Is it inevitable that one of Hill or Mason will be moved for a sf?

[honestfool84]

I seriousy doubt you have the basketball a en that Coach Pop has, so instead of thinking too hard about it, just kick back and enjoy the games.

this goes for a lot of the fans here.
im just saying, i think Pop knows what he is doing; definitely more than the way we think he should be doing it, that's for sure.

[K-State Spur]

Tony and Manu coming back will really improve the Spurs but neither of them can guard a Shaq/Amare/Diaw

That's somewhat evened out by the fact that Shaq & Amare (and Nash) can't guard anybody. Look at the past series, the Spurs have never remotely shut down Amare. But they can latch onto to PHX's shooters, Parker owns Nash, and PHX still has too many holes in their defense to get enough meaningful stops.

Yao/Scola/Landry

Scola and Landry are nice players, but neither is un-guardable by any stretch of the imagination. They COMBINED for 12 points in the first meeting between these 2 teams.

Dampier/Dirk/Diop

Oh yeah, Diop & Damp are just monster offensive threats...

Oden/Aldridge/Pryz/Frye.

Pryz and Oden (as of RIGHT NOW) are very limited in what they can do offensively. Aldridge and Frye do the majority of their work outside of the paint (tangent: Is there a worse rebounding 6'11+ player in the league than Aldridge?). I mean, this group hasn't even made the playoffs yet.

So, pardon the Spurs if they're not going to blow up the entire thing based on these match-ups yet.

Every team (with the exception of your Lakers) that has multiple offensive threats in the post that might give the Spurs problems, also has major flaws elsewhere where the Spurs have a huge advantage.

[spursfaninla]

Looking at my post starting the thread, I agree that the 5 is actually a bigger worry than the 3.

However, we have put more money into the 5 spot already.

People, you are not recognizing the coming problem that WILL have to be dealt with: If Ghill and Mason continue to play this well over the next year, it will be a waste of talent to not play them 30 minutes a game. A three guard lineup means you better have some pretty good defensive front court players to make up for the lack of height at the 3. Having 1.5 good defensive players at the 4 and 5 is not good enough.

Second, no one is going to give us a worthwhile 5 for our role players (Kthomas, Oberto, Udoka, Vaughn, Finley), without putting in ghill or mason.

I don't have the answer this year; I am just predicting if the three guard lineup fails in the playoffs b/c our front court is not good enough, I think the coaches have to face facts and package one of our excellent back court talents with some expiring contracts and get a GOOD defensive big.

[Joe Schmoogins]

Either that or they'll try to tank the season.

This has to be one of the most ignorant things I've ever read from Allanon. Usually you come off as a fairly knowledgeable poster, but then you slip in lines like this periodically that makes me feel like you are full of doo doo. Redeem yourself man!

[Joe Schmoogins]

for the record, I would not trade hill or mason for a 3 or big... at least not right now. I'd wait and see if Mahinmi pans out, which he very well could, and that would solve a lot of our problems at the 5. Also, I'd stick with what's been working for the best three championships and that is Bowen at the 3. We don't need him to light it up, but now that we have multiple scorers in the back court, he has hardly any pressure to be an offensive threat and so he can focus entirely on defense. I am of the belief that he still has something left to give and would ride him out until the end of his contract. With Udoka and Finley backing him up, it is not exactly an all star lineup but it is SOLID. Udoka is a solid defender, and good rebounder, and Finley is a savvy offensive threat.

Like I said earlier, I would not trade either of them right now... However, if Mahinmi doesn't pan out, Bowen clearly shows he's done beyond a shadow of a doubt, and any one of Oberto, Thomas, Udoka, or Finley have season ending injuries, then if all three of those things happened, I'd try to make a trade.

[Anti.Hero]

Get rid of all of the bigs for one good one.

[The Truth #6]

They would be insane to get rid of Hill, especially because he's on a very affordable rookie scale contract.

Mason is also looking a pretty good deal right now for the contract we gave him.

Let's see what Ian does. And even if he doesn't explode right away I don't think that's still enough time to make a complete judgement on him. Some players take a little bit of time.

[Brazil]

This has to be one of the most ignorant things I've ever read from Allanon. Usually you come off as a fairly knowledgeable poster, but then you slip in lines like this periodically that makes me feel like you are full of doo doo. Redeem yourself man!

I don't know why but Allanon strongly wants to see the spurs tanking the season. I think he knows that the lakers have no chance against SA.

[sexinthatsx]

If spurs need a center, I they should try to trade for Anderson Varejao, Kendrick Perkins, or Darko

[z0sa]

I don't know why but Allanon strongly wants to see the spurs tanking the season. I think he knows that the lakers have no chance against SA.

Right? I'm sorry Al, but any team with Tim Duncan has no choice but to dominate

Really, Tim would have a huge rift formed if it even SEEMED like Pop and the FO were thinking tank.

[mrspurs]

Manu should be traded for a top big. The spurs could go with Parker Hill Mason and Vaughn in the backcourt with Duncan and another quality bigman.

Make it happen. I like Manu but noway I trade TP or TD. If Manu is what it takes to get a solid big. Then by all means make it go. Question is who we gonna get in return ?

[mrspurs]

If Mahinmi doesn't show up soon, I am quite positive the Spurs will have a big trade/signing before the deadline. Either that or they'll try to tank the season.

I dont think they'll try. I think it may just come out that way. If we dont get a lottery pick. Then we dont get anything in the first round. And we can thank Kurt and the smart FO for that.

