Is this team simply not good enough?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Now wait

I know it's been painfully obvious that many of us have been dying for a trade to happen. And looking at the thread le and poster you probably expect this to be another fest from me, but I'm just asking honestly


With the roster we have (when fully healthy) is this not enough to beat PHX and DAL in a 7 game series?


I think we easily could've been 3-0 on the current road trip as oppose to 1-2


With Utah we had SO many oppurtunities to win the game that it sucked to let it slip away. Getting outrebounded that badly and STILL being in the game had to be encouraging.

Phoenix we were neck and neck with them and while I refuse to blame the refs (I never agree with blaming the officiating for a loss), I think had duncan been simply hitting shots he ALWAYS hits around the basket we could've had a very different outcome.


I think once Elson becomes 100% healthy and Bonner comes back I think we may surprise ourselves at how well well play. I think the D has been pretty solid the past few games but with the offense we seem to get out of sync way too often.

Maybe we HAVE to have a trade to win it all this year, maybe finley, barry, and horry are a lot more over the hill than we anticipated and that the level we need our bench to play at consistently to beat the west's elite in a 7 game series is too much to ask for (Maybe, I don't know)


But with everyone healthy, and with 3 months still left to go, we may not catch PHX and DAL in the standings but does this roster not have the potential to go all the way? If we don't have a trade after the deadline is our season finished?

I know I haven't said anything new at all (and if this could've been merged in another thread my apologies Kori) but instead of clamoring for a trade that may or may not happen, is this roster really as bad as we think it is?

[Mr. Body]

But with everyone healthy, and with 3 months still left to go, we may not catch PHX and DAL in the standings but does this roster not have the potential to go all the way? If we don't have a trade after the deadline is our season finished?

The season is not finished. The Spurs are a top team still. If they pull a 3 seed and Phoenix pulls the 2, there is a decent chance the Spurs can make it to the WCF, where willpower and determined and inspired performances by the Big Three could give the team an opportunity to get past Dallas... so long as the Spurs match the Mavs' inherent hunger and drive. After that, the Finals should be a cakewalk.

But it's a long road to hoe. There are large problems with this team and I don't expect the aged to suddenly get less old.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The season is not finished. The Spurs are a top team still. If they pull a 3 seed and Phoenix pulls the 2, there is a decent chance the Spurs can make it to the WCF, where willpower and determined and inspired performances by the Big Three could give the team an opportunity to get past Dallas... so long as the Spurs match the Mavs' inherent hunger and drive. After that, the Finals should be a cakewalk.

But it's a long road to hoe. There are large problems with this team and I don't expect the aged to suddenly get less old.

exactly, I think a lot of us were expecting an overnight change from this team and rip out a 16 game win streak, but maybe the reality is that they're simply taking baby steps to get to where they need to be.

I mean the D used to be brutal but I think it has improved substantially for the most part. It maybe isn't championship D but we're getting there.

[Mr. Body]

I don't mind the losses. I mean, a better draft pick could actually help out this year, instead of constantly falling short of getting our guy. It's the fact that they don't look like they can compete down the stretch with the top 10 teams at the moment. Somebody on the bench has to step up.

[dg7md]

Spurs don't need a high seed in the playoffs anyway, lower draft pick and they suck at home.

[dallaskd]

their good enough to get past the first round but no further, they really had a chance to beat pheonix.

[MannyIsGod]

In a seven game series, I think we beat the Suns. At worst we have to be at least even money to beat them. But Dallas is another animal because they are so well coached. I think Dallas is a step above every other team in the league at this point, but in a single series anything is possible.

[objective]

With the roster we have (when fully healthy) is this not enough to beat PHX and DAL in a 7 game series?


I think we easily could've been 3-0 on the current road trip as oppose to 1-2

is it enough? No.

btw, neither the Lakers, Jazz, or Suns were 'fully healthy'. You had a rusty Odom and no Kwame for the Lakers, No Boozer for the Jazz, and no Bell for most of the Suns game.

They could easily be 0-3, if Finley didn't pull off his modest shooting game against the Lakers. So he had one good game out of . . . 40? 2 out of 40? In a seven game series when he's even older . . . no.

[slayermin]

The West is as tough as ever. But even as good as the west is, I don't fear any team. The Mavs are good and will be a tough match.

But was there any larger obstacle than the Shaq/Kobe Lakers?

I have a quiet confidence in this team because the core has been through it all. I don't think they fear any one in the west either.

[itzsoweezee]

they're good enough if popovich forgets small ball completely.
if popovich plays elson and bonner more and finley less.

if only they would've gotten scola.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

they're good enough if popovich forgets small ball completely.
if popovich plays elson and bonner more and finley less.

if only they would've gotten scola.

I'm not as sold on scola as some of the other posters here


I agree we need to give up on small ball, once Pop tries to play at the other teams' tempo as oppose to forcing our own we become dead meat

[ALVAREZ6]

This team is obviously not good enough. You need a strong bench and have options in the playoffs. Dallas has a bunch of different options in terms or deciding when to start certain players and like that.

