Current Lineup

[Holt's Cat]

Starters
1 Parker
2 Ginobili
3 Bowen
4 Duncan
5 Oberto

Bench
1 Stoudamire
1 Vaughn
2/3 Finley
2/3 Udoka
4 Horry
4 Bonner
4/5 Thomas

The Thomas trade added some balance to the frontcourt rotation, something which needed to be done with Horry not fully integrated back into the rotation and Elson not showing any improvement in his second season with the Spurs. Anyways, here's a quick rundown by position.

1 - Obviously, Parker's health is a concern. It's good that there doesn't seem to be much pressure to rush him back. With Vaughn and new acquisition Damon Stoudamire the Spurs can wait a little for TP to heal. I like Vaughn, I truly do, but sometimes he can be a little shaky. But he plays hard and focused. His jumper makes one nervous. Stoudamire definitely has an opportunity to get some minutes and take some shots if he can bring more consistent play. If so, the Spurs will have their best backup 1 in a while. Overall, this is the deepest the Spurs have been at point in quite a while.

2 - Manu. Manu. Manu. Save some of that for May and June. I think right now you have to be comfortable with him and Finley. Hopefully Manu's minutes can be curtailed with Parker's return to rest him a little for the postseason. The Spurs have lost some depth and flexibility here and at the 3 with Barry's exit.

3 - I think the Spurs are fine here. Some are starting to think about reaching for the panic button with respect to Bruce, but he'll be fine come the second season. I'd much rather he not overly exert himself right now. The Ime Udoka acquisition looks better and better. He does look capable of being the small ball 4. Consistency would be nice. But he's on the right track.

4 - Keeping on keeping on. Another season for Tim Duncan. His FG% is down slightly from last season, but his FT% is up 6% to 70%. His rebounding is up, his blocks are down, but so are his TOs. Horry started this season in street clothes and really hasn't found consistent playing time until the last 10 or so games. Of course, it's February. New acquisition Kurt Thomas should help to make this the best position for the Spurs (helped in no small part by the aforementioned Duncan). Thomas should help on the glass, on defense, and provide a little better spacing on offense. With TD seeing half of the game at the 5 it is important that the Spurs have a quality reserve big to play the 4. Matt Bonner was not able to establish himself in the rotation earlier this season.

5 - This position had deteriorated to its worst since DRob left. That includes Radoslav, so that's saying something. Oberto is enjoying his finest season as a Spur, at least statistically, but still plays half a game. The two headed monster that was enough to win it all last season faded during the 1st half this season, primarily due to Elson, who unfortunately regressed after his first season with the Spurs. At least last year Pop could go with one or the other on most nights for half of the game and give TD the other half, before the postseason. Now with Thomas, the bigman rotation is solidified and Pop has some flexibility. Rebounding and toughness have been added. Some new wrinkles will be added on offense.


It will be interesting to see how this season shakes out for the Spurs. They aren't where they were last season, when they were among the league leaders in offensive and defensive field goal percentage. But there are signs that they are slowly rounding into post-season form. In an ultra-competitive Western Conference that has seen some interesting player movement over the last month, it will be imperative that the Spurs tighten things up and settle into executing at both ends of the floor. That starts obviously with getting Parker back and getting a rotation set for the post-season. If Barry is indeed bought out by the Sonics, it would be nice to have him back for depth and experience (if healthy). Right now many claim that the West is wide open, perhaps it is. The Spurs have again been relegated to also-ran status by the same pundits who placed them there last year and in championship years prior. However, the Spurs don't play for the pundits but rather for rings.

[Sense]

I'd make Thomas a starter and put the other Argie off the bench.

[z0sa]

I'd make Thomas a starter and put the other Argie off the bench.

He needs time to learn the system ... Thomas' work ethic and toughness on both ends of the court have been exhibited at times throughout his career, so I'm hoping he catches it soon enough to make the spurs better come playoff time.

[Sense]

He needs time to learn the system ... Thomas' work ethic and toughness on both ends of the court have been exhibited at times throughout his career, so I'm hoping he catches it soon enough to make the spurs better come playoff time.
Of course I don't mean tomorrow he should be a starter.. but I really doubt that Thomas will need as much time as other players needed for the simple fact that he's an established defender as it is and he seems to know how to play half court basketball...

