spurs shoulda taken batum?

[SenorSpur]

What I don't get about George Hill, no matter how 'good' he'll be... is the only position he can play is behind our one young superstar.

Which is why missing out on this kid Batum is so costly. Good solid, young, defensive-minded PGs are more easily found that long, athletic, 3-men. Look how long the Spurs have been in the market for one.

I'll say again, if Batum was still on the board with Hill, it would be a no-brainer. Select Batum in the 1st round and if you're still looking for a backup PG, make a deal to move up in the 2nd round for Hill or take Dragic at their pick# 45.

[Big P]

Which is why missing out on this kid Batum is so costly. Good solid, young, defensive-minded PGs are more easily found that long, athletic, 3-men. Look how long the Spurs have been in the market for one.

I'll say again, if Batum was still on the board with Hill, it would be a no-brainer. Select Batum in the 1st round and if you're still looking for a backup PG, make a deal to move up in the 2nd round for Hill or take Dragic at their pick# 45.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Spurs should have moved up at least a couple of spots to secure Batum as their pick...its such a shame that the kid wanted desperatly to play for the Spurs, only worked out for the Spurs & we didn't try to do everything we could to get Batum, IMO he will probably wind up being the stud SF we have been searching for...

I'm not one to bag on the FO, but it is plain as day how big of additions Scola & Batum would have been ...as great as TD, TP & RMJ have looked, the rest of the team has looked equally as horrible...

I'm not sure what can be done as far as trades, but I would not be suprised to see the Spurs shake things up before the trade deadline..it is painfully obvious that even when Manu gets back, we are in SERIOUS need of scoring & atlecticism....

I dont know how many times I saw Rodriguez blow past all of our bigs to grab the second chance rebound...if Finley can not step up while Manu is out this time, there are no excuses...he's getting outplayed by Mason who doesn't even have Pops complete sytem down yet, without Mason those first 2 games would have been blowouts, with the Spurs on the losing end.

Oh yea..has anyone seen Bruce Bowen show up? Is he even on the team anymore?

[Obstructed_View]

We Rocket fans tried to warn y'all..........Dennis leaving Houston was addition by subtraction.

Rocket fans should be happy; Dennis has helped the Rockets more than the Spurs since he arrived.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Which is why missing out on this kid Batum is so costly. Good solid, young, defensive-minded PGs are more easily found that long, athletic, 3-men. Look how long the Spurs have been in the market for one.

I'll say again, if Batum was still on the board with Hill, it would be a no-brainer. Select Batum in the 1st round and if you're still looking for a backup PG, make a deal to move up in the 2nd round for Hill or take Dragic at their pick# 45.

It's clear the Spurs liked Batum and vice versa. They should have been prudent enough to move up and get their man.

[angelbelow]

yea! the spurs should have taken batum. but thats impossible isnt it?

[TJastal]

Which is why missing out on this kid Batum is so costly. Good solid, young, defensive-minded PGs are more easily found that long, athletic, 3-men. Look how long the Spurs have been in the market for one.

I'll say again, if Batum was still on the board with Hill, it would be a no-brainer. Select Batum in the 1st round and if you're still looking for a backup PG, make a deal to move up in the 2nd round for Hill or take Dragic at their pick# 45.

Bitter irony, Batum looks like he would have been the perfect heir to Bruce Bowen, a long athletic 3 who runs the court, shoots well out to the 3pt line and runs the court like a gazelle. People are comparing him Tayshaun Prince, but I think with his shooting prowess he's more in the mold of a Trevor Ariza or Rashard Lewis. Boy can handle the rock and has a high bball IQ too. What a shame the spurs didn't land him.

[tlongII]

I think it's just a reflection of the Spurs FO being lazy. I believe they were genuinely surprised when Batum was snatched from under their noses and then they panicked by using their 1st round selection on Hill. It still amazes me that they used a 1st round draft pick to take a backup point guard. What's even funnier is that it wasn't long after this that those guys in the FO promoted themselves to the le of "President."

[Mr. Body]

I think it's just a reflection of the Spurs FO being lazy. I believe they were genuinely surprised when Batum was snatched from under their noses and then they panicked by using their 1st round selection on Hill. It still amazes me that they used a 1st round draft pick to take a backup point guard. What's even funnier is that it wasn't long after this that those guys in the FO promoted themselves to the le of "President."

