Reply With Quote
No, vote Scola for ROY. If we're allowing insane predictions, might as well be optomistic about them.
Off-Season Game Plan: Spurs
Scott Cullen
6/26/2006 11:53:56 AM
Anything less than an NBA le qualifies as disappointment in San Antonio and the Spurs lost out to Dallas in overtime of Game 7 in Round Two this year.
That means change is a must.
This summer, the Spurs have already traded Radoslav Nesterovic to Toronto, and are facing the prospect of losing Nazr Mohammed to unrestricted free agency. Without making more significant changes, the Spurs might need Tim Duncan to handle more of the minutes at center. Some other bigs that might be available in free agency for the Spurs? Alonzo Mourning, Lorenzen Wright and Scot Pollard are all veterans that could offer defensive help. Drew Gooden could also be an attractive option at power forward.
Part of the reason the Spurs may be of the mind to move Duncan to the middle is an effort to create a greater opportunity for Argentinian power forward Luis Scola, who the Spurs are still trying to lure to North America. Considered one of the best players not yet in the NBA, if Scola were to finally join the Spurs, that would be the kind of upgrade that could push the Spurs right back into the le mix.
Lithuanian center Robert Javtokas and French swingman Ian Mahinmi could also be part of the Spurs' latest foreign invasion.
Even if Duncan is manning the middle more frequently, the Spurs are very deep at forward. Though there's not a lot of star power, Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry along with former Raptors Matt Bonner and Eric Williams are all able to fit a variety of roles. Scoring could be problematic at times, but the Spurs have a prolific backcourt to help make up for it.
Starting guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are among the league's best and, with Parker elevating his game in 2005-2006, the Spurs' future le hopes are going to rest just as much on their shoulders as Duncan's. Beno Udrih and Brent Barry are adequate backups, and swingmen Bowen and Finley can also handle minutes at off guard.
Coming off a 63-win season the Spurs are hardly a team in trouble but, with an aging roster, they need to add some energy and enthusiasm to the roster in order to maintain that championship aura. The way the Spurs have been playing lately, don't be surprised if they are right back in the le mix next season.
GM/COACH
R.C. Buford/Greg Popovich
CENTERS
Returning: Tim Duncan
Free Agents: Nazr Mohammed (UFA)
FORWARDS
Returning: Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Matt Bonner, Michael Finley, Fabricio Oberto, Eric Williams
Free Agents: None
GUARDS
Returning: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Beno Udrih, Brent Barry
Free Agents: Nick Van Exel (UFA)
DRAFT
59th
FREE AGENCY
Payroll: $60M
TRADE MARKET
Oberto (one year, $2.5M), Barry (two year, $10.6M), Horry (two years, $6.9M)
-tsn.ca
No, vote Scola for ROY. If we're allowing insane predictions, might as well be optomistic about them.
link?
This guy needs to join a Spurs Forum to get better info. Scola ain't coming here unfortunately.
I dont think this team needed a whole lot of tweaking. I think what they really needed was to stick to what won them three championships and not foolishly abandon a world class defense to try to match up with josh howard. I think our failure this playoffs was a result of strategy, not merely roster (NBA officiating didnt hurt either). This team needs length at the small and power forward positions, but other that that they need to do a better job of adjusting game by game. Neither Scola, Javakotas, or Ian would provide much of a difference next year, the championship will still have to be won by Tim, Tony, and Manu with adequate role help.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