He's just the ideal player that the Spurs needed to complete their defensive structure.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Starters
1 Parker
2 Ginobili
3 Bowen
4 Duncan
5 Oberto

Bench
1 Stoudamire
1 Vaughn
2/3 Finley
2/3 Udoka
4 Horry
4 Bonner
4/5 Thomas

The Thomas trade added some balance to the frontcourt rotation, something which needed to be done with Horry not fully integrated back into the rotation and Elson not showing any improvement in his second season with the Spurs. Anyways, here's a quick rundown by position.

1 - Obviously, Parker's health is a concern. It's good that there doesn't seem to be much pressure to rush him back. With Vaughn and new acquisition Damon Stoudamire the Spurs can wait a little for TP to heal. I like Vaughn, I truly do, but sometimes he can be a little shaky. But he plays hard and focused. His jumper makes one nervous. Stoudamire definitely has an opportunity to get some minutes and take some shots if he can bring more consistent play. If so, the Spurs will have their best backup 1 in a while. Overall, this is the deepest the Spurs have been at point in quite a while.

2 - Manu. Manu. Manu. Save some of that for May and June. I think right now you have to be comfortable with him and Finley. Hopefully Manu's minutes can be curtailed with Parker's return to rest him a little for the postseason. The Spurs have lost some depth and flexibility here and at the 3 with Barry's exit.

3 - I think the Spurs are fine here. Some are starting to think about reaching for the panic button with respect to Bruce, but he'll be fine come the second season. I'd much rather he not overly exert himself right now. The Ime Udoka acquisition looks better and better. He does look capable of being the small ball 4. Consistency would be nice. But he's on the right track.

4 - Keeping on keeping on. Another season for Tim Duncan. His FG% is down slightly from last season, but his FT% is up 6% to 70%. His rebounding is up, his blocks are down, but so are his TOs. Horry started this season in street clothes and really hasn't found consistent playing time until the last 10 or so games. Of course, it's February. New acquisition Kurt Thomas should help to make this the best position for the Spurs (helped in no small part by the aforementioned Duncan). Thomas should help on the glass, on defense, and provide a little better spacing on offense. With TD seeing half of the game at the 5 it is important that the Spurs have a quality reserve big to play the 4. Matt Bonner was not able to establish himself in the rotation earlier this season.

5 - This position had deteriorated to its worst since DRob left. That includes Radoslav, so that's saying something. Oberto is enjoying his finest season as a Spur, at least statistically, but still plays half a game. The two headed monster that was enough to win it all last season faded during the 1st half this season, primarily due to Elson, who unfortunately regressed after his first season with the Spurs. At least last year Pop could go with one or the other on most nights for half of the game and give TD the other half, before the postseason. Now with Thomas, the bigman rotation is solidified and Pop has some flexibility. Rebounding and toughness have been added. Some new wrinkles will be added on offense.


It will be interesting to see how this season shakes out for the Spurs. They aren't where they were last season, when they were among the league leaders in offensive and defensive field goal percentage. But there are signs that they are slowly rounding into post-season form. In an ultra-competitive Western Conference that has seen some interesting player movement over the last month, it will be imperative that the Spurs tighten things up and settle into executing at both ends of the floor. That starts obviously with getting Parker back and getting a rotation set for the post-season. If Barry is indeed bought out by the Sonics, it would be nice to have him back for depth and experience (if healthy). Right now many claim that the West is wide open, perhaps it is. The Spurs have again been relegated to also-ran status by the same pundits who placed them there last year and in championship years prior. However, the Spurs don't play for the pundits but rather for rings.

Well said, sir. :toast

I also wouldn't be surprised if Finley and Thomas start and the Argentines move to the bench. Whatever works, Pop will know soon enough.

[timvp]

Nice breakdown. The only glaring hole in the roster right now is the lack of a quality fifth swingman. The Spurs need that fifth wing just in case something happens to one of their older players on the perimeter.


Starters
1 Parker
2 Ginobili
3 Bowen
4 Duncan
5 Oberto

Bench
1 Stoudamire
1 Vaughn
2/3 Finley
2/3 Udoka
4 Horry
4 Bonner
4/5 Thomas

After looking at that, one option would be to buy Stoudamire some minutes at shooting guard. It sounds crazy because he's short but if he could, the roster would be set. And a couple years ago during the '04-05 season, Stoudamire started a majority of the games at shooting guard when he was playing next to Van Exel in Portland. Perhaps Pop can try out a Stoudamire/Parker backcourt to see if it can survive defensively.

If Stoudamire can't play shooting guard, the Spurs need to bring someone in. I like Udoka but I'd feel more confident if the Spurs had a fifth wing with a consistent jumper. If Barry were to return, that'd be perhaps the best option.

The bigman positions are no longer a weak spot for the Spurs. Oberto, Thomas, Horry and Bonner next to Duncan is nice. Pop can now mix and match until he finds the two that are playing the best and set the rotation.

My only lingering concern at the moment is the health of Parker. If Parker can't come back at 90% at the very least, the Spurs likely can't win a championship. The next couple weeks are vital to see whether Parker is healthy or whether this injury will hurt him for the rest of the season.

Everywhere else now the Spurs are strong. Just add a fifth wing and the Spurs are set. If that wing turns out to be Stoudamire, the Spurs don't even need to do that.

[polandprzem]

So we've nobody who can provaide any offense of the bench.
Nobody.

The trade was much like a panic move for what LA did...

[TDMVPDPOY]

dont the spurs have a free roster spot?

sign some cheap ass for under 2m.....

[anakha]

So we've nobody who can provaide any offense of the bench.
Nobody.

The trade was much like a panic move for what LA did...

I'd say Ginobili will be the super-sub again come playoff time.

[polandprzem]

I'd say Ginobili will be the super-sub again come playoff time.

So we have punch of the bench and losing the best offensive player from the starting 5.

Prepare for spurs ad. 2001

[anakha]

So we have punch of the bench and losing the best offensive player from the starting 5.

Prepare for spurs ad. 2001

I'm a little confused here.

I assume the starting five in the playoffs will be the same as last year:

Parker - Finley - Bowen - Duncan - Oberto

With the main bench players being:

Stoudamire/Vaughn - Ginobili - Udoka - Horry - Thomas

While there might be a little downgrade in offensive production off the bench compared to last year, I honestly don't see where a reaction as extreme as yours is warranted.

After all, Ginobili came off the bench last year as well. And that was pretty successful, IIRC.

[polandprzem]

Well I was emotional about 2001 stagnat offense.

Ginobili will have to go out of the bench, cause if not the spurs easily would be destroyed in 2nd Q and at the begining of a 4th.

I was bitching about spurs lacking of defense at the froncourt and rebounding at the froncourt positions. I was doing it almost all the time. Now we have Thomas and I can STFU.
But losing Barry is too much for spurs offense. He provided great ball movenment which spurs are extreamly lacking, and he could also hit the outside shot.
I wonder how much spurs right now will change the offense because of this trade. Cause Udoka is so much diferent player that some changes must to be made.

Other then that Udoka must to step up, Tony must be 100%, Gino must be Gino ad.2005 that means he must stay consistent what he was doing good this year, Bowen must start draining those treys he used to and Finley got to step up in a shooting matter. He had ups and downs. In the playoffs we need only ups.
I'm concerned, cause the thing the spurs don't want is a 4-down "looking at Tim" strategy. Lack of beaing able to run best transitions in NBA.

So, yea many things have to go right for the spurs to be succesfull this year.

[anakha]

many things have to go right for the spurs to be succesfull this year.

You could actually argue that this has always been the case for those championship years.

Who knows what could have happened if Horry had made that game winning shot for the Lakers the 2003 playoffs against the Spurs?

Who knows what could have happened if Horry had not made that game winning shot for the Spurs in the 2005 finals?

Who knows what could have happened if Dallas had not met its worst possible matchup in the first round last year?

A little luck is always needed to win a championship. It comes with the territory. :p:

[polandprzem]

You are talking about luck.

I'm talking about lineups, possibilieties, strategy, streanghts and weaknesses on basketball areas.


Now I'm gonna get some dvd's, got to burn sthn'

[Bruno]

Spurs needs an extra swingman.
Spurs plays a lot of small ball this year.
Kurt Thomas won't really help Spurs to play less small ball because he is slow.
Spurs PG are midgets, a 2 PG lineup will have a hard time in most matchups.

In certain matchups, Spurs will only have 4 players (Ginobili, Bowen, Finley and Udoka) to play 3 position (SG, SF and PF). It's not enough.

[polandprzem]

Still few hours left.

If we can get a great swingman option for homemade pancakes I will be satisfied other then that I would like to see spurs adjusting to Thomas not Thomas to the spurs.

Generaly spurs got better defensivly and worse offensivly, but you want to avoid generalizing (or how it's written) in basketball

[urunobili]

Swingman needed... i don;t think stoudamire can keep up with way taller 2's

[wildchild]

Spurs needs an extra swingman.
Spurs plays a lot of small ball this year.
Kurt Thomas won't really help Spurs to play less small ball because he is slow.
Spurs PG are midgets, a 2 PG lineup will have a hard time in most matchups.

In certain matchups, Spurs will only have 4 players (Ginobili, Bowen, Finley and Udoka) to play 3 position (SG, SF and PF). It's not enough.

I'm sick with fear but I agree with Bruno.

I'll miss Brent's offense his 3's and his play with Manu and Tony.

I'd other trade like Bonner and Elson for Kurt and keep Brent.

[naico]

Spurs needs an extra swingman.
Spurs plays a lot of small ball this year.
Kurt Thomas won't really help Spurs to play less small ball because he is slow.
Spurs PG are midgets, a 2 PG lineup will have a hard time in most matchups.

In certain matchups, Spurs will only have 4 players (Ginobili, Bowen, Finley and Udoka) to play 3 position (SG, SF and PF). It's not enough.

Bring in Langford?

[polandprzem]

Bring in Langford?

Good chice esp. when he is not experienced in playoff ball, and is not femiliar with the system and NBA as well. :reading

[Ghost Writer]

I see the starters and rotation a little differently:

Starters
1 Parker
2 Finley
3 Bowen
4 Duncan
5 Oberto

Bench
2/3 Ginobili
1 Stoudamire
4/5 Thomas
2/3 Udoka
4 Horry
1 Vaughn
4 Bonner



The second team need Ginobili to be the focal point of the scoring. With him coming off the bench, you don't need to have Mighty Mouse play the off-guard as timvp suggested.

Thomas will emerge as the first big man off the bench.

Udoku continues to split time with Bowen.

Vaughn and Bonner will move down the depth chart into relative obscurity come playoffs time.

[Holt's Cat]

Spurs needs an extra swingman.
Spurs plays a lot of small ball this year.
Kurt Thomas won't really help Spurs to play less small ball because he is slow.
Spurs PG are midgets, a 2 PG lineup will have a hard time in most matchups.

In certain matchups, Spurs will only have 4 players (Ginobili, Bowen, Finley and Udoka) to play 3 position (SG, SF and PF). It's not enough.


The Spurs' frontcourt was untenable as it stood before this trade. You had 3 guys you could trust in the postseason. In the swingman rotation you had 4. This is a big man's league. Looking at the other likely Western Conference playoff teams it was clear this was an area of concern. If Barry doesn't come back the trade still looks good because of this.

[hater]

Udoka is supposed to give us the offensive punch and he can play swing

[Holt's Cat]

Udoka is supposed to give us the offensive punch and he can play swing

He will need to step it up now.

[Ghost Writer]

You're not going to take issue with me moving Manu back to the first man off the bench or Bonner and Vaughn on the outskirts of a 8-man playoff rotation?

[Holt's Cat]

You're not going to take issue with me moving Manu back to the first man off the bench or Bonner and Vaughn on the outskirts of a 8-man playoff rotation?


Pop may or may not move Manu to the bench. No biggie. I don't think Vaughn will totally be run out of the rotation unless it's clear he's hurting the team. I think timvp is right that the Spurs will try to get some minutes from Stoudamire at the 2.

[timvp]

He will need to step it up now.Yeah, the person who will determine whether this trade was good or not isn't really Thomas ... it's Udoka. If Udoka can step up and fill the Barry void, this trade will look golden. If he doesn't, Spurs fans will blame the trade for taking away Barry.

Thomas is pretty much a given. He'll come in and bang, rebound, block a shot, hit a jumper or two and call it a night. If Udoka can become a dependable fourth wing, the Spurs shouldn't miss Barry too much.

And really, I think Pop is ready to trust Udoka enough to at least slide him into the role Barry played last year in the postseason. Pop has never really been a big fan of having an abundance of capable swingman. When that happens, Pop usually thins the herd to lessen the pressure on the players who wants to go with. The Spurs having five capable swingmen to this point in the season was an anomaly.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Thomas in the starting lineup


remember Nazr benched Rasho and Nazr came to the Spurs at last second of the trade deadline

[spurster]

If the Western Conference remains close, Pop might not have the luxury of managing the playing time of the big three. Even if a few teams fade, do the Spurs want to start as a 5-8 seed? Beating three quality teams on the road in the West followed by the Celtics or Pistons would be very tough to do.

[Ghost Writer]

I don't think Stoudamire should be played at the 2. He's not good/fast enough now (perhaps never was) to be an undersized off-guard, ala Iverson. In fact, he seems to forcefit his jumpers out of the flow of the offense. That's one thing Vaughn realized... the best way for Spurs PGs to score in this motion offense is to drive (and get a layup or kick out to the open man). I don't like Stoudamire floating around the perimeter looking for an open shot. That's reserved for our 2/3s. Drive and create for yourself or others.

Moving Manu to 6th man eliminates the need for that.

timvp took issue when I started thread detailing how the Spurs had a lot of the same skills at the same positions.

Barry was superfluous.

[remingtonbo2001]

Hmmm....I would take both Manu and Oberto out of the starting lineup and bring them off the bench. Both play very well together. You can now afford to bring Oberto off the bench. I guess you could play KT and Tim together.

It would even out the rotations. Really, it depends on matchups. That's what the Spurs have built their team(s) upon, to be able to matchup against anyone at any given situation.

[timvp]

I don't think Stoudamire should be played at the 2. He's not good/fast enough now (perhaps never was) to be an undersized off-guard, ala Iverson.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200501140NOH.html

For one night, at least, Stoudamire and the shooting guard position worked well.


timvp took issue when I started thread detailing how the Spurs had a lot of the same skills at the same positions.How are Oberto and Thomas not players with "same skills at the same positions"? The Spurs traded for a smart big who defends on the low block, rebounds and hits the occasional jumper.

The Spurs used some of their duplicity at the swingman positions to add some duplicity at the bigman positions.

[BonnerDynasty]

If the Western Conference remains close, Pop might not have the luxury of managing the playing time of the big three. Even if a few teams fade, do the Spurs want to start as a 5-8 seed? Beating three quality teams on the road in the West followed by the Celtics or Pistons would be very tough to do.

All depends on standings of other teams. With NO so high up still, Utah battling against Denver for 4th, Spurs could get lucky and not have to face L.A., Suns, Mavs, etc in the first round. Add in Golden State who have been competitive against the best in the league, and anything can happen....again.

[Ghost Writer]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200501140NOH.html

For one night, at least, Stoudamire and the shooting guard position worked well.

How are Oberto and Thomas not players with "same skills at the same positions"? The Spurs traded for a smart big who defends on the low block, rebounds and hits the occasional jumper.

The Spurs used some of their duplicity at the swingman positions to add some duplicity at the bigman positions.
timvp, that was one (1) night and three (3) years ago. You see him play in person. Manu comes off the bench and Damon backs up Parker and Vaughn waves a towel.

Agree to an extent on Oberto, but in this case, the duplicity was needed. It was just Oberto before Thomas joined. And Thomas is way more physical than Oberto. I bet he is 50 lbs. heavier without even looking.

[Bruno]

The Spurs' frontcourt was untenable as it stood before this trade. You had 3 guys you could trust in the postseason. In the swingman rotation you had 4. This is a big man's league. Looking at the other likely Western Conference playoff teams it was clear this was an area of concern. If Barry doesn't come back the trade still looks good because of this.

I'm not criticizing or not the trade. I'm just saying that I think Spurs need an extra swingman.
It could be Barry, a vet FA available now, a D-League player or a player that will be waived before March 1st.

We will see what will happen but I doubt Spurs will stay with 4 SG/SF. Spurs have even 2 roster spot. I don't think it's impossible to see them signing a D-League prospect and Barry to fill these 2 roster spots.

[The Truth #6]

I can see how the burden will be on Ime to prove that he's better than Brent. However, to me, Ime's usefulness is already apparent. He plays D and rebounds from the wing position. That was what we asked of him when we signed him. We don't have anyone else on the wing who can do both.

To me, the person who has to step up is Finley. Ime's role hasn't been to score, that's Finley's job. If Finley goes into a shooting slump then I think that should be the judge of whether or not this trade was a success. Ime's role was never to be the shooter and I think its unfair to drop that on him. Finley's job has always been the shooter.

I realize I'm in the minority on this issue, but I think they should have been looking to move Finley instead of Barry because with what Ime is now bringing to the court (defense and rebounding), Barry's contribution (shooting and passing) makes a more balanced fit.

If Barry is done for the season, then obviously all these arguments don't matter on either side.

[pad300]

/RANT


YYAARGH!!

Duplicity! DUPLICITY!!!

Get a fucking dictionary you bleeding ass clowns!!!

The word is DUPLICATION. The verb form is duplicate. eg. 1) Thomas duplicates Oberto's skill set. 2) The Spurs reduced their duplication of skill sets in the wing positions to increase their depth in big men..

Duplicity means something else entirely. eg. TiMVP and Whott are both duplicitous ratweasels who regularly switch positions on issues, and then pretend that they never took the previous position.

/END RANT

[pad300]

I'm not criticizing or not the trade. I'm just saying that I think Spurs need an extra swingman.
It could be Barry, a vet FA available now, a D-League player or a player that will be waived before March 1st.

We will see what will happen but I doubt Spurs will stay with 4 SG/SF. Spurs have even 2 roster spot. I don't think it's impossible to see them signing a D-League prospect and Barry to fill these 2 roster spots.

Agreed, I think we will pick up one more swing. Be it Barry or someone else. I also wonder if we will try an pick up a 7th big temporarily. An extra mobile big might be exceedingly useful on a short term basis (matches up with Amare, assorted small ball teams, assorted perimeter PF's). There is one available - Justin Williams of the Kings was cut recently as part of the Bibby trade. his minimum salary (at 1 year in the league) is $687,456, pro rated. IIRC from Bruno's other thread we could potentially pick him up, and have a spot for Barry at the vet min if he gets bought out...

[spurster]

/RANT


YYAARGH!!

Duplicity! DUPLICITY!!!

Get a fucking dictionary you bleeding ass clowns!!!

The word is DUPLICATION. The verb form is duplicate. eg. 1) Thomas duplicates Oberto's skill set. 2) The Spurs reduced their duplication of skill sets in the wing positions to increase their depth in big men..

Duplicity means something else entirely. eg. TiMVP and Whott are both duplicitous ratweasels who regularly switch positions on issues, and then pretend that they never took the previous position.

/END RANT

Your comment is very duplicitous. In addition, redundant, too.

[phxspurfan]

We will see what will happen but I doubt Spurs will stay with 4 SG/SF. Spurs have even 2 roster spot. I don't think it's impossible to see them signing a D-League prospect and Barry to fill these 2 roster spots.

I think the Suns will sign Barry just to keep him and his clutch shooting away from the Spurs.

[wildbill2u]

Duplicity (Du'-plic- i-ty) n. double dealing, deceitfulness, deceiving by thinking one thing and saying another or by willfully saying different things at different times." from Webster's.

CIA Pop strikes again...er...or something I guess.

[Bruno]

I think the Suns will sign Barry just to keep him and his clutch shooting away from the Spurs.

