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It's funny they included Boumtje-Boumtje and Monteiro but not Perry or Thomas. Perry or Thomas actually have a shot at making the squad.
Also interesting that he thinks they overpaid Manu. Not many people have said that in print.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...urs/index.html
Like every season since 1999 or so, we can't really see any reason why the San Antonio Spurs shouldn't win the NBA championship. The team is too talented, too well-coached and cerebral enough that anything less would be a major disappointment. A disappointment along the lines of, say, the '03-04 season.
Or, for that matter, the four-tenths of a second that allowed the Lakers' Derek Fisher to essentially sink the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs with his off-balance game winner in Game 6.
Like any team in search of a ring, the Spurs will have a great deal to overcome in order to take their third le in seven years, but they probably will have less to deal with than any other team in the league. This, of course, is a cynic's way of declaring them the preseason favorites. Beyond boasting the game's most skilled low-post player in Tim Duncan, the Spurs also have a balanced set of role players whose contributions have become increasingly important in a league that is increasingly reliant on manipulating both the pace and the rulebook.
That's no surprise seeing as how the Spurs are at the forefront of that movement. Led by the fundamentally sound, but fundamentally boring Duncan, this team will spur even the most devoted of hoops junkies into switching over to the colossal Warriors-SuperSonics tilt on the satellite package.
But if the result is an almost annual appearance in the Western Conference finals, predictable is fine with Coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford. But if the "make mine Vanilla"-way falls short again next spring ... well, no, they'll still stick with vanilla.
A model of efficiency
Duncan's economy of movement, touch around the hoop, timing on both ends and patience with the game remain pretty much unmatched. Because of their own offensive limitations, his teammates increasingly looked in TD's direction as the season dragged on. For the most part, he responded. His free-throw shooting (60 percent, a career-low), became a bit of a bugaboo for the first time in a few years. Beyond a bugaboo, actually. Though he doesn't shy away from contact in order to stay off the line, an extra point or two would help in those typical 87-83 Spurs slugfests.
The other worry, heading into '04-05, is whether or not Duncan's work on the U.S. Olympic team will affect his stamina as the season wears on. Olympic coach Larry Brown rode Duncan hard in Athens, which might spell trouble for the two-time MVP come spring.
That's especially worrisome with as little depth as the Spurs have behind TD. Robert Horry and Malik Rose are the only players of substance to turn to, and both had a rough go of things last year. Duncan relies on skill, and not athleticism, to do his damage on offense -- but if the Spurs can't rely on his weak-side a en to be at its usual NBA-best, they could be in for a dicey postseason.
Don't believe the hype -- yet
Point guard Tony Parker enjoyed plenty of hype around his "breakout" season last year, but the reality is that the French speedster was as inconsistent as ever. In spite of the plaudits, Parker is still rounding into a top-notch setup man and can be stopped (as the Lakers illustrated) by denying him the ability to drive to the basket he also needs to improve on that flat-footed 3-point shot in order to give Duncan that extra half-inch to do his thing down low. Still, at age 22, he gives Spurs fans a lot to look forward to.
The Spurs probably overpaid to keep Manu Ginobili on their team. He's already 27 and probably won't ever approach All-Star status, but he's a wonderful talent whom the Spurs couldn't afford to lose with what little they had to replace him. Ginobili never stops moving on offense and always seems to be in the passing lanes on the other side of the ball. He's coming off a gold-medal run in the Olympics, so his stamina will also need to be monitored closely.
Like a good neighbor ...
Luckily, the Spurs were able to acquire some insurance over the summer by signing former SuperSonic Brent Barry, which may go down as the best move of the offseason. Barry can dominate the flow of the game on offense. His shooting touch (staggering percentages of 50 percent from the field, 45 percent from behind the arc and 83 percent at the line) cannot be questioned. Even more than the numbers, though, Barry's creative flair will provide this team the dynamic element it seemed to lack. Capable at playing (though not necessarily guarding) three different positions, Barry should sop up minutes and give the Spurs the sort of all-knowing sage that should put them over the top.
Among those Barry will take minutes from is Bruce Bowen, who, even at age 33, can still lock down an opponent, and the horse you rode in on. Bowen doesn't swipe passes or block many shots. Bowen just makes it a point to stay in front of his man and stay aware of the action away from the ball. And, sorry, Ray Allen, Bowen does so cleanly, for the most part, even if it entails kicking a guy in the face once in a while. And although he can't score to save his life, those occasional 3-pointers from the corner still manage to find the bottom of the net every so often.
Not everyone can be an admiral
Center Radoslav Nesterovic is not David Robinson, and for some reason, this upsets people. Besides that, he is a 7-footer with skills that are probably better than half the centers in this league. As is his teammates' custom, Nesterovic can't hit a free throw to save his life (47 percent), but he at least equaled Robinson's stats from the year prior, if not the Hall of Famer's defensive presence. As Nesterovic can hit the 15-footer, it'd be nice to see him feign the outside jumper, duck under and head toward the rim off the dribble. That's right; I just suggested to Rasho Nesterovic that he put the ball on the floor more often.
