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It's dooable.
This team obviously has lots of glaring problems. They want to think of themselves as a potentially top defensive team, yet guys who can't guard anyone (Bonner, Mason, Finley) are getting lots of minutes. There's only two players on the roster who can create their own shots, and both seem to be wearing down from carrying the load. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Here's the thing: if the Spurs lose in the first round, maybe Pop and RC will finally realize how much change is needed.
On the other hand, if the Spurs overachieve and win a series or two, maybe they will think that all the Spurs need is a healthy Manu.
Last year, it should have been apparent how badly the team needed younger, athletic, more talented players. But since they managed to will their way to a Game 7 victory over New Orleans, and since a hobbled Manu provided a good excuse for why the Spurs lost to the Lakers, all of the growing weaknesses were ignored during the offseason.
I don't have all the solutions, but at they very least I hope the Spurs realize the following:
1. Manu Ginobili is not going to be what he once was. In addition to all of his nagging injuries, he's getting old. He'll be 33 in 2010. Wings who rely on athleticism noticeably slip around that age, even if they aren't chronically injured like Manu.
2. We're not going anywhere with Matt Bonner starting. Timmy needs someone who can rebound and is sufficiently athletic to help him out.
It's dooable.
I say we just let everybody go and sign Lebron and Dwight Howard. I mean, that's the future right there. Make it so, Holt!
And rest.
does not help
why
more home games =more money
Since when?
Someone better give me a bailout over this .
No because there is no "long run". Each of Duncan's remaining seasons, including this one, needs to be used going all out for a championship. There's no time for "lessons" or whatever.Could Losing In the First Round Help in The Long Run?
A Lakers fan who is also a Spurs fan.....I like it!
Good points! I do think a healthy manu, TD and TP may have one more championship run in them but the Spurs need to start transitioning so the next generation of players will be ready to take over as TP gets older & TD and Manu are no longer around....that's easier said that done
I agree with this 100 percent.
More Bowen and Hill, more Kurt Thomas/Drew Gooden, cut Finley and Mason's minutes to just 25-28 a game, and cut Bonner's minutes to 2-5.
Do you really think the Spurs can win it all this year? I simply see no way they can get past the Lakers or Cavs, and they'd be fortunate to even get that far in the first place. For a four time champion team, I would think being eliminated is being eliminated. There's no reason to feel good for advancing a few rounds. Accordingly, this season is already a lost cause and "now" is now "next year".
I feel really sorry for Tim Duncan. If the Spurs had reloaded just a bit in the summer of 2007, he'd be looking to get his 6th ring right now instead of wondering whether he'll ever have another crack at a le. It's sad to watch such a great player out there playing hurt, playing his heart out with such little help.
Before the playoffs started, I thought the Spurs had a 1-3% chance to win it all. I still think that's pretty accurate. So yeah, I'm not willing to concede defeat when there's still a chance.
Soon, a 1-3% chance at winning a championship will seem like a fantastic opportunity.
The team should worry about what's in their control now. Not try to test fate and the unforeseeable future which is outside of their control.
Pop and Co. are in charge of their own destiny today, they don't need to rationalize cir stances.
I should clarify:
I'm NOT saying the team should purposely tank or lose. I'm sure they will try their best, as they should.
I'm speaking for an outsider's perspective, as in what would be best to actually happen.
Duncan will still be a superstar next year, IMO. The Spurs don't have to sit around and do nothing. If they surround him with better role players, next year could be a 50% chance (not 3% or less).
For the Spurs to win this year, I think the following would have to happen:
1. The Blazers would have to advance to the second round and miraculously beat the Lakers. Then they would have to lose all of the momentum from that series so that the Spurs could beat them.
2. The Cavs would somehow have to get upset but the Magic or Celtics.
If neither of the above two, a major injury must occur to someone on the Lakers or Cavs.
That's just too many break to hope for, IMO.
Honestly I don't think the spurs with their current roster as it is will win a le in Duncan's remaining years. I look at 1-12 and I see too many glaring holes that need to be fixed and that could take possible 2 years to fix. This team is like that '01 team they have too many old vetrans who are over the hill along with a bunch of mediocre role players. Outside of Duncan,Parker,Ginobilli,Mason,Gooden, the rest of the team is filled with trash. It will take about 2 years to fix all these holes and by then Duncan will be 35. Next year the spurs will have to develop Ian, along with giving Hill more minutes, plus add few young guns.
Excellent post.
I see. I don't know if a wake up call would make a difference. I don't think it'd take a first round exit for Pop and Co. to realize Bonner isn't starting material, and the over-reliance on a the Spurs core has run it's course.
It might be true that we've had good for too long to see our holes...but it might also be true that we need to keep building upon our results, and not risk taking a step back in results (a first round exit) which encourages more excellence.
You can argue the other way that a first round exit might cause the FO to panic/knee jerk over what isn't an immediate decline, but another team hiccup like in 2006.
Where one adjustment or shift in focus would bring us back to the head of the pack with the Lakers.
I personally don't think there'd be any good in a first round exit, just like I personally have a problem with "missing the playoffs for a draft pick" and "blowing up a team" for financial purposes is a cop out.
Losing sucks period.
great thread, and it's something to think about..
I don't think this is the case though..I think going 2 years without winning a le will be enough for change, since it's pretty clear that Manu is no longer a reliable option..
this is also a very fixable problem, so we definitely have a good shot at re-tooling in the off-season, assuming the FO realizes that we need a change(there's no way they don't)..we have multiple free agents, and multiple expiring contracts at the end of next year..
there should definitely be some moves made, there's no excuse to stand pat..
I agree.
You know i can understand the age/athleticism reasons going against Manu but fans need to keep in mind that when he returns he'll be the freshest he's ever been in quite awhile. He's pretty much had extended rests in between a couple of comebacks since the olympics. Oh and we did see the Manu of old in february up until the allstar break so i think him getting back to his old self for atleast next season is a very good possibility.
What a depressing thing to read before I've had my morning coffee.
Yes this team undoubtably needs to get rid of the old and bring in the new. Our old vets can only overachieve so long in our Spurs defensive system. We need some fresh legs, some youth, and some athleticism.
My question is do teams ever go over the salary cap and take on luxary taxes for the sake of the team? We all know that Duncan only has a few more good years left in him more then likely so why not go all out and do w/e we can these next few years. I'm tired of the Spurs FO being all in cheap. They got 4 championships from Duncan, it's time to give somethin back and take the extra hit to the wallet for the sake of making one last good run at another Championship.
Its best the spurs get swept in the first round and get it over with. They are not winning this year. This season was lost when there was no move to upgrade the frontline.
Maybe an early elimination will hit them in the head that they need to upgrade the overall talent of the team and get some younger more athletic players instead of giving big minutes to robots and dinosaurs.
I agree with all your points.
The Spurs haven't learned anything since 2006, so why the would it be better for them to lose? By that rationale, it would have been better for them to miss the playoffs altogether. Once you're here, you try to win. Period.
Right, it would have better to not even make the playoffs and get a lottery pick. Maybe they can get lucky again with a top 3 pick because thats about the only way they add young talent.
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