ESPN: "Spurs Fans:Nervous"

[mystargtr34]

Yea, he will always be our x-factor, but he'll be 33 then, thats another 200 odd games... i dont think he will be as big as a contributor as TP or Duncan.

[EvaLongoria]

Yea, he will always be our x-factor, but he'll be 33 then, thats another 200 odd games... i dont think he will be as big as a contributor as TP or Duncan.

Well, i think Manu will be a force no matter his age,,,why? Because of his offensive and defensive awareness. He admits he's not agile as 4 years ago, but he has masterized his mid jumpers, his beyond the arc, pumpfakes, glass shots and fadeaways. So, i dont think he needs to rely solely on his prior athletics skills. Remember Michael Jordan in Wizards? He killed everybody with jumpshots.
Sometimes, players improve or maintain their great game exchanging youth athletic skills with more fundaments and awareness. I think Manu is becoming better each year, and each year he is losing youth. Conclusion: his fundamentals are getting stronger,,,,example: last season,,,,last season was his best season so far, and it was his season with less dunks and crazy layups,,,The same is happening with Duncan: Tim is getting more solid and smarter each year,,,
My concern is regarding Tony because he is killing everybody with young quickness,,but what about in the 30's when youth is over? I hope Tony start improving his 3s and his mid jumpers now, because Father-Time is coming soon, but like Charles Barkley says : " Ginobiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[024]

if hill doesn't pan out, spurs will be shaky next season. even if pargo joins, he isn't that good and is the last person you want taking shots during the playoffs. it seems that the spurs had a huge elaborate plan to keep the team strong but it seems that, by chance, a perfect storm has destroyed most of the their plans and backup plans.

most of these incidents are not the spurs' fault but it does seem that almost everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. you got scola, splitter, maybe a poor first round pick in hill, barry leaving, and another year going by which means everyone is another year older. the spurs had solid plans to improve the PF/C and PG positions but scola, splitter, and perhaps hill and mahinmi all simultaneously decided to not deliver.

good news is that the spurs have plenty of backup plans so they still improved. it may be a small improvement but it's better than going backwards. mason will a good replacement for finley at SG and can also play backup PG so that ginobili doesn't have to do it anymore. kurt thomas came back for cheap which will keep the PF/C position from sliding. the spurs are probably one excellent bench player away from being the top team. if mahinmi, hill, or mason decide to elevate their game, it will be more than enough to get back on the top.

[midgetonadonkey]

Hill will be ok.

everybody that doubts that.

Gist sucks.

[mystargtr34]

Well, i think Manu will be a force no matter his age,,,why? Because of his offensive and defensive awareness. He admits he's not agile as 4 years ago, but he has masterized his mid jumpers, his beyond the arc, pumpfakes, glass shots and fadeaways. So, i dont think he needs to rely solely on his prior athletics skills. Remember Michael Jordan in Wizards? He killed everybody with jumpshots.
Sometimes, players improve or maintain their great game exchanging youth athletic skills with more fundaments and awareness. I think Manu is becoming better each year, and each year he is losing youth. Conclusion: his fundamentals are getting stronger,,,,example: last season,,,,last season was his best season so far, and it was his season with less dunks and crazy layups,,,The same is happening with Duncan: Tim is getting more solid and smarter each year,,,
My concern is regarding Tony because he is killing everybody with young quickness,,but what about in the 30's when youth is over? I hope Tony start improving his 3s and his mid jumpers now, because Father-Time is coming soon, but like Charles Barkley says : " Ginobiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jordan had the game and skill set to dominate without using his athelticism as much.

Manu on the other hand, relies on his athelticism alot more to get to the hoop, he doesnt get much elevation on his jumpshot, nor does he have a high release, so he will have a much tougher time getting seperation from more atheltic defenders. He will probably be primarily a 3 point shooter by the time hes 33.

[wisnub]

I read somewhere that you have a better chance of getting struck lightning than the Spurs picking up a "big name" player. True story.

man,that is true. I dont think we ever gonna get a "big name" player. If we ever ever gonna get Lebron or D Wade on 2010, I will go to work naked (its not going to happen)

[K-State Spur]

Explain me this: What is the importance of the 2010 season? Why everybody talking about creating space for this season????????? Why 2010 and not now?

Who are we going to grab now? We only had the MLE to offer. We made a run at Maggette, but he was too rich for that.

Josh Smith & JR Smith were going to get matched for that amount.

[K-State Spur]

man,that is true. I dont think we ever gonna get a "big name" player. If we ever ever gonna get Lebron or D Wade on 2010, I will go to work naked (its not going to happen)

Most of the time, big name players simply don't change teams. We saw a little bit of reshuffling this year (in an offseason where the Spurs didn't have much to offer), but that's an anomaly - not the norm.

