barbacoataco
04-29-2011, 11:03 PM
Now that the season is over we can see that despite winning 61 games the 2011 spurs do not compare to the best teams of the past. When you look at the 2005 team position by position against the present team, it is obvious just how far the Spurs have fallen.
Center/PF- Duncan in 2005 was still an all-time great, whereas now he is basically an average player.That alone makes all the difference.
- in 2005 Horry played a lot in the playoffs, and we all remember his awesome play on both the offensive and defensive end. His 2011 counterpart is Bonner.
-in 2005 Nazr was at least a true center who at times played pretty good defense, even with his "hands of stone." In 2011 the Spurs had a frontcourt with the likes of Blair and Bonner. McDyess was too inconsistent and just a little past his expiration date.
- in 2005 Manu was better than he is now. That was one of his best playoff runs.
-in 2005 was Parker was about even with, or maybe better than he is now. In 2005 he was still blazing fast and I think his defense in the Detroit Finals was better than what he is capable of now.
At the SF position in 2005 Bruce Bowen was in his prime as one of the best perimeter defenders ever. He also shot 40%+ routinely from the 3 pt line and hit a lot of clutch 3 ptrs. The 2011 SPurs feature Dick Jefferson at the same position and he got worse as the season went on, and then choked in the playoffs.
-in 2005 Brent Barry made some big contributions especially on the offensive end as a great passer and of course great 3 pt shooter. He made some big plays n the Finals. The 2011 counterpart would be Neal or Hill. Neither came up big.
All in all at every position the 2011 Spurs are weaker than the 2005 team. I think we all knew this as the season went on, but the gaudy record made it look like maybe this year's team was on a similar level.
Center/PF- Duncan in 2005 was still an all-time great, whereas now he is basically an average player.That alone makes all the difference.
- in 2005 Horry played a lot in the playoffs, and we all remember his awesome play on both the offensive and defensive end. His 2011 counterpart is Bonner.
-in 2005 Nazr was at least a true center who at times played pretty good defense, even with his "hands of stone." In 2011 the Spurs had a frontcourt with the likes of Blair and Bonner. McDyess was too inconsistent and just a little past his expiration date.
- in 2005 Manu was better than he is now. That was one of his best playoff runs.
-in 2005 was Parker was about even with, or maybe better than he is now. In 2005 he was still blazing fast and I think his defense in the Detroit Finals was better than what he is capable of now.
At the SF position in 2005 Bruce Bowen was in his prime as one of the best perimeter defenders ever. He also shot 40%+ routinely from the 3 pt line and hit a lot of clutch 3 ptrs. The 2011 SPurs feature Dick Jefferson at the same position and he got worse as the season went on, and then choked in the playoffs.
-in 2005 Brent Barry made some big contributions especially on the offensive end as a great passer and of course great 3 pt shooter. He made some big plays n the Finals. The 2011 counterpart would be Neal or Hill. Neither came up big.
All in all at every position the 2011 Spurs are weaker than the 2005 team. I think we all knew this as the season went on, but the gaudy record made it look like maybe this year's team was on a similar level.