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

[Man In Black]

Agree with Irrr on this point. All everyone ever talked about when Stoudamire averaged over 35 ppgs was that he averaged over 35 ppgs. The talking heads always begrudgingly say that despite that scoring outburst, the Spurs won that particular series 4-1.

[mountainballer]

The defensive stopper is more a question of who should be Spurs' 4th SG/SF. Manu, Mason and RJ should play most of the minutes at SG/SF but what player should be added to this rotation?
Right now, this player is Finley. Finley is a way good enough player to be Spurs 4th SG/SF but I think that he doesn't complement well a Mason/Manu/RJ rotation. I rather see Spurs having a more defensive minded player as 4th SG/SF.

I think it should be the 3rd spot in the wing rotation. in the regular season it doesn't make much of a difference, but in the PO it does. in the PO the rotation will be shortened to a 3 player rotation (or let's call it 3 and 1/2), which means the 4th players minutes will be cut, while 1 and 2 play extended minutes and 3 stays the same. assuming that the "stopper" option will be more important in the PO (Bowen usually played the most minutes of all wings in the PO), it only makes sense if this player is the #3. Mason would pretty much get the Barry role and play about 12-15 MPG. (I can see him do fine in this role and there is still the question if this season he can manage to keep something left in the tank for the PO). RJ and Manu should provide a very good offensive production, especially in the PO. to compliment this, a defensive specialist at the 3rd wing spot (who plays about 25 MPG) looks like the best solution.

[Bruno]

RJ and Manu should provide a very good offensive production, especially in the PO. to compliment this, a defensive specialist at the 3rd wing spot (who plays about 25 MPG) looks like the best solution.

I agree that it would be nice to have a third wing who is a better defender than Mason.
Now, the third wing also need to be a very good 3 point shooter. Take aside Bonner, who I hope won't play a lot of minutes next year, Spurs' PG and PF/C aren't good 3 point shooters. So if you 3rd wing isn't a good 3 point shooter, Spurs will play heavy minutes with a lineup with only one good 3 point shooter and it won't work.

There are quite few players who are both very good shooters and defenders. I don't know if Spurs can realistically trade for one. If they can't, I think the best is to keep Mason as 3rd wing and to have a defensive specialist (Bowen or maybe Hairston) as 4th wing. The problem is that Finley is too good and too expensive to be a 5th wing, so Spurs should really try to move him somewhere.

[mountainballer]

I agree that it would be nice to have a third wing who is a better defender than Mason.
Now, the third wing also need to be a very good 3 point shooter. Take aside Bonner, who I hope won't play a lot of minutes next year, Spurs' PG and PF/C aren't good 3 point shooters. So if you 3rd wing isn't a good 3 point shooter, Spurs will play heavy minutes with a lineup with only one good 3 point shooter and it won't work.

There are quite few players who are both very good shooters and defenders. I don't know if Spurs can realistically trade for one. If they can't, I think the best is to keep Mason as 3rd wing and to have a defensive specialist (Bowen or maybe Hairston) as 4th wing. The problem is that Finley is too good and too expensive to be a 5th wing, so Spurs should really try to move him somewhere.

yeah, being a good 3pt shooter is at least as important for that job and I also can't see one on the market.
Raja Bell obviously fits the bill very well, but why should the Bobcats trade him and what could the Spurs offer. especially considering that the Bobcats are for sale and therefore will rather try to get rid of long term contracts like Diop. (and I doubt the Spurs swallow Diops contract to get Bell.) Bell for Fin plus Matt plus the 2011 1st rounder? well, maybe.

I often thought that DeShawn Stevenson will be on the market, considering the overloaded back court of the Wizards. he had a disaster year last season (also because of the injury) and I read about weight problems. but the Stevenson of 2007 and 2008 would come very close to what the Spurs need.

an under the radar signing could be Keith Bogans. as far as I know he didn't yet agree with a team and it seems unlikely that he re signs with the Bucks, especially after the got Delfino. Bogans looks like the typical LLE guy at this point, but maybe he would even sign for the vet. min.
I don't know if he is good enough, to provide what the Spurs would need from the 3rd man in the wing rotation though. but maybe something to think about.

