Ludden: Pryzbilla receptive to Spurs

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

:lol Whatever you say furry.

Joel gave his team a chance to win a lot of games with his rebounding and shot blocking. Our front court right now consists of TD, Matt Bonner, and 86 year old Robert Horry. Wake the hell up, we need some talent inside that can play ball, and Joel can.

Find me another big man for 5 mil a year and we can talk. And :lol at the low basketball IQ talk. How many times have you seen Joel play? He has consistently given the Spurs difficulty the past two years when they played, are you telling me that the Spurs can't handle a dumb player at the defensive end now?

[ducks]

Yes but the spurs need a big defensive stopper (Like Robinson)that warrants respect. Is Pryzbilla the answer? He does not have the quickness (footwork) or hops to be intimidating. I see players driving right past him. So his effectiveness will be nullified and he won't be an intimidator.

Robinson would rotate off his man and force the penetrator back outside. Robinson was an intimidator and defensive force.

Quickness is important for intimidation not only size.


getting ben wallace is a pipe dream

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I suspect that with Wallace leaving Joel is a near lock to head to the Pistons.

[T Park]

Pop has always had an inability to adjust during series

What about adjustments in 05 vs Seattle, and Detroit?

Guess there were none....

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

What about adjustments in 05 vs Seattle, and Detroit?

Guess there were none....

Seattle? I don't consider bringing Manu off the bench that great of an adjustment.

What did he do against Detroit to adjust?

I want x's and o's here, not gimmick roster substitutions.

[Obstructed_View]

Putting Bowen on Billups because he was torching the fuck out of Parker doesn't exactly put a coach in the John Wooden class, either, especially when it leads to pulling all your bigs and then trying to plug Bowen into all the holes that suddenly spring open the following year.

[Brutalis]

woops

[clubalien]

big ben signed with bulls

chant with me were getting joel
joel is da man
joel is dominate
and yes he can
dunk on drik
because were getting joel
were getting joel

[SA210]

Let's get this guy before Detroit does.

[clubalien]

I would also to add that portland likes to trade with us

we have traded kerr, loyality is everything anderson
they just are willing to trade with us regularly opposed to dallas

also someone said they liked barry

personaly i think barry is a better player than jr smith

but trading barry for przy woudl be cool with me

[Despot]

I'm starting to believe that the Spurs might have to start looking at trades to fill the C spot.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?univLogin02=stateChanged

Wasn't a center involved in that trade? Spurs are only team listed.


Hornets Ready To Deal J.R.?
Jul 3 - According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune it appears more than likely that J.R. Smith will be traded. His father, Earl, told the newspaper Sunday that Smith will not participate on the Hornets' summer league team in Las Vegas because he believes a trade is possibly in the works.
"If a trade happens, it happens," Earl Smith said. "It doesn't matter to us really, but he's not playing in summer league. Why play if he's going to be traded?"

[furry_spurry]

I'm starting to believe that the Spurs might have to start looking at trades to fill the C spot.

:lol :lol

Not laughing at you- laughing at the Spurs.

[violentkitten]

the spurs are so fucked.

[Slinkyman]

the spurs are so fucked.

how are they fucked? Getting Billa would be nice but it's not the end of the world if we don't.

[Bob Lanier]

At 9 p.m. Portland time, Joel Przybilla will have a tele-conference with his agent, Bill Duffy, regarding an offer from the Detroit Pistons.

This comes after former Detroit center Ben Wallace agreed in principle to a free agent contract with the Chicago Bulls. The Pistons immediately made contact with Duffy regarding Przybilla, and apparently Przybilla will strongly consider the offer from the Pistons.

Reached at about 8 p.m. Portland time, Duffy said he expects Przybilla to make his decision by Tuesday morning after spending a night mulling over Detroit's offer.

Bottom line: It doesn't look good for Portland.

Both Portland and Detroit can offer the mid-level exception (about $5.3 million a year), and actually Portland can offer a little more with yearly raises, but the lure of being an instant winner with the Pistons appears to be very powerful with Przybilla.

Kevin Pritchard, the Blazers director of player personnel, just spent two days in Milwaukee with Przybilla. Pritchard on Monday night said the talks with Przybilla were at times emotional, and he understands the dilemma facing Przybilla. Other than that, Pritchard declined comment.

This is all very speculative right now - I will have more hopefully after Duffy and Przybilla talk tonight - but again, this doesn't look good for the Blazers. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Detroit landing Przybilla.

I will update as soon as possible.

[timvp]

Bob, where is that from?

[ChumpDumper]

Joke's on Detroit.

They'll have to sign Anthony Carter too.

[Bob Lanier]

Bob, where is that from?
A Portland beat writer named Jason Quick. (http://www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/blazersoregonian/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_blazersbeat/archives/2006_07.html)

[clubalien]

ok were fucked tank the season

[Spurologist]

the spurs are so fucked.

