Hollinger: Jefferson trade puts Spurs in le hunt

[boutons_deux]

Tony is hobbled, Manu's scoring is way down (but you have to love his effort), Tim is playing well but has insufficient help (how does it feel to be KG in Minny?), Pop is an old dog that can't learn new tricks.

Spurs gonna miss the playoffs.

[BacktoBasics]

I do think has underachieved but I put more of his lack of success on Pop than I do Jefferson. Pop constantly tries to make players something they're not rather than finding a productive way to exploit their strengths.

[purist]

I do think has underachieved but I put more of his lack of success on Pop than I do Jefferson. Pop constantly tries to make players something they're not rather than finding a productive way to exploit their strengths.

One Tim Duncan might disagree.

If Pop is guilty of anything over his career, it is placating the best power forward ever to pay the game. Maybe, just maybe, Pop has tried to mold and meld players' games to complement that of the cornerstone to this team, Duncan. Maybe he is guilty of doing this to a fault, but if he is, can you really blame him? Four les say you can't.

[gospursgojas]

If the Spurs miss the playoffs they better draft DeMarcus Cousins.

That guys a fat d-bag...and not a pop guy

[SpurNation]

So was thought.

[oligarchy]

We can go back to before the season, but I told Spurs fans to wait for this team to get it together. I seriously said expect this team to be .500 through 20 games. We're through 50 and it just doesn't seem to be getting better.

LOL. Was it before or after this post? Did your 'inside' information miss something?

Who understand how much better the Spurs have gotten in the past month. We have upgraded at nearly every spot that needed an upgrade. We are going from Bowen to Jefferson, Thomas to Blair and Oberto to McDyess.

When most people look at last year's Spurs team they see a few things, a team that was hurt, a team that was eliminated in the first round and a lot of old guys.

Health is always a wild card. Look at last year's Jazz, Wizards and Warriors. Teams that dropped mostly because of being injured (thank goodness the Warriors didn't do as well as us or the Jazz so we could have that 37th pick).

Health aside, we have gotten younger. No more unathletic pass their prime Vaughn, Udoka, Thomas, Oberto, and Bowen, but now we have players who can bring some athletic ability and only get better as opposed to decrease in playing time and all around ability. And now the Spurs bring in hungry to win players such as McDyess, Jefferson and Haislip to go along with possibly the youngest group we have had in Blair, McClinton, (maybe) Gist Hairston and Ian. Throw in Hill and Mason who are looking forward to their second season with the Spurs and the past two offseasons combined have brought in some good players with out the Spurs giving up any of their big 3.

I only bring this up because I see people like Hollinger and that other idiot who couldn't spell Ginobili saying the Spurs have not gotten better than the Mavs or the Lakers, and even Skip Bayless is hardly talking about us. This morning he said the Celtics and the Lakers were most improved teams in the NBA. But us as fans who watch over 90 games a year picking at every little detail knows just how much of an upgrade we have made in just such little time.

[ohmwrecker]

I don't know. I could be wrong, but I think I am starting to see an at ude shift in RJ. He looked a lot more aggressive in Indiana and Timmy looks appreciatively more encouraging and supportive. It's not too late to see a return in this investment. If RJ has a late season/playoff renaissance, the Spurs might do a little damage moving forward. As long as the guys play hard and do their best to win every game from here on out, win or lose, I will be satisfied with the season.

[Spursmania]

RJ having a late resurgence is the best we can hope for. Afterall, he was once gifted and talented capable of putting up big numbers.

God knows what the happened.

[Allanon]

This does not even come close to locking a le. Spurs need another piece without question. This move does not do anything to make other teams nervous. If it leads to another move, then yes.

But as of now, it means nothing.

Well played, DPG.

You're right for a change.

[wildbill2u]

My best friend who's been a Spur fan with me through the good times and bad recently said, "Cheer up, things could be worse."

So I cheered up--and things got worse.

[Allanon]

My best friend who's been a Spur fan with me through the good times and bad recently said, "Cheer up, things could be worse."

So I cheered up--and things got worse.

That belongs in the Reader's Digest "anecdotes" section.

[SenorSpur]

It's unfortunate that the offseason acquisitions have blown up in Pop's face. Personally, I'm not even pissed at he and RC about that. Disappointed, but not pissed.

Given those failures, I'm more pissed off that them for not flipping those expiring contracts into some tangible, young players that could've raised the talent level on this team.

[DPG21920]

Well played, DPG.

You're right for a change.

Sons, please.

[ChumpDumper]

It's unfortunate that the offseason acquisitions have blown up in Pop's face. Personally, I'm not even pissed at he and RC about that. Disappointed, but not pissed.

Given those failures, I'm more pissed off that them for not flipping those expiring contracts into some tangible, young players that could've raised the talent level on this team.

I think the fiscal reality is Holt & co. want those expiring deals to expire.

[SenorSpur]

I think the fiscal reality is Holt & co. want those expiring deals to expire.

Looks like that new "bold" strategy lasted for one season or until obvious failiure - whichever came first.

[ChumpDumper]

all you want. The bottom line is it's about the bottom line.

[baseline bum]

Given those failures, I'm more pissed off that them for not flipping those expiring contracts into some tangible, young players that could've raised the talent level on this team.

It doesn't make any sense to be pissed about that. Holt stepped up the plate bigtime this summer, allowing RC to go more than $21 million over the cap to get Jefferson and sign McDyess and Blair. The Spurs payroll this season is only $6M lower than New York's! It sucks that it hasn't worked out at all, but no Spurs fan can ever make the cheapness argument this season; especially with attendance down from last year (the Spurs are averaging 366 less fans a night despite having more give-aways and discounts than I can remember last season).

[DPG21920]

When is RJ going to have that "break out" game? He showed some nice improvement on the glass tonight, but he has no confidence in his shot or on offense in general.

Will it ever click? Even for just a short spurt?

[dbestpro]

When is RJ going to have that "break out" game? He showed some nice improvement on the glass tonight, but he has no confidence in his shot or on offense in general.

Will it ever click? Even for just a short spurt?

What's the purpose of knocking RJ now? He was 1 point and t rebound from a double double and the Spurs won. Ain't this what we been sayin we want from him?

[ace3g]

it seemed like this game he stayed more in the paint and tried to post up more, maybe keeping there will atleast get him confidence going for rebounds and maybe turn him more into a back to the basket player instead of a jump shooter, which he isn't

[G-Dawgg]

RJ is a stud. His career numbers show that he's proved that he can play in this league. He is young and athletic and he could learn the spurs system with a bit of patience and coaching. That being said, Popovick needs to get a clue and realize he's got a he'll of a player here on his roster and needs to do his job and utilize RJ to his strengths and not make him play out of position at the 4 all the time and make him play a game that is totally not his style of play...