Are the Spurs contender or pretender?

[duncan228]

Golden: Are the Spurs contender or pretender? (http://www.statesman.com/sports/pro/golden-are-the-spurs-contender-or-pretender-443151.html)
Cedric Golden, Commentary
statesman.com

Tony Parker looked like money in a tailored suit with an open-collared look on Wednesday night.

The San Antonio point guard is not unlike any NBA player. He's rich, well dressed, and living a dream lifestyle.

All is well except for one thing: Parker's not playing. Nice suits are supposed to be hanging in the locker room one hour before tip-off. Parker was wearing his threads.

That broken shooting hand is still a couple of weeks away from being game ready and the Spurs are less one All-Star point guard as a result. Who wouldn't miss a guard who is averaging 16.5 points and 5.7 assists per game? Still, the Spurs have held it together without one of the Big 3.

Give them credit for their effort against the Lakers on Wednesday.

The 92-83 loss wasn't unexpected since L.A. is a serious threat to defend its world title — and boy did Kobe Bryant and the Lakers' defense turn it on in the fourth quarter — but it showed that the Spurs aren't about to pack it in down the stretch. Despite the loss, San Antonio is playing great ball. While the Spurs aren't the terror they were five years ago, they will be a tough out in the postseason, assuming coach Gregg Popovich has plenty of WD-40 to keep those old legs fresh.

While the teams behind the Lakers in the West (Dallas and Denver) are no joke, the Spurs would much rather avoid that 1-8 first-round matchup, a series against L.A., and the resulting playoff cameo.

At 43-27, which puts them in seventh place in the West, the Spurs are in position to avoid the Lakers altogether because they're playing free and easy at the right time of the season, even if Tim Duncan scored only six points in a game this team needed.

Assuming they finish in the top seven in the West, here are three reasons the Spurs, despite an obvious lack of depth, can make some noise in the postseason:

George Hill: Popovich constantly reminds the 24-year-old Hill to stay aggressive and not think he has to defer to his more seasoned teammates. And the kid's listening. With Parker expected to return for the last week of the regular season, the former shooting guard has moved over to the point and given the team a much needed offensive boost.

On Wednesday, Hill handed Derek Fisher 20 first-half points, a few days after he lit up the Thunder for 27 that included a goose egg in the assist column. That prompted Duncan to shout, "We already have one point guard who can't pass'' within earshot of San Antonio Express-News columnist Buck Harvey. I hope he was kidding. Hill did fade in the second half against L.A., but his recent solid play can only help when Parker returns.

Manu Ginobili:At this time last year, Ginobili was the walking wounded. It's amazing what a good surgeon and some rest can do for a basketball player.

Now he's playing some of the best ball of his career. Ginobili looks great at the shooting guard and he shows no signs of slowing with the playoffs coming up. Wednesday he took his turn at guarding Kobe Bryant while scoring 24.

With his agent shooting down rumors this week that he will leave San Antonio to play for Real Madrid, the soon-to-be 33-year-old has fresh legs and a first step that can still befuddle defenders.

Tim Duncan: The numbers are down from his career averages of 21.2 points and 11.6 rebounds, but he's healthy. That bulky knee brace he wore in the preseason exhibition against Oklahoma City was just precautionary and getting him to the money games in one piece is Pop's top priority.

With San Antonio's seeding issues, he can't afford to rest Duncan on the second night of back-to-back games, so we'll keep a close eye on Timmy's gas tank. While he is in decline, Duncan will play better with a day's rest between playoff games.

So the Spurs can win 50 games this year and maybe a playoff series that's not against the Lakers, but that doesn't mean they are capable of navigating the turbulent West waters for another NBA Finals appearance.

Their first order of business is to make sure Duncan, Ginobili and Parker are healthy for the postseason. Pop has always been a master of minutes and in the past he's been able to rest his older stars down the stretch, but that strategy will be compromised in the coming weeks because the Spurs have to keep winning to ensure they avoid that No. 8 seed, a first-round meeting with the Lakers, the league's deepest club.

We will soon find out how good the Spurs are because they just began a gauntlet of a schedule that can best be described as bloody. On Friday, soon-to-be MVP LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will make their lone appearance in San Antonio. As if that were not enough, the Spurs travel to Boston on Sunday to play an aged team that's found its stroke of late. When that's over, they still have road games remaining against the Lakers, Nuggets and Mavericks.

No longer a huge threat to win a title, the Spurs remain a dangerous out.

How dangerous depends on where they're seeded.

[DesignatedT]

their a conprender

[HarlemHeat37]

The Spurs are a good team that can make it as far as the WCF if everything comes together(meaning the big 3+ RJ and Hill are all healthy and playing well) and Kenyon Martin stays hurt, but will most likely be out in the 1st round in a tough series if they play anybody but LA..

[DesignatedT]

tony going down with the broken hand was really unfortunate... our potential is pretty up in the air just like its been all year long. hopefully we can figure something out though.

[Frenzy]

All that text and all he's saying is the spurs can still make noise in the west.

[Sean Cagney]

DONE, we are done..... No noise at all coming out of this team.

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs are mediocre. They're in the middle of the pack, as far as NBA teams go. Their record screams this fact loudly. Mediocre teams do not suddenly catch fire and extend their playoff lives. Teams must have momentum (and talent) heading into the playoffs. As such, the Spurs will be one-and-done come playoff time.

The treadmill of mediocrity is the LAST place an organization needs to be. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse.