How so? Enlighten me.

[Despot]

ok were fucked tank the season
anyone else wanna trade 40 wins for a shot at Oden? '87? '97? '07?

[furry_spurry]

Makes perfect sense. I am sure Detroit wants Joel ater they lost Wallace. I am curious, though, about what the Spurs have been doing. Other teams have guys traveling all over- maybe Pop is secretly somewhere like he was in Slovenija 3 years ago.

[ChumpDumper]

We don't have phones.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

If the Spurs have backed off Joel, then that means either a trade is coming down the pipes or they are re-signing Nazr for a reasonable amount.

[loveforthegame]

I am curious, though, about what the Spurs have been doing.

Same here.

[ducks]

Rumor out of Portland tonight is that Pryz is considering Detroit's offer tonight and may make a decision by tomorrow morning.http://www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/blazersoregonian/

[Despot]

Why do I have this horrible feeling that PJ Brown is going to be our center next year?

[furry_spurry]

I hate to be a broken record, but I have reminded people for a week- if we are using part of the MLE for Javtokas- as has been reported in some circles- then we have no chance at this guy anyway.

[violentkitten]

Why do I have this horrible feeling that PJ Brown is going to be our center next year?

dude thats actually pretty good

[furry_spurry]

Why do I have this horrible feeling that PJ Brown is going to be our center next year?
I think he may be going to Chicago for Chandler.

[Kori Ellis]

I hate to be a broken record, but I have reminded people for a week- if we are using part of the MLE for Javtokas- as has been reported in some circles- then we have no chance at this guy anyway.

I never saw the report saying we were giving any of the MLE to Javtokas. I just keep seeing people talking about the reports. Do you have a link? (This isn't a smart ass or sarcastic question)

If they gave part of the MLE to him, then they wouldn't have even contacted Przybilla.

[Kori Ellis]

Rumor out of Portland tonight is that Pryz is considering Detroit's offer tonight and may make a decision by tomorrow morning.http://www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/blazersoregonian/

It's already been posted in this thread on this page.

[ducks]

come joel :elephant :elephant

[ChumpDumper]

Eurobasket was speculating a 2+1 deal for Robertas, but who knows? Doesn't seem like we'd even bother Duffy with much less than the full MLE.

[Kori Ellis]

Eurobasket was speculating a 2+1 deal for Robertas, but who knows? Doesn't seem like we'd even bother Duffy with much less than the full MLE.

Yeah that's what I mean. I don't think the Spurs called Duffy offering 2M a year.

[Leetonidas]

It's already been posted in this thread on this page.

So is Joel going to make a decision about going to Detroit or about where he's going period? It doesn't even sound like he's considering us.

Tim Duncan needs to make..."the call."

[timvp]

Think about this from Przybilla's standpoint. Would you rather go to a team who is still trying to replace David Robinson and played their centers a combined 45 seconds in a loss to the Mavs or would you rather go to a team who just lost a center who only rebounds and blocks shots? The second team is also much closer to home.

If I'm Joel, that's a no-brainer.

:pctoss

[timvp]

I never thought I'd see the day were I'd be upset if the Spurs lost out on Joel Przybilla.

Scary times.

[violentkitten]

this day was foretold, but few listened

[JamStone]

If Joel Przybilla sign with Detroit, that's a decent move. I'll take that over any other free agent center at this point, but I'm not exactly thrilled by it.

But, if Przybilla does in fact sign with the Pistons, I would like to thank clubalien for all the reverse jinx karma with all of his obnoxious posts. We'll have to wait and see though.

[furry_spurry]

Think about this from Przybilla's standpoint. Would you rather go to a team who is still trying to replace David Robinson and played their centers a combined 45 seconds in a loss to the Mavs or would you rather go to a team who just lost a center who only rebounds and blocks shots? The second team is also much closer to home.

If I'm Joel, that's a no-brainer.

:pctoss

I think that is one of the issues, as well. For all the hate on Rasho and Nazr, they ARE veteran centers in the league and they sat on the bench a lot in the play-offs. I am sure Joel wants to play and can do what Detroit is used to expecting their center to do.

Also, I think people need to awaken and realize the days where players flocked to SA because it was their best chance for a championship are no longer here.

[furry_spurry]

I never thought I'd see the day were I'd be upset if the Spurs lost out on Joel Przybilla.

Scary times.
Not as easy to find a center as people thought- huh?

Either brace for the return of Nazr or expect way too much out of Javtokas.

[Despot]

So, with all these latest developments, does Nazr's price come way down?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

oops, sorry, i didnt know there was already something about Godzilla and the Pistons :smokin

[Sense]

ANYONE is better than Rasho and Nazr at this point guys... let's just hope for a good athletic blocker/rebounder.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

With the Pistons offering Pryz, I think Spurs fans better get used to seeing Nazr in the black and silver for years to come.