Last year, the biggest name to switch teams was Rashard Lewis, who is hardly an elite player.

[mystargtr34]

Im banking on Chris Bosh ... comin back to Texas

Obviosuly getting a player of that caliber would be a stretch, but theres alot of options to rebuild with more than one big piece... i cant wait.

[midgetonadonkey]

Im banking on Chris Bosh ... comin back to Texas

Obviosuly getting a player of that caliber would be a stretch, but theres alot of options to rebuild with more than one big piece... i cant wait.

If you are banking on it, I'll put money on him never coming back.

I bet you 100$ that he never comes back.

[underdawg]

Most of the time, big name players simply don't change teams. We saw a little bit of reshuffling this year (in an offseason where the Spurs didn't have much to offer), but that's an anomaly - not the norm.

Last year, the biggest name to switch teams was Rashard Lewis, who is hardly an elite player.

Orlando paid him like a big name player.

That said, the Spurs "big name" players have been Robinson and Duncan and that was through the draft (call it luck if you will.) It still really surprises me when fans on this forum are shocked that we don't bring in the "big" free agent. Our system just isn't set up that way - we rely on what we've been fortunate to have and add ordinary role players to fill the holes. Finley was a big acquistion for us, but he really was past the peak of his career and we got him cheap due to the NBA rule change. Call it luck, call it fortune but at the end of the day our Spurs have existed successfully by acquiring players that fit "the system" more than grabbing players that are "big name" players. If you don't like it - fine. That's normal for a fan that thinks that the Spurs have a motive to go out and get these "big name" players. The fact of the matter is that they've had a team that's been compe ive because of the Big 3 and adding supplemental players to accomadate the Big 3 has worked out so far. We're getting younger this year and it's still yet to be proven that the moves by the FO will be a success or a failure. If we suck by mid-season, than the haters are all geniuses. Until then, let's see how it works out. By the way, there's still too many holes for our FO to be done yet.

[wijayas]

Yup...lets have it. C'mon now, fess up....

The article said "Tim". Which Tim? Timvp?

[jimo2305]

ha! i remember singin' to this tune waaaay back.. as soon as offseason started.. im like "why are we screwin' up already".. the loss of splitter crushed my confidence by alot.. and it only only got worse lol!!

look it's great to have faith in your team and such but let me take a hit of whatever your'e on if you truly thing we're gonna have a successful season in 2009..

look parker's on the nba live 09 cover.. those coverboys get injured or have horrible seasons compared to their typical seasons.. mark my words.. i said it.. theres a curse there

[tav1]

Guys, it was me. Henry Abbott and I have emailed in the past I sent it to him a couple nights ago. I just now saw the post (and this thread) because I was offline while attending to business late this week. I posted nearly the same thing as he posted from my email in a couple thread(s) on this board. So I'm the idiot fan.

[K-State Spur]

Orlando paid him like a big name player.
It still really surprises me when fans on this forum are shocked that we don't bring in the "big" free agent. Our system just isn't set up that way - we rely on what we've been fortunate to have and add ordinary role players to fill the holes.

Nobody's system really works that way.

Save a gift from Jerry West this past year, and the Lakers last big name acquisition from another team was Shaq (before the new CBA).

Typically, the only guys who change teams are guys who a) are well past their primes (i.e. Kidd to the Mavs, Shaq to the Suns), b) guys who are B/C level free agents who may - or may not - take off in their new surroundings (i.e. Arenas to the Wiz, Nash to the Suns), c) guys who have other issues that make them available for less than their production would indicate (i.e. Artest to the Rockets).

[Ya Vez]

The NBA and Laker fans should be nervous reports are Kobe will test the global market..

Yahoo NBA Sports


Kobe says Europe a possibility

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports 6 hours, 30 minutes ago
Adrian Wojnarowski

BEIJING – Kobe Bryant won’t sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers until he has tested the global market, the U.S. Olympic basketball star told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday.

Asked whether he plans to solicit overseas offers before signing an extension, Bryant flatly said yes.

It’s possible Bryant could leave the NBA for Europe – perhaps in a dual role of owner and player – as early as next summer. Bryant is signed with the Lakers through the 2010-11 season, but can opt out after next season.

Suddenly, the best player in the world seems determined to pair the changing global economics with his unparalleled popularity to create an international bidding war. A day earlier, Bryant told the Boston Globe that he would consider a $50 million offer to play in Europe.