[TD 21]

The Spurs are a good team that can make it as far as the WCF if everything comes together(meaning the big 3+ RJ and Hill are all healthy and playing well) and Kenyon Martin stays hurt, but will most likely be out in the 1st round in a tough series if they play anybody but LA..

I was thinking this way for the past month, but it's not going to happen. If Duncan is in this bad of shape now, just think what type of shape he'll be in close to a month from now in the playoffs. Also, the increased minutes he'll be taking on. The front line wasn't good enough with him dominating in the first half of the season.

I don't see how they could win a round because of the inability of their veterans to sustain the requisite energy level needed from game to game in order to do so and because their so-called shooters can't make a fucking shot against good teams.

Just look at the majority of the wins against quality opposition this season, it literally took everything the Spurs had to pull them out. I can't imagine them beating one of those teams four times that way and as we all know, they're terrible in close games.

[DynastySpurs210]

How about Both!!

[TDMVPDPOY]

i think its about time the fans t hat do attend the games wear paperbags to protest against pops coachin

[DesignatedT]

The Spurs are mediocre. They're in the middle of the pack, as far as NBA teams go. Their record screams this fact loudly. Mediocre teams do not suddenly catch fire and extend their playoff lives. Teams must have momentum (and talent) heading into the playoffs. As such, the Spurs will be one-and-done come playoff time.

The treadmill of mediocrity is the LAST place an organization needs to be. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse.

and yet this team has played a total of 2-3 games together as a completely healthy unit....

[Johnny RIngo]

and yet this team has played a total of 2-3 games together as a completely healthy unit....

Even if the squad was healthy, what help is Tim going to get in the paint against the elite frontlines in the league? Our frontcourt consists of an undersized rookie, a stretch 4 that can't do jackshit besides making open threes against lottery teams, and a washed-up/has-been in Dice. Even worse is that SA is giving 20+ minutes a game to one of the worst players in the league(Bogans) and expecting him to be our defensive stopper.

This is a poorly constructed squad. The blame HAS to fall on Buford and Pop. Doesn't help that Holt probably clamped down on the FO, making it nearly impossible to improve this team through a trade.

[DesignatedT]

Even if the squad was healthy, what help is Tim going to get in the paint against the elite frontlines in the league? Our frontcourt consists of an undersized rookie, a stretch 4 that can't do jackshit besides making open threes against lottery teams, and a washed-up/has-been in Dice. Even worse is that SA is giving 20+ minutes a game to one of the worst players in the league(Bogans) and expecting him to be our defensive stopper.

This is a poorly constructed squad. The blame HAS to fall on Buford and Pop. Doesn't help that Holt probably clamped down on the FO, making it nearly impossible to improve this team through a trade.

were definitely to small in the paint. I believe that also especially against teams like LA,Clev,Orl but saying that doesnt mean we wont be able to make a splash or make it interesting.

This team has really not played but a couple games when everyone is healthy and thats the sad part but at the same time the part that keeps giving everyone some sort of hope.

[SenorSpur]

were definitely to small in the paint. I believe that also especially against teams like LA,Clev,Orl but saying that doesnt mean we wont be able to make a splash or make it interesting.

This team has really not played but a couple games when everyone is healthy and thats the sad part but at the same time the part that keeps giving everyone some sort of hope.

Dude, what have you been watching all season? This team cannot defend; it goes on inexplicable scoring droughts; they're regularly giving away a shit-load offensive rebounds; AND they cannot hold leads. They also have a losing record against the NBA's top teams. Regardless of who's been in and out of the lineup, this team is simply mediocre.

There is no quick-fix, lightening-in-a-bottle solution. The Spurs are not going to fare any better once the playoffs start. This is the hand that has been dealt for this season.

[DesignatedT]

Dude, what have you been watching all season? This team cannot defend; it goes on inexplicable scoring droughts; they're regularly giving away a shit-load offensive rebounds; AND they cannot hold leads. They also have a losing record against the NBA's top teams. Regardless of who's been in and out of the lineup, this team is simply mediocre.

There is no quick-fix, lightening-in-a-bottle solution. The Spurs are not going to fare any better once the playoffs start. This is the hand that has been dealt for this season.

i didnt say we were going to win the fucking championship..just implying that we might be able to make it out of the first round or something. damn. sorry for being optimistic.

[murpjf88]

This team cracks under pressure. Gone are the days when the spurs put fear into the opposition. Bonner, Mason, and Bogans have no business being on the court when the game is on the line. They're just paper thin and when it comes time to rest TD and Manu, the players on the floor seem to lose all sense of purpose. People continue to fraternize over the defense as the main culprit, but the offense is just as bad. Outside of Ginobili on certain nights, they really have no goto guy late in the fourth quarter. Players like G. Hill and Blair are too young and inexperienced to deliver in crunch time of big games. Others like Bonner and Bogans really have no business playing crucial minutes in a big game for a team with championship aspirations.

I have been saying this since the beginning of the season and I will continue to repeat this til I'm blue in the face, RJ will NEVER be a factor in a big game because he is NOT a big game player. He will NEVER put this team or any team over the top.

TD has been pushed to his breaking point. The Spurs blew a golden opportunity earlier in the season to push ahead with an easy schedule. This would of afforded them the opportunity to rest Duncan on B2B's, but the Spurs can ill afford to rest him with the season hanging in the balance. Everybody casted stones at the pessimists quoting "Its only December", "Its only January", "Yeah, like championships are won in February". Well, now its March, and the Spurs Championships are dashed because the big three has been reduced to the big one.