[Bob Lanier]

I'm not convinced that the Vanilla Gorilla is any better than Nazr.

The Spurs will be better off with Jeffries, anyway.

[furry_spurry]

So, with all these latest developments, does Nazr's price come way down?
Other teams still need a center-- Nazr is probably FA choice #3.

[Pistons < Spurs]

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8929/104992356489623168lr.jpg

[MannyIsGod]

Man, the great white hope.

[Solid D]

I think the Pistons' offer will exceed any MLE offer the Spurs might present to Duffy.

It would seem Javtokas has similar skills and would come cheaper. Przybilla is 2 inches taller but Javtokas' hops probably make up for the difference and then some.

[timvp]

I would think the Pistons' offer will exceed any MLE offer the Spurs might present to Duffy.

It's unclear whether the Pistons have more than the MLE. From the numbers, I don't think they do.

[Solid D]

Oh really.

[Solid D]

Hmmm, the Pistons just gave 4.5 Mil over 2 years to Lindsay Hunter. They no longer have Evans' salary and Wallace's salary. What is their salary position without them?

[JamStone]

From everything I've read and heard, the Pistons DO NOT have more than the MLE to offer Przybilla.

[Solid D]

Hoopshype shows them at $46M without Hunter. Hunter will take another $2.25M or thereabouts.

[JamStone]

Before the Lindsey Hunter signing, the Pistons were right at about $46 million. Salary cap should be around $51-52 million.

The Pistons did not have more than the MLE to acquire free agents, even before re-signing Lindsey Hunter.

[SA210]

I'm guessing the Spurs didn't think about making any calls to Pryz.

"Ah, let's see what happens tomorrow before we call him"

"oops, too late"

:pctoss

[SA Gunslinger]

There was nothing aggressive or dictating about us trying to go small and match up with Dallas, give me a break Gunslinger.

I am not a fan of small ball. But I thought it worked better as the series went on. I saw the guys in game three and four have some runs that were championship calibur. Unfortunately we had some bad luck in both games. :rolleyes

I do see your point of view. TD got into foul trouble during game two against the Mavs because Pop had Horry guarding Josh Howard. Horry was so concerned with Howard, he wouldn't help out when Harris or Stackhouse penetrated to the basket. With Horry and TD in the game, they aren't playing small. But because Pop matched up Bruce on Dirk, the cross matchup of Horry on Howard caused the Spurs to scramble on D. After TD got into foul trouble, Pop took Horry out and went small.

I think after that he pretty much went small the rest of the series. And he never really gave TD on Dirk a try.



To me, the news that the Spurs are after Pryz is a good sign, it means our coaches realized that small ball is not the future they thought it was in May.

And that's a good thing. Joel gives you a shot blocker and rebounder inside who can put up some great numbers for you.

I am all for grabbing the best big man on the market. He isn't Swen Nater but he isn't a stiff either. He's tough and unlike Rasho, has some fire in the hole. Ideally, the Spurs should be prepared for any matchup and that includes a decent big next to TD.



As to the Dirk equation, 75-80 points? Give me a break. He had the game of his life in the WCF and got to 50. The key to taking down Dallas isn't stopping Dirk, it's stopping Terry and Harris from their layup fest that they had going on all series with us.

You do that with quickness on the perimeter (where a JR Smith signing would come handy) and better interior D. Pryz gives you the latter. Let Dirk get his, lock down the rest of the Mavs, and you win.

Your probably right about this. Pop really didn't try shutting down the lane and force Dirk to be sole offensive weapon for Dallas. I guess we will never know since Pop just went small pretty much the entire series. But like I said, I thought small ball was working as the series progressed. Offensively, the guys were unstoppable and if TP could have hit his jumper in a few key moments, the Spurs win the series.


It worked two years ago against Phoenix (Amare with 40 PPG), and it will work against Dallas.

Another good point but Amare and Dirk have opposite games. I get it since the Spurs beat the Suns by allowing Amare to get his, the same philosophy should work against Dirk and the Mavs. But Dallas had more weapons to deal with because really, we didn't have to worry about Joe Johnson until game three in '05. And Dallas had a deeper bench.

The way I saw it, Pop didn't want TD to guard Dirk because he didn't want TD to be strapped with fouls. He didn't feel comfortable with Horry guarding Dirk so he used Horry on Howard which was a disaster. That pretty much limited your big lineup. And the rest is history. Maybe Pop does go big next season. That would probably mean TD would have to guard Dirk. I guess we will see what happens.

[SPARKY]

Amare still plays close enough to the rim to make a traditional lineup feasible against the Suns.