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Mahinmi waits.
I'm really praying the Spurs can make the world eat their words this year. Talk about your lowered expectations!
They're not getting any younger
By Alex Byington
Sorry to be a buzz-kill, but the San Antonio Spurs are in trouble.
Heck, for anybody who's watched any one of the Spurs' first 11 games this season has likely had to pop more than a couple of blood-pressure pills with San Antonio playing in six contests that went until the final shot.
Through the first three weeks of the 2008-09 season, they have already seen a year's worth of highs and lows.
The lows include a 1-4 start and a deadly serious ankle injury to star point guard Tony Parker, who is likely expected out for several more weeks.
Oh, and don't forget the off-season news that Manu Ginobili, the ultimate sixth-man who's been spending his time pitching Time Warner Cable, will be out until mid-December recovering from ankle surgery.
Now, there has been positive news regarding Ginobili being slightly ahead of schedule, but even if he's cleared medically, it likely won't be until January before longtime Spurs coach Gregg Popovich puts a full load on him.
The highs have been less obvious, but they did include a career-high 55 points by Parker in the Spurs' first victory of the season -- a 129-125 overtime win over Minnesota -- as well as winning four of their last six games.
But despite its recent success, on seemingly -- dare I say "lucky" -- shots, the Spurs are still depending a little too heavily on other-worldly performances from new guard Roger Mason Jr. and Mr. Consistent himself, Tim Duncan.
And given the lows already mentioned, ESPN.com is declaring the Spurs won't even make the playoffs, making it the first time since Duncan joined the team in 1997 the team didn't play in the postseason.
I've already said this is clearly a very real possibility, and with each week that goes on, it appears more and more likely.
And although I feel like I might be repeating myself, the Spurs have shown one major weakness this season, with or without Parker or Ginobili -- rebounding.
Over the last five games before Wednesday, which included three straight victories, San Antonio has been outrebounded by an average of 8.25 boards.
San Antonio needs a second power in the paint besides Duncan, who has done everything in his power, averaging a double-double this season with nearly 24 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Neither Fabricio Oberto, Matt Bonner or Kurt Thomas has proven to be any sort of force to be reckoned with under the basket, with all three averaging less than four boards per contest.
Obviously, help is desperately needed.
One option might come from one of the Spurs' recent opponents -- the Los Angeles Clippers, who look eager to shake things up after an overhauled roster has squandered plenty of opportunities during their 2-9 start.
With the emergence of Marcus Camby, who was acquired from the Nuggets in the offseason for next to nothing, the Clippers are reportedly willing to trade 26-year-old center Chris Kaman, a beast in the paint who still has four years at almost $11 million per year left on his contract.
But at 26 years old, Kaman is still in the prime of his career and would give San Antonio the type of inside game it had when Duncan joined "The Admiral" David Robinson in 1997, a combination that ultimately turned the Spurs from an average team to a perennial contender.
Playing a limited roll at times this season, Kaman is averaging 13.2 points per game but more important is his average of 10.5 rebounds.
While other rebounding options are limited, at least at this juncture, there is still Charlotte forward Gerald Wallace, whose pricey contract the Bobcats are eager to expunge.
Again, acquiring Wallace would mean a huge commitment from the Spurs, but the 26-year-old Wallace has shown himself to be a quality talent and can still provide some much-needed youth to the NBA team with the highest average age.
While as anyone who follows the NBA knows that trades aren't that easy to be made, they are nevertheless a necessity for teams that just don't have the current personnel to make a serious postseason run, a position San Antonio is finding itself in as each day goes by.
Mahinmi waits.
I'm really praying the Spurs can make the world eat their words this year. Talk about your lowered expectations!