People expect Parker to come back and give the Spurs another option after sitting on his laurels for six weeks. It doesnt work like that. Bonner didn't find his stroke for nearly a month after coming back, and Derek Anderson, arriviving for the playoffs, never found his shooting touch as the spurs were ousted by the jazz.

It should be obvious to one and all, they have neither the talent, nor in some cases, the cranial capacity to beat the elite teams in the west. The Spurs will be first round fodder for whoever they face in the first round. Thats just the facts of life.

[21_Blessings]

Richard Jefferson is beyond horrible. How do you leave Kobe wide open beyond the arc with 3 minutes left in the game. Dick is what 30 years old and doesn't understand how to properly rotate on defense. The Spurs are boned.

Doesn't help that Timmy can barely run up and down the court. He was visibly grimacing trying to catch up to Pau when running the floor.

[Sean Cagney]

This team cracks under pressure. Gone are the days when the spurs put fear into the opposition. Bonner, Mason, and Bogans have no business being on the court when the game is on the line. They're just paper thin and when it comes time to rest TD and Manu, the players on the floor seem to lose all sense of purpose. People continue to fraternize over the defense as the main culprit, but the offense is just as bad. Outside of Ginobili on certain nights, they really have no goto guy late in the fourth quarter. Players like G. Hill and Blair are too young and inexperienced to deliver in crunch time of big games. Others like Bonner and Bogans really have no business playing crucial minutes in a big game for a team with championship aspirations.

I have been saying this since the beginning of the season and I will continue to repeat this til I'm blue in the face, RJ will NEVER be a factor in a big game because he is NOT a big game player. He will NEVER put this team or any team over the top.

TD has been pushed to his breaking point. The Spurs blew a golden opportunity earlier in the season to push ahead with an easy schedule. This would of afforded them the opportunity to rest Duncan on B2B's, but the Spurs can ill afford to rest him with the season hanging in the balance. Everybody casted stones at the pessimists quoting "Its only December", "Its only January", "Yeah, like championships are won in February". Well, now its March, and the Spurs Championships are dashed because the big three has been reduced to the big one.

People expect Parker to come back and give the Spurs another option after sitting on his laurels for six weeks. It doesnt work like that. Bonner didn't find his stroke for nearly a month after coming back, and Derek Anderson, arriviving for the playoffs, never found his shooting touch as the spurs were ousted by the jazz.

It should be obvious to one and all, they have neither the talent, nor in some cases, the cranial capacity to beat the elite teams in the west. The Spurs will be first round fodder for whoever they face in the first round. Thats just the facts of life.

...............

[MaNu4Tres]

Pretender with Pop giving crucial minutes to the wrong players.

I've been a dickhead against Mason and I stand by it. I hope he .................no thats wrong...I hope he sacrifices himself on the inactive list for the betterment of the team.

[MaNu4Tres]

Pop doesn't give this team their best chance to win with the product he puts on the floor in certain situations. Til that does happen then you can analyze more proficiently.

[biba]

1. How Far Can the Spurs Go?

By Tim Legler
ESPN Daily Dime

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100324/daily-dime

The popular mindset surrounding the chance of the San Antonio Spurs making another run at a title is that Tim Duncan and his cast of veteran mainstays will be a speed bump in someone's path to the NBA Finals.

It is difficult to make a case to the contrary based on the lack of success the Spurs have enjoyed versus the NBA's elite teams this season. After falling to the Lakers, 92-83 on Wednesday night, the Spurs are an anemic 5-15 against the nine NBA teams currently holding a better record. The Lakers used suffocating defense in the second half and just enough scoring from Kobe Bryant (24 points) to rally for their seventh straight victory.

So, the debate that will be settled over the next month and a half is whether we are watching the Spurs play out the end of a decade in which they have set the gold standard for team excellence, or if they can muster one last adrenaline fueled run and make themselves a real factor in the Western Conference playoffs.

Whether they can extend their season beyond one round really depends on where they end up being seeded. As long as they avoid the eight spot and a first-round match-up with the Lakers, they will be competitive against the Mavericks, Nuggets or Jazz. Now, I understand that my saying they can be merely "competitive" is hardly a ringing endorsement for a fifth championship parade. However, that's where it gets interesting.

Is there really anyone out there who is so blown away by the championship qualities of Dallas, Denver, or Utah that they are willing to dismiss the chances of the Spurs getting past two of these teams if the pairings play out in that manner?

The word "competitive" implies that the Spurs will be in every game. Under that scenario, the Spurs will put themselves in a position to allow their money players to dictate the outcomes of critical games with precise decision-making and game changing playmaking under the most intense pressure that NBA players can possibly experience. If they can just get to those moments, Gregg Popovich likes his chances. The Spurs deserve the benefit of the doubt. Their sustained excellence has earned the expectation that this core group, a collection of winners, can make things very interesting for the top seeds in the West.

The Mavericks are more complete. The Nuggets are more explosive and athletic. The Jazz are more relentless. All of those teams have been more consistent, healthier, and deeper than the Spurs all season long. And that may very well carry over to the postseason. If it does, the loud noise you hear will be the window of championship opportunity slamming shut on the Duncan era. This is it.

To be honest, no one knows what to expect. There are more questions than answers. Will Tony Parker be healthy? Can Dejuan Blair and George Hill give them an infusion of energy? Will Richard Jefferson ever find a comfort zone? Will Duncan and Ginobilli have the stamina to get through the grind of a long series or two? Are they simply too old and too slow?