[Allanon]

In response to all the above about the opposing big men not being much of threats (too many posts to quote them all). You are all right, all those guys are pretty useless and shouldn't be mentioned with some of their court partners.

But my thoughts are they don't have to be regular big "threat".

KT/Fab are playing at such a low level that they made Darko look like an All-Star. Guys like Pryz can't score on a rock but I'll bet he lights it up against KT/Fab.

It's just not Darko:

Koufos got 8 points on 60% shooting, Milsap got 8 on 75%
Nene got 16 - 70%, K-Mart 18-65%

This has to be one of the most ignorant things I've ever read from Allanon. Usually you come off as a fairly knowledgeable poster, but then you slip in lines like this periodically that makes me feel like you are full of doo doo. Redeem yourself man!

The tank the season comment is my only reasoning behind why Pop and RC won't do anything about the big man rotation. Those guys are winners and they know they can't win against the bigger teams if guys like Darko can kill them inside.

I think they're waiting on Mahinmi right now. And if that doesn't work, they'll be looking for a trade or signing for a different #5. They don't have to blow up the team, just get somebody instead of KT or Fabs.

And if they don't, it makes no sense to me at all. So the only sensible solution to me is that they don't care about this season.

[Darthkiller]

spurs need Batuuuuuuum

[TDMVPDPOY]

you dont get rid of something thats working

trading away hill or mason now is going to up if you are trying to attract FA's, THIS IS NOT HOW THE SPURS OPERATE, business ethics my man, spurs FO value ppl as assets....

if splitter had came over, we wouldnt even have this discussion....

[Kori Ellis]

The shooting guard and small forward positions are virtually interchangeable for the Spurs. In fact, they just refer to them as "wings". So if we've got shooting guards, then we pretty much have small forwards.

Sure, it would be nice to have a tall, athletic small forward, but Bruce Bowen isn't exactly that either and he's been playing SF for years.

I guess my point is that they will need bigs far sooner than they will need wings.

[Jahivah]

Mason and Ginobli can both play the 3 spot. The immediate concern is a big man to play alongside TImmy. I honestly thing that legit big is what stands between us and competing for a championship.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Some people don't seem to know their team very well. Why would Pop uncover these guys then trade them? He's never done that in his entire history.

Cross your fingers that Mahinmi can play, or that Bonner's recent upsurge will give him value to someone, because Mahinmi or a bit-part trade is all you'll see this year.

[The Truth #6]

Gist should be on the team this year instead of Tolliver. That would help somewhat with having athleticism at the 3/4.

[xtremesteven33]

Gist should be on the team this year instead of Tolliver. That would help somewhat with having athleticism at the 3/4.

True dat

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Gist should be on the team this year instead of Tolliver. That would help somewhat with having athleticism at the 3/4.

Agreed.

I'm still not sure why he was sent to Europe.

As for trading Manu, Mrs Purs shows her wonderful a en once again...

[Allanon]

I don't know why but Allanon strongly wants to see the spurs tanking the season. I think he knows that the lakers have no chance against SA.

Right? I'm sorry Al, but any team with Tim Duncan has no choice but to dominate

I'm thinking for YOUR best interests Let's forget my "Laker bias" for a minute.

The Spurs have Superb Guard play and depth. They have the Superb Mr. Duncan.

But there are serious issues in the Frontcourt, not only is the Small Forward undersized, the Centers are really under-performing. This leads to the Spurs being #27 in the NBA in rebounds. There is no Duncan cloning facility except in Duncan228's dreams.

So I can't see the Spurs beating the Suns, Mavs, Rockets or Blazers with KT/Oberto going against their Big men...multiple offensive rebounds, new All Stars in the making.

Mahinmi, Trade/Sign, Fountain of Youth for KT/Fab or Bust.

[timvp]

Those minutes do not exist unless we play a 3 guard lineup, which is just too small to be successful over a season.

I think that is one of the most important questions that need answered once everyone is healthy. Can a lineup of TP, Manu and Mason survive against most matchups? If it can, the Spurs should be in great shape. If it can't, then Pop will have to get more inventive.

I think there's a chance it can work. I've been impressed when Mason has had to defend bigger small forwards such as Ron Artest and Al Thornton. Plus, Manu has had success against small forwards in the past such as Tayshaun Prince in the 2005 Finals.

It'll also be interesting to see what Hill does when matched up against shooting guards. So far, we've only seen him against point guards. If Hill shows he can also defend shooting guards and proves that he can continue to rebound well at the NBA level, that gives more flexibility.

If the situation arises that TP, Hill, Manu and Mason become by far the best four perimeter players by playoff time, I could see a scenario in which Pop condenses the lineup and just goes with a minute distribution such as:

TP 34
Mason 36
Ginobili 30
Hill 30
Bowen 14

That's smaller than we've seen in past years but it's not like the size of Bowen, Finley or Barry ever really came into play. Considering the Spurs have ignored the Long Three for the last half decade, it's pretty obvious they don't really care about size on the perimeter.

[duncan228]

There is no Duncan cloning facility except in Duncan228's dreams.

You mean this isn't possible?


Hemotivo's sig

[SpurSupremacist]

Make it happen. I like Manu but noway I trade TP or TD. If Manu is what it takes to get a solid big. Then by all means make it go. Question is who we gonna get in return ?

Aldridge and Martell Webster