I'm NOT saying this team won't succeed in the playoffs, I'm not saying they won't go to the finals, but as of right now this roster doesn't look like it can manage it. It's either that or the players just don't give a about winning right now, which is hard to see because guys like Manu, TD, TP, and Bowen bust their balls every game.

[bonesinaz]

Spam

[SenorSpur]

I don't mind the losses. I mean, a better draft pick could actually help out this year, instead of constantly falling short of getting our guy. It's the fact that they don't look like they can compete down the stretch with the top 10 teams at the moment. Somebody on the bench has to step up.

That's a good silver lining. But wait, they'll probably use said draft pick on another international player who we'll never hear of until 5 years down the road.

The time is now to invest in some domestic talent.

[SenorSpur]

This team is obviously not good enough. You need a strong bench and have options in the playoffs. Dallas has a bunch of different options in terms or deciding when to start certain players and like that.

I'm NOT saying this team won't succeed in the playoffs, I'm not saying they won't go to the finals, but as of right now this roster doesn't look like it can manage it. It's either that or the players just don't give a about winning right now, which is hard to see because guys like Manu, TD, TP, and Bowen bust their balls every game.

Understand. I'll never accuse them of not caring, being careless maybe, but never not caring. I think it's a matter of PHX and DAL both being teams on the upswing. Those teams have gotten better since last year. PHX added a healthy Amare and of course Nash is playing even better than his MVP level of a year ago. The Mavs, getting consistent contributions from Dirk, Terry, and of course Josh (why R.C. why) are the deepest team in the league.

The Spurs, on the other hand, have regressed to a degree. So while this team may be good enough to get through 1 or 2 rounds of the playoffs, at this moment, they don't seem to be good enough to conquer Dallas.

[leemajors]

we really won't know anything until that first playoff series starts. hopefully there is an on switch somewhere and it can be flipped. of course, i would be concerned if they swept their first round opponent too and got complacent. momentum going into the playoffs would be nice, but we'll see what happens.

[ALVAREZ6]

I think it's a matter of PHX and DAL both being teams on the upswing. Those teams have gotten better since last year. PHX added a healthy Amare and of course Nash is playing even better than his MVP level of a year ago. The Mavs, getting consistent contributions from Dirk, Terry, and of course Josh (why R.C. why) are the deepest team in the league.

That's true, but that doesn't mean that just because 2 teams are a lot better doesn't mean that the Spurs can't improve either. The Suns and Mavs improvement has no effect on the Spurs sucking, it all the Spurs. 2 teams got really good, so what, do something about it. The Spurs regressing when they should be progressing if they want to make another le run. I personally think last year was the Spurs last chance at winning the le in these years. All they had to do was beat Dallas and then face a then much weaker team in the western conference finals in order to get to another team in the finals that wasn't as hard to beat as Dalllas or tough to beat as Sacramento for the Spurs last year. Dallas got a lot better from last year which means the Spurs are ed, I don't see them beating Dalals this year in 7 games, but anything can happen. Another team can always explode and send the Mavs out of the postseason for the Spurs.

But in order to ensure another le run, the Spurs need to improve themselves instead of observing their surroundngs and hoping for things to happen. The Spurs need to enter the playoffs at top notch level if they want to do anything in the playoffs. If not, I doubt another le for many years. And there's nothing wrong with that.

[Holt's Cat]

We have found that there indeed is a price tag on a NBA championship.

[ploto]

is it enough? No.

btw, neither the Lakers, Jazz, or Suns were 'fully healthy'. You had a rusty Odom and no Kwame for the Lakers, No Boozer for the Jazz, and no Bell for most of the Suns game.

The previous Spurs loss against the Lakers was without Odom and the Suns were also missing Kurt Thomas. The Spurs can't really blame their losses on no Bonner. There also seems to be this notion that the Spurs have not gelled yet this season but 9 of the top 12 are the same.

[kevm2]

This team isn't good enough. When The big three go out, this team falls apart. We have no real option at center, so we will continually be outrebounded. We also have no real backup point.

[conversekid]

I think a healthy bonner changes the face of this team completely. A big with a good outside shot and decent speed for a big. We'll need a healthy bonner taking minutes from the other bigs to compete with Dallas. I'm not so concerned about Phx... i think we got caught up in trying to play to up tempo last night. The way we defended the nash/amare tandem in the lane the first half is how you beat phx. time and time again, tony was blocking that easy pass dunk from nash to amare they always do. Phx is doable in a 7 game series; dallas on the other hand...

[Pugglekicker_21]

where is scola? i mean is he still in europe or was he traded? if we still have his rights why not buy him out and bring him over?

[phyzik]

After Miami won the le over Dallas, Im willling to believe anything, they have to be the sorriest NBA champs ever....

[objective]

where is scola? i mean is he still in europe or was he traded? if we still have his rights why not buy him out and bring him over?

Because he's under 30, can dunk and can score.

[ploto]

I think a healthy bonner changes the face of this team completely.

So Matt Bonner with his 39% 3 point FG% and his 0.18 blocks per game is the difference maker?

And don't get me wrong. He's a nice guy to bring off the bench for say 10 -15 minutes per game with some hustle and energy. But he is not a starting caliber NBA player.