The fun for this team begins April 15th, the day after the season ends. That's when we get answers. That's when the San Antonio Spurs wake up and find themselves preparing for the only time of the year that really matters to them. Perhaps, if we are lucky, the Spurs will give us one more ride. If not, the memories they have created will forever be indelibly etched into our minds. Either way, we all win.

Tim Legler is a regular Daily Dime contributor.

[DesignatedT]

Richard Jefferson is beyond horrible. How do you leave Kobe wide open beyond the arc with 3 minutes left in the game. Dick is what 30 years old and doesn't understand how to properly rotate on defense. The Spurs are boned.

Doesn't help that Timmy can barely run up and down the court. He was visibly grimacing trying to catch up to Pau when running the floor.

duncan looks fine but he needs rest between games. spurs have had a tough stretch and tonight was the 6th game in 9 nights so you could tell he was tired out there and definitely not himself but good thing there is no b2b in the playoffs.

[Man In Black]

1. How Far Can the Spurs Go?

By Tim Legler
ESPN Daily Dime

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100324/daily-dime

The popular mindset surrounding the chance of the San Antonio Spurs making another run at a title is that Tim Duncan and his cast of veteran mainstays will be a speed bump in someone's path to the NBA Finals.

It is difficult to make a case to the contrary based on the lack of success the Spurs have enjoyed versus the NBA's elite teams this season. After falling to the Lakers, 92-83 on Wednesday night, the Spurs are an anemic 5-15 against the nine NBA teams currently holding a better record. The Lakers used suffocating defense in the second half and just enough scoring from Kobe Bryant (24 points) to rally for their seventh straight victory.

So, the debate that will be settled over the next month and a half is whether we are watching the Spurs play out the end of a decade in which they have set the gold standard for team excellence, or if they can muster one last adrenaline fueled run and make themselves a real factor in the Western Conference playoffs.

Whether they can extend their season beyond one round really depends on where they end up being seeded. As long as they avoid the eight spot and a first-round match-up with the Lakers, they will be competitive against the Mavericks, Nuggets or Jazz. Now, I understand that my saying they can be merely "competitive" is hardly a ringing endorsement for a fifth championship parade. However, that's where it gets interesting.

Is there really anyone out there who is so blown away by the championship qualities of Dallas, Denver, or Utah that they are willing to dismiss the chances of the Spurs getting past two of these teams if the pairings play out in that manner?

The word "competitive" implies that the Spurs will be in every game. Under that scenario, the Spurs will put themselves in a position to allow their money players to dictate the outcomes of critical games with precise decision-making and game changing playmaking under the most intense pressure that NBA players can possibly experience. If they can just get to those moments, Gregg Popovich likes his chances. The Spurs deserve the benefit of the doubt. Their sustained excellence has earned the expectation that this core group, a collection of winners, can make things very interesting for the top seeds in the West.

The Mavericks are more complete. The Nuggets are more explosive and athletic. The Jazz are more relentless. All of those teams have been more consistent, healthier, and deeper than the Spurs all season long. And that may very well carry over to the postseason. If it does, the loud noise you hear will be the window of championship opportunity slamming shut on the Duncan era. This is it.

To be honest, no one knows what to expect. There are more questions than answers. Will Tony Parker be healthy? Can Dejuan Blair and George Hill give them an infusion of energy? Will Richard Jefferson ever find a comfort zone? Will Duncan and Ginobilli have the stamina to get through the grind of a long series or two? Are they simply too old and too slow?

The fun for this team begins April 15th, the day after the season ends. That's when we get answers. That's when the San Antonio Spurs wake up and find themselves preparing for the only time of the year that really matters to them. Perhaps, if we are lucky, the Spurs will give us one more ride. If not, the memories they have created will forever be indelibly etched into our minds. Either way, we all win.

Tim Legler is a regular Daily Dime contributor.

Welcome to the Nexus! Whatever will be, will be.

[MaNu4Tres]

Pop doesn't give this team their best chance to win with the product he puts on the floor in certain situations. Til that does happen then you can analyze more proficiently.

The sad part is....


That will never happen.

Let's all just blame Pop in advance.

[DesignatedT]

1. How Far Can the Spurs Go?

By Tim Legler
ESPN Daily Dime

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100324/daily-dime

The popular mindset surrounding the chance of the San Antonio Spurs making another run at a title is that Tim Duncan and his cast of veteran mainstays will be a speed bump in someone's path to the NBA Finals.

It is difficult to make a case to the contrary based on the lack of success the Spurs have enjoyed versus the NBA's elite teams this season. After falling to the Lakers, 92-83 on Wednesday night, the Spurs are an anemic 5-15 against the nine NBA teams currently holding a better record. The Lakers used suffocating defense in the second half and just enough scoring from Kobe Bryant (24 points) to rally for their seventh straight victory.

So, the debate that will be settled over the next month and a half is whether we are watching the Spurs play out the end of a decade in which they have set the gold standard for team excellence, or if they can muster one last adrenaline fueled run and make themselves a real factor in the Western Conference playoffs.

Whether they can extend their season beyond one round really depends on where they end up being seeded. As long as they avoid the eight spot and a first-round match-up with the Lakers, they will be competitive against the Mavericks, Nuggets or Jazz. Now, I understand that my saying they can be merely "competitive" is hardly a ringing endorsement for a fifth championship parade. However, that's where it gets interesting.

Is there really anyone out there who is so blown away by the championship qualities of Dallas, Denver, or Utah that they are willing to dismiss the chances of the Spurs getting past two of these teams if the pairings play out in that manner?

