So let's say...

[TheSpurglar]

The Spurs win the title this year. And after a month or so passes Duncan, Manu and Dice decide to ride off into the sunset. Although it's not likely to happen, because Dice said he would come back for another go and Manu and Duncan still have quite a bit of game left, let's just say for argument's sake that it does...

Would we make the playoffs the following year, assuming no lockout, with this roster?

HC - Pop

C - Tiago Splitter
PF - DeJuan Blair
SF - Richard Jefferson
SG - George Hill
PG - Tony Parker

C - Matt Bonner
PF - Steve Novak (lol)
SF - Danny Green, DeSean Butler
SG - Gary Neal, James Anderson
PG - Chris Quinn

I know Neal and even Anderson (when he plays) primarily play at the 3, but I switched it up a bit considering where I think players would naturally fit. Does this team make the playoffs? If yes, why? If no, why not and what do you think they should add to make that a reality? My first thought is size, especially when I look at Novak and Bonner as the only backup bigs...

[fyatuk]

No way Pop would go with just 3 real bigs (Novak ain't no big, and even Bonner is borderline). Bring in some new bigs (just bodies), and the Spurs probably become low-seeded playoff fodder (aka 1 and done).

Without bringing in new bigs, RJ becomes the backup 4 :p

[ajballer4]

Looking at that roster I don't see a playoff team. Obviously there would be some changes still.

[Mel_13]

The Spurs win the title this year. And after a month or so passes Duncan, Manu and Dice decide to ride off into the sunset. Although it's not likely to happen, because Dice said he would come back for another go and Manu and Duncan still have quite a bit of game left, let's just say for argument's sake that it does...

Would we make the playoffs the following year, assuming no lockout, with this roster?

HC - Pop

C - Tiago Splitter
PF - DeJuan Blair
SF - Richard Jefferson
SG - George Hill
PG - Tony Parker

C - Matt Bonner
PF - Steve Novak (lol)
SF - Danny Green, DeSean Butler
SG - Gary Neal, James Anderson
PG - Chris Quinn

I know Neal and even Anderson (when he plays) primarily play at the 3, but I switched it up a bit considering where I think players would naturally fit. Does this team make the playoffs? If yes, why? If no, why not and what do you think they should add to make that a reality? My first thought is size, especially when I look at Novak and Bonner as the only backup bigs...

That scenario reduces the payroll from 73M to 34M next year. Even under a more restrictive CBA, the Spurs would have plenty of cap space. Certainly enough to go after a young FA big like DeAndre Jordan, for example.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.2501117.1290997959!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.JPG
"The Spurs win the title this year."

[FromWayDowntown]

In that scenario, I suspect that the Spurs would trade Parker -- out of respect to him and in the best interests of the club.

I also think that it would be foolhardy to go forward with that team. Unless you are a big market club that is a free agent destination, your one hope to get really good in the NBA is to get REALLY bad and get lucky in the lottery by finding a dominant, franchise player. Teams that try to stay just good enough to make the playoffs are the teams that don't ever contend.

[TampaDude]

In that scenario, I suspect that the Spurs would trade Parker -- out of respect to him and in the best interests of the club.

I also think that it would be foolhardy to go forward with that team. Unless you are a big market club that is a free agent destination, your one hope to get really good in the NBA is to get REALLY bad and get lucky in the lottery by finding a dominant, franchise player. Teams that try to stay just good enough to make the playoffs are the teams that don't ever contend.

So, in other words, tank and try to grab someone good in the lottery?

[703 Spurz]

The Spurs win the title this year. And after a month or so passes Duncan, Manu and Dice decide to ride off into the sunset. Although it's not likely to happen, because Dice said he would come back for another go and Manu and Duncan still have quite a bit of game left, let's just say for argument's sake that it does...

Would we make the playoffs the following year, assuming no lockout, with this roster?

HC - Pop

C - Tiago Splitter
PF - DeJuan Blair
SF - Richard Jefferson
SG - George Hill
PG - Tony Parker

C - Matt Bonner
PF - Steve Novak (lol)
SF - Danny Green, DeSean Butler
SG - Gary Neal, James Anderson
PG - Chris Quinn

I know Neal and even Anderson (when he plays) primarily play at the 3, but I switched it up a bit considering where I think players would naturally fit. Does this team make the playoffs? If yes, why? If no, why not and what do you think they should add to make that a reality? My first thought is size, especially when I look at Novak and Bonner as the only backup bigs...

Wouldn't Pop be gone too? He said once TD is out, he's following. Besides, even if he stays, the Spurs have to pick up more guys to replace TD and Manu. No way they just get replaced by dudes already on the roster.

[DesignatedT]

terrible thread

[TheSpurglar]

Wouldn't Pop be gone too? He said once TD is out, he's following. Besides, even if he stays, the Spurs have to pick up more guys to replace TD and Manu. No way they just get replaced by dudes already on the roster.

There was a video interview not too long back where Pop mentioned some of the younger guys had reinvigorated him a bit and it wasn't necessarily a given that he'd retire when Duncan hangs 'em up.

Obviously the Spurs would make moves to improve the roster, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a starting 5 like the one I laid out unless the Spurs could nab a big-time free agent during the offseason or at the trade deadline if things weren't going well.

