Russ
05-27-2006, 07:48 PM
It looks like the Spurs need to pick up speed and athleticism at the center and backup point guard spots. The Mavs (and even Kings) exposed those weaknesses.
This reminds me of 2001 when the media opined that the Spurs were too old, too slow and finished — their one title would be their last.
Last time the Spurs proved the critics wrong by going contrarian — they picked up foreign players Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Tony Parker, at 19, was considered too young and too French to start at point guard in the NBA.
Now, the Spurs have another player who may be considered too young and too French to man the tough post in the NBA -- Ian Mahinmi. And they also have another Argentine — Luis Scola. But while some writers may compare Scola to Ginobili in talent, he seems more like a younger, more souped-up version of Fabricio Oberto to me. If Scola and Oberto were playing a zone D to lead Argentina to a world title, that would be fine. But today's NBA requires much more defensive speed and hops to win its own version of the world title.
So that leaves Mahinmi — this guy may be really good. From the few clips I've seen, he looks like a budding Bill Russell. If Mahinmi looks promising during the summer, why not keep him on the roster and even consider starting him at the 5? Although he's young, he's big and quick — a great shot blocker and he runs the floor well. What more do the Spurs need from that position? If he's the Spurs' future at defensive center why not let Pop start indoctrinating him with the Spurs' system earlier rather than later. It worked with Parker at an even tougher position.
Mahinmi would not have big offensive shoes to fill — the Spurs' offense hardly went through Nazr or Rasho. If he can be half of what Anderson Varejao was last year, he could allow the Spurs to play a 5 against Dallas and could also play against teams like Detroit and Miami. Rasho/Nazr can do the latter but not the former.
The Spurs got lucky last year. Their weakness at center and backup point were masked by a couple of gritty veteran performances by Brett Barry and Robert Horry. This year, their luck ran out, the matchups weren't as good and Barry and Horry were a year older.
Anyway, the problems still need to be addressed. And there's no championship this year to gloss over the problem and forestall the day of reckoning.
And while we're at it, why not try to get Speedy Claxton to return to the backup point? He left last time because (1) he wanted to start and (b) he wanted to play in a bigger place than SA. Now he realizes (1) he'll never be a long-term starter and (b) all the big city teams on the east coast stink and will for a long time. Maybe he's ready to come back.
Why not?
P.S. -- Javtokas looks like he warrants a good hard look, too. He looks like Rasho's evil twin on steroids.
This reminds me of 2001 when the media opined that the Spurs were too old, too slow and finished — their one title would be their last.
Last time the Spurs proved the critics wrong by going contrarian — they picked up foreign players Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Tony Parker, at 19, was considered too young and too French to start at point guard in the NBA.
Now, the Spurs have another player who may be considered too young and too French to man the tough post in the NBA -- Ian Mahinmi. And they also have another Argentine — Luis Scola. But while some writers may compare Scola to Ginobili in talent, he seems more like a younger, more souped-up version of Fabricio Oberto to me. If Scola and Oberto were playing a zone D to lead Argentina to a world title, that would be fine. But today's NBA requires much more defensive speed and hops to win its own version of the world title.
So that leaves Mahinmi — this guy may be really good. From the few clips I've seen, he looks like a budding Bill Russell. If Mahinmi looks promising during the summer, why not keep him on the roster and even consider starting him at the 5? Although he's young, he's big and quick — a great shot blocker and he runs the floor well. What more do the Spurs need from that position? If he's the Spurs' future at defensive center why not let Pop start indoctrinating him with the Spurs' system earlier rather than later. It worked with Parker at an even tougher position.
Mahinmi would not have big offensive shoes to fill — the Spurs' offense hardly went through Nazr or Rasho. If he can be half of what Anderson Varejao was last year, he could allow the Spurs to play a 5 against Dallas and could also play against teams like Detroit and Miami. Rasho/Nazr can do the latter but not the former.
The Spurs got lucky last year. Their weakness at center and backup point were masked by a couple of gritty veteran performances by Brett Barry and Robert Horry. This year, their luck ran out, the matchups weren't as good and Barry and Horry were a year older.
Anyway, the problems still need to be addressed. And there's no championship this year to gloss over the problem and forestall the day of reckoning.
And while we're at it, why not try to get Speedy Claxton to return to the backup point? He left last time because (1) he wanted to start and (b) he wanted to play in a bigger place than SA. Now he realizes (1) he'll never be a long-term starter and (b) all the big city teams on the east coast stink and will for a long time. Maybe he's ready to come back.
Why not?
P.S. -- Javtokas looks like he warrants a good hard look, too. He looks like Rasho's evil twin on steroids.