The word "competitive" implies that the Spurs will be in every game. Under that scenario, the Spurs will put themselves in a position to allow their money players to dictate the outcomes of critical games with precise decision-making and game changing playmaking under the most intense pressure that NBA players can possibly experience. If they can just get to those moments, Gregg Popovich likes his chances. The Spurs deserve the benefit of the doubt. Their sustained excellence has earned the expectation that this core group, a collection of winners, can make things very interesting for the top seeds in the West.

The Mavericks are more complete. The Nuggets are more explosive and athletic. The Jazz are more relentless. All of those teams have been more consistent, healthier, and deeper than the Spurs all season long. And that may very well carry over to the postseason. If it does, the loud noise you hear will be the window of championship opportunity slamming shut on the Duncan era. This is it.

To be honest, no one knows what to expect. There are more questions than answers. Will Tony Parker be healthy? Can Dejuan Blair and George Hill give them an infusion of energy? Will Richard Jefferson ever find a comfort zone? Will Duncan and Ginobilli have the stamina to get through the grind of a long series or two? Are they simply too old and too slow?

The fun for this team begins April 15th, the day after the season ends. That's when we get answers. That's when the San Antonio Spurs wake up and find themselves preparing for the only time of the year that really matters to them. Perhaps, if we are lucky, the Spurs will give us one more ride. If not, the memories they have created will forever be indelibly etched into our minds. Either way, we all win.

Tim Legler is a regular Daily Dime contributor.

nice read.

[kaji157]

As said in the article, this team has been all the season a big question mark.
But truth to be said, we are playing the best basketball in all year. And without Tony Parker.
Can this team win it all as it is? Sure, no.
But we don't know what TP are we getting. If we get a consistent 16-20 ppg scoring from TP without taking more than 10 points of Manu and Hill, that's 10 more ppg each game.
To say the least, we should be a very scary 7th or 8th seed. If Parker fit's in nicely with what the team is doing now, and i think there is a big spot right there for him when Manu rests, then we can take on anyone. Not sure if beat anyone, but we can compete. We are competing without him, so nothing to loose there.
Another question is if Duncan and Manu can take it for more games. Our supporting cast is virtually non existant appart from Hill, so a lot hungs in what these to can do come PO time.
As said before, i don't think this team will go without a good battle.

[MaNu4Tres]

As said in the article, this team has been all the season a big question mark.
But truth to be said, we are playing the best basketball in all year. And without Tony Parker.
Can this team win it all as it is? Sure, no.
But we don't know what TP are we getting. If we get a consistent 16-20 ppg scoring from TP without taking more than 10 points of Manu and Hill, that's 10 more ppg each game.
To say the least, we should be a very scary 7th or 8th seed. If Parker fit's in nicely with what the team is doing now, and i think there is a big spot right there for him when Manu rests, then we can take on anyone. Not sure if beat anyone, but we can compete. We are competing without him, so nothing to loose there.
Another question is if Duncan and Manu can take it for more games. Our supporting cast is virtually non existant appart from Hill, so a lot hungs in what these to can do come PO time.
As said before, i don't think this team will go without a good battle.


Pop doesn't give this team their best chance to win with the product he puts on the floor in certain situations. Til that does happen then you can analyze more proficiently.

[boutons_deux]

"we should be a very scary 7th or 8th seed"

:lol

Spurs 1-4, or 2-4 max.

[rascal]

and yet this team has played a total of 2-3 games together as a completely healthy unit....

The lakers have had injuries all year also.

[silverblk mystix]

I am looking at all this---in a completely OPPOSITE WAY---

look at everything that is WRONG---everything that is AGAINST this team---all that has gone BAD ---this whole season....

then I see TWO possibilities---

A) all the doomsayers, so-called experts and part-time fans are correct...the spurs will be one-and-done---at best....

(so what----it happens, no real surprises, the writing was on the wall,etc....)

OR;

B) despite EVERYTHING pointing to a bad post-season...the spurs DO get it together---just enough...then WHAT-IF???

how much SWEETER it will be if they do something special...

it could be just a nice run---and a SPOILER role...

or ...it could be really special...

then wouldn't that be a nice ending to this season...

so i look at all this ...like...hmmm...this is a really intriguing scenario that is unfolding...and i will just enjoy the ride----UPS AND DOWNS...

This is great drama

[Dex]

That prompted Duncan to shout, "We already have one point guard who can't pass''

:lol

[mytespurs]

The Spurs are tweeners right now....not as good as the upper echelon teams but they're not exactly the Clippers.

[lefty]

The Spurs are not a contender nor a pretender


They are just tender

[tlongII]

The Spurs don't have enough size to deal with the Lakers. Last night was further evidence of this fact. There's only a few teams that can deal with them presently. Fortunately the Blazers are one of them.

[nkdlunch]

neither. they are just a legit 8th seed that will have a very early summer.

[SenorSpur]

Pop doesn't give this team their best chance to win with the product he puts on the floor in certain situations. Til that does happen then you can analyze more proficiently.

Cosigned

Outisde of the Big Three, Hill and Blair, this team has a bunch of inconsistent, non-contributiing roles players that are being given big minutes, by the head coach. These same non-contributing role players are nothing more than wasted roster spots.

Meanwhile, the hungry, young, energy players can't see the light of day.

Goddamn confusing ...and Pretenders. :bang

[lefty]

Cosigned

Outisde of the Big Three, Hill and Blair, this team has a bunch of inconsistent, non-contributiing roles players that are being given big minutes, by the head coach. These same non-contributing role players are nothing more than wasted roster spots.