Why does everyone keep riding Kurt so hard, the guy is stil hurt. He probably wouldn't have played if Ian was available and Oberto didnt have a scare. Kurt needs more time. other than that let's see what Ian brings when he returns from the D League back in shape program. That should give Kurt time to rest a bit for the second half of the season and if Ian give a great side kick in the paint effort look for Salim to come back or some kind of move by the Spurs
Any deal to get Kaman or Wallace will have to include Parker and/or Ginobili and would, in sheer talent terms, cons ute a monumental step backwards. Rebounding is an issue, to be sure, but it was an issue last year, too -- for a team that reached the conference finals and might well have been one bum ankle (or even one horrendous non-call) from returning to the Finals. In any event, I'm thinking it would be foolish to think that: (1) the Spurs were going to start this season like every other for the last 10 years; or (2) that there's any merit to a Playoff Probability formula that is blind to the fact of injuries and, in any event, based on only 11 of 82 games.
The Chicken Little element among Spurs fans is rearing its head; a trade for a rebounder is certainly something to consider, and I think that's almost an absolute even if Mahinmi proves to be a credible big. But it's folly to think that the Spurs can get a prime-time player of any sort without jettisoning Parker or Ginobili in the process. The rebounding solution, if it's to come, will be in the form of a low-to-medium priced player who can be had for relative pennies on the dollar -- and those trades don't often happen.
The only real chance the Spurs have to get quality big man help if they can convince McDyess to come to SA. You don't trade Parker or Manu at this point as that would severely mess up team chemistry and I think make the team worse. You let Manu, Parker, and Ian get healthy and come in and then start evaluating what you have. If Ian can give some quality minutes defending the post and cleaning the defensive glass that would be a huge upgrade over where they are now in that respect.
I don't think that problem can be ignored...I just don't know what decent rebounders are out there who are actually available. I thought about Kenny Thomas who's rotting in Reggie Theus' doghouse. The Spurs coaches thought enough about him to give him a key to the Spurs practice facility a few summers back. But his contract would require KT and Bonner to both be traded for him. I think Sacto would take anything to move him, but I don't know if the Spurs would gamble on his $7M contract through next season when he hasn't done anything in almost a year. But he's a good rebounder and decent passer, just a little small and not a lot of range on his shot. Duncan has proven back in the Malik days, that a tweener forward can line up pretty well next to him and be effective.
Agreed with the trading of TP or Manu for a big. We dont need a big who is of Gasol or Bynum caliber. The big we needed slipped away to Houston. Some say hes in Austin. Others say he stayed in Europe. The more and more the season goes, someone like Mcdyss isnt looking like a bad option. Basically if we could find someone who could fit into this season and maybe next. I would leave trying to find our future Big to the draft or maybe even overseas. Kayman isnt someone you build around. Not even close.
Mahinmi will put the Spurs over the top
I think a reason for the lack of rebounding is because of Tony and Manu being out. Sounds crazy but with all the new people adjusting on how to play defense some switches on defense get screwed up thus leaving people out of position to rebound sometimes. We'll be just fine.
Sitting only a game back of first at this point, I'm fairly certain they won't need him to do that.
The Spurs schedule has been pretty light so far.
The Spurs are 1 game back today in the Southwest but I believe over the next few games, it won't be that close. This is where the going starts to get a bit rough.
Jazz
@Grizz
Bulls
Grizz
@Rockets
Pistons
@Denver
@Mavs
Hawks
(Games to Dec 10th)
If they even go 3-6 over that stretch, they'll still be within striking distance of the top when they get whole.
I'm not sure why you're so consistently insistent that the Spurs are somehow unlikely to make the playoffs; they certainly seem to have weathered this early storm in surprisingly good shape -- even if they slide a bit over the next two weeks -- while getting plenty of help from the clubs in their division to keep them in the race. All of that adds up to a pretty significant chance that the Spurs will be able to keep themselves in the Top 8 from January on and that they'll have opportunities to move up in that grouping as the season wears on.
I'm also pretty sure that you can't be rooting for the Spurs to miss the playoffs -- that would be the worst result possible for everyone but Spurs fans.
