What we REALLY need

[SpurNation]

I can understand the OP's reasoning. It's not the first time I've read somebody mentioning the same thing.

But this team's lack of effective interior defense puts over emphasis on our perimeter defense. Another tall athletic big next to Duncan would help solve a lot of the main issues this team is having on D.

It requires somebody mobile, agile and quick with height to play efficient weak side D on this team.

Out of our bigs...there's not one that fits the description above. The last person on this team to do that was Horry.

With the height in the post the perimeter defenders would not have to work so hard in one on one defense plus have better opportunity in fast break situations and fresher legs at the end of games.

Being physically spent is one of the main problems this team is having with not being able to make shots at the end of games. Another big to fill the role described above would greatly help not only our interior defense...but allow the perimeter players to be fresher at the end of games.

[chazley]

I can understand the OP's reasoning. It's not the first time I've read somebody mentioning the same thing.

But this team's lack of effective interior defense puts over emphasis on our perimeter defense. Another tall athletic big next to Duncan would help solve a lot of the main issues this team is having on D.

It requires somebody mobile, agile and quick with height to play efficient weak side D on this team.

Out of our bigs...there's not one that fits the description above. The last person on this team to do that was Horry.

With the height in the post the perimeter defenders would not have to work so hard in one on one defense plus have better opportunity in fast break situations and fresher legs at the end of games.

Being physically spent is one of the main problems this team is having with not being able to make shots at the end of games. Another big to fill the role described above would greatly help not only our interior defense...but allow the perimeter players to be fresher at the end of games.

Finally someone who has something good to say... I agree that this team would be improved having another defensive-minded big play next to Timmy, but I feel we already have two guys on our roster that can do it in Mahinmi and Theo. The fact is an Horry-type big is what we need exactly, who can space the floor on offense yet play interior defense on the other end. The issue is, there aren't any Robert Horry-types available; the closest thing is Troy Murphy. I strongly feel that Camby and Haywood are not good fits in our system. I also feel that the biggest piece we're missing, still, is a great perimeter defender. Mahinmi needs to be playing 25+ minutes a night, cause he's the closest thing we've got to an athletic, tall defensive minded center. There's no one on our roster though that comes close to a Bowen that we so desperately need.

[austinlakepirate]

I can understand the OP's reasoning. It's not the first time I've read somebody mentioning the same thing.

But this team's lack of effective interior defense puts over emphasis on our perimeter defense. Another tall athletic big next to Duncan would help solve a lot of the main issues this team is having on D.

It requires somebody mobile, agile and quick with height to play efficient weak side D on this team.

Out of our bigs...there's not one that fits the description above. The last person on this team to do that was Horry.

With the height in the post the perimeter defenders would not have to work so hard in one on one defense plus have better opportunity in fast break situations and fresher legs at the end of games.

Being physically spent is one of the main problems this team is having with not being able to make shots at the end of games. Another big to fill the role described above would greatly help not only our interior defense...but allow the perimeter players to be fresher at the end of games.

I agree completely spurs need to go big!

[Cherry]

What we REALLY need is trust in our team till the end...





















...and go big.

[Rogue]

The Spurs have retained almost the same components from their championship run in 07 except several years older, while the only discrepancy is just a defensive winger that played a pivotal role on the champion squad.

[all_heart]

who are we kidding? We need both a defensive minded big and swingman. Our D has gone down a few notches since Horry and Bowen retired. Which do we need more? You could argue one or another and be right. IMO a defensive big will help a slowing Duncan protect the paint and cause more perimeter shots, in which this fictional player could help rebound along with TD and DB. It would also cause for the other opposing team to pass the ball more and allow Hill and Manu to poke it away. If our core players could play to their potential, specifically Manu and RJ, we'd be fine offensively.

I also believe Pop's strategy of matching up isn't really working anymore. Spurs no longer impose their will on the other team, they allow them to run whatever they want. I don't think Bonner is the answer to anything, we can't rely on him to keep us in the game with 3's. He's not tough enough or clutch enough. And over the team has been horribly inconsistent this year. I thought with Bonner gone we had made a little progress...

[TJastal]

who are we kidding? We need both a defensive minded big and swingman. Our D has gone down a few notches since Horry and Bowen retired. Which do we need more? You could argue one or another and be right. IMO a defensive big will help a slowing Duncan protect the paint and cause more perimeter shots, in which this fictional player could help rebound along with TD and DB. It would also cause for the other opposing team to pass the ball more and allow Hill and Manu to poke it away. If our core players could play to their potential, specifically Manu and RJ, we'd be fine offensively.

I also believe Pop's strategy of matching up isn't really working anymore. Spurs no longer impose their will on the other team, they allow them to run whatever they want. I don't think Bonner is the answer to anything, we can't rely on him to keep us in the game with 3's. He's not tough enough or clutch enough. And over the team has been horribly inconsistent this year. I thought with Bonner gone we had made a little progress...

Hairston and Ian could have filled these deficiencies had they been allowed PT to develop their games. Instead Pop went with old fossil, unclutch choker, and a journeyman (Fin/Bonner/Bogans respectively). All of whom add no athleticism, something the team is lacking.

If I had to venture a guess, if Hairston and Ian had been plugged into the rotation from the start they would be starting to develop nicely right now just in time for the RRT. And the spurs record wouldn't be much worse, if at all. Both would be providing much needed athleticism, and Hairston would be a great energy guy off the bench on both sides of the ball. 8ppg average ppg for Malik in 16 mins a game.