Meanwhile, the hungry, young, energy players can't see the light of day.

Goddamn confusing ...and Pretenders. :bang
CIA Pop? :D

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs are tweeners right now....not as good as the upper echelon teams but they're not exactly the Clippers.

...which is just another way of saying the Spurs are mediocre.

[Russ]

The Spurs don't have enough size to deal with the Lakers. Last night was further evidence of this fact. There's only a few teams that can deal with them presently. Fortunately the Blazers are one of them.

All kidding aside, Spurs fans wish you the best of luck in the 1st round.


(Think Golden State-Dallas '07.) :)

[boutons_deux]

Spurs = dead-ender.

It was a great run that ended with the 07 Championship. Nothing but mediocrity since, mediocrity now, nothing but mediocrity on the horizon.

I bet we can't even attract the usual over-the-hill bandwagoning has-beens this summer if we drop/trade Matt, Keith, Antonio, Roger.

No matter what Manu's agent says, Manu's gonna look at all the offers, and, "it's a business", take the money rather than waste more seasons with Spurs. Manu's gotta "put food on his family"

[EmptyMan]

Pretender.

I like Bonner, but watching him try to defend makes me sad. Watching Dice trying to defend makes me sad. Blair being 6'7 makes me sad.

[duncan228]

Hoopsworld

NBA AM: Worth A Mention (http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=15738)
By: Steve Kyler

Not Another One: Spurs' All-Star Tim Duncan is a Hall of Famer.

If Duncan hung up the jersey today his career accomplishments put him in rarified company – rivaled only by players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Need a refresher?

Four-time NBA Champion, three-time Finals MVP, two-time regular season MVP, NBA Rookie of The Year, 12-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA first team, three-time All-NBA second team, eight-time All-Defense first team and Naismith College Player of the Year.

Duncan has 20,467 career points, 11,238 career rebounds and he's logged 35,266 game minutes - and in a week's span he's logged his two of his worst games as a professional going 1-for-10 versus Orlando on the 17th and logging a 2-for-11 game last night versus the L.A. Lakers.

Ok, the first one was a fluke. Everyone knew the Spurs were coming off a back-to-back and were a little more worn than normal and the Orlando Magic jumped on them early and the Spurs relented.

But seeing Tim Duncan put up another dreadful outing in a game that mattered was almost depressing.

Spurs fans have suggested maybe it was time for the Spurs to trade Tony Parker while his value is somewhat high, but if these two games are not a symptom of a bigger issue in San Antonio than I'm not sure what is.

To be fair, Duncan is putting up reasonable numbers this year shooting 50.8% from the field and grabbing almost 10 rebounds per game while logging a career-low in minutes per game. But, as Spurs fans are starting to see, the team just continues to get older and slower. Tim Duncan just isn't the take-over-a-game player he once was and that's a shame for a player who clearly has had a great career.

Last night's 92-83 loss to the Lakers puts the Spurs just a ½ game up on Portland who sits in the 8th playoff spot in the West.

Considering how promising this season looked for the Spurs from afar in November, how sad will it be to see the Spurs limp into the playoffs and face an eventual sweep in the first round?

Maybe some post-season magic happens, but given how the Spurs have looked as of late they could be the team every one wants to face in the opening round of the playoffs. Who would have ever thought that was possible?

[SenorSpur]

The sharks are circling in the water and the vultures are circling overhead.

[Dex]

Awful lot of doubt being shed on Duncan just for two bad outings within one week. I guess expectations get set high after 12 years of excellence.

We all know that Duncan is getting older and is not the player he once was, but I think it's pretty knee-jerk to consider him spent after two sub-par games, especially games where he was going against capable defensive bigmen in Howard and Gasol. Is credit given where it's due?

All players struggle eventually. I guess we can't expect Tim to be Tim forever. But bad games happen to everyone, and they're probably going to happen more as Tim gets older. I still don't think we can really judge Duncan's performance until the postseason.

[Allanon]

If the Spurs still had Scola, they'd be contenders and would be able to go toe to toe with the Lakers. But since they don't have Scola (and the Spurs didn't do jack at the trade deadline to fix this) the Spurs lack of size/talent in the frontcourt is the Lakers biggest strength...not good.

As it is now, 2 best case scenarios:
1) Spurs miss the Playoffs entirely and get the highest lotto pick possible to team up with Splitter
or
2) Stay out of the Lakers bracket by getting #7 or #6 and they have a fighting chance until the WCF

[Killakobe81]

Agree with Alanon. Disagree with article. If you think he is done go ahead and trade us Duncan i will give you a 1st rounder easy.
Has he lost a step or two ...of course ...but hi game was not about speed or hops anyway.
Put him on the celts with the big 3 and rondo and he would make the celts better than Perkins as much as i like Bynum same if he is on the Lakers. put him on Dallas instead of Haywood or Damp and the Mavs are better ...

Stop throwing dirt on Tim's grave ...i got $20 that says we see 20 and 10 vs the Cavs on Friday ...

[Chomag]

This team cracks under pressure. Gone are the days when the spurs put fear into the opposition. Bonner, Mason, and Bogans have no business being on the court when the game is on the line. They're just paper thin and when it comes time to rest TD and Manu, the players on the floor seem to lose all sense of purpose. People continue to fraternize over the defense as the main culprit, but the offense is just as bad. Outside of Ginobili on certain nights, they really have no goto guy late in the fourth quarter. Players like G. Hill and Blair are too young and inexperienced to deliver in crunch time of big games. Others like Bonner and Bogans really have no business playing crucial minutes in a big game for a team with championship aspirations.