Ah yes. Rebounding. The achilles heel of this team and a deficiency that many of us have been harping on since the season started. In fact, it was an issue that affected the team during the regular season and into last year's playoffs. However, the Spurs talent and experience, along with Manu's injury, masked the issue for a period of time.And although I feel like I might be repeating myself, the Spurs have shown one major weakness this season, with or without Parker or Ginobili -- rebounding.
Over the last five games before Wednesday, which included three straight victories, San Antonio has been outrebounded by an average of 8.25 boards.
San Antonio needs a second power in the paint besides Duncan, who has done everything in his power, averaging a double-double this season with nearly 24 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Neither Fabricio Oberto, Matt Bonner or Kurt Thomas has proven to be any sort of force to be reckoned with under the basket, with all three averaging less than four boards per contest.
Obviously, help is desperately needed.
Now the situation has gotten progressively worse. Despite improved defense since stumbling out of the gate, there's still too many second-chance opportunities afforded to the opposition because of this lack of rebounding prowess. The bigger teams in the NBA (Fakers, Blazers, Celtics, Suns) have and will continue to exploit this weakness, ad nauseum. As it stands, if Duncan doesn't get double-digit rebounds, the Spurs margin for error is extremely slim. That rebounding load, along with the heavy lifting required on the offensive end, is a situation that is extremely unfair to our 32 year-old superstar.
What to do? I certainly disagree with the author's suggestion of making some blockbuster trade. Kaman and Wallace can be had, but because the Spurs have no tradeable options, any proposed deals cannot get done without offering up one of the Spurs key components (Manu or TP). That's not going to happen nor should it happen. As a result, the Spurs will have to look at cheaper, less intrusive options. Adding Ian to the frontline should help. How much is unknown. Getting McDyess would be a superb solution, but very unlkely. For now, it's an ongoing issue. One that does need desparate attention. That's not hyperbole, that is a fact.
Last edited by SenorSpur; 11-20-2008 at 01:43 PM.
rebouding reared it's ugly head in the Hornets series and killed us in the Lakers series. Yes, Manu's injury was crucial but with a team that plays such tremendous defense, not rebounding and allowing so many second and third chance points it basically says you're not playing defense and with a limited offense it kills
Actually, I haven't decided whether the Spurs will miss the Playoffs or not. I do feel strongly that under no cir stance should they get the #8 seed. #7 and above or bust.
That's my point, this early schedule was for the Spurs to get ahead, not fall behind. The Spurs have been blowing their wad of easy teams. November was easy. The December schedule is harder than the November one. And then in January it starts getting brutal. These were the easy games that should have put the Spurs ahead of the pack. But with the injuries to Manu and Tony, they weren't able to capitalize.-- even if they slide a bit over the next two weeks -- while getting plenty of help from the clubs in their division to keep them in the race. All of that adds up to a pretty significant chance that the Spurs will be able to keep themselves in the Top 8 from January on and that they'll have opportunities to move up in that grouping as the season wears on.
By the time Tony and Manu come back, Spurs would have used up alot of their easy games and it's going to be hard games almost every night. I also believe the Mavs are done with their suckiness and should start turning their season around this month. Hornets as well. Rockets still look confused.
If the Spurs can get a #7 or better seed, I'm rooting for that. But if they're looking at a #8 seed, I'd rather they miss the Playoffs completely to get a lottery pick.I'm also pretty sure that you can't be rooting for the Spurs to miss the playoffs -- that would be the worst result possible for everyone but Spurs fans.
There are no rewards for mediocrity. Some teams stay on the mediocre treadmill for years and never get off. I'm certainly not hoping the Spurs miss the playoffs, but I don't want to see them limp into the tournament either. Remember, the Spurs would've never landed Duncan in '97 by sneaking into the playoffs as an 8th seed. Sometimes a little bit of lottery luck can help a team reload more quickly. It'll be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
Last edited by SenorSpur; 11-20-2008 at 02:11 PM.
i'm amazed this dude writes articles and can't use role properly.
