Spurs Mailbag: Not Out Of Rough Seas Yet

**duncan228** · 12-03-2008

Spurs Mailbag: Not out of rough seas yet
By Jeff McDonald

Manu Ginobili is back. So is Tony Parker. And the Spurs are floating abve .500, which was pretty much every fans' unstated goal in the injured guards' absence. They even went 8-2 through one stretch.

So, now that every All-Star is on board, all is right with the Good Ship Spurs, no? They are ready to rock and roll and bore full steam ahead toward a fifth NBA le, right?

Well, not exactly. Not yet.

As witnessed in their past two games, monumental pratfalls at Houston and at home against Detroit played at full strength, the Spurs haven't navigated free of troubled waters just yet.

They are 9-8 heading into an increasingly foreboding trip to Denver. If the playoffs began today, the Spurs still wouldn't be in them.

It's as if the anic had narrowly avoided that fateful iceberg, then plowed into the dock when it finally arrived in New York.

The big problem facing the Spurs now is chemistry. They had to learn to play one way in order to stay afloat without Parker and Ginobili. Now they have to learn to play a new way with them.

Especially when it comes to new rotation players in Roger Mason Jr. and George Hill, this will take time.

“We need to get to know each other,” is how Ginobili put it.

This round of get-to-know-you is a work in progress: Mason, the sharpshooter who carried them through a few rough patches this season, attempted just six shots against Detroit. That's not enough.

Hill, the rookie point guard who routinely sparked the shorthanded Spurs last month, played just seven minutes. That's not enough, either, although with the way the Pistons' pressure was getting to him, maybe it was for the best.

Ginobili, meanwhile, needs some time to remember how to be Ginobili again. Starting him “in perpetuity,” as coach Gregg Popovich plans, is a good start. But basketball is not like riding a bike, so it's going to take him some time to find his timing and rhythm again.

As all this gets sorted out, the Spurs will need to win the way they won with Parker and Ginobili in street clothes.

They will need to gut out games. They will need to lean on their defense. They will need scoring from up and down the roster.

Until then, there's that iceberg, dead ahead.

Now on to your questions:

Tim Duncan needs help in the paint, like we had with David Robinson. Please give him some help.
— Gerald, Washington D.C.

We tend to agree with you, but the problem is that first-ballot Hall of Fame 7-footers aren't exactly a dime a dozen. Heck, merely competent 7-footers are a rarity, which is why teams keep writing seven-figure checks to Kwame Brown, who is neither a future Hall of Famer nor competent.

David Robinson isn't walking through that door in the AT&T Center. On second thought, there's a good chance Robinson actually might, but he will be in street clothes and sitting in the second row.

What is the timetable for Ian Mahinmi to return to the Spurs? They need him to develop and play with the team.— Tony Molina, Houston

Good news for you, Tony. Mahinmi was recalled from Austin earlier this week, and has been working out with the team. Bad news for you, Tony. Pop says there is “no plan” to get Mahinmi some court time while he's in San Antonio. So he appears to be ticketed for Austin again, at some point.

Why didn't the Spurs pursue Antonio McDyess when he got waived from the Denver Nuggets? I was expecting the Spurs would pursue a player like him, because that's what the Spurs are lacking right now.
— Jason Pe, Philippines

Actually, the Spurs did feel out McDyess about his interest in coming to San Antonio. McDyess' camp told them the same thing they told the other 10 or so teams interested in his services: The Dice Man wants to stay in Detroit. (Apparently, a bone-chilling cold and a glorious lack of scenery are high on McDyess' quality-of-life list).

You're right, though, McDyess probably would be the missing piece on this team. He's tough, physical, defensive-minded and very, very old — all traits that Popovich covets. As of Dec. 7, the Pistons will be the ones reaping the benefits of those traits, again.

What are the chances the Spurs will trade Duncan, Parker or Ginobili any time soon? And what are the chances of getting Brent Barry back?
— Billy Hulsey, Carthage, N.C.

Answer to your first question: Why? Why? Why? Why? Answer to your second: The only way Brent Barry returns to San Antonio not as a member of the Houston Rockets is as a member of some network's broadcast team.

Why are the Spurs not trying to pursue Bonzi Wells? He has always been a nightmare mismatch for not only the Spurs but for the entire league. Great rebounder for his size at small forward.— G. Reyna, San Antonio

For the same reason you never seem to see Gary Busey in the movies anymore. Crazy tends to wear on people. Here's a little rule of thumb: If no team in the league wants a guy, there's usually a pretty good reason.

I think Coach Pop should look more presentable than to try and grow all that hair. Otherwise, he's a nice-looking man.— Carol, New Palestine, Ind.

We assume you're referring to Pop's beard, new for this season, and it could always be worse. Pop is now joking about trying to grow his hair out like Roger Mason Jr.

We would prefer Pop to grow a Mark Twain-style handlebar mustache to go with a Mr. T-esque Mohawk, but that's just us.