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hmm good read.
By Art Garcia: NBA.com
Sustainability isn't just a catch word among the environmental set. It's a purpose the league's most successful franchises subscribe to. Those who eschew prolonged stretches of mediocrity and just win.
For them the lottery isn't a reward. It's failure.
The Lakers and Celtics have won for the vast majority of the league's existence. The Jazz and Blazers enjoyed playoff runs lasting decades -- yes, decades -- and quickly rebounded after recent falls from grace. The Mavericks have emerged a postseason staple in the new millennium. The Suns have been relevant going on 30-plus years.
And then there are the Spurs.
The modern-day model of consistency, this no-nonsense outfit from deep in the heart of Texas stumbled upon a formula that sounds as simple as it is intuitive. Find good players. Develop those players. Try not to screw up. Keep your stars happy.
"The challenge in staying compe ive is not making mistakes," Gregg Popovich said, "is finding guys that fit the system."
Popovich has 20 years invested in San Antonio's system, the last 14 as head coach. The Spurs have captured four championships in that span -- only the Lakers (five) have more -- and own the league's longest active playoff streak at 13.
There's also evidence, albeit slight, that slippage is occurring. In each of the last four seasons, the Spurs have won fewer games than the season before. That's actually the longest such stretch in the franchise's 43-year history. While such a stat should be taken with a grain of salt, considering San Antonio has won a le during that span, a drop from 63 wins in 2005-06 to 50 last season can't be ignored.
So while it's foolish to suggest the Spurs are rebuilding, especially with the nucleus of the last three championship teams still intact, they are in process of replenishing around Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. This is an organization focused on maximizing the present while remaining cognizant of the future.
"We've used Utah as our example to try to make sure we do things in a way that's consistent and can maintain a certain level of play and a certain level of character," Popovich said. "They're the best at it."
Duncan has been the one hardwood constant during San Antonio's postseason run, and Popovich has always been the first to point out the Spurs' good fortune in building on such a foundation. But even the most transcendent of players don't win alone, as LeBron James reminded us again a couple of weeks back.
Flanked for Ginobili and Parker for the last three les, the cast around Duncan continues to evolve. It's a continual task for Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford to churn out willing and able complementary pieces, all in hopes of keeping that championship window ajar.
It's a delicate balance act for a franchise lacking South Beach sizzle and bound by the strictest budget parameters of any le-winning team during the luxury tax era. Despite those inherent challenges and traditionally drafting in the crapshoot that's the bottom of the first round and lower, the front office almost feels like it can't miss on incoming rookies, free agents and trades.
"If you get guys and find out this guy doesn't work and that guy doesn't work, then all of the sudden you've wasted money and you've wasted corporate knowledge and the best player's time," Popovich said. "Great players only have so much time in the league, and it goes more quickly than any of us think.
"It's a matter of really making sure you bring in guys that have both the character and the ability to accept a role that you plan for them. If you're just thinking that because someone is talented it's going to work, it usually doesn't."
That's been the thinking behind the veteran signings of Robert Horry, Brent Barry and Antonio McDyess over the years. Even the trade for Richard Jefferson last summer, which was panned throughout the season, was made for the right reasons. Popovich and Duncan had experience with RJ, who by all accounts was a model teammate and tried to fit in.
"When you're trying to manage money and make sure that you respect the franchise players on your team, it's a big responsibility to make sure we do our homework," Popovich said. "R.C.'s group starts that and runs that very, very well and then we all get together and try to make sure which ones will fit those roles and be part of that team. So far we've been fairly successful at it."
When it comes to cheap and vibrant talent, the last four drafts have been critical in San Antonio's quest to keep piling up victories and postseason shares. Starting in 2007, the Spurs have selected Tiago Splitter, George Hill, DeJuan Blair and James Anderson. That's a base of youth and athleticism for a team stuck with the stigma of old and slow since the last le in 2007.
Hill has Rondo-like upside, leading to rampant speculation this summer that Parker was on the block. Blair proved to valuable rotation piece along the frontline as rookie last season. Tiago finally brings his reputation as Europe's best over this season to take over at center. Anderson ideally provides swingman depth behind Ginobili and Jefferson.
At some point Duncan, 34, is going to hang it up. Ginobili, 33, isn't far behind. Parker is the baby of the group at 28, but, let's be honest, he's the best bet to finish his career outside of the Alamo City. Once the Three Amigos are gone, the Spurs as we know them will be, too.
But Popovich expects the Spurs to carry on past Duncan and Co. Just as the Lakers, Celtics and those other franchises that find a way.
"We want to bridge that gap," Popovich said. "A lot of teams have gone right into the toilet for five, eight, 10 years before they get back up. I don't think we're going to do that. Whether you're a championship-caliber team is another question, because as we look at championship-caliber teams, every one of them has got a player who's a franchise player. Not a max player."
Popovich expounds.
"There's a difference between a max player and a franchise player," he continued. "There aren't too many franchise players and a whole lot of max players. That's the deal. You can count the franchise players on one hand. Until you get one of those, it's not going to happen for you."