One short term, immediate solution could be Andre Brown, who was waived today by the Bobcats. Rebounding is his principle talent, and his D league numbers were even more impressive than Mahinmi's. Adding Brown & Mahinmi in the next two weeks or so along with Tony & Manu shortly thereafter will make Ahearn totally expendable (that is if he isn't already).
It's amazing to me that the Clippers would be making the 26 year old Kaman available based on the play of the often injured 34 year old Camby. Then again, I guess that's just the Clips being the Clips...
Linton Johnson III was also waived by the Bobtails too. Any idea as to Brown and Johnson stack up to one another? Which one would be the more viable option, assuming the Spurs were interested in either?
Well, I think time will take care of your strong feeling. In the meantime, every time I read one of your posts about this topic, you insinuate a belief that the Spurs are somehow unlikely to qualify for the playoffs -- a fairly remarkable statement with only 12% of the season gone.
They've played 11 games. Of those, they've played "easy" games against (maybe) Minnesota, New York, Milwaukee, Sacramento, and the Clippers. The Spurs are 4-1 in those games. Add in Miami and they're still 4-2. I'm not sure that, even under the best of cir stances, games against Phoenix, Dallas, Portland, Houston, and Denver are "easy" games. I would have expected the Spurs, even if completely whole, to have come out of that group of games at 3-2 -- maybe. Given the nature of the schedule and the Spurs usual foibles and it's pretty reasonable to think that even if they had been whole from Day 1, they might have started 7-4; they sit at 5-6.
I think, given the injuries to Manu and Tony, the Spurs are actually in remarkably good shape.
Amazing, you're telling me that the upcoming stretch is tough and yet the Spurs will have used up a lot of their easy games for the season? Which is it?
Are you a Spurs fan?
That's only one of many inexcusable grammatical errors; and it says nothing of the no-nothing logic the writer employs.
Since when does Kaman toil in a limited role (or roll) for the Clippers?
Since when were the Spurs an average team between 1989-1996?
You have misread my posts. I've still not made up my mind as to whether the Spurs can make the Playoffs or not. I do know it's going to be a difficult task. I believe during the summer I did say one of the Texas teams would miss the Playoffs.
Portland, Dallas, Houston were all easy games...the teams were still vulnerable. Denver just turned it around 1-2 games ago.They've played 11 games. Of those, they've played "easy" games against (maybe) Minnesota, New York, Milwaukee, Sacramento, and the Clippers. The Spurs are 4-1 in those games. Add in Miami and they're still 4-2. I'm not sure that, even under the best of cir stances, games against Phoenix, Dallas, Portland, Houston, and Denver are "easy" games.
I believe this will change significantly over the next 15 days.I think, given the injuries to Manu and Tony, the Spurs are actually in remarkably good shape.
It gets hard for the next 15 days but then it goes easy again to finish the month.Amazing, you're telling me that the upcoming stretch is tough and yet the Spurs will have used up a lot of their easy games for the season? Which is it?
After the Lakers.Are you a Spurs fan?
Spurs lack of effort in making moves tells me they must really think Ian is the second comming! Oberto should be no better than a 4th big and Thomas looks like he is done. He may be the slowest player in the NBA.
Even if Ian is a 12ppg 10rpg guy right away, we still need to add depth. NJ is doing their best to get rid of Williams, and this guy would give use everything we need. Yet ya never hear us even interested in him.
Finley is likely to help us at the Sf spot with Bowen and Udoka mixed in but I sure would like to add a young athletic wing like Carney from Min who has a world of talent and is just rotting on the bench.
We really need to move on improving our front court this year and failure to do so will likely cost us a shot at the finals.
Johnson is a SF, long & lanky, & Brown is a PF, built more like a pit bull. Johnson was actually on the Spurs a couple of years ago, but was injured almost the entire time. Brown was with the Spurs in a summer league, I believe either last year or the year before ( I'm about to leave my house for work otherwise I'd do some quick research & give you better answers!). I think both are good low cost options, but I think Brown fills the greater need right now.
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