Agree, pretty much. Not getting Batum hurts, but only getting a guy who can only be a backup poing guard out of a draft with three picks is stupid. Plus, we didn't even get a guy out of the previous draft, where we had two picks, both of them pretty good. But the worst of the worst is trading Scola. It was all downhill then.

[024]

we should make a list on who to compare george hill to in the future. right now i can think of arthur, CDR, chalmers, batum, and donte greene.

[Allanon]

What I don't get about George Hill, no matter how 'good' he'll be... is the only position he can play is behind our one young superstar.

This was the most puzzling part in my opinion.

Why draft a backup point guard when there are serious concerns at the small forward position?

Forget Batum, he wasn't available. But the best or 2nd best small forward of that draft (in my opinion) was taken right after Batum/Hill.

Darrell Arthur was still available...6'9, 215 pound, athletic forward. Arthur was supposed to be a Top 10-15 draft pick. He's long, quick, can score AND defend. Oh yeah, he's also a GREAT rebounder at his position.

I think the Spurs will regret not taking Arthur.

Why'd the Spurs skip the long, athletic small forward for another backup point guard?

[024]

the spurs needed both a backup PG and younger players at the forward position. hill was a good pick because the spurs believed their first priority was finally finding someone to backup parker. no one was trusted to backup parker in last year's playoffs so they relied on ginobili and barry, who are both shooting guards. and if i remember correctly, parker has been lacking a solid and consistent backup for as long as he has been starting. the spurs filled the hole at the PG position probably because they thought they needed it more.

[MaNu4Tres]

Arthur is a power forward not a small forward

[Allanon]

Arthur is a power forward not a small forward

Arthur was a power forward in College but in the NBA, especially in the West, he's way too small for power forward.

He can play power forward against the smaller PF's in the East but because he's only 215 pounds, he's going to have a hard time as a PF in the West.

He would need to add about 30 pounds to be a 6'9 PF in the West.

Look at the West Power Forwards:

Duncan, 6'11, 260
Aldridge, 6'11, 240
Dirk, 7'0 245
Pau, 7'0 240
Darko, 7'0 275
Camby, 6'11 235
West, 6'9 240
Amare, 6'10 240
Scola, 6'9 245
Boozer, 6'9 266

[sexinthatsx]

the spurs needed both a backup PG and younger players at the forward position. hill was a good pick because the spurs believed their first priority was finally finding someone to backup parker. no one was trusted to backup parker in last year's playoffs so they relied on ginobili and barry, who are both shooting guards. and if i remember correctly, parker has been lacking a solid and consistent backup for as long as he has been starting. the spurs filled the hole at the PG position probably because they thought they needed it more.

I agree. I'd rather have George hill backing up TP than a small forward who will comete with Bruce Bowen (good luck) and Ime udoka and end up probably playing behind Ime. As far as people saying that Batum should've gone to the Spurs, I have to admit that as much as I don't want Vaque Vaughn to be our backup PG, Batum was a player we just HAD to take if he was available... you portland, and yesterday's loss that made tlong almost wet his pants

[underdawg]

Agree, pretty much. Not getting Batum hurts, but only getting a guy who can only be a backup poing guard out of a draft with three picks is stupid. Plus, we didn't even get a guy out of the previous draft, where we had two picks, both of them pretty good. But the worst of the worst is trading Scola. It was all downhill then.

But what if you were able to draft a player that can be used to defend/slow down opposing guards that have been torching the Spurs over the past couple of years? Don't know it that's Hill yet, but it could be.

[SenorSpur]

I think it's just a reflection of the Spurs FO being lazy. I believe they were genuinely surprised when Batum was snatched from under their noses and then they panicked by using their 1st round selection on Hill. It still amazes me that they used a 1st round draft pick to take a backup point guard. What's even funnier is that it wasn't long after this that those guys in the FO promoted themselves to the le of "President."

As bad as he's looking to start this season, I'm starting to be amazed that the Spurs spent a 1st round pick on Kurt Thomas.

[SenorSpur]

Agree, pretty much. Not getting Batum hurts, but only getting a guy who can only be a backup poing guard out of a draft with three picks is stupid. Plus, we didn't even get a guy out of the previous draft, where we had two picks, both of them pretty good. But the worst of the worst is trading Scola. It was all downhill then.

