ESPN insider Request Please

[bigfish22]

Can someone with access please post the ESPN insider piece "NBA Offseason Buzz: San Antonio Spurs"? We would all appreciate you sharing this, thank you in advance.



Where you at 2Cleva? We would appreciate another one

[WildcardManu]

NBA Offseason Buzz: San Antonio Spurs
Help has arrived, but it might not be enough to contend for a le

Want to know who's heating up for a big season on the hardwood? Insider is tapping into John Hollinger's projected player efficiency ratings to see who's trending up and down across the NBA. Ric Bucher rounds out the report by examining a pivotal player you'll want to watch as the season approaches. The series continues with the San Antonio Spurs.

Let's all thank the Spurs for acquiring swingman Richard Jefferson over the summer, thereby inspiring every other team with le hopes to make a bold acquisition and turning the offseason into a carousel of personnel moves. San Antonio upped the ante a second time, picking up free-agent PF Antonio McDyess. But neither move addressed San Antonio's biggest need: a front-line player who can defend athletic 4s and stretch the floor offensively, a la Robert Horry. So while the Spurs certainly improved themselves, they're still one piece short of their championship formula.

To see which player is taking off, who is crashing to earth and which name you'll need to know for the 2009-10 season, you must be an ESPN Insider.


Trending Up: George Hill
Last season: 11.61 PER
2009-10 projection: 12.46 PER

While Hill will likely play the majority of backup point guard minutes behind Tony Parker, on numerous occasions he'll spot up off the ball while Manu Ginobili functions as a point forward. Rookie guards with high turnover rates often make tremendous progress in their second seasons, and with the glimpses of ability Hill provided, he may join those who take a major step forward. That probably won't change his playing time outlook much for 2009-10 given the star-studded San Antonio backcourt, but this year may well determine the trajectory of what comes afterward. -Hollinger


Trending Down: Matt Bonner
Last season: 15.02 PER
2009-10 projection: 12.16 PER

The Spurs' addition of McDyess is likely to severely crimp Bonner's playing time, as McDyess will take over the role of spot-up power forward that Bonner filled a year ago. Bonner still should earn considerable playing time as the third or fourth big man in the rotation, and in truth starting was a stretch for him anyway. But he'll have value as long as he shoots better than 40 percent on 3s, especially in this system where he can be so helpful spacing the floor for the three All-Stars. -Hollinger


Bucher's Name to Know: Tim Duncan
The Spurs have tried everything short of turning Duncan into a Prius to get him through an entire season with energy left to burn, even coaxing him into taking more jumpers and grinding for fewer post buckets. But as long as he has to play significant minutes defending the opposing team's best low-post threat and be the first half-court scoring option down the stretch most nights, having enough left to get 16 postseason wins just doesn't seem realistic. Yes, they also added Theo Ratliff and DeJuan Blair, but the former is too old to be that defensive sidekick and the latter is too young. Duncan, meanwhile, will be 34 at the end of April and have well over 40,000 minutes on his legs by then. If he turns back the clock for another MVP-worthy season at this stage of his career, he'll be the first. All that assumes Ginobili will stay healthy, as well, which is an equally dicey proposition.

So don't be suckered into believing San Antonio has returned to full juggernaut status if Duncan and the Spurs are roaring in January. That happened last season and three months later, the Spurs bowed out meekly in the first round to the hardly spry Dallas Mavericks. Duncan can still do it all. He just can't do it for as long. -Bucher

[TD 21]

ESPN is always so focused on what the Spurs are (potentially) lacking rather than the problems they pose for opposition teams.

How many teams, particularly amongst the contenders, have a guy who's a legit stopper against athletic 4's? The Magic didn't last year, and they were in the Finals. In terms of having a stretch 4, the Spurs have that in Bonner. No, he's not Horry in other areas of the game, but purely based on shooting, he's superior. Just because the Spurs are used to having that piece, even if they didn't, does that mean they can't win? The Cavs had the best regular season record in the league last season without a 4 man who had range beyond 10 feet (until they picked up Smith after the trade deadline).

Here's what the Spurs do have that other teams don't: When healthy, 3 of the 20 best players in the league, and unmatched championship experience amongst their core. I'd say those are significant advantages, yet neither were mentioned in this article conveniently.