[lotr1trekkie]

Screw 2010 strategy! Are we really going to give 30-35 million for The King, Wade or Bosh? None of these bloodsuckers will ever come for much less than Tim gets ----which is all they are worth to us? We need to IMPROVE this season! Finley doesn't help us get to the finals. Ditto Bonner, Pargo and Gist. It seems to me that if the FO[Holt] doesn't stop dealing in wishing and hoping[ if Mahamni is good, if Hill is a stud, Mason is a hidden gem], Tim will have every right to request a trade to a serious contender before 2012. Maggette should have taught us that 99% of FA's will take the money, period! I'd prefer to pay whatever to get Splitter hope to sign any of these FA. Let Lebron go to Greece and get educated. Let Bosh go to Russia and Wade to Tau. We need to take care of the the Big Three!

[K-State Spur]

Screw 2010 strategy! Are we really going to give 30-35 million for The King, Wade or Bosh? None of these bloodsuckers will ever come for much less than Tim gets ----which is all they are worth to us? We need to IMPROVE this season! Finley doesn't help us get to the finals. Ditto Bonner, Pargo and Gist. It seems to me that if the FO[Holt] doesn't stop dealing in wishing and hoping[ if Mahamni is good, if Hill is a stud, Mason is a hidden gem], Tim will have every right to request a trade to a serious contender before 2012. Maggette should have taught us that 99% of FA's will take the money, period! I'd prefer to pay whatever to get Splitter hope to sign any of these FA. Let Lebron go to Greece and get educated. Let Bosh go to Russia and Wade to Tau. We need to take care of the the Big Three!

Nice rant. Now who are the Spurs going to sign less than half of the MLE? That's all that the team can offer, regardless of how much cap space they want available in 2 years.

Going after Corey Maggette basically proved that the 2010 plan is much less rigid than folks on this board act like it is. It's likely just as much the logical conclusion of being fiscally responsible at is it a conscious decision to hold cap space for that year.

[DROB4EVER]

Jordan had the game and skill set to dominate without using his athelticism as much.

Manu on the other hand, relies on his athelticism alot more to get to the hoop, he doesnt get much elevation on his jumpshot, nor does he have a high release, so he will have a much tougher time getting seperation from more atheltic defenders. He will probably be primarily a 3 point shooter by the time hes 33.

Manu uses smarts and angles to get seperation. He also has a bag of deadly fakes to draw contact. He has never been jump shooter he is a set shooter and guys have to lay off him because of his first step.

Euro guys can play without being athletic so he will be a good player till 35.
His body has taken a beating so that is the only question is if his legs will hold out.

As far as his jumping, if anyone saw that dunk in the warm up games the other day his legs are fine. He can still explode, he has just had an ankle issue all year that got reinjured in the playoffs and robbed him of lift and cut ability.

[Anti.Hero]

Last year was the year to solidify the legacy. They failed.


Now I just sit back and enjoy the last years of Manu and Tim. It's all good.

[duncan228]

Last year was the year to solidify the legacy. They failed.


Now I just sit back and enjoy the last years of Manu and Tim. It's all good.

Anything less than a Championship is a failure in a sense, but they did get to the WCF. Their season was more successful than 26 other teams in the league. I think their legacy is solid even without a repeat, though I agree a repeat would be great.

If the big 3 stay healthy this year, and the role players do their job, I like our chances to continue our "win in odd years" pattern. And a fifth le, even without a repeat, puts this team yet another level above the rest of the league.

It is all good.

[johnny_J_Jackson]

You bums quit your damn complaining. You won 4 les. Bunch of retared San Antonio children.

[mrspurs]

i thought this thread was gonna lead to manu playing in the games. hahahaha, i could careless what any espn or anyother reporter has to say about the spurs. im old enough to know good basketball when i see it, i dont need some ex-player or even some non ex-player reporter telling me something i probably knew first or already......

[Flux451]

I am not sure the age of most fans here, but I am from the era of jr reid, duncan, vinny, carr, etc.
Seems if we do get into a lull, its something to live with. I am just happy to have been so success the past decade.
Anyone remember the frustration of getting taken out in most 1st rounds and really desping the Jazz.
The worst was right before we got tim duncan.
Time to suck it up if the season goes sour. I still have confidence though, so should you.

[rj215]

I would love to see what these cliff jumper Spurs fans would do if they really went into a le drought. I mean for 's sake everytime they make a move that you don't understand or agree with it 'we'll never win again' or 'well they wasted what's left of Tim and Manu's career'...quit in' and wait to see if the Spurs can get back to the top of the mountain....I didn't agree with them drafting Hill but even if they ed that up is it really going to kill us? no. We might sign Pargo and Pargo > Hill. Plus we have Vaughn's scrub ass in case of emergency. Gist was a summer league wonder....who gives a flying . He's off to make chedder somewhere else..good for him. And Ian doesn't have to come save us; all he has to do is spell Tim and Kurt for 10 minutes a game. Let's all take a deep breath, put the gun down and wait to see what the FO's moves will do for us this year.

Oh and I almost forgot...