Spurs... everything is going as expected.
Now on to the individual evaluation: (the order matters)
Overachieving and surprising:
http://hoopedia.nba.com/images/e/e1/Act_tim_duncan.jpg
Duncan - what can I say, this season he's as good as he's been for the last 5 years. No slowdown here. One guarantee, if there is a big game, Duncan will be there. No concerns here. Still best PF in the league when you count defense.
http://img.slate.com/media/1/123125/122958/2207904/2234469/091103_EX_dejuanBlairTN.jpg
Blair - He's a fucking beast. All it takes is one or 2 good plays from Blair any given night and the Beast is awoken and there is no stopping it. Fans expectations were high on Blair but unbeleivably he is exceeding them.
http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/San+Antonio+Spurs+v+Dallas+Mavericks+Game+BRYjg1Gz lsXl.jpg
Hill - Best backup PG in the NBA? Could be. By season end, yes he will be. And it's his 2nd year!
Finley - Shooting well, defending decently at times, even driving to the basket? Finley is having a damn good season so far.
Bonner - Eventhough defensively he is below average for a big, he makes very little mistakes when he is on the floor. Must be a reason why he got such high +/- He is having a way better season than last year and he is shooting almost 50% from 3. Should he start? no , but deserves the minutes he is getting.
Doing ok, mas o menos:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rVItnnrpuX0/Rm9vBloIZZI/AAAAAAAAALc/kSsgkSWyebU/s400/tony+parker+2.jpg
Parker - Parker had an active summer and Pop rested him on pre-season. This is why he is starting slow. I expect him to get into his real season form in this december stretch, I have no worries he will get to top form soon. No worries here either.
McDyess - Not playing well but not playing horrible either. Good thing is he seems to be in shape and good health. He is still getting into the system. He will be fine.
http://www.spurscourtside.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Manu-Ginobili1.jpg
Ginobili - coming back from almost a year off. Was not in shape at all to start the season. Probably his worst season start of his career but he has shown some flashes that he still might have it. He's probably the main concern for me. Will he get to top form? Will he stay healthy? My crystal ball is silent on this one.
Bogans - Good defender close to Bowen caliber and way more athletic so he can keep up with young faster or bigger guys. Pop will use the Bogans card when necessary and it will pay dividends.
Underachieving and concerning:
Mason - Horrible start of season for Money Mason. He ain't even Penny Mason at this point. I'm not even gonna list all that's going wrong with Mason cause I don't have the time. BUT 2 things: he seems to be getting over the hump in the last couple of games and he still seems to have the confidence and is not hanging his head yet. Keep your head up Mason and for God's sakes pray God/Allah/Buddah that you will get over this curse you got this season.
http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/images/photos/000/768/134/93207644.jpg.8094.0_feature.jpg
Jefferson - Plain and simple he just does not fit this team so far. It's like a puzzle piece that everyone is trying to force into the wrong place so far. He's another of my huge concerns, and sadly with Jefferson it's worse because it seems he does not have the mental focus yet. He is not even mentally in the team, which is the worst part. I am no expert on contracts/salaries, but if I was the Spurs I would consider moving Jefferson for another piece. Probably not even possible and for sure Spurs won't give up yet on him. But again, it's the "all in season", everything is possible.
Mahinmi - :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss :pctoss Naming him here because boy, he could have helped us. Not all his fault, he had bad luck but also has low, low bball IQ. Bye bye Ian.
Theo, Hairston - played to little to get any idea. But they are insurance.
All in all so far it's all going as planned. Us fans(the few smart ones) knew there were gona be bumps on the road and the team was not gonna be beasting from day 1. But the best news is big 3 seem healthy. The team's improvement is clearly going forward rather than backwards. Pop is going for the marathon, not the race and that was obvious last night vs. Celts.
Short term goal for next couple of months? Improve defense, get within striking distance of SW division top and don't pay attention to the legions of retarded spurs fans.
My prediction? If big 3 stay healthy and either Mason or RJ turn the corner, watch out. If both RJ and Mason turn the corner, this team is gonna fuck shit up. And I would not be surprised to see a big trade/pickup either. Why not? It's the "all in" season.
Mason, RJ, are you guys gonna show up for the team? Manu keep fighting.
Regardless props to the Spurs franchise for going all out for Duncan. Win or lose this season, Spurs and Duncan have nothing to be ashamed of.
:flag: