The Spurs Will Be Back

Thanks for your game thoughts throughout the season! It has been wonderful!

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Originally Posted by EricB

I'm just not 100% sure Bowen is gone.

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It may not be 100 percent, but the interaction and body language during this game, the lack of trust this season by Pop, and his record of absolute blockhead stubbornness makes it about as definite as can be. Bowen doesn't hold a grudge, which is probably the only reason there's a chance he stays, unless he's bought out and offered a coaching job.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Number five is very much possible with this nucleus.

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I hope you're right but I fear it may be very difficult to retool this roster enough to compete for No. 5 next year. The Spurs just don't have that many assets (players or draft picks) after the big three. In the past the Spurs had players in the pipeline that the media was unaware of but now I don't see that.

In addition, it appears that the big three may be more vulnerable to chronic health problems now. In particular, Manu has an injury that may be reagravated just by playing the game.

Past mistakes may be to much to overcome. Until now, I expected this run to last another two or three years . . .

But the Spurs may be able to pull off some magic by remaking the roster when we least expect it. Tony Parker said it best in the postgame press conference -- "It's a thin line between winning and losing."

Hopefully the Spurs will get lucky this offseason and go off in quest of Five.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

I'm pretty sure Bowen will have some agreement to be released and re-sign for the minimum. He'll be used next year for spot minutes and to mentor the young guys.

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That is one of the two main reasons I think he is a necessity on this team.

The other, is that he can still defend and he can still knock down threes in the playoffs at a higher clip than the other role players! F the haters.

So mentoring is okay when Bowen does it, but not when Vaughn does it? :lol

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Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

So mentoring is okay when Bowen does it, but not when Vaughn does it? :lol

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Why wouldn't it be?

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Originally Posted by mexicanjunior

It's a shame the long rest won't also include reinforcements through the draft...

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thats the price you pay for being one of the NBA's most dominant teams for over 10 years. Low draft picks. You just have to hope the Spurs scouting department finds a couple more gems like Hill, and hopefully Gist.

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Originally Posted by timvp

According to the media (and even a lot of Spurs fans), the Spurs "era" has ended so many times over the years. After Duncan's knee injury and the aging support, it was supposedly over. It was supposedly over again after the 2001 debacle. Then again after Robinson retired. Then the Spurs were lucky to survive the Suns in 2005. Then the Mavs in 2006 was supposed to be the final dagger.

I'm actually not that worried. Even a slowed Duncan is damn good. Manu didn't show any signs of slowing down this season when he actually got to play. Injury will be a risk with him but the Spurs know how to manage his minutes and he'll have like eight months to get ready. Parker should continue to grow and be a much bigger and better piece to the puzzle.

When you have three players who could potentially be top 20 players in the NBA, there's not much to complain about. You don't even need great role around them. Get a fourth player who can step up and a like two or three other trustworthy role players and the Spurs would be ready to make a deep run.

I was much more worried in past offseasons than this one. Parker's growth could very well cancel any slippage in Duncan and Manu, while Pop's gambles won't all blow up in his face like they did this year. Plus the Spurs have very intriguing assets to make moves this summer, at the trade deadline and next summer.

Number five is very much possible with this nucleus.

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Hope Ian, Hill, Hairston, Gist, KT, Tim, Tony, and Manu can hide Fin and Bonner getting a combined half hour of PT next season. God help us all if they combine for 40 min. And praise Jebus if neither of them play in a Spur uniform again!!!
:flag::flag::flag:

i really hope this first round exit wakes up the FO. the spurs should realize that duncan's years are dwindling down. the championship window can no longer be opened with a supporting cast of finley, bonner, oberto, udoka, and a finally aging bowen. even with a healthy ginobili, the spurs would have been no match for the lakers. spurs need good role players but it's hard to reconstruct the bench when kt, finley, bonner, oberto, and bowen are all under contract for next year. spurs resigned these players because they play for cheap. if the spurs don't aggressively pursue a key FA this year using the full MLE, 2009-10 will be the same.

the team needs a balance of youth and veteran experience. the team's core already provides the veteran leadership as duncan, ginobili, and parker age, it's time for an infusion of youth. give the rookies a shot and sign a young wing/center using the MLE.

Another plus is that Pop may have learned a little bit more about coaching.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

I am was extraordinarily happy with the effort in the regular season. I felt this team did a great job and slightly over-achieved wins wise.

However, I was very disappointed with this 1st round. You know I was one of the loudest voices with regards to the Mavs being the worst match up. I knew that as a fan of basketball. As a fan of the Spurs I still thought they had enough to compete. I do not mind losing; the Mavs were the better team. I do mind not competing. I felt the Spurs did not give a good effort and that is disappointing.

So, I know you say they will be back, and I agree. But how do you think they do it? I know it is hard to target specific players, but in general. Here is my thoughts, what do you think?

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Totally disagree with you on the Spurs lack of effort. Cmon, The spurs gave great effort. The problem is they came to a fight with only a cap gun. Lets hope over the summer, Pop and RC can find the needed pieces to put around the big 3 and that all of the big 3 come back healthy.

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Originally Posted by SequSpur

Yeah, it's not over yet. Bruce Bowen is done. Don't want to see him. Ginobili has been on the decline for the last 3 years. It's time to move on. Also Popovich. His decision making is/was terrible this season.

Duncan and Parker is all that's left of this team.

I can't support a team that starts Matt Bonner in place of a 100 year old lady that can't walk... Sorry...

But good take..

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So SequSpur are you going to leave Spurstalk and pick another team and fan website to rant and rave about? Very sad.:depressed

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Originally Posted by jjktkk

Totally disagree with you on the Spurs lack of effort. Cmon, The spurs gave great effort. The problem is they came to a fight with only a cap gun. Lets hope over the summer, Pop and RC can find the needed pieces to put around the big 3 and that all of the big 3 come back healthy.

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Well you are entitled to your opinion. But showing up to a game 3 coming off multiple days rest and getting blown out while raising the white flag in the second quarter is not good effort. Do not get me wrong, I understand why Pop made the move; point is it should have never got to that point.

Then to come home in an elimination game and never have the lead along with coming out flat in the 1st quarter is unacceptable.

I got over this one pretty quickly. This 1st round exit could be the best thing that ever happened to this version of the Spurs.

And to me the real core of the team is the core of four: Tim, Tony, Manu and Bruce.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

Well you are entitled to your opinion. But showing up to a game 3 coming off multiple days rest and getting blown out while raising the white flag in the second quarter is not good effort. Do not get me wrong, I understand why Pop made the move; point is it should have never got to that point.

Then to come home in an elimination game and never have the lead along with coming out flat in the 1st quarter is unacceptable.

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the coming out flat problem is no viable 3 scoring option. This series looked a whole lot like 2 on 5. Besides Duncan and Parker, who on the Spurs roster scared the Mavs? IMO the coming out flat was really a serious lack of talent.

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Originally Posted by jjktkk

the coming out flat problem is no viable 3 scoring option. This series looked a whole lot like 2 on 5. Besides Duncan and Parker, who on the Spurs roster scared the Mavs? IMO the coming out flat was really a serious lack of talent.

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Yeah, that's because all but two guys showed up for the series, therefore, "lack of effort".

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Originally Posted by jjktkk

the coming out flat problem is no viable 3 scoring option. This series looked a whole lot like 2 on 5. Besides Duncan and Parker, who on the Spurs roster scared the Mavs? IMO the coming out flat was really a serious lack of talent.

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I disagree. I thought the Spurs had enough to win more games in this series or at least make the games tighter. The players (not all of them) came out flat. The third quarters were once again a major problem.

Getting out rebounded, having less energy and getting blown out is not a lack of talent.

The Spurs will be back and they will probably suck even more.

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Originally Posted by peskypesky

The Spurs will be back and they will probably suck even more.

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God, kill yourself already.

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Originally Posted by Obstructed_View

Yeah, that's because all but two guys showed up for the series, therefore, "lack of effort".

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I now see why you choose your user id name. Its really simple math. 3 stars(Nowitzki,Terry,Howard) and you can even add Kidd to the list vs.2 stars (Duncan and Parker). Mavs had too much talent. Lack of effort has nothing to do with it. Lack of talent, offense and defense had everything to do with it.

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Originally Posted by EricB

God, kill yourself already.

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why? because i'm not going to delude myself?

:flag:

Believe.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

I disagree. I thought the Spurs had enough to win more games in this series or at least make the games tighter. The players (not all of them) came out flat. The third quarters were once again a major problem.

Getting out rebounded, having less energy and getting blown out is not a lack of talent.

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Less energy or less athleticism? Other than Parker and Hill, this current group of spurs lack athleticism. Getting outrebounded has been a problem for awhile, due to lack of a big man starting alongside Duncan. Think about it name someone in the starting lineup besides Duncan that can board consistantly. The Spurs overall lack size and athleticism to rebound and run with the better teams. IMO, the effort is good, the talent needs to improve.

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Originally Posted by jjktkk

Less energy or less athleticism? Other than Parker and Hill, this current group of spurs lack athleticism. Getting outrebounded has been a problem for awhile, due to lack of a big man starting alongside Duncan. Think about it name someone in the starting lineup besides Duncan that can board consistantly. The Spurs overall lack size and athleticism to rebound and run with the better teams. IMO, the effort is good, the talent needs to improve.

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Except for the fact the Spurs were one of the top defensive rebounding teams in the league this year with the same big men that played the Mavs.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

Except for the fact the Spurs were one of the top defensive rebounding teams in the league this year with the same big men that played the Mavs.

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Very good point. My bad. I guess I like to see a big along side Duncan that can board, block shots, you know, like the good ole days when the Admiral patrolled the lane with Tim. The Spurs definitely need to find a way to get more athletic. I don't see a lack of effort, overall, from this team. Maybe Hill can be part of the equation next year, maybe Gist, Hairston, etc... The Spurs need to overhaul their bigs. Alot of question marks for the Spurs this offseason, but if the big 3 can come back healthy, its a great start.