How urgent is the need to get younger?

[tp2021]

The Spurs have been one of the oldest teams in the league for a few years now, and there have always been discussions about bringing in younger, more athletic players. This team has proven, when healthy, they can beat anybody, no matter how young or athletic. I always thought the old age would affect the team by players losing a step or some skill, just not playing like they used to. Now it seems the age is becoming a factor in players being more susceptible to injury. Should we just hope the team gets better by the playoffs? What then? Will the FO keep bringing the old players back?

[ChumpDumper]

The need is rising in urgency, and all the workouts and signings and D-League activity show that the Spurs are doing what they can to address it while keeping the championship team together and under the tax threshold.

[medstudent]

medically speaking, the need is dire.

[debo]

Based on our records on back to back games, i say we shouldve gotten younger years ago. However, the fact that our vets win us rings and we're always at the top of the league in defense and wins, i wouldnt say the urgency is to much higher than it was last year. Besides, we do own a development league team, and its filled with young and athletic players.

[Bruno]

Being good is better than being young.

Most of Spurs' injuries aren't really related to their age.

[SpursWillOwn]

are there any injuries that are related to age? say alzheimer's?

[Bruno]

Barry's injury could be linked to his age and the fact that old players are more prone to muscle injuries.
Duncan's and Manu's injuries are the result of a hit. Both aren't that old and even if they were 25 years old, they likely would have been injured.
Vaughn's and Horry's injuries are the typical injury you get at the start of the training camp. Maybe old player get more of these kind of injuries but it remains injuries you get, by definition, only at the start of the season.
Parker and Mahinmi have been injured while being young.
Elson sprained his ankle and get hit in the face, no real link with the age.
Old Bruce and Old Fin' have been healthy.

[sa_butta]

With the Torros "farm team", this will allow us to build for the future. Its a nice insurance policy as well. Players can go up there learn the system and get ready for the real deal.

[Mr. Body]

This year they'll be fine, with a strong bench. Next year it won't even be 'urgent'. It'll be past urgent. We've said that for two to three years, but next summer will take a lot of smooth roster moves to balance the remaining old guys with completely unseasoned youth (other than Bonner and Udoka).

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs have been one of the oldest teams in the league for a few years now, and there have always been discussions about bringing in younger, more athletic players. This team has proven, when healthy, they can beat anybody, no matter how young or athletic. I always thought the old age would affect the team by players losing a step or some skill, just not playing like they used to. Now it seems the age is becoming a factor in players being more susceptible to injury. Should we just hope the team gets better by the playoffs? What then? Will the FO keep bringing the old players back?

It's a great question that you pose. It's a proven fact that older players are more prone to injury. In the NBA, declining production on back-to-back nights can also be attributed to age. Of course the traditional justification for this has always been "there are no B2B games in the playoffs".

It's also a fact that Pop and R.C. value age, experience, and corporate knowledge and no one can argue with the formula they've implored during this dynasty run. However the fact remains that "the bills will come due" sometime here real soon. The question is will the age factor catch up to them this year or next year? Winning the title was wonderful, as always. This often gives a GM or FO an excuse for not making upgrades or changes.

As someone has already stated, by now the Spurs should have already gradually started to infuse 1-2 younger positional players into their roster. This is very apparent to me when I look at how some opposing teams, who are seemingly overstocked with swing players, can exploit the Spurs with superior quickness and athleticism on the perimeter. By no means should these flaws prevent them from defending their title, but to continue a level of sustained excellence, a gradual infusion of developing talent is better than a vast overhaul.

Because this objective is about 2 years overdue, it does make one wonder if the FO is more focused on the shorter term goal of maintaining a consistent roster that can defend their title, as opposed to worrying about the future - which is RC's job.

The most recent release of a promising young player like Darius Washington causes many of us to look into the cupboard and realize that, other than the expected arrivals of Splitter and Mahinmi next year, there aint much there in terms of developing talent.

[ChumpDumper]

A little dramatic.