I have been saying this since the beginning of the season and I will continue to repeat this til I'm blue in the face, RJ will NEVER be a factor in a big game because he is NOT a big game player. He will NEVER put this team or any team over the top.

TD has been pushed to his breaking point. The Spurs blew a golden opportunity earlier in the season to push ahead with an easy schedule. This would of afforded them the opportunity to rest Duncan on B2B's, but the Spurs can ill afford to rest him with the season hanging in the balance. Everybody casted stones at the pessimists quoting "Its only December", "Its only January", "Yeah, like championships are won in February". Well, now its March, and the Spurs Championships are dashed because the big three has been reduced to the big one.

People expect Parker to come back and give the Spurs another option after sitting on his laurels for six weeks. It doesn't work like that. Bonner didn't find his stroke for nearly a month after coming back, and Derek Anderson, arriving for the playoffs, never found his shooting touch as the spurs were ousted by the jazz.

It should be obvious to one and all, they have neither the talent, nor in some cases, the cranial capacity to beat the elite teams in the west. The Spurs will be first round fodder for whoever they face in the first round. Thats just the facts of life.

Great post. This is exactly how I felt earlier in the season when name Sayers were calling us all idiots because we thought that those early games were important. Honestly guys, did you really want the Spurs having to fight tooth and nail just to stay alive at the end of the season? If Spurs could have capitalized on those early wins the big 3 could be getting some good rest about right now.

IMO the Spurs were better of going latto. Thats much better then just getting beat down in the first round.

[Chomag]

Awful lot of doubt being shed on Duncan just for two bad outings within one week. I guess expectations get set high after 12 years of excellence.

We all know that Duncan is getting older and is not the player he once was, but I think it's pretty knee-jerk to consider him spent after two sub-par games, especially games where he was going against capable defensive bigmen in Howard and Gasol. Is credit given where it's due?

All players struggle eventually. I guess we can't expect Tim to be Tim forever. But bad games happen to everyone, and they're probably going to happen more as Tim gets older. I still don't think we can really judge Duncan's performance until the postseason.

We all saw this same thing last season. Timmy is giving it his all but he is breaking down. Tim has heart, he just doesn't have young legs to go with that big heart. He may be able to have some flashes here on out but his body just wont give him what he wants. It's not his fault. IT's the stupid FO and coach that continue to expect Tim to be able to hold the fort all himself. Yes when he was young he could do that without much problem.

Teams bang on him all day and wear him down by attacking the rim. Still a few years since Spurs still do not have someone to help support him in the paint. At about when D-Rob was Tim's age, he had Timmy.

[MaNu4Tres]

Cosigned

Outisde of the Big Three, Hill and Blair, this team has a bunch of inconsistent, non-contributiing roles players that are being given big minutes, by the head coach. These same non-contributing role players are nothing more than wasted roster spots.

Meanwhile, the hungry, young, energy players can't see the light of day.

Goddamn confusing :bang

Full of win Senor

[spurs10]

nice read.
ditto...

[Jimcs50]

one and done.

[SenorSpur]

If the Spurs still had Scola, they'd be contenders and would be able to go toe to toe with the Lakers. But since they don't have Scola (and the Spurs didn't do jack at the trade deadline to fix this) the Spurs lack of size/talent in the frontcourt is the Lakers biggest strength...not good.
As it is now, 2 best case scenarios:
1) Spurs miss the Playoffs entirely and get the highest lotto pick possible to team up with Splitter
or
2) Stay out of the Lakers bracket by getting #7 or #6 and they have a fighting chance until the WCF

It's amazing that this is readily apparent to most and a concern for most everyone - except the coach, who continuously endorses the time-honored, failed tradition of "small-ball" strategy.

As I pointed out in another thread, one would think that by now, the Spurs would've incorporated the necessary size to counter the suddenly bigger frontlines of the Fakers, Blazers and Nuggets. Hell, even the Mavs have more size now. Those are the teams you're trying to beat.

The Spurs had about 2 years to prepare for this. Instead, Pop continues running out the one-trick ponies and undersized gunners to surround Tim. The goal is not fielding a lineup to run with the Warriors, Clippers and Suns of the NBA. It's nice to have the flexibility, but the Fakers are still the topdogs in the West. Until you can counter their size, you're fighting an uphill battle.

[Agloco]

The Spurs are mediocre. They're in the middle of the pack, as far as NBA teams go. Their record screams this fact loudly. Mediocre teams do not suddenly catch fire and extend their playoff lives. Teams must have momentum (and talent) heading into the playoffs. As such, the Spurs will be one-and-done come playoff time.

The treadmill of mediocrity is the LAST place an organization needs to be. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse.

I'm usually on board with most of your stuff, as I am here. But I've gotta bring up the 94-95 Rockets. They were really in a stupor until the playoffs. Having said that, I'm not so confident of Mason and Bonner hitting all of their shots like Horry and Smith did that year. It seemed they made every critical three pointer down the stretch of big games.

[TD 21]

Stop throwing dirt on Tim's grave ...i got $20 that says we see 20 and 10 vs the Cavs on Friday ...

Couldn't agree more. It's becoming increasingly popular to disrespect Duncan in recent years to the point now where I actually think the media is taking joy in this. It's incomprehensible. Granted, he's not thrilled talking to the media and doesn't do it as often as a player of his stature should, but aside from that, isn't he exactly what people claim to want in a professional athlete, particularly a star (or in his case, superstar) one? I don't get it.