[TheSpurglar]

terrible thread

I'm secretly ducks. :toast

[++SaiNt TiAg0++]

i think that line up is very capable and not far fetched whatsoever, b/c of pops faith in upcoming bigs and his terrible ability to develop, once duncan is gone tiago will develop on his own and adapt to starting and so will blair just like everyone else does.

[ChumpDumper]

lol that team would be pretty awful.

[TheSpurglar]

lol that team would be pretty awful.

So you're saying there's a chance?

/Lloyd Christmas

[ChumpDumper]

I'm not saying there's a chance it wouldn't be pretty awful.

[703 Spurz]

There was a video interview not too long back where Pop mentioned some of the younger guys had reinvigorated him a bit and it wasn't necessarily a given that he'd retire when Duncan hangs 'em up.

Obviously the Spurs would make moves to improve the roster, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a starting 5 like the one I laid out unless the Spurs could nab a big-time free agent during the offseason or at the trade deadline if things weren't going well.

Hopefully the FO would know for a fact that if they want to still win, that proposed lineup wouldn't be good enough

[Fpoonsie]

That scenario reduces the payroll from 73M to 34M next year. Even under a more restrictive CBA, the Spurs would have plenty of cap space. Certainly enough to go after a young FA big like DeAndre Jordan, for example.

:hungry:

[FromWayDowntown]

So, in other words, tank and try to grab someone good in the lottery?

I'm saying that if that's the best roster you can put together, you're much better off jettisoning your parts for what you can get, being terrible, landing in the lottery, and hoping you catch lightning in a bottle.

Again, most teams don't become contenders by narrowly qualifying for the playoffs year after year. If you're NY, LAL, MIA, and a couple of others, you can have a chance to get things done that way. But with very few exceptions, the teams that have been truly contenders over the last 10 years or so have been teams that were really bad, got a superstar or at least a couple of all-stars through the lottery, and built that way.

The surest way to stay mediocre in the NBA is to be mediocre -- if you're neither really good nor really bad, you basically have no chance to move out of the middle.

[TheSpurglar]

I'm saying that if that's the best roster you can put together, you're much better off jettisoning your parts for what you can get, being terrible, landing in the lottery, and hoping you catch lightning in a bottle.

Never said it was the best roster the Spurs FO could put together. All I was asking was if people on SpursTalk thought that particular roster could make the playoffs next year if nobody else joined the team.

Most say, "No."

A few said, "Possibly, but as 1st round fodder."

Was hoping for a bit more basketball discussion regarding why people thought the way they did, and what would be necessary to change their mind if the answer was "No".

I think they'd fight for a spot, and could maybe (maaaaaaybe) sneak into the 8 seed, but they'd likely fall short. I think the backcourt would be where they'd make their hay, with Parker and Hill doing the majority of the scoring. I think Hill would become more aggressive as a full-time scorer earning huge minutes in a starting role. I think Neal and Anderson would be a lot better playing as back-ups in their natural positions at the 2. Backing up Tony would be a problem, but I think Quinn could give them a few minutes every night and Hill could soak up the rest.

On the wings it would all depend on how much Jefferson, Green and Butler continue to develop and embrace their roles over the offseason. If Jefferson can be a touch more aggressive going to the rack and continue to improve shooting the 3 he could be better than this year. Green and Butler are wildcards, but Green has shown flashes of potential and Butler was a nice player in college.

Regarding the frontcourt, I'd worry whether Blair could hold-up as a full-time, starting low post player or not. Would he be overwhelmed by the talented PFs in the league, or would he improve enough to be a constant double-double threat? I wouldn't worry too much about Tiago. I think a full offseason in the system would benefit him greatly, and as long as he and Parker have a nice rapport he'll get his points through the pick 'n roll. His footwork, defense and rebounding are either already there or are well on the way. He just needs to work on the offensive moves. Bonner and Novak are the weak links on the team, but only because it'd be nearly impossible to play them on the court at the same time. Novak is a long small forward, and Bonner is... Bonner.

[DMC]

The Spurs win the title this year.

I stopped reading after this. If we do this, it will be AS break next year before I come back to reality.

[spurs1990]

I stopped reading after this. If we do this, it will be AS break next year before I come back to reality.

Well it's not THAT out of the realm of possibility.

They still have the most wins of any team.

[100%duncan]

8th seeded team

[dallasmaverickslose]

The Spurs win the title this year. And after a month or so passes Duncan, Manu and Dice decide to ride off into the sunset. Although it's not likely to happen, because Dice said he would come back for another go and Manu and Duncan still have quite a bit of game left, let's just say for argument's sake that it does...

Would we make the playoffs the following year, assuming no lockout, with this roster?

HC - Pop

C - Tiago Splitter
PF - DeJuan Blair
SF - Richard Jefferson
SG - George Hill
PG - Tony Parker

C - Matt Bonner
PF - Steve Novak (lol)
SF - Danny Green, DeSean Butler
SG - Gary Neal, James Anderson
PG - Chris Quinn

I know Neal and even Anderson (when he plays) primarily play at the 3, but I switched it up a bit considering where I think players would naturally fit. Does this team make the playoffs? If yes, why? If no, why not and what do you think they should add to make that a reality? My first thought is size, especially when I look at Novak and Bonner as the only backup bigs...


Pop starting Splitter? LOL.

A Bonner/Blair lineup is more likely. :bang