The Btown Spur
10-08-2010, 02:39 AM
http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/970/20101007/2010_11_season_preview_san_antonio_spurs/
2009-2010 Stats
Record: 50-32
Seeding: 7th in the Western Conference
Playoff Result: Beat Dallas in six games, then lost 4-0 to Phoenix
What changed since June: Tiago Splitter (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1337/tiago_splitter/)
Beyond the signing of Tiago Splitter (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1337/tiago_splitter/), many of the Spurs’ moves were more about retention with the re-signings of Richard Jefferson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/295/richard_jefferson/) and Matt Bonner (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/873/matt_bonner/). However, Splitter should be a major addition to a frontcourt that needed some fresh blood.
On top of that, San Antonio added James Anderson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1713/james_anderson/) who should be a contributor sooner rather than later and could (should?) grow into an even larger role right around the time of the end of his rookie deal.
Fortunately for the Spurs, their older stars did not participate in the FIBA World Championships so they should have fresher legs at the outset than many other seasons.
San Antonio’s biggest strength: Coaching and Scheme
Part of what has made the Spurs so successful each season is a keen understanding of what pieces they need which make sense with what they have and the system they run. James Anderson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1713/james_anderson/) should be another one of those pieces and we should see an even more expanded role for George Hill (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1409/george_hill/) this season. If Splitter, Anderson, and Hill can thrive in their roles, this team can stay relevant for even longer.
San Antonio’s biggest weakness: Father Time
For the time being, this team still runs through Tim Duncan (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/324/tim_duncan/) and the rest of San Antonio’s Big Three. As such, the effects of age/aging continue to be the relevant lens for both understanding the Spurs and projecting their long-term success. They are incredibly fortunate that the rest of the team has had such a dramatic and largely youthful overhaul since the three straws that stir the drink can use those guys in the right role.
The Big Question: How many miles do Duncan, Manu, and Parker have on their tires?
As a big fan of Splitter, George Hill (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1409/george_hill/), DeJuan Blair (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1558/dejuan_blair/), and the rest of the role players for Los Spurs, the fact of the matter remains that the Big Three, particularly Tim Duncan (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/324/tim_duncan/) set both the peak and the trough for the team’s overall success. Popovich doing a great job limiting their minutes can help save them for the playoffs, but this might be a year where seeding matters more than last season.
Where the team fits in:
Last year’s team finished in a three-way tie for 6th through 8th with Portland and Oklahoma City despite 37 missed games from Duncan, Manu, and Parker. Unfortunately, it seems fair to keep that number pretty close for this year since an injury to one of them feels more likely than not. That said, improved depth and play from Splitter and the young guys could yield a few more wins than last year’s 50 and keep their remarkable 13 non-strike year streak of 50+ wins going. The Spurs look to be on the fringe between the West’s second tier and third tier, so a seeding around 3-6 seems right in a stacked top half of the conference. That kind of seed could lead to a similar result to last year with a first round win and a second round exit.
Read more: http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/970/20101007/2010_11_season_preview_san_antonio_spurs/#ixzz11kbuo7je
2009-2010 Stats
Record: 50-32
Seeding: 7th in the Western Conference
Playoff Result: Beat Dallas in six games, then lost 4-0 to Phoenix
What changed since June: Tiago Splitter (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1337/tiago_splitter/)
Beyond the signing of Tiago Splitter (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1337/tiago_splitter/), many of the Spurs’ moves were more about retention with the re-signings of Richard Jefferson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/295/richard_jefferson/) and Matt Bonner (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/873/matt_bonner/). However, Splitter should be a major addition to a frontcourt that needed some fresh blood.
On top of that, San Antonio added James Anderson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1713/james_anderson/) who should be a contributor sooner rather than later and could (should?) grow into an even larger role right around the time of the end of his rookie deal.
Fortunately for the Spurs, their older stars did not participate in the FIBA World Championships so they should have fresher legs at the outset than many other seasons.
San Antonio’s biggest strength: Coaching and Scheme
Part of what has made the Spurs so successful each season is a keen understanding of what pieces they need which make sense with what they have and the system they run. James Anderson (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1713/james_anderson/) should be another one of those pieces and we should see an even more expanded role for George Hill (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1409/george_hill/) this season. If Splitter, Anderson, and Hill can thrive in their roles, this team can stay relevant for even longer.
San Antonio’s biggest weakness: Father Time
For the time being, this team still runs through Tim Duncan (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/324/tim_duncan/) and the rest of San Antonio’s Big Three. As such, the effects of age/aging continue to be the relevant lens for both understanding the Spurs and projecting their long-term success. They are incredibly fortunate that the rest of the team has had such a dramatic and largely youthful overhaul since the three straws that stir the drink can use those guys in the right role.
The Big Question: How many miles do Duncan, Manu, and Parker have on their tires?
As a big fan of Splitter, George Hill (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1409/george_hill/), DeJuan Blair (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/1558/dejuan_blair/), and the rest of the role players for Los Spurs, the fact of the matter remains that the Big Three, particularly Tim Duncan (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/324/tim_duncan/) set both the peak and the trough for the team’s overall success. Popovich doing a great job limiting their minutes can help save them for the playoffs, but this might be a year where seeding matters more than last season.
Where the team fits in:
Last year’s team finished in a three-way tie for 6th through 8th with Portland and Oklahoma City despite 37 missed games from Duncan, Manu, and Parker. Unfortunately, it seems fair to keep that number pretty close for this year since an injury to one of them feels more likely than not. That said, improved depth and play from Splitter and the young guys could yield a few more wins than last year’s 50 and keep their remarkable 13 non-strike year streak of 50+ wins going. The Spurs look to be on the fringe between the West’s second tier and third tier, so a seeding around 3-6 seems right in a stacked top half of the conference. That kind of seed could lead to a similar result to last year with a first round win and a second round exit.
Read more: http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/970/20101007/2010_11_season_preview_san_antonio_spurs/#ixzz11kbuo7je