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Without 1-3 we never get to 4-12.
It's my understanding that the tendonosis is here to stay. His left knee has bugged him more the last couple of seasons. It's going to be a matter of severity on any given night.
Rest and rehab were the long off-season plan, I hope he'll come into camp strong. I expect Pop to sit him one game of most, if not all, back-to-backs. Hopefully with that extra rest and measured minutes he'll get to the Playoffs strong.
What I do know is that if he can he will rise for the Playoffs. He always does.
Without 1-3 we never get to 4-12.
health
8. Spurs Defense returns
The Return of the Jedi!
Pop's coaching of course.
David Stern!
1. Health, for the team in general, but specifically Duncan, Manu, Parker, Jefferson, and McDyess, in that order. If any of those first 3 go down near the playoffs, we're in serious trouble. If 4 or 5 go down near the playoffs, we can still win, but it'd be a heck of a lot harder.
2. Defense. Spurs need to return to championship caliber defense. Yes, they need to play good individual defense, but more importantly they need to play Spurs Level team defense.
3. Chemistry. This is highly underrated by most observers, but is very very important. Yes, health was the number one reason the Spurs lost to the Mavericks in the first round last year, but chemistry was a very close 2nd. Injuries throughout the regular season last year kept the Spurs chemistry at its lowest level in a very long time. Spurs teams under Pop thrive when they learn how to play together. Often this takes a few months, and the chemistry is solidified by February. Hopefully #1 on my list above will allow that cohesion to form.
Glad you put this on the list. Very important.
:
Bill Schoening is unstoppable......that's a given.
After that, health of Timmy and the cohesion of the team.
Health permitting, I fully expect a 60+ win regular season and deep postseason run. The Spurs will be looking for the top seed and may need it to knock off the Lakers and whoever comes out of the East.
Credit the FO for putting together the right minds, with the right talent, in the right situations. Let's hope the medical staff can demonstrate their abilities as well.
I'm glad you didn't overemphasize anything!
So what do you have as reasons #11 and #12?
So what do you have as reasons #11 and #12?
Manu's health...
...Timmy's knee's...
Hill not suffering a sop re slump...
...Kobe vacation's in Colorado
Manu's health...
...Timmy's knee's...
Hill not suffering a sop re slump...
...Kobe vacation's in Colorado
Pop's Vineyard.
like others have said of course luck ie health mainly timmy and manu
last year with manu injuried we should have tanked the season.
So i ask after investing in all these movies if we have an "injury" season do you play through it all out for champs or do you tank the season for the draft?
do you owe it to everyone to go for it when you cannot win even though tanking would bring a top pick/player
But wouldn't every team that thought they didn't have a chance this season do the same thing if that were an option? There'd be at least 10 to 15 teams "tanking it". plus who's gonna buy tickets to go watch a team tank?
It would be kinda neat I guess, watching teams try to score the least amount of points. In the end they'd still play, they'd just be trying to score in their opponents basket.
Health is a no-brainer and pretty much goes without saying but second to that would be growth.
If I'm brutally honest with myself when looking at this roster, and that of the main compe ors, health alone will keep the Spurs contenders, but alone won't bring home a le.
The Front Line
The front line consists of two known, proven quan ies; Duncan and 'Dyess. Alone they don't have the means to likely hold up throughout the regular season and playoffs without a significant contribution defensively from the likes of a Blair, Mahinmi, Haislip, and Bonner. That's 3 out of 4 guys that potentially need to contribute that have little to no experience. Unless another addition is yet to be made, the growth of this very green crew proves to be vital.
Backup Point
Tony Parker's ascension to superstar-level last year proved to be a godsend to an injury-riddled team. He took more ownership and responsibility than he ever had before and almost single handedly kept the Spurs in the running for a top 3 seed. While the growth of Tony was fantastic and the new-found gear he unleashed was some kind of a revelation, a glaring weakness was exposed. Do I have to mention Roger Mason?
Tony's ability and stud-status can no longer be questioned but the length of time he's asked to do it, sure as can. Let's face it. Tony's a 6'-ish, slight point-guard. He's simply not built to bear the responsibility of being that dominant a facilitator night-in and night-out, lead the team in scoring and give an honest effort defensively. The recent additions of Jefferson and McDyess, along with a healthy Tim and Manu should ease the scoring and facilitating burden but the guy needs a blow every now and then. Enter Hill and McClinton.
A backup point the likes of Vaughn is no longer acceptable. The Spurs need someone to come in and actually have the potential to expand a lead, not simply tread water. Hill and McClinton, though more shooting than point-guards, do bring such potential. The Spurs don't need these guys to be pure point-guards or to be Parker clones, but they need them to come in and exploit their respective strengths, take care of the ball and simply initiate the offense. Their ability to grow/succeed in such a role could ultimately be the difference in the type of Parker the Spurs get down the stretch; in terms of health and freshness.
Defensive-Wing
One of the all-time great perimeter defenders leaves a void, that even in his advanced years, will not easily be filled. Bowen was more than what he brought physically to the floor, even if that was enough to leave an indelible impact. Bowen brought a toughness and grit along with a confidence and assurance that few role players ever have. With the Spurs having to part with one of the cornerstones of their three previous championship teams, the Spurs look to the newly acquired Jefferson to approximate what Bowen brought on the defensive end.
Jefferson early in his career proved to be a capable defender and more of an all-around player. Possessing ideal size, strength and athleticism, there's no question R.J. has the tools to be a quality defender. As his years went on in the league though, and as injuries to the likes of Kidd, Carter, Redd, and Bogut occured, Jefferson's role steadily drifted away from the all-around player he was entering the league.
R.J. became a 20ppg scorer and honed his offensive-ability to a level he never reached before, but with that progression also came a regression on the defensive-end. Pop's admitted duty now, is to reverse/revert his thinking back to more of the defensive all-around player he was entering the league and get him to accept a different role than he's become accustomed.
Another option that could potentially be taking a crack at filling the Bowen void would be Malik Hairston. Malik coming out of Oregon was a deceptive, physical athlete, who was probably a little more physical than athletic. Playing in an up-tempo offense in Oregon he played more of a small-ball 4 and was a very solid mid-range shooter, slasher, rebounder, defender, and an underrated passer.
Malik, though, entered the draft having re-made his body and having shed a lot of his "baby fat." While still a physical player, his explosiveness seemed to find another gear. Standing 6' 5'' with long arms he no longer look or played like the small-ball 4 he'd been labeled, but proved capable of sticking to the most elite of players on the defensive end. A Detroit kid who plays with both a physical and mental toughness, Malik never seems phased by the opponent or challenge. Hearing Malik's comments, Pop's obviously made the objective clear. Rediscover and improve on that shot and prove capable of being that primary defender night-in and night-out. Another vital role potentially depending on the growth of a player. (Gist, although more of a 4 offensively, could also potentially be an option here. I feel the ability is there for him defensively at the 3 but his ability to knock down the corner 3 offensively, might very well be his ticket to a roster spot.)
This upcoming year's transition in personnel brings a challenge that hasn't been seen since probably the '04 team. The big difference?
The talent acquired is a proposition, that perhaps, we've never seen.
This team will probably win on talent alone most nights, while they grow and learn from each other, and their ultimate success might end up being in a somewhat '03 fashion; in terms of growth during the season and peaking down the stretch.
Manu going Rocky 4 and not V.
Hard without Bowen
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