This is a good reminder of ...

[MmP]

Splitter is no Manu. Manu was unique he came with unique talent in 03. Rare talent with so much passion. You could see that from day one. I don't know if Splitter will solve all our problems. Not every player translate well into nba

Man it's true that we missed Bowen so much.

[MaNu4Tres]

And though I think he was pretty bad defensively all season, the Spurs should have it figured out now what type of players he CAN guard. im a starting PG... he averaged 0.8 assists in 34 mpg in the postseason. So next year, let him flourish in the SG role and have someone (Bowen?) work with him this summer on moving his feet defensively.

That will be harder than you think. I too noticed how bad he is at moving his feet on the defensive end and this worried me when he was drafted due to his agility measurement at the NBA Draft combine.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-...&pos=0&sort=13

If you look at his agility there you can see it was the worst out of any of the guards in the draft and was equivalent to most of the bigs.

Quick feet and quick agility/lateral movement is a necessary component in order to be a superior defensive player.

Sure players work on this throughout the summer by different plyometric workouts, dot exercises, and running through ladders but it's more of an attribute you either have or don't have once you are already in your athletic prime.

[J_Paco]

One other thing that needs to happen is that Blair needs to play strictly the 4. I really think making him play center hurt his confidence and ability to score inside. If he's playing more power forwards that will allow him to use his strength, quickness and bulk more effectively on offense. Hopefully, Blair also develops a mid-range jumper to make guys play him more honestly.

[EricB]

Do we have the LLE? For the LLE:
Tony Allen
Joe Smith
Hakim Warrick
Darko Milicic
Amundson

We can also resign Ian, or give a shot to some other kid from the D-league, if we're talking about the 4th or 5th big here. When Splitter, if he comes, has some jitters, which he will have, because it would be his first season, Pop will play Bonner if he has him. I just want him off the roster. He had 3 seasons to show what he's got, and he just doesn't have what it takes. Time to move on.

darko has said he's going to Europe. : lmao at the rest

[MmP]

Darko is staying in Min.

[ElNono]

darko has said he's going to Europe. : lmao at the rest

If you think averaging 3 rebounds in 20 mins off the bench is comical, then laugh away.
I think we can find somebody else that shows up more than 2 out of 10 playoffs games.

[MaNu4Tres]

BTW one of your best write-ups Timvp IMO. Nice work

[objective]

Darko is staying in Min.

That's the last I had heard as well, that he actually liked how he was treated there and changed his mind about returning to Europe.

[jjktkk]

I said this over and over---good to see the spurs beat the mavs---but I hated it when the spurs avoided the lakers--

I thought that we finally could matchup with the lakers---but that is how it goes---whenever you play that game of avoiding this team or that team---you never know what other team will surprise you...

but, yes I can see how this has really cleared a path for the lakers---and although I hope that the suns beat the lakers---what usually happens is that the suns wilt when they play the lakers

This Suns team doesn't seem the type that will wilt IMO. Yea the old Suns teams would wilt against the Lakers, but the old Suns teams use to wilt against the Spurs too.

[polandprzem]

I agree with ex. Manu's minutes caught up to him. When he can't drive past 95-year-old Grant Hill in a do or die fourth quarter, something is wrong. I blame the minutes.

How can you blame minutes?

He was unable to do this during hole series. What minutes got to do with fresh 1st q manu?

[MaNu4Tres]

I agree with ex. Manu's minutes caught up to him. When he can't drive past 95-year-old Grant Hill in a do or die fourth quarter, something is wrong. I blame the minutes.

Grant Hill just might be one of the best perimeter defender left in the playoffs. 95 years old or not the guy can still defend and hoop.

And Manu not being able to penetrate had more to do with the blitzes and hard hedges on the pick and rolls.

Phoenix's team defense on Parker and Manu's pick and roll was just as good as I've seen. Props to them.

I do think Manu, Tim and Dyess' minutes need to be managed even more cautiously next year. Hopefully that doesn't effect the team's playoff aspirations.

[spurs10]

The team had it's moments toward the end of the season. We even had some great stretches in the Suns series, they just weren't sustainable. Although a lot was said about us finally being healthy in the playoffs, Manu's nose and seemingly Tony's entire body were less than good in the end. Let's hope everybody gets some rest this summer and we pick up considerable stronger in the fall. Thanks timvp and the rest of you true Spurs fans for your insights, both seriously and not-so-seriously. It's been fun!

[polandprzem]

The problem with Manu is that he can try to find his rhythm through 3, 4 months. And he needs minutes to catch it. Then he have few weeks of great play and then he is worned out pretty quickly. That's the scenario if he won't get another injury.

To have any chance we need to sign Splitter no doubt. Also we would need few players that can hit a trey. In phoenix series it occurred that we had none. Hill was shut down and he was the only spot shooter there and of the corner.
Spurs were unable to move the ball. It's tough cause it always starts from Tim. Suns made spurs 'recover' bad passes.

