What holes still exist on the '09-'10 roster?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I've been as excited as everyone else about all of the roster moves the Spurs have made this summer. I think RJ was a smart acquisition, in spite of the expensive contract. Blair was a draft gift that I think will pay high rewards. McDyess didn't show the same signs of age last season that Kurt Thomas started to show before joining the Spurs, so I think he'll be a great asset moving forward. Even Haslip and Hairston are intriguing prospects, along with Mahinmi if he could stay healthy.

So what is this team's Achille's heal...or should I say ankle? What roster spots would you still like to see tightened up a bit?

Weakness 1 - The Defensive Stopper

For one, when I look down this roster I don't see a defensive stopper. Bruce Bowen was the unsung hero of three of the Spurs four championships. Now that he's not coming back, hopefully Richard Jefferson can fill that role. Jefferson was always a very good defender, but some people say that since his ankle surgery in January of '07 that he's lost a step on that end of the floor. Hopefully his decline in defensive prowess has more to do with the fact that his teams were not very good the last few years. Defense is a lot harder work than offense, and it requires a lot more motivation to play it with tenacity. Tenacity and defense are not usually synonomous with lottery teams, so my hope is that RJ's defensive regression was more due to cir stance that injury. Beyond Jefferson though, there's no hope on this roster for a true defensive stopper. Kobe toyed with people like Roger Mason last year, and Manu, as Manutastic as he is, is not a Lebron or Kobe Killer. Manu can deliver an opportunistic defensive play, but he's not going to be our lock down defender, nor should he be expected to fill that role. Bruce will be missed is no one can step up. If I were the FO, I'd be pursuing Raja Bell in earnest.

Weakness 2 - The Backup Point Guard

For me, the most gaping hole in the Spurs roster undoubtedly is at the backup point guard spot. If Mr. Parker goes down, this highly touted, salary-cap busting group is suddenly in the point-playing hands of George Hill, Roger Mason and Manu Ginobili, none of which would I refer to as a point guard. Each of them is good running the show in certain situations -- Roger during the regular season, Hill at the end of the second quarter, or during summer league (rookie year not included), and Manu during the team's last 4 possessions of a game seven with the championship on the line. I don't want to see this team rely on any of those guys for extended point guard minutes should Parker go down to injury. We need a backup point guard who can come in, make smart plays, give good defensive effort, and keep the game close until Manu can come in at 'winning time'.



I commend Peter Holt and the Spurs for doing what needed to be done to make the Spurs championship contenders once again. This team can likely contend for the le, once again, with the current group that's been assembled. But I'd like to see a couple more insurance pieces be added to this team to make it complete. When does the regular season start? I'm excited!

[spursfaninla]

1) You have not given Hill a chance to prove whether or not he can handle point 2, and maybe even be a significant part of point 1. Hill MAY be good enough as a point guard, but we don't know yet. Give him 2 months for us to decide. But hill has already proven he can be a bulldog defender for the 1-2 spots, so that should take care of a good chunk of the defender need.

Also, pop expressly told RJ that he would be asked to be our defensive stopper...so give him a chance to see what he can do.

BTW, bell is older and past is defensive prime also. So, no guarantee he would be better than RJ at this point.

2) Agreed about Manu and Mason playing point, though. We DO need another "steady" pg probably. However, it looks like the front office wants to give the young players a shot at making the roster before getting that 3rd guy.

[DPG21920]

If TP goes down, no back up (outside of somehow getting a starting level PG to come to the team and play back up to TP which is unlikely) will keep this team above water. The season would be over from a championship stand point.

[spursfaninla]

If you mean TP goes down for a month during the regular season, the championship dream is over? NO. We will just have poor seeding, but we likley will not win 65 games no matter what I think.

Of course, if any of the big 4 are down, or even significantly hurt, during the playoffs, it is over.

[DPG21920]

Well I was assuming he meant serious injury, seeing as Hill did well for short stints while TP was hurt.

[spursfaninla]

I think he means without injury, we don't have a backup or a defensive stopper, and TP can't play 48 minutes a game.

And I think it is too early to worry about this type of issue; it might not be a problem by december.

[DPG21920]

In the playoffs when it matters, TP will play tons of minutes, probably 40-42. That is when it matters.

In the regular season, Hill has shown enough to not be so worried. Especially with Manu coming back healthy. Not to mention, Hill could also play a the defensive stopper role to a certain degree as well.

He was speaking about TP being injured. He does not mean without injury, because he said "If TP goes down with an injury".

If TP is healthy, Hill should be fine as a back up.

[Muser]

The thing people need to understand is if TP goes down for the season then we're done, it's like Gasol going down for the Lakers or KG out for Boston. Hill is a nice backup at the point, we still need a 3rd string PG however.

[phxspurfan]

I agree that we still need a defensive wing and need to be talking to vets like Bell right now. The backup PG may or may not be a need. At this point, especially given our lux tax situation, I would hold off on the backup PG, give Hill a good chunk of the minutes and pick up a backup if we need one later in the season.

[2Cleva]

What SA needs is a defensive wing that fits into the rotation. That's a tough combo of a player to find because SA knows they can't go smallball against LA (and really - you have to have LA in mind when building a championship-hopeful team) and their current endgame 1/2/3 (TP/Manu/RJ) are pretty good.

I assume Pop knows this too. The answer likely will be around Ginobili. If RJ can't hold Kobe (and he can't) and Ginobili isn't looking great this season, SA has to consider moving him for a better fit. That last year K will have appeal.

If Ginobili is 100% then they really are forgoing any help for lockdown defense and hoping to just outgun LA. Good luck with that but it is a plan.