[ohmwrecker]

I think the original poster is right on the money. If our bigs were either playing to their potential (McDyess) or playing more minutes (Blair, Mahinmi and Ratliff) or could play defense or rebound (Bonner), we would be good to go. Big IF.
We do need a lockdown defender on the wing.
I think the conventional wisdom when we went from Bowen to Jefferson was that we would be sacrificing a little defense for mega-offense. Well, that hasn't really worked out for us so far.
The Spurs problems aren't going to be solved by slotting in another player in either position. It may help, but the potential of the current roster (or what remains after any potential trade) is going to have the biggest effect on what may or may not be a salvageable season.

[all_heart]

Hairston and Ian could have filled these deficiencies had they been allowed PT to develop their games. Instead Pop went with old fossil, unclutch choker, and a journeyman (Fin/Bonner/Bogans respectively). All of whom add no athleticism, something the team is lacking.

If I had to venture a guess, if Hairston and Ian had been plugged into the rotation from the start they would be starting to develop nicely right now just in time for the RRT. And the spurs record wouldn't be much worse, if at all. Both would be providing much needed athleticism, and Hairston would be a great energy guy off the bench on both sides of the ball. 8ppg average ppg for Malik in 16 mins a game.

I agree with that, it's not like 'the plan" has been working so great so far. The Spurs wanted to capitalize on the all home games we had early in the season, so Pop didn't want to risk playing Hairston and Ian. So who knows where we go from here. I sure hope RJ steps up, he's going to get the majority of the blame if the Spurs don't do well in the playoffs. One of the commentors for NBA coast to coast last night mentioned that Vince Carter has not been the go to guy during crunch time, he's just been camping out in the wing. Sure sounds familiar huh?

[rascal]

If you read my previous post, I explained why Camby/Haywood playing next to Duncan is nothing like the twin towers of the late 90s/early 00s. Bynum and Gasol DO have trouble spacing the floor, it's why they don't finish games together, when the best team is on the floor. We won a le with a stretch four/five our last two championships, when Horry finished games for us. We have been very successful playing with a stretch big instead of 2 7-footers since 2003, but the first time we have a rough stretch of games everyone wants to punch the panic button. Dice will fill the Horry roll, except shoot a much higher percentage. As I said though, this team desperately needs to upgrade their perimeter defense, and if we don't do so we aren't winning a championship this year. Bottom line. Our current bigs can get the job done.

you can't win with the formula that won in the past. The lakers are just too big now and pose matchup problems for the spurs.

The spurs need a defensive big to clog up the lane and limit the easy baskets the spurs are giving up in the paint.


This laker team is better than anything the spurs have seen in their championship years.

[all_heart]

you can't win with the formula that won in the past. The lakers are just too big now and pose matchup problems for the spurs.

The spurs need a defensive big to clog up the lane and limit the easy baskets the spurs are giving up in the paint.


This laker team is better than anything the spurs have seen in their championship years.

Seems you guys are talking about 2 different formulas, namely offensive and defensive. Having a big that can stretch the floor works if he's knocking down his jumpers, on the other hand this same guy needs to be able to defend the paint. That's why I'm not a big fan of Bonner playing significant minutes. If Dyess is continuing to improve, then maybe we'll be ok. I've just about given up on the Spurs finding a big that has a low post game. Available players like that are rare.

[portnoy1]

Seems you guys are talking about 2 different formulas, namely offensive and defensive. Having a big that can stretch the floor works if he's knocking down his jumpers, on the other hand this same guy needs to be able to defend the paint. That's why I'm not a big fan of Bonner playing significant minutes. If Dyess is continuing to improve, then maybe we'll be ok. I've just about given up on the Spurs finding a big that has a low post game. Available players like that are rare.

The spurs dont need a guy to stretch the floor. Remember how well the spurs did in 05' with Nazr or in 07' and 08' with Oberto. The 3 pt shooting needs to stop. If the spurs take 15 3's a night I am happy with that. When they start shooting 20-25 3's I get worried. The game is won on the inside first and the outside is an added weapon. And defense is the of main importance right now. Nazr clogged up the paint, grabbed boards and blocked shots and he also did SOME things on the offensive side, but that wasnt important. Oberto Got boards, made solid passes and found his spots to be effective on the offense. So this 3 pt shooting big nonsense is overrated. Sure Horry could hit 3's, but it was the other stuff that made him a huge player on the spurs. Him hitting clutch 3's was a bonus and was more related to him being a clutch player than a 3pt shooter.

[intlspurshk]

What SPURS really need? Simple, cash so that SPURS can take all bad contracts and go over the cap

[portnoy1]

What SPURS really need? Simple, cash so that SPURS can take all bad contracts and go over the cap

Bad Contracts, GOT RJ?????? he is bad enough and one of the worst moves I have seen the spurs FO made.

[objective]

If the Spurs want a big, maybe Kurt Thomas gets bought out and the Spurs can bring him back.

[portnoy1]

If the Spurs want a big, maybe Kurt Thomas gets bought out and the Spurs can bring him back.

Good Lord, NO MORE GEEZERS. The Spurs are in the boat there in cause Pop Loves veterans and plays small ball. The next thing I want is young athletic wing and athletic big. Funny thing is that we already have that ( Mahinmi / Hairston).