The ESPN guys in particular have been laying into him for the past two years. Other than Hollinger pointing out his early season stats this year and Stein doing so last year, I can't remember the last time one of them spoke of Duncan and it wasn't all negative. Like he's not allowed to age gracefully and isn't still a very good player. They act like he's useless now and needs to retire, like he should be embarrassed to not be the player he once was. It's sickening.

I don't ever remember them doing this with another all-time great and you can be sure they won't be doing this with Bryant in a few years time, which is backwards. If they were going to do this, Bryant is the guy to do this to. He's a phony, an asshole and historically overrated, yet they all kiss his ass, seemingly hoping to gain his approval (Jackson/Van Gundy are the worst). As if he's listening to what all these talking heads write/say.

[SenorSpur]

I'm usually on board with most of your stuff, as I am here. But I've gotta bring up the 94-95 Rockets. They were really in a stupor until the playoffs. Having said that, I'm not so confident of Mason and Bonner hitting all of their shots like Horry and Smith did that year. It seemed they made every critical three pointer down the stretch of big games.

Ah yes. I believe that Rockets team was something like 42-40 that year. A very low seed that played on the road for their run, right up to the Finals. They were truly the Villanova of the NBA.

[rascal]

I'm usually on board with most of your stuff, as I am here. But I've gotta bring up the 94-95 Rockets. They were really in a stupor until the playoffs. Having said that, I'm not so confident of Mason and Bonner hitting all of their shots like Horry and Smith did that year. It seemed they made every critical three pointer down the stretch of big games.

Is that the year they got Drexler at the trade deadline? If so they were a different and better team at the end of the season. Also the league had no dominate team back then.

[jag]

What kind of fucking question is this!!!

:lol

[Killakobe81]

Couldn't agree more. It's becoming increasingly popular to disrespect Duncan in recent years to the point now where I actually think the media is taking joy in this. It's incomprehensible. Granted, he's not thrilled talking to the media and doesn't do it as often as a player of his stature should, but aside from that, isn't he exactly what people claim to want in a professional athlete, particularly a star (or in his case, superstar) one? I don't get it.

The ESPN guys in particular have been laying into him for the past two years. Other than Hollinger pointing out his early season stats this year and Stein doing so last year, I can't remember the last time one of them spoke of Duncan and it wasn't all negative. Like he's not allowed to age gracefully and isn't still a very good player. They act like he's useless now and needs to retire, like he should be embarrassed to not be the player he once was. It's sickening.

I don't ever remember them doing this with another all-time great and you can be sure they won't be doing this with Bryant in a few years time, which is backwards. If they were going to do this, Bryant is the guy to do this to. He's a phony, an asshole and historically overrated, yet they all kiss his ass, seemingly hoping to gain his approval (Jackson/Van Gundy are the worst). As if he's listening to what all these talking heads write/say.

agree with most of this except you talk about kobe and tim like you KNOW them. You dont have to like Kobe or any other superstar but I hate when someone talks like they know firsthand that he is an asshole or that Duncan is this "great guy" you are just making assumptions based on watching them play and get interviewed ...

Duncan is a great player who "seems" like a good guy and kind of dorky but do i "know" that. Kobe appears arrogant and a jerk but do i know that either?

Leave the phony talk and etra crap alone understand your need to defend duncan I do the same and i am not a spur fan ...i just respect and appreciate his greatness ...to bad you cant sho kobe the same respect.

[AnthonyM]

Cedric's being nice.

I met him last week and talked to him and we talked about the Spurs. Here's a bit of the conversation.

"What do you think of the Spurs this year?"

"Dude, they're done. They're just too old. Richard Jefferson looks old. I guess if you go to that team you age like 3 years overnight."

[jjktkk]

agree with most of this except you talk about kobe and tim like you KNOW them. You dont have to like Kobe or any other superstar but I hate when someone talks like they know firsthand that he is an asshole or that Duncan is this "great guy" you are just making assumptions based on watching them play and get interviewed ...

Duncan is a great player who "seems" like a good guy and kind of dorky but do i "know" that. Kobe appears arrogant and a jerk but do i know that either?

Leave the phony talk and etra crap alone understand your need to defend duncan I do the same and i am not a spur fan ...i just respect and appreciate his greatness ...to bad you cant sho kobe the same respect.

Kobe has always come across as an arrogant prick. Where Duncan was the silent, let his play do the talking, star. Kobe is not as bad now, compare to when he was younger, but theres no comparsion, as far as personalities go, when you compare Tim and Kobe.

[FeZZy]

sounds of a crappy title

[TD 21]

agree with most of this except you talk about kobe and tim like you KNOW them. You dont have to like Kobe or any other superstar but I hate when someone talks like they know firsthand that he is an asshole or that Duncan is this "great guy" you are just making assumptions based on watching them play and get interviewed ...

Duncan is a great player who "seems" like a good guy and kind of dorky but do i "know" that. Kobe appears arrogant and a jerk but do i know that either?

Leave the phony talk and etra crap alone understand your need to defend duncan I do the same and i am not a spur fan ...i just respect and appreciate his greatness ...to bad you cant sho kobe the same respect.

You're right and I hate when people do that too. What I meant was, in terms of what and the media sees on camera (although they have more access, it's not like they see them outside of their profession), which is what we have to go off of, Duncan comes off as a good, humble guy and Bryant as an arrogant phony. Too many examples of both over the years to think otherwise.