The way Duncan is written about now you'd think he's Bill Walton. Like he can't ever stay healthy, can't be relied on, and is way past his prime. Only what the media fails to realize is that none of this is true. Yes, it is a concern that he'll have to be the primary post defender against top opposition bigs, but Yao is injured, and O'Neal is out of the West. How many true behemoth, dreadnaught pivot scorers will he have to deal with on a regular basis? Jefferson is undersized, and the Spurs can get away with McDyess, and possibly even Blair seeing time on him. Who else is of such great concern that they'll "wear Duncan out"? Dampier, Nene, Biedrins, Anderson, Kaman, Bynum, M. Gasol, Okafor, Kristic, Lopez, Oden, Hawes, and Okur, comprise the starting West centers.

Why is it not a concern whether old, key pieces on the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Lakers, can stay healthy throughout the entire season and have enough energy left in the playoffs? No, only with the Spurs is this brought up. The media has just collectively decided that what happened last season in the playoffs is the Spurs, and in the process they're ignoring everything that came before that for years.

[coyotes_geek]

So don't be suckered into believing San Antonio has returned to full juggernaut status if Duncan and the Spurs are roaring in January. That happened last season and three months later, the Spurs bowed out meekly in the first round to the hardly spry Dallas Mavericks. Duncan can still do it all. He just can't do it for as long. -Bucher

Evidently Rick Bucher doesn't find any correlation between Manu playing in January and not playing 3 months later.

[TIMMYD!]

John Hollinger.

He just focuses on what is wrong not what went right.

I want to punch that mother er.

And Bucher too.

[jason1301]

Again Hollinger is a re !

they're still one piece short of their championship formula.

one piece short of their championship formula of the past! From what I understand the FO is looking for players that can play next to Tony not Timmy. You must be a re not to realize, its not Duncan's team anymore.

But he'll have (Bonner) value as long as he shoots better than 40 percent on 3s

He is reaching.... Matt last year shot 44% from the 3pt line and 50% overall. He is in his contract year, will be coming off the bench and will take less shots.

Players on their contract year usually play better (wanting a new contract --need I say more?). Players that come of the bench usually play better (not have to go against starters). Players that take less shot seem to shoot at a higher percentage (better shot selection).

Having said that I would be surprised if he shoots over 44% from the 3pt line, but its highly unlikely he 'll shoot less than 40%.

Duncan can still do it all. He just can't do it for as long

Thanks for stating the obvious; Timmy is past his prime. No one expects him to carry us through the regular season and let me remind you that he played outstanding basketball against the Mavs. He wasn't the reason we were eliminated in the first round.

All that assumes Ginobili will stay healthy, as well, which is an equally dicey proposition.

He loves to bring up the age and health issue. He has a point about Manu's health. It just so happened to watch Manu single handily eliminate Greece from the Olympics once again. The same Greek team that beat US but hungrier! Therefore I may be a bit bias.

That foot injury later on overshadowed his performance at the Olympics. What that showed us, is what we all know. Manu is such a compe or and always finds a way to make himself relevant. One way or another, even if he is not at the level he used to be, he will re-invent himself and become a contributor. Manu is NOT missing the playoffs two years back to back. You can take that to the bank!

[2Cleva]

Why is it not a concern whether old, key pieces on the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Lakers, can stay healthy throughout the entire season and have enough energy left in the playoffs? No, only with the Spurs is this brought up. The media has just collectively decided that what happened last season in the playoffs is the Spurs, and in the process they're ignoring everything that came before that for years.

LA doesn't have any old critical pieces. People say "what if Kobe gets hurt" but he's been very healthy for his career and has played through pain when he could have sat. He's not going anywhere if he can walk, even then he'd gut it out.

Face it - Duncan has had many injuries that hobbled him in his career. Last year. 99-00. And he's looked bad in recent years. Ginobili was done to end the last two years.

SA obviously has the biggest injury history in recent years than any other contender.

[dougp]

LA doesn't have any old critical pieces. People say "what if Kobe gets hurt" but he's been very healthy for his career and has played through pain when he could have sat. He's not going anywhere if he can walk, even then he'd gut it out.

Face it - Duncan has had many injuries that hobbled him in his career. Last year. 99-00. And he's looked bad in recent years. Ginobili was done to end the last two years.

SA obviously has the biggest injury history in recent years than any other contender.

Last I checked, the "injuries that hobble" Duncan have not prevented him from upping his production and averaging 30ppg and 12rpg in the post season.