As much as the team loves Ginobili, they know the bread is buttered with Duncan and he is the one that will truly lead them to another ring if its in their future - not Ginobili.

[xtremesteven33]

I would include Mason in a Bell trade for sure

[2Cleva]

And why Bell? The guy Spurs fans should be trying to get is Battier. He's the only one with a license to play Kobe however he wants. Bell doesn't get it done anymore.

[xtremesteven33]

And why Bell? The guy Spurs fans should be trying to get is Battier. He's the only one with a license to play Kobe however he wants. Bell doesn't get it done anymore.

Good point but i really think its a wash on who would be the better fit on this current Spurs team.

Battier does posses better 1 on 1 defensive skills while Bell is the better offensive player who can get hot any given night. Bell is a good catch and shoot player who would do what Mason does currently but is leaner/stronger and also a better defender.

Battier would also be a shoe in with the Spurs. He would be the "Next Bruce Bowen". Anyone though is realistically not likely to happen.....

[SonOfAGun]

Pretty sure Dejuan Blair is willing to fill in at the 1 or 2 spot if that's what it takes for the Spurs to win a ring.

[2Cleva]

Pretty sure if Blair has to play at the 1 or 2 then SA's le run is over before its started.

[DPG21920]

Battier cannot guard Kobe.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

If TP goes down, no back up (outside of somehow getting a starting level PG to come to the team and play back up to TP which is unlikely) will keep this team above water. The season would be over from a championship stand point.

Probably true. But I think the Spurs are hoping that with the Big 3 now being the Big 4, that they can contend if one of the 4 (not counting Duncan) is slowed, not necessarily missing, due to an injury.

I'm just playing the 'what-ifs' which the front office is likely doing also. A slowed Parker would not necessarily kill the le hopes if he has a competent backup.

And I'd say, come the trade deadline, that there will be a 'starting level PG' available, and if Hill is not pulling his weight as a backup point expect to see the Spurs make a move.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

In the regular season, Hill has shown enough to not be so worried. Especially with Manu coming back healthy. Not to mention, Hill could also play a the defensive stopper role to a certain degree as well.

If TP is healthy, Hill should be fine as a back up.

I don't see Hill being a point guard. Hopefully I'm wrong. And while I love his defense, his lack of size could be exploited if he's considered our stoppper. I can see him being a good gimmick defender on a taller player for short periods of time, but the better 2's would figure out how to beat him in a long series.

I'm sure the FO is going to do the same thing we fans are going to do, wait and see how guys like Hill do, see how Jefferson defends, see how Mason looks, before making any more moves. These are just the weaknesses that jump out at me when I look at this roster as it currently stands.

[anonoftheinternets]

And why Bell? The guy Spurs fans should be trying to get is Battier. He's the only one with a license to play Kobe however he wants. Bell doesn't get it done anymore.

to be honest, kobe would light up bell and battier, and bowen, So its pointless. And once in a while kobe goes 10-30 pretty much on his own. And comes back with 21-25. So at this point, mebbe its better to have roger mason who is a knockdown deadeye shooter, if kobe dares to roam. I am sick of watching kobe roam around, while cross matching on bruce, or some other "defensive" minded specialist who cant stop kobe.

Previously bowen would do a decent job on kobe, but not anymore, i say roll the dice.

[ffadicted]

If TP goes down, no back up (outside of somehow getting a starting level PG to come to the team and play back up to TP which is unlikely) will keep this team above water. The season would be over from a championship stand point.

Yeah, cuz those were the exact results when Jameer went down last season for the Magic...

[timtonymanu]

the main hole that still exists is a 100% healthy roster.

im worried also about the defensive stopper, but I'm excited to see what RJ, Hill and Hairston can do.

also who's the starting center? I'm not sure McDyess can play that. Ratliff shouldnt start. Ian is probably the best option but is he ready for that? I'm thinking Duncan is at the 5 with Dice at the 4.

[mountainballer]

Spurs could use an upgrade at the #3 or #4 in the wing rotation (this would be the "stopper", yes Bell would be nice but IMO not realistic. what about Deshawn Stevenson?). I would be happy with a great defender at #3 and a shooter like Mason at #4. if it takes Mason to get the better defender, fine. then Fin keeps the role of the shooter at #4.
a devensive big close to 7' would be nice (someone like Foster), this would give a nice balanced 4 men big rotation with tim, Dice and Blair. currently Bonner is the 4th man in the big rotation (I really don't think that Ratliff and Ian will help much there), so there is definitely room for improvement.
and someone, who can defend combo forwards. but RJ can do this a bit and maybe Haislip surprises in this role. (so I would wait till deadline with a move to close this hole.). same with back up PG. let's see what Hill and maybe also Manu can do to solve this.

[vander]

the only hole I can think of will be the one left by manu after he gets injured again,

[clubalien]

I've been as excited as everyone else about all of the roster moves the Spurs have made this summer.

Biggest Need:Coach

[DPG21920]

Yeah, cuz those were the exact results when Jameer went down last season for the Magic...

Except Tony Parker is our #1 offensive option, and is levels better as a player..George is also easily a better player than Alston..

I only have one concern other than health TBH, and that's the defensive stopper..we have potential though..RJ focusing on defense is potentially a good defensive stopper(we don't need great, good works)..Malik Hairston is potentially a good defensive stopper, he has all the tools, he just has to put it together..as of right now, they're both unproven as defensive players in our system though(although Hairston looked good last year), so that's the main hole..

Our C is going to be Duncan or McDyess, so that's fine..Duncan is our shot blocker and rebounder..Blair can rebound..Ian can potentially play C..Bonner and Haislip stretch the floor..our big men are fine IMO..

Hill is easily a suitable backup PG, no doubt about that..

Bingo