hitmantb
06-26-2014, 01:03 PM
Since Duncan's arrival, I always thought Spurs playoff success is directly tied to the quality of its perimeter players. Duncan was so consistent as our floor, our ceiling was completely dependent on the perimeter quality.
Avery/******/Elie gave us enough to win in 1999, but that was the weakest perimeter we had on any of the title teams. Robinson was still near prime however so it didn't matter.
In 2001 after Derek Anderson went down against the Mavs we got swept. He was the Ibaka of that team and had he played I think we would have lasted at least six games. The third best player on a team makes a huge difference.
2003 had Parker/Ginobili/Jackson/Bowen and we finally beat the Lakers. We did lose Jackson but Parker/Ginobili grew so much in the next a few years and it didn't matter.
In 2008, Bowen was just too old to guard Kobe and the next a couple of years, the Richard Jefferson experiment bombed and we weren't a factor until 2012 when we finally got Green/Kwahi. In 2012 they were still raw and intimidated by Thunder's sheer talents. In 2013 and 2014 they finally matured.
Their defense are not that far off from prime Bowen, their offense far exceed Bowen's. Green's 3 point shooting is so incredibly intimidating, Kwahi plays like LeBron when he gets going. We really need them to make up for the aging GDP core and they truly delivered in spades.
Throw in Mills I really feel this is the strongest Spurs perimeter in franchise history. Half a step opening, 3 pointer, baaannnggg!
Avery/******/Elie gave us enough to win in 1999, but that was the weakest perimeter we had on any of the title teams. Robinson was still near prime however so it didn't matter.
In 2001 after Derek Anderson went down against the Mavs we got swept. He was the Ibaka of that team and had he played I think we would have lasted at least six games. The third best player on a team makes a huge difference.
2003 had Parker/Ginobili/Jackson/Bowen and we finally beat the Lakers. We did lose Jackson but Parker/Ginobili grew so much in the next a few years and it didn't matter.
In 2008, Bowen was just too old to guard Kobe and the next a couple of years, the Richard Jefferson experiment bombed and we weren't a factor until 2012 when we finally got Green/Kwahi. In 2012 they were still raw and intimidated by Thunder's sheer talents. In 2013 and 2014 they finally matured.
Their defense are not that far off from prime Bowen, their offense far exceed Bowen's. Green's 3 point shooting is so incredibly intimidating, Kwahi plays like LeBron when he gets going. We really need them to make up for the aging GDP core and they truly delivered in spades.
Throw in Mills I really feel this is the strongest Spurs perimeter in franchise history. Half a step opening, 3 pointer, baaannnggg!