This isn't a deep or particularly dynamic (Barry aside) team. This is a squad that is at its best exploiting the weaknesses of the NBA game in its current state. The best thing this league has going for it right now, for better or worse, is its coaches. Each play and every decision gets scrutinized dozens of times over, by every staff on every team. In the end, the team that makes the fewest mistakes, the team that makes the best strategic decisions between games and during halftime, will come out on top. And for the most part, Popovich and his staff have proven adept at maneuvering on the go, a talent that should take the Spurs a long way yet again.
Center: Rasho Nesterovic -- Slowly improving, year after year.
Power Forward: Tim Duncan -- Quietly dominating, year after year.
Small Forward: Bruce Bowen -- Starting to turn the corner toward the downside of a productive career. He'll be asked to tutor a pair of disciples this year in Devin Brown and Linton Johnson.
Shooting Guard: Manu Ginobili -- Does it all, and the Spurs appreciate that. But they'd like to see Manu ease some of the scoring burden off of Duncan's shoulders.
Point Guard: Tony Parker -- There are 82 games in a season, Tony, not 59.
Brent Barry -- Cannot wait to see what this guy does on a real team. Hopefully Popovich is patient with his tendency to float.
Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje -- Signed by San Antonio so that, once again, we can have the distinct pleasure of saying "Boumtje-Boumtje" out loud.
Devin Brown -- A local product who earned his minutes. He's nothing special on offense but could grow into a solid wing defender.
Robert Horry -- In danger of frittering away that carefully constructed playoff reputation.
Linton Johnson III -- Sneaky defender who should move ahead of Brown in the rotation.
Sean Marks -- Not sure why he's still around.
Tony Massenburg -- Because Mark Bryant wasn't available.
Vatler Monteiro -- He's, well, he's Angolan. And you're, judging by the statistical probabilities, not.
Malik Rose -- Curiously fell out of Popovich's rotation last year. He's no star, but Rose deserves more minutes.
Beno Udrih -- Being groomed as Parker's backup; we're curious to see how well his game translates to the NBA.
It's funny they included Boumtje-Boumtje and Monteiro but not Perry or Thomas. Perry or Thomas actually have a shot at making the squad.
Also interesting that he thinks they overpaid Manu. Not many people have said that in print.
I'm getting a bit tired of the whole "Tim Duncan is boring" thing, but hey what can you do.
"Point guard Tony Parker enjoyed plenty of hype around his "breakout" season last year, but the reality is that the French speedster was as inconsistent as ever."
Who said that it was a breakout year last year for Tony?? I was under the impression that people thought this year was the year he is going to breakout.
??????
Some of the same-old, same-old, with a few funny points.nd, sorry, Ray Allen, Bowen does so cleanly, for the most part, even if it entails kicking a guy in the face once in a while.
Seriously, are the Spurs thaaat bad? I mean, TD (minus his ft percentage) and a bunch of scrubs (Tony and Manu included)?
I don't think so. Although we all know that consistency was an issue last season.
PS: my sig is working
Again, this goes into my "most sports media are a bunch of whining hypocrites who don't know how to do anything but complain" file.
For the last 5 years, all we've been hearing about is how the NBA is going to in a handbasket because of lack of fundamentals. Then they have a great fundamental player starting them in the face and they complain he's too fundamental and boring.
Hey, assholes, pick ONE point of view and stick to it. Anybody moron can just for the sake of ing.
Well, he actually said it: The Spurs are basically TD and the 12 dwarfs.
Except for Duncan, none of the Spurs are likely to make the All-Star team this year. But they can still be a potential champion because they play team ball.
Considering what some of the clowns like Adonal Foyle, DFisher, Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin, etc. got paid this summer, I take offense with him saying Manu got overpaid.
, we got a steal with Manu's deal.
Speaking of steals, 5 years and $32 mil looks pretty damn good right about now.
F the F'in writiers. They don't know nothing.
Good to see the writer is correct in all his information.Or, for that matter, the four-tenths of a second that allowed the Lakers' Derek Fisher to essentially sink the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs with his off-balance game winner in Game 6.
Also,...what the ? What a pathetic article.Linton Johnson III -- Sneaky defender who should move ahead of Brown in the rotation.
Hold on, mi21 Johnson III could have some merit and may well be worth moving ahead of Devin we don't know.
Ahhh, i could of sworn that article said Bowen.
My bad.
I also read it somewhere else in a prospectus book. It said something like, the Spurs probably slightly overpaid Manu (whose good, but basically a B+ swingman), but had no other choice. I guess this is pretty much true in terms of being a slightly above average swingman. But the book also assumed that Manu was going to do WORSE this season.Also interesting that he thinks they overpaid Manu. Not many people have said that in print.
So who knows what will happen? But it could help if he grows a bit in certain areas.
Ginobili is a postseason player, no doubt. Factor that in and he's worth it. They certainly couldn't have afforded to lose him.
Ginobili is not overpaid. He was the MVP of the olympics tournament adn carried his team to gold. he will do the same for the Spurs and he's getting in to his best years.
What I found funny is that the writer keeps insinuating that the only exciting player on the squad is barry. Definitely tells me he does not watch the Spurs. Not once did he mention Manu's playstyle...which most would IMO describe as more "dynamic" or having more "flair" than Barry.
Ginobilli was not overpaid compare to the other contracts this summer. Also this guy doesnt think tony can improve into an all-star this year? what a joke! Tony is prime for an all-star season.
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