timvp
09-30-2006, 02:02 AM
As training camp starts, to me there are more questions than there are answers. I’m sure this San Antonio Spurs team can win a lot of regular season games but that’s not what I’m concerned with. There is only one goal going into this season. Too bad there isn’t only one question mark.
Question One
Where is the long small forward the Spurs said they need?
Right after the Spurs’ season ended, Pop said the Spurs needed a Derrick McKey type player. I wholeheartedly agreed with Pop then but here we are four months later and that player isn’t on the roster.
The Spurs were murdered in the playoffs last year by players like Bonzi Wells and Dirk Nowitzki and they needed to address that by adding a player who can swing between the small forward and power forward spots defensively. The Spurs have failed to do so … unless you believe that Eric Williams, Richard Melzer or Jamar Smith is the answer. Personally, I think the Spurs still have the same glaring hole they’ve had for years.
Question Two
Who is going to be the backup point guard?
I know the Spurs are saying that the backup point guard job is Beno Udrih’s to lose, but I just don’t think Beno has it. I know there are some in here who see him as John Stockton but with a better jumper but my honest evaluation is that he’s simply not an NBA point guard.
And actually, in FIBA during the World Championships, he wasn’t even the point guard for Slovenia. When he was in the game with Sani Becirovic (a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who destroyed his knee a few years back), Udrih was the shooting guard. And that’s not even bringing up the fact that Beno wasn’t even the best point guard on his team (Jaka Lactosintolevic or whatever is much more of a legit point guard).
If the NBA was a half court game, Beno would be an All-Star. But it isn’t and Beno can’t dribble or handle fullcourt pressure. I dare someone to name a worse ballhandling point guard in the NBA. There isn’t one and unless Beno spent the summer with Curly Neal, I don’t have much hope that he’s going to magically learn to handle the ball.
Jacque Vaughn is a decent third string point guard. The problem is the Spurs needed to address having a decent backup point guard.
Question Three
Is Tim Duncan going to try this year during the regular season?
I know a lot of people like to believe that Duncan was injured last year and that’s why his regular season numbers were off, but I personally do not believe he was giving total 100% effort during the regular season. As it turned out, it worked.
For the regular season, that is. Because the Spurs didn’t rely on Duncan in the regular season, they didn’t know what to do in the playoffs. Four-Down was a mystery to the new players. And Duncan didn’t have the stamina he usually has because he hadn’t been playing all out since the previous June.
This season the Spurs need to have Duncan be Tim Duncan all year. No more of this 18 points per game BS. This is Duncan’s team and that has to be apparent all season. If the Spurs are to win a championship, they have to play championship basketball all season. Playing a gimmick offense during the regular season only adds to the problems in the playoffs.
Question Four
Will Tony Parker have a three-point shot?
In the Spurs’ offense, especially in the playoffs, the Spurs really do need Parker to have a three-point shot. To allow Duncan to do his work down low, all the perimeter players need to be threats from the outside.
This was going to be the summer that Parker worked on his three-point shooting. But after spending it playing around in France and mending a broken finger, the Spurs will be lucky if Parker is able to shoot from downtown as well as he did last season.
That isn’t good.
Question Five
Can Manu Ginobili ever regain his 2004-05 magic?
Ginobili’s playoff run in 2005 was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from a guard in the NBA. He was so good that summer that I couldn’t imagine him playing any better.
In last year’s playoffs, he took that natural step back. He was good, but he wasn’t 2005 Playoff good. Honestly, I don’t think Manu can ever reach that level again. That was his peak.
Now hopefully he can play more consistently this year and stay healthy. He doesn’t have to be Supermanu but the Spurs need him to be playing at an All-Star level.
Question Six
Will Pop have the guts to go young?
Francisco Elson is not an NBA starting center. Actually, I’m not sure he’s an NBDL starting center. The quicker Pop goes with Jackie Butler, the better off the Spurs will be.
Obviously, Butler will have to do his part. He needs to learn how to score and rebound next to Duncan without getting in his way. If Butler can learn to become a role-player with good basketball instincts, he’s going to be a great signing. If Elson is starting come April, the Spurs are doomed.
Luckily, Pop is a hard ass and is always willing to give everyone a chance. He went with Stephen Jackson over Steve Smith and that won the Spurs a championship. He’s going to have to make a similar ballsy move this season.
Question Seven
Do the Spurs have the athletes to compete in today’s game?