The Spurs not getting Batum is going to haunt them about as much as not drafting Josh Howard in 2003. The only difference is Howard was on the board for the Spurs taking - Batum was not. Also, the Spurs don't have the luxury of waiting another 5 years gambling that Bowen can hold down the position alone.

Even still, I agree with others. They should've done whatever it took the land this kid. Young players with these crazy type of skills and BBIQ ARE NOT growing on trees.

[K-State Spur]

Arthur was a power forward in College but in the NBA, especially in the West, he's way too small for power forward.

He can play power forward against the smaller PF's in the East but because he's only 215 pounds, he's going to have a hard time as a PF in the West.

He would need to add about 30 pounds to be a 6'9 PF in the West.

Look at the West Power Forwards:

Duncan, 6'11, 260
Aldridge, 6'11, 240
Dirk, 7'0 245
Pau, 7'0 240
Darko, 7'0 275
Camby, 6'11 235
West, 6'9 240
Amare, 6'10 240
Scola, 6'9 245
Boozer, 6'9 266

If Arthur has to make his living at the 3, it'll be a short career. He's got quicks compared to other 4s, not compared to wings. He's not the athlete that Julian Wright was, where he can be a combo forward (and I have strong doubts about Wright's ability to ever be anything more than a high energy role player).

His only shot is going to be as a slightly undersized 4. He'll struggle defensively as often as he won't. But - if you're high on him - he can do some good things on the other end.

[Obstructed_View]

What makes me crazy is that despite losing Batum, the Spurs get what looks like a gem in the second round, and they send him to Europe before camp even starts. Yeah, he wasn't ever going to be a 3, but a defender with size and hustle would have been nice.

[Tully365]

I think it's just a reflection of the Spurs FO being lazy. I believe they were genuinely surprised when Batum was snatched from under their noses and then they panicked by using their 1st round selection on Hill. It still amazes me that they used a 1st round draft pick to take a backup point guard. What's even funnier is that it wasn't long after this that those guys in the FO promoted themselves to the le of "President."

That's ridiculous. you honestly think a guy as organized as Pop had no back up plan in case Batum was gone? No way.

[Tully365]

What I don't get about George Hill, no matter how 'good' he'll be... is the only position he can play is behind our one young superstar.

Probably not-- he's a combo guard with a 6'9" wingspan, meaning he'll probably be able to guard the 2 spot, and sometimes play alongside Parker. If in the future he gets 15 mpg at the point and 10-12 mpg at the 2, he'll be very valuable. I think it's a smart drafting strategy. If they pick a pure point guard and he develops, he would in all likelihood eventually want to start, a la Calderon, which means he eventually wants to leave...

[tlongII]

That's ridiculous. you honestly think a guy as organized as Pop had no back up plan in case Batum was gone? No way.

Well, the evidence indicates he didn't.

[Tully365]

Well, the evidence indicates he didn't.

You clearly don't know anything about Pop's character, temperament, or history. I'm sure there was a list of about 15 names. There's no "evidence" of anything, just your impossibly naive opinion. George Hill was coveted by both the Lakers and the Celtics, the two teams that played in the finals.

What was Portland's opinion of how durable Greg Oden would be in the NBA? Do you still agree with it?

[Obstructed_View]

Probably not-- he's a combo guard with a 6'9" wingspan, meaning he'll probably be able to guard the 2 spot, and sometimes play alongside Parker. If in the future he gets 15 mpg at the point and 10-12 mpg at the 2, he'll be very valuable. I think it's a smart drafting strategy. If they pick a pure point guard and he develops, he would in all likelihood eventually want to start, a la Calderon, which means he eventually wants to leave...

I agree. If the new guys develop and Parker's jumper is as good as advertised, a backcourt rotation of Ginobili/Hill/Mason/Parker can be very versatile and very dangerous. That covers just about any offensive or defensive situation, gives everyone plenty of minutes and should allow Parker and Manu to be fresh at the end of the game. There may come a day where opposing guards dread playing the Spurs even more than they have.

[Obstructed_View]

Well, the evidence indicates he didn't.

Out of curiosity, what evidence is that? BTW, I'm giving you a chance to actually make an intelligent basketball observation rather than being antagonistic.