The Spurs don't have a whole lot to work with as far as acquiring talent. They've been picking up marginal guys who may or may not work out, and they haven't.

[BonnerDynasty]

I just want to repeat so I am not even concerned nor do I care about next year.

[m33p0]

spurs will be making its move to replace retirees via free agency come summertime.

[picnroll]

Last night was a taste of the issues at the swing position Spurs will face when Finley and Barry are gone and Manu suffers his inevitable injuries. Not good.

[lefty]

It's not urgent

We are getting better with age; we are Pop's favorite aging wine

[peskypesky]

Being good is better than being young.

Most of Spurs' injuries aren't really related to their age.

I am in full agreement. Injuries happen to young and old. Wasn't Lebron James out for several games with a sprained finger just a couple of weeks ago? Didn't Dwayne Wade go out last season with a dislocated shoulder? Hasn't Amare Stoudamire already had more surgery on his knees than Tim Duncan?

The "too-old" Spurs are not only the reigning champs, people, but they currently have the BEST record in the Western Conference! They're not in 10th place. They're not in 5th place, or 3rd place, or even 2nd. They're #1 in the West. And some of you are still not happy? You think the need is dire to go younger? Why?

And correct me if I'm wrong, but the team that's leading the entire league (Boston) is led by a Big Three who are no spring chickens.

This obsession with youth in our society has become a mental sickness. Newer is NOT always better. Youth is NOT always better than experience. Speed is NOT always better than smarts.

Get a clue, people.

[SAGambler]

I am in full agreement. Injuries happen to young and old. Wasn't Lebron James out for several games with a sprained finger just a couple of weeks ago? Didn't Dwayne Wade go out last season with a dislocated shoulder? Hasn't Amare Stoudamire already had more surgery on his knees than Tim Duncan?

The "too-old" Spurs are not only the reigning champs, people, but they currently have the BEST record in the Western Conference! They're not in 10th place. They're not in 5th place, or 3rd place, or even 2nd. They're #1 in the West. And some of you are still not happy? You think the need is dire to go younger? Why?

And correct me if I'm wrong, but the team that's leading the entire league (Boston) is led by a Big Three who are no spring chickens.

This obsession with youth in our society has become a mental sickness. Newer is NOT always better. Youth is NOT always better than experience. Speed is NOT always better than smarts.

Get a clue, people.

How "young" do we need to get? Tony certainly isn't old. Manu is getting there, and probably will need to change his "style" next year and not take so many hits. Tim seems healthy enough. And even though Bruce may be considered old, he seems to be in the best shape of any of them.

We already have a bunch that has worked together for several seasons now, and like the man said "Youth is not always better than experience".

Now if we could draft a 21 year old Duncan every year, or a 21 year old Ginobili, that might make sense. But we can't. Nor can anyone else.

We are pretty sure Ian and Splitter will be brought in next year. That's probably all the youth we will need to infuse for the season. I'm sure the FO looks at this like a chess game. Always looking 2 or 3 moves ahead. Or in this case, 2 or 3 years down the line.

Everyone screamed about off season this year, and how nothing was done and the Spurs would surely suffer, yet here we sit atop the Western Conference. I'm sure guys will be brought along, and even when Duncan and Manu decide to call it quits, there will be quality players in place to fill the void. The organization has gotten too used to having championship caliber teams every year, to just sit back and let it all come to an end.

Relax people...Let's enjoy this run, and worry about next year, next year.

[ChumpDumper]

We just added 24 and 27 year old players this week.

[JPB]

Splitter
Mahinmi
Parker

Young.

Ducan
Manu

Not old.

Bulls won their last 3 titles with Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Harper being way past 30.

[Capt Bringdown]

Everyone seems to agree that it takes players a full year to understand the Spurs system, correct? That's a full year on the Spurs, not on the Toros or some other pick-n-stash scenario.

If that's the case, then yes, our situation is urgent.

[peskypesky]

what ever.

[remingtonbo2001]

:rolleyes

People have too much time on their hands.

Go spend it with family instead of worrying if the Spurs are too old!