stéphane
05-09-2010, 09:55 AM
I'm a spurs fan so whatever happens I'll be a spurs fan forever but fact is I miss us playing (whether it be winning or losing) spurs ball.
Maybe for some of us, defense is not as sexy as a high octane offense but a team is made when they're able to be united and to support each other while making stops.
Sure at times the four down, the high pick'n pop or the slash and kick was becoming a bit redundant and somewhat predictable but I sure enjoyed the ability to execute plays we were able to display.
All this was possible thanks to a couple simple things. A player commanding double teams on the low block. A couple slashers with some creativity and role players with enough shooting touch to space the floor.
Some will argue that we're trying to adapt our style to the others and to the personnel we have. That's true and that's the root of the problem. Being a GM is quite hard I reckon but as appealing as the RJ trade was (athletic and stuff) he's not a defender and he can't shoot the three so...what's the point?
The way we dealt our problems in the past offseason was more a kneejerk than anything else. Yeah we suffered a severe beatdown against the Mavs. But what was the reason? Manu was in a suit and the roleplayers were mmm well MIA let's say (litteraly for Georges). So what do you do to remain competitive?
Either you don't think Manu will ever be back 100% and you deal him with a couple role players to find somewhat the same profile or you think he can be himself and you surround our big 3 with enough capable role players. The FO choose none of these. Instead they did pick up an athletic wing with suspicious D at best and whose main strengths are his ability to play on the open court or on an isolation. Alrighhhhhhht... these are definitely what we (or any team playing slow pace ball) needed...
On the other hand you have the Magic that exactly play the way we used to. Team D with a dominant big, a couple slashers and role players that can shoot the 3. With the Lewis signing, they've at best raised eyebrows considering the bill. But they hit the nail with this one. A long 3 who can rebound, post up, be a small ball 4, and shoot the 3... that's not a profile you see that often. They've been blessed with Howard for sure but they had the smart to surround him with the appropriate pieces...to play spurs ball.
Maybe for some of us, defense is not as sexy as a high octane offense but a team is made when they're able to be united and to support each other while making stops.
Sure at times the four down, the high pick'n pop or the slash and kick was becoming a bit redundant and somewhat predictable but I sure enjoyed the ability to execute plays we were able to display.
All this was possible thanks to a couple simple things. A player commanding double teams on the low block. A couple slashers with some creativity and role players with enough shooting touch to space the floor.
Some will argue that we're trying to adapt our style to the others and to the personnel we have. That's true and that's the root of the problem. Being a GM is quite hard I reckon but as appealing as the RJ trade was (athletic and stuff) he's not a defender and he can't shoot the three so...what's the point?
The way we dealt our problems in the past offseason was more a kneejerk than anything else. Yeah we suffered a severe beatdown against the Mavs. But what was the reason? Manu was in a suit and the roleplayers were mmm well MIA let's say (litteraly for Georges). So what do you do to remain competitive?
Either you don't think Manu will ever be back 100% and you deal him with a couple role players to find somewhat the same profile or you think he can be himself and you surround our big 3 with enough capable role players. The FO choose none of these. Instead they did pick up an athletic wing with suspicious D at best and whose main strengths are his ability to play on the open court or on an isolation. Alrighhhhhhht... these are definitely what we (or any team playing slow pace ball) needed...
On the other hand you have the Magic that exactly play the way we used to. Team D with a dominant big, a couple slashers and role players that can shoot the 3. With the Lewis signing, they've at best raised eyebrows considering the bill. But they hit the nail with this one. A long 3 who can rebound, post up, be a small ball 4, and shoot the 3... that's not a profile you see that often. They've been blessed with Howard for sure but they had the smart to surround him with the appropriate pieces...to play spurs ball.