It makes little doubt that Suns will try to sign Barry. However, Barry will be free to decide to sign with them or not.

[beirmeistr]

Starters
1 Parker
2 Ginobili
3 Bowen
4 Duncan
5 Oberto

Bench
1 Stoudamire
1 Vaughn
2/3 Finley
2/3 Udoka
4 Horry
4 Bonner
4/5 Thomas

The Thomas trade added some balance to the frontcourt rotation, something which needed to be done with Horry not fully integrated back into the rotation and Elson not showing any improvement in his second season with the Spurs. Anyways, here's a quick rundown by position.

1 - Obviously, Parker's health is a concern. It's good that there doesn't seem to be much pressure to rush him back. With Vaughn and new acquisition Damon Stoudamire the Spurs can wait a little for TP to heal. I like Vaughn, I truly do, but sometimes he can be a little shaky. But he plays hard and focused. His jumper makes one nervous. Stoudamire definitely has an opportunity to get some minutes and take some shots if he can bring more consistent play. If so, the Spurs will have their best backup 1 in a while. Overall, this is the deepest the Spurs have been at point in quite a while.

2 - Manu. Manu. Manu. Save some of that for May and June. I think right now you have to be comfortable with him and Finley. Hopefully Manu's minutes can be curtailed with Parker's return to rest him a little for the postseason. The Spurs have lost some depth and flexibility here and at the 3 with Barry's exit.

3 - I think the Spurs are fine here. Some are starting to think about reaching for the panic button with respect to Bruce, but he'll be fine come the second season. I'd much rather he not overly exert himself right now. The Ime Udoka acquisition looks better and better. He does look capable of being the small ball 4. Consistency would be nice. But he's on the right track.

4 - Keeping on keeping on. Another season for Tim Duncan. His FG% is down slightly from last season, but his FT% is up 6% to 70%. His rebounding is up, his blocks are down, but so are his TOs. Horry started this season in street clothes and really hasn't found consistent playing time until the last 10 or so games. Of course, it's February. New acquisition Kurt Thomas should help to make this the best position for the Spurs (helped in no small part by the aforementioned Duncan). Thomas should help on the glass, on defense, and provide a little better spacing on offense. With TD seeing half of the game at the 5 it is important that the Spurs have a quality reserve big to play the 4. Matt Bonner was not able to establish himself in the rotation earlier this season.

5 - This position had deteriorated to its worst since DRob left. That includes Radoslav, so that's saying something. Oberto is enjoying his finest season as a Spur, at least statistically, but still plays half a game. The two headed monster that was enough to win it all last season faded during the 1st half this season, primarily due to Elson, who unfortunately regressed after his first season with the Spurs. At least last year Pop could go with one or the other on most nights for half of the game and give TD the other half, before the postseason. Now with Thomas, the bigman rotation is solidified and Pop has some flexibility. Rebounding and toughness have been added. Some new wrinkles will be added on offense.


It will be interesting to see how this season shakes out for the Spurs. They aren't where they were last season, when they were among the league leaders in offensive and defensive field goal percentage. But there are signs that they are slowly rounding into post-season form. In an ultra-competitive Western Conference that has seen some interesting player movement over the last month, it will be imperative that the Spurs tighten things up and settle into executing at both ends of the floor. That starts obviously with getting Parker back and getting a rotation set for the post-season. If Barry is indeed bought out by the Sonics, it would be nice to have him back for depth and experience (if healthy). Right now many claim that the West is wide open, perhaps it is. The Spurs have again been relegated to also-ran status by the same pundits who placed them there last year and in championship years prior. However, the Spurs don't play for the pundits but rather for rings.
The Spurs have been playing better and better since the third game of the Road trip, with Gino providing punch from the start of the game rather than coming off the bench with the Spurs already behind. It will be interesting to see if Pop experiments with keeping Ginobili as a starter or if he goes back to his old lineup.

[vanvannen]

I'll miss Barry a lot. He could really space up the floor for the Spurs on nights when Timmy is getting ass raped inside.

[bigdog]

I wouldn't play Stoudamire at the 2 unless it's in a smallball situation.