[duhoh]

how about we let the season play out first?

scola was terrible for houston the first couple of games. then he figured it out.

[Blackjack]

I think it should be the 3rd spot in the wing rotation. in the regular season it doesn't make much of a difference, but in the PO it does. in the PO the rotation will be shortened to a 3 player rotation (or let's call it 3 and 1/2), which means the 4th players minutes will be cut, while 1 and 2 play extended minutes and 3 stays the same. assuming that the "stopper" option will be more important in the PO (Bowen usually played the most minutes of all wings in the PO), it only makes sense if this player is the #3. Mason would pretty much get the Barry role and play about 12-15 MPG. (I can see him do fine in this role and there is still the question if this season he can manage to keep something left in the tank for the PO). RJ and Manu should provide a very good offensive production, especially in the PO. to compliment this, a defensive specialist at the 3rd wing spot (who plays about 25 MPG) looks like the best solution.

I agree that it would be nice to have a third wing who is a better defender than Mason.
Now, the third wing also need to be a very good 3 point shooter. Take aside Bonner, who I hope won't play a lot of minutes next year, Spurs' PG and PF/C aren't good 3 point shooters. So if you 3rd wing isn't a good 3 point shooter, Spurs will play heavy minutes with a lineup with only one good 3 point shooter and it won't work.

There are quite few players who are both very good shooters and defenders. I don't know if Spurs can realistically trade for one. If they can't, I think the best is to keep Mason as 3rd wing and to have a defensive specialist (Bowen or maybe Hairston) as 4th wing. The problem is that Finley is too good and too expensive to be a 5th wing, so Spurs should really try to move him somewhere.

Agree on both counts.

The ideal situation, which mountainballer first stated, is to have the stopper be the third wing. Someone who can get significant enough minutes to do his job because he's capable of playing alongside both RJ and Manu.

Bruno's assertion that the stopper would need to be a 3-point threat, is something I wholeheartedly agree with. It would also be extremely beneficial that he be a defender in the mold of Bowen, laterally quick with a knack for ball-denial, to compliment the skills of RJ and allow Manu to guard the inferior offensive player.

Raja's reputation would seem a very good fit, I'm just not sure if he's still that same guy.

Bogans has definitely been on my radar as being a Spurs-type pick up but I'm not too enthuised with his size or 3-point prowess.

If the Spurs can find a stopper to be the third wing that possesses the attributes mentioned, pushing Mason or Finley into the Barry role, (I agree with Bruno that Fin is too good a 5th option and that him being moved would probably be the best option given this scenario, but Mason might be the only carrot capable of acquiring the aforementioned player) I'd definitely think the Spurs should go that route.

But, if the Spurs can't find someone to fit the bill needed to be a 3rd wing as a stopper, I'd prefer the Spurs go with what they've got until the trade deadline and reassess from there.

They'd be better off going with what they have if they're only going to fill a stopper role with an inferior player (someone that doesn't meet the requirements mentioned) or one that is only marginally better than anyone they have on the roster currently.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Well, we filled need number 1 with Keith Bogans, and now need number 2 with Cedric Jackson. I believe this team is now complete.

[Obstructed_View]

Well, we filled need number 1 with Keith Bogans, and now need number 2 with Cedric Jackson. I believe this team is now complete.

3. Interior defense.

[HarlemHeat37]

Well, so much for Hairston getting a chance or the Spurs using our expiring contracts for defensive help if we needed it..

[superbigtime]

...starting point guard.

[TDMVPDPOY]

a legit big to play next to duncan << hopefully its splitter

then a long 3....

backup on the bench = filler veterans

[ShoogarBear]

Well, we filled need number 1 with Keith Bogans, and now need number 2 with Cedric Jackson. I believe this team is now complete.

Not the post I expect from you.

[5in10]

An athletic/mobile bigman and a perimeter defender. Oh and a sf with balls.

[TDMVPDPOY]

one thing,

we need a fkn new coach...i dont give a if his gotten us 4 rings by coat riding duncan...but pop has loss his touch for the last 2 seasons already....

[Sean Cagney]

a legit big to play next to duncan << hopefully its splitter

then a long 3....

That long three........ James Gist! Did all forget about him? He can shoot too.

[5in10]

Paul George.