Time will tell if and when the Spurs fine another. Until then, they keep sustaining.
http://www.nba.com/2010/news/feature...s=iref:nbahpt1
hmm good read.
I think Tony will leave SA after Tim duncan retires bc he knows the value of a great big man is to a PG, he stated that many times over his career. So he will probably look for one.
Pop talking about the future here? I swear he said the second Tim hangs them up he is right behind? Was he joking? Did he say that or was I just thinking of something else?
Props, ace3g.
I see you.
I also don't expect the Spurs to go down the toilet. Even during the so called dark age of Spurs history of the late eighties, the Spurs only missed the playoffs twice."We want to bridge that gap," Popovich said. "A lot of teams have gone right into the toilet for five, eight, 10 years before they get back up. I don't think we're going to do that. Whether you're a championship-caliber team is another question, because as we look at championship-caliber teams, every one of them has got a player who's a franchise player. Not a max player."
Pop has always said it with tongue planted firmly in cheek. IE- his career is over if he doesn't have Duncan. It has never been more than pure speculation as to how much he actually means it. I'm not sure even he knows when he will retire, I'm sure some part of him likes the idea of hanging it up with Duncan, but he could always rebuild, it's a challenge that would cement his legacy.
Personally I'd like it if he ran for governor. He's got the fiscal responsibility down, but he'd never do it.
+1. The Spurs wont be a championship contender but for sure they can make some noise. A lineup of Splitter, Blair, Anderson, Hill, and a veteran Parker looks very promising for the future.
So as Pop says you can only win a ring with a franchise player, we don't have one now. So the question is how can we get a frachise player ?. Unless we have Robinson injury like 1996 season, we're certainly not doing it through the draft. That leaves us with trades or Free agency. With trades you have to give to get, so the only way to get a frachice player is find a disgrunted player like Paul and trade half your team away. Spurs simply don't do that. FA ? Will the Spurs ever have enough cap space to sign a player to the max and even if they did have cap. why would an LBJ come to SA over vibrant Miami. ... hmm ? It might take another 20 years before we start seeing rings again, makes you appreiciate how lucky we were with the 4.
Whether you're a championship-caliber team is another question, because as we look at championship-caliber teams, every one of them has got a player who's a franchise player. Not a max player."
Popovich expounds.
"There's a difference between a max player and a franchise player," he continued. "There aren't too many franchise players and a whole lot of max players. That's the deal. You can count the franchise players on one hand. Until you get one of those, it's not going to happen for you."
Time will tell if and when the Spurs fine another. Until then, they keep sustaining.
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The moment Pop retires, NBA teams are gonna call him days begging him to come out of retirement.
Story of the summer.
Great read
Pop might actually be talking about TP. Parker wants the MAX, and some team will probably give it to him.
But he is simply not a franchise player. And Pop is here saying he does not think you pay the max unless they are a franchise player. Therefore, TP will never get what he wants from the Spurs.
Perhaps the Spurs also recognize that TP does not want to use his last few prime years on a non-contending team? The Spurs window, if open still, will be closed after this year.
parker haters reading with parker hate glasses...amazing how those hater glasses will actually twist words to fit your existing hate...
One could also argue that the market dictates that you must pay a guy max money even if you don't think he's a franchise player. That could bode well for retaining Parker.
Detroit didn't have a franchise player when they beat the Lakers in 2006.
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i doubt he considers paul a franchise player i think he considers him a max player
Great read....
"But Popovich expects the Spurs to carry on past Duncan and Co. Just as the Lakers, Celtics and those other franchises that find a way."
Do you think that Pop is going to be the next Sloan? Hope so.
"time becoming a factor"???
time has been a factor since 2008
Chauncey Billups? Look what he has done in Denver. This guy is just an outstanding leader on the floor. Too bad he never received the recognition that JKidd, Nash, CP3, DWill and Parker have received the last several years.
Weird, isn't it?
That Pistons team is the one anomally. They had a good system with a bunch of good players but no franchise guy. In fairness though the Lakers imploded in the finals due to the mounting tension between Kobe and Shaq.
The original quote mentioned franchise players and max players. With that distinction in place, none of those players you mentioned is a franchise player in my opinion.
My point in mentioning Detroit is that there is always hope of putting together a team of good (and some great) players and still having a chance at winning a le. Granted, a small chance, but enough to be fired up about another season. Even without Duncan or a franchise player.
What a load of horse . They just re-upped a player to the tune of 40 million that doesn't fit."The challenge in staying compe ive is not making mistakes," Gregg Popovich said, "is finding guys that fit the system."
Don't worry Pop...all the fans will blame you for not adjusting when you spend yet another year trying to stick that square block through that round hole.
Problem is there are over 400 players in the NBA and maybe 5 that are franchise players....two of which are on the same team, in LeBron and Wade. I'd say Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant are also franchise players. You'd be hard pressed to find another one. Rose? Williams? Paul?...I dont think so, max players but not franchise players. Duncan and Kobe are on their last legs so they are out.
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