With no contact allowed on perimeter players, the NBA game today rewards athleticism more than ever. It’s virtually impossible to stop a guy from driving to the basket without fouling him, and that plays right into the hands of players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and yes even Dirk Nowitzki.
The Spurs have Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to create of the dribble. That’s fine but neither one is big enough to constantly draw fouls and get to the line – especially in the playoffs. Who else on this team can drive to the hoop? Who else on this team can take advantage of the way the game is played?
That’s not even mentioning the advanced age of this team. Robert Horry is 36, Bruce Bowen is 35, Brent Barry and Williams are 34 and Michael Finley is 33. That is ancient in NBA terms.
Question Eight
Can the Spurs rebound?
I know I’ve harped on it all summer but the Spurs were horrible in the playoffs last year rebounding the ball and now they are an even worse rebounding team. For those that don’t remember the numbers, the Spurs were outrebounded in 11 of their final 12 playoff games.
Gone is Nazr Mohammed, a guy who if nothing else could rebound. Gone is Rasho Nesterovic, a guy who if nothing else was from Slovenia.
Rebounding was the Spurs’ biggest weakness last year in the playoffs. They are now even worse at coming up with caroms.
Not good.
Question Nine
Do the Spurs still have a quality bench?
The Spurs have always prided themselves on being one of the deepest teams in the league. Key bench production was vital in 1999, 2003 and 2005. This season, who is going to step up and bring that lift off the bench.
Finley is an obvious choice, but he alone wasn’t good enough last year. Other than Finley, who will step up to be the playoff assassian?
Anyone?
Bueller? Barry? Bob? Bonner? Beno? ‘Berto?
That’s a good question.
Question Ten
Is this team and city still hungry?
Yeah, the Spurs have won three NBA championships. Three (3). Tell me that ten years ago and I tell you that I’d die a happy Spurs fan.
But this isn’t over yet. The Spurs should win at least two more championships in the Tim Duncan Era. There is no excuse not to.
The Spurs have the best bigman in the world. They have an All-Star backcourt. They have a Hall of Fame coach. They have role players that buy into the team concept.
The only thing you can’t quantify on paper is heart and the hunger for more. The Spurs could easily rest on their laurels and this franchise could ride off into the sunset never sniffing another title again and the record books would show it as a successful period in San Antonio Spurs basketball.
But three isn’t enough.
Hopefully the Spurs truly want more and will fight to get more.
Question One
Where is the long small forward the Spurs said they need?
Right after the Spurs’ season ended, Pop said the Spurs needed a Derrick McKey type player. I wholeheartedly agreed with Pop then but here we are four months later and that player isn’t on the roster.
The Spurs were murdered in the playoffs last year by players like Bonzi Wells and Dirk Nowitzki and they needed to address that by adding a player who can swing between the small forward and power forward spots defensively. The Spurs have failed to do so … unless you believe that Eric Williams, Richard Melzer or Jamar Smith is the answer. Personally, I think the Spurs still have the same glaring hole they’ve had for years.
Question Two
Who is going to be the backup point guard?
I know the Spurs are saying that the backup point guard job is Beno Udrih’s to lose, but I just don’t think Beno has it. I know there are some in here who see him as John Stockton but with a better jumper but my honest evaluation is that he’s simply not an NBA point guard.
And actually, in FIBA during the World Championships, he wasn’t even the point guard for Slovenia. When he was in the game with Sani Becirovic (a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who destroyed his knee a few years back), Udrih was the shooting guard. And that’s not even bringing up the fact that Beno wasn’t even the best point guard on his team (Jaka Lactosintolevic or whatever is much more of a legit point guard).
If the NBA was a half court game, Beno would be an All-Star. But it isn’t and Beno can’t dribble or handle fullcourt pressure. I dare someone to name a worse ballhandling point guard in the NBA. There isn’t one and unless Beno spent the summer with Curly Neal, I don’t have much hope that he’s going to magically learn to handle the ball.
Jacque Vaughn is a decent third string point guard. The problem is the Spurs needed to address having a decent backup point guard.
Question Three
Is Tim Duncan going to try this year during the regular season?
I know a lot of people like to believe that Duncan was injured last year and that’s why his regular season numbers were off, but I personally do not believe he was giving total 100% effort during the regular season. As it turned out, it worked.
For the regular season, that is. Because the Spurs didn’t rely on Duncan in the regular season, they didn’t know what to do in the playoffs. Four-Down was a mystery to the new players. And Duncan didn’t have the stamina he usually has because he hadn’t been playing all out since the previous June.