With the deadline passed and the Spurs losing a shooter, look for them to possibly bring in a D-league guy such as Dermarr Johnson or Keith Langford.

Also, Flip Murray wasn't traded from Detroit today, and word is that if they couldn't trade him, that they would buy out his contract. So, the Spurs could possibly pick him up for the minimum if the Pistons buy out his contract.

[Obstructed_View]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Thomas in the starting lineup


remember Nazr benched Rasho and Nazr came to the Spurs at last second of the trade deadline
If I remember correctly Rasho sprained his ankle.

If Oberto and Thomas are the center rotation they'll probably be started depending upon matchups. Oberto for more scoring and Thomas for more defense.

Running Parker and Damon out there in the backcourt puts a lot of pressure on Tony to defend someone that's likely going to be bigger or stronger. I'm not sure I like that idea, at least until the playoffs.

[barbacoataco]

Barry didn't even contribute much in last season's playoffs, so I don't see how his loss is that much of a problem. In the playoffs, Bowen plays a lot of minutes, and then Ginobili and Finley will get 30+, and Udoka also in there.

[polandprzem]

TP
Finley
Bruce
Tim
Oberto
-------
Gino
Thomas
Udoka

That's the 8-man rotation for the playoffs with minor roles for Horry Vaughn and maybe Damon.

Good thing is that Thomas will fill the role of a center that we need to clog the lanes esp. baselines. This trap was not as effective with just one bigman and the spurs are back to the twin towers version defense. Also rebounding will determine how usefull Thomas will be.

As I said before, Finley must stay consient, Udoka and Bowen must to step up in a shooting area, TP must be 100% and Manu hopefully will stay hot which will be difficult, Tim must be a Duncan and I like our chances.

One of the teams fucked up (with the trades) - Dallas, Phoenix, Lakers or the Spurs

With the West so tight - remember - denver, Utah, NO, GS even Houston are coming strong. It never was that way in any conference in a history.
Wow

[WalterBenitez]

Manu needs to go back to the bench, otherwise won't get that 6th man prize! :D

[beirmeistr]

Manu needs to go back to the bench, otherwise won't get that 6th man prize! :D
I beleieve he has indicated in the past that he does not want a 6th man award.

[WalterBenitez]

I beleieve he has indicated in the past that he does not want a 6th man award.

He doesn't .. but we do :p:

[SAGambler]

[QUOTE]Starters
1 Parker/Stoudamire (If Tony has to sit again)
2 Udoka/Finley
3 Bowen
4 Duncan
5 Thomas

Bench
1 Stoudamire/Vaughn (if Damon/Tony hurt or a blowout)
2 Ginoboli
3 Finley/Udoka
4 Horry/Bonner
5 Oberto

This is the lineup I would like to see the rest of the season, and then kind of play it game by game in playoffs, where it might behove us to start Manu again. But if Tony gets back to scoring his normal 20, then we need Manu back off the bench to give us some real firepower there.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Thomas will eventually be part of Tim's unit on the floor. Especially if they face the Suns or the Lakers to counter Bynum/Gasol and Stoudemire/Shaq. That's the whole thing behind this trade.

So I don't see how Oberto will remain an starter if the spurs face at least either one of these two opponents in the playoffs.

[Supergirl]

I agree our center situation has been shaky at best since David's retirement, but I think in some ways we're actually our BEST since then, simply because of Oberto. No one else we've auditioned for the C position since David has even come close to being as hard a worker, a decent enough a shooter, and most importantly as strong defensively. Oberto has been great, and he showed last year he can really turn it up in the playoffs.

Elson was a big disappointment, as was Mohammed. They just never realy "got" the Spurs system. Rasho was good defensively but too slow and unreliable offensively.

Thomas is exactly who we needed to be our back up C. Pop said they've been pursuing him since he was a Knick - that's a long time. I'm glad they finally got him.

[CaptainLate]

I'd make Thomas a starter and put the other Argie off the bench.

That should occur by playoff time...and we could have had over half the Argentinian Gold Medal Team coming off the bench if the FO hadn't had a brain fart with Scola.