Also - where was the drives to the lane? Actually every p&r was denied. Spurs were running off the clock no ball movement and they were forcing the action

So we need three point shooters and guys that can penetrate. If Manu can't do it effectively one Tony is not enough.

[milkyway21]

Beating the Mavs was almost impossible for us. If we win against the Suns in 7 games it will be hard for us to easily get past young teams Orlando and Cavs.

It amuses me to think that if the CAvs wins the East and then over the Lakers, Shaq might get his 5th ring ahead of Duncan this time. He was quoted last yr when he played for Phoenix he has to win his 5th bling first before Duncan wins his

[timtonymanu]

Great write-up timvp.

Very bipolar season to me. From the start of the regular season up until early April, the Spurs looked like first round exits. Then they started to play better with much more aggression and chemistry. I'm surprised they made it to the 2nd round but the sweep just ruined every surprise I had.

RJ is obviously a bad fit here. Pop tried to turn him into a spot up shooter but that wasnt his game. Still RJ is at fault for being so damn weak minded and scared. I want him out of here ASAP.

Hill and Blair were great this year and hopefully Pop will play more of the young guys next season. Hairston should have enough experience to get rotation minutes. Splitter has to come over.

And let's go get 5 next year because I truly feel that that is the last year we have a chance.

[crc21209]

Truer words have never been spoken timvp...GREAT take. It's times like these that make you cherish just how much everything must go RIGHT to be in the position to win a championship (let alone 4 in 9 years), which seems even more amazing now.

[NFGIII]

Has Manu returned to S om or did he simply prove that he can provide periods of spectacular play but then his legs catch up to him? I'm not sure, but hopefully next year will prove you right.

I think his legs are good but his minutes have to be monitored. And during the game they flashed the stats showing Manu's production through the 9 post season games and split them between the first two - pre broken nose - and the last 7 - post broken nose.

Night and day. Two completelty different players. I think the nose had more impact on him than he was willing to admit. And I really don't think Manu would have admitted anything. He is too much of a compe or to make excuses about his performances. And I will give the Suns some of the credit, too. Not much but some.

I still wished they had played the Lakers in the first round. That was the best opportunity for them to get knocked off. Now, I can't see anyone in the West beating them.

I as well as others wanted that to happen, too. I felt it would have been the best road for the Spurs. Beat the Lakers and take on the Jazz/Nuggets. WCF for sure, especially if the Nuggets were to win. We had their number late in the season and they were in the process of imploding. IMHO Though the Jazz owned the Spurs in the regular season I felt that the Spurs entering the PO were a different team and not the one beaten by the Jazz earlier. And AK47 was out.

Agreed again the bonner hate overshadows what's available. Players like the people want are not available. Splitter is the best big man the spurs can hope to get this offseason. Outside of that the best available is guys like bonner...

Slim pickins' out there for sure. Pretty sad commentary about the quality on the market now. That is what the Spurs are able to acquire.

Unless the Spurs acn unload that albatross of a contract in RJ the window just might be shutting. Bad fit but who really knew? Maybe some might say they did but the consensus was that this was a great trade for the Spurs.

I tend to agree with Kori that RJ just didn't but into the black and silver philosophy.

[Slippy]

In my humble opinion, the series was lost in Game 1 after the Spurs couldn't sustain their numerous runs and instead handed the contest to the Suns. That allowed Phoenix to get confidence and proceed to live up to their explosive potential.

Couldn't agree more here. Nice thread , thanks for all your reactions.

[rascal]

Spurs thought the team was better constructed than it was and that off-season made no real moves to improve the team. Instead they re-signed Bonner and traded Scola away. They also traded Beno for nothing.

Agree
Lots of bad moves by the front office since the last le.

[NameOfTheGame]

Getting number five is going to be difficult. Chances are it won't happen. The Big 3 probably has too many miles on their tires. The young players probably won't be able to develop quickly enough. But I have hope. I like the team's character. I believe that winning is everyone's main goal. With a few offseason moves and better luck next year at this time, things could be much different ... for the fifth time.

Thanks to the Spurs and Spurs fans for another entertaining season. Stay thirsty.

Stay thirsty, my friends.

[Kamnik]

Beautifully summed up timvp!

[gilmor]

TiMVP is the best!!

I think Spurs another star player. One that is of the same caliber with the Big 3 and probably 3 more role players.

Having Hill, Blair and Dice will be a plus; but with no doubt, they need another one same rank as the Big 3 to compete with... the Lakers.

[Riverwalkman]

Good, next season there are still Duncan and Spurs. That's a really good thing.

[Spurs Brazil]

A lot of great stuff in this thread.

For me 3 big things.

1 - A heathy TP, that mean no summer play. If the 2009 TP is back we'll be great
2 - Trade Jefferson. The guy doesn't fit and I think he is problem in the locker room
3 - Sign Tiago

[G-Nob]

In the post game interview, Pop mentioned disappointment in the season. When asked to clarify, he said, "that is just our personal business."

Was he talking about RJ?