In our limited view of things, Alonzo Gee and maybe James Anderson are possibilities for the backup 3 as swing 2/3ers, but they are undersized. Who else waits in the wings (see what I did there?)? Surely Pop isn't still thinking James Gist as a 3.
We are a very strong contender if we have a strong richard jefferson. I think a lot of fans have dropped their expectations for him and the position all together.. and that is why some of the fans don't expect us to really contend. But I think that changes and we see another threat on our team on both ends of the floor in Jefferson.
omg thats some funny right there. thanks guys. you made my day.: @ GHILL3 &cantthinkofanything..
If they're going the route it sounds like they're going with the backup three, I'm surprised we haven't heard of any camp invitees or partially guaranteed contracts at this late date.
If the Spurs can't get Hayes to agree to a guaranteed contract (presuming they were/are trying to sign him), then this is the way to go, letting it play itself out throughout camp/preseason.
I'd rather they do that than sign Simmons, Morrison, etc. just to have a more established name for the sake of it, while burying Gee. We saw how that worked out last season with Bogans.
Oh and just in case it wasn't already obvious, it's clear that Jefferson is going to be the stopper in tandem with Hill. As mediocre a defender as he is, it makes sense. He's the only wing with the size and the strength (if not the lateral quickness) to guard the bigger wings and it's not like he's going to have major offensive responsibilities, so he can afford to expend the energy required to make guarding top opposition wings his primary focus. Also, he's going to be a 30+ mpg player, a starter and a sometimes finisher. Based on how this roster is constructed, Jefferson has to be that guy.
Hopefully, he's lost some weight. Having re-watched some old '03 Finals games recently, he was lighter back in those days and as such, quicker. At 30, he's never going to be as quick as he was at 21 and 22, but at the same time, he could probably be a little quicker than he's been in recent seasons, if he was/has committed to getting in better shape.
Well, they are allowed to play more physical, so in that regard yes.
I see what you did there.....
Gee and Anderson are really the only possibilities. Aside from filling the backup 3 with youngsters, as it seems Pop wants to do if at all possible, there are a few more options available to them:
Backup plan #1: Give Manu all the backup 3 minutes, such that he plays almost as many minutes at the 3 as he does at the 2. This becomes a lot easier if Gary Neal can give them some depth at the 2, or if Temple can give them some depth at PG, allowing Hill to spend even more time at the 2. Major problem with this plan: fewer minutes available to have Manu on the court with RJ.
Backup plan #2: Piecemeal rotations together for the first couple months of the season, hoping that someone starts lighting up the D-League at the SF position, and is worth picking up.
Backup plan #3: Sign a Bogans-type veteran, forcing you to go over the luxury tax (pending trades). Not likely to be a major impact player, but might be able to fill 15 minutes without the team falling apart. Grin and bear it.
Backup plan #4: See who becomes available on the trade market. Unfortunately, this likely means a major sacrifice, such as Antonio McDyess.
Extreme backup plan #5: "Go big," by playing a lineup of Bonner/Splitter/Duncan. Bonner plays offense at the 3 point line as usual, and hope Splitter's mobility is enough to keep up with slower SFs. Not likely to be a satisfactory solution for long periods of time and/or against many teams in the league.
That was some memo he sent to Anderson with the whole 'his defense will dictate the minutes he earns on the floor'....
When does training camp start again?
A lot of the stories I've seen recently have said September 27th, but I'm pretty sure the 27th is media day, with the actual on-the-court part of training camp starting September 28th.
Thanks! Damn that's only less than two weeks away. I cant wait to see Tiago in a Spurs uni on media day.
Thanks to the OP as always -- just wanted to suggest maybe rolling off the higher frequencies on the audio so you can diminish the sound of Pop smacking his lips (which he apparently does a lot of
I'm convinced that Spurs will have an additional quality SF in training camp to battle with Gee and Anderson for that backup SF spot.
If Temple and/or Neal pans out, we should also see a lot of Ginobili at the SF spot.
And I don't even want to think at Spurs playing some smallball with their current roster. For example, Pop went systematically small against OKC to counter Jeff Green at the PF spot. Unless Gee turns out great, I don't see how Spurs can do that with their current roster.
Do you really believe an addition via free agency (at this point in time) will be good enough to crack the rotation and help the Spurs' small-ball aspirations?
I think not. (imo)
Any addition via free agency from here on out will more than likely see mop-up duty at best or will be sitting behind the bench cheering on his teammates.
If Thunder go small with Jeff Green at the PF position, Spurs will most likely counter with Jefferson at the PF position ( even if he whined about it last year; that will be the Spurs best bet with or without any assumed bottom of the barrel addition at the 3 spot via Free Agency ).
RJ can always depend on ohmwrecker to rescue him.
I don't think nor say that.
Spurs will announce their training camp invite in the next 10 days. As every year, all these training camp players won't be only practice players. Some of them will have some upside and a shot at making the roster.
Aside of RJ, only Alonzo Gee has decent size/bulk to play SF. I don't know if you have watched the summer league but Gee has been widely inconsistent and nowhere near the level to be a lock at making the team this year. I think Spurs will bring some decent alternatives at Gee for the trainign camp and let them fight for a roster spot.
I agree with the bold and I'm aware that Gee isn't a lock for the rotation or the active roster.
But in the grand scheme of things; when it matters, I personally believe James Anderson ( just as much size and bulk as Gee) and Manu Ginobili are more than capable splitting the time and minutes behind R.J at the 3 spot (which should be around 13-18 minutes total;especially with Hill seeing some time at the two spot.) And I believe that is what will happen, unless a trade unfolds close to the trade deadline.
All in all, any addition from here on out via free agency is more than a long shot to outplay and earn the back up SF minutes over Anderson and Manu.
They kept some level of fitness without BANGING EACH OTHER !
Anybody else caught this insider by Pop?
I miss some of the physical play that the NBA use to have. I wish they would let them play more inside the paint. Guards fly into big men or flop and always get the call. Back in the day it was "Don't bring that in here" and the refs agreed. Only the fearless would attack the glass. The desire to add more scoring has weakened the overall aspect of the game in the NBA.
IMO it prevented from NBA being too brutal
defense toughened up and that brought more physical play and it got nasty in a bad meaning of this word
1998 and 1999 were awful
RJ can always depend on ohmwrecker to rescue him.
Did I not reference the Adrian Wojnarowski report that Pop was personally working out RJ months ago? Was I told by several ST posters that the report was not true in effort to discredit me? Have I not clearly stated that I believe RJ would re-commit himself and work hard to become a more solid contributor to the Spurs?
He is obviously putting in the effort. Hopefully, it will pay off in a positive way. I'm not a big RJ fan, but I will defend him like I would any other Spur who I believe wants to do everything they can to help the team win. I feel like Pop echoed these sentiments. I'm certainly not the first to claim sympatico with Pop or a sports writer when they affirm something I said . . . I'm looking at you and DPG, in case you didn't get that.
C'mon guys, ohmwrecker's right.
We have to admire Jefferson's re-dedication and hard work this summer improving his game. He rode that inflatable banana like a true professional and I'm sure him and Luke got really sweaty in their grinding workouts.
We need rj to perform like he did with the bucks. We deperately need him to shoot a very high percentage from three point line. If he does that then we will be very strong contenders.
True this. For all his gayness, RJ is still a top level NBA talent. Not elite but still not far removed from his prime. He won't be any worse than last year and with one year in the system, should actually be much better.
so we signed fab oberto wtf....
lol
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