This season the Spurs need to have Duncan be Tim Duncan all year. No more of this 18 points per game BS. This is Duncan’s team and that has to be apparent all season. If the Spurs are to win a championship, they have to play championship basketball all season. Playing a gimmick offense during the regular season only adds to the problems in the playoffs.
Question Four
Will Tony Parker have a three-point shot?
In the Spurs’ offense, especially in the playoffs, the Spurs really do need Parker to have a three-point shot. To allow Duncan to do his work down low, all the perimeter players need to be threats from the outside.
This was going to be the summer that Parker worked on his three-point shooting. But after spending it playing around in France and mending a broken finger, the Spurs will be lucky if Parker is able to shoot from downtown as well as he did last season.
That isn’t good.
Question Five
Can Manu Ginobili ever regain his 2004-05 magic?
Ginobili’s playoff run in 2005 was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from a guard in the NBA. He was so good that summer that I couldn’t imagine him playing any better.
In last year’s playoffs, he took that natural step back. He was good, but he wasn’t 2005 Playoff good. Honestly, I don’t think Manu can ever reach that level again. That was his peak.
Now hopefully he can play more consistently this year and stay healthy. He doesn’t have to be Supermanu but the Spurs need him to be playing at an All-Star level.
Question Six
Will Pop have the guts to go young?
Francisco Elson is not an NBA starting center. Actually, I’m not sure he’s an NBDL starting center. The quicker Pop goes with Jackie Butler, the better off the Spurs will be.
Obviously, Butler will have to do his part. He needs to learn how to score and rebound next to Duncan without getting in his way. If Butler can learn to become a role-player with good basketball instincts, he’s going to be a great signing. If Elson is starting come April, the Spurs are doomed.
Luckily, Pop is a hard ass and is always willing to give everyone a chance. He went with Stephen Jackson over Steve Smith and that won the Spurs a championship. He’s going to have to make a similar ballsy move this season.
Question Seven
Do the Spurs have the athletes to compete in today’s game?
With no contact allowed on perimeter players, the NBA game today rewards athleticism more than ever. It’s virtually impossible to stop a guy from driving to the basket without fouling him, and that plays right into the hands of players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and yes even Dirk Nowitzki.
The Spurs have Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to create of the dribble. That’s fine but neither one is big enough to constantly draw fouls and get to the line – especially in the playoffs. Who else on this team can drive to the hoop? Who else on this team can take advantage of the way the game is played?
That’s not even mentioning the advanced age of this team. Robert Horry is 36, Bruce Bowen is 35, Brent Barry and Williams are 34 and Michael Finley is 33. That is ancient in NBA terms.
Question Eight
Can the Spurs rebound?
I know I’ve harped on it all summer but the Spurs were horrible in the playoffs last year rebounding the ball and now they are an even worse rebounding team. For those that don’t remember the numbers, the Spurs were outrebounded in 11 of their final 12 playoff games.
Gone is Nazr Mohammed, a guy who if nothing else could rebound. Gone is Rasho Nesterovic, a guy who if nothing else was from Slovenia.
Rebounding was the Spurs’ biggest weakness last year in the playoffs. They are now even worse at coming up with caroms.
Not good.
Question Nine
Do the Spurs still have a quality bench?
The Spurs have always prided themselves on being one of the deepest teams in the league. Key bench production was vital in 1999, 2003 and 2005. This season, who is going to step up and bring that lift off the bench.
Finley is an obvious choice, but he alone wasn’t good enough last year. Other than Finley, who will step up to be the playoff assassian?
Anyone?
Bueller? Barry? Bob? Bonner? Beno? ‘Berto?
That’s a good question.
Question Ten
Is this team and city still hungry?
Yeah, the Spurs have won three NBA championships. Three (3). Tell me that ten years ago and I tell you that I’d die a happy Spurs fan.
But this isn’t over yet. The Spurs should win at least two more championships in the Tim Duncan Era. There is no excuse not to.
The Spurs have the best bigman in the world. They have an All-Star backcourt. They have a Hall of Fame coach. They have role players that buy into the team concept.
The only thing you can’t quantify on paper is heart and the hunger for more. The Spurs could easily rest on their laurels and this franchise could ride off into the sunset never sniffing another title again and the record books would show it as a successful period in San Antonio Spurs basketball.
But three isn’t enough.
Hopefully the Spurs truly want more and will fight to get more.