...at repeating as NBA Champions.
As news pours out of The Land of Milk and Silicone that Gary Payton could be going to a land famous for another glove (OJ's Bloody One) and the Mailman is ready to deliver in purple and gold; the Spurs are presented with the opportunity to sign one of the best players in the NBA. But will it be enough to defend their crown?
Not likely.
There is little arguing with the school of thought says when you have the chance to get a great player- get him. One way or another, Jason Kidd will make the Spurs team better, if not different. But that improvement pales in comparison at the thought of the former 3-Time Champ's moves to add a great point guard themselves, as well as one of the most consistently potent scorers in NBA history to what already amounts to the best duo in the league- Kobe and Shaq.
So how does the new, upbeat, Kidd-infused Spurs team compete against the retooled (in the same way you retool a rusty, beat-up 1967 Mustang into a classic hot rod with a flamed candy apple finish) Lakers?
At least on paper, the city of San Antono should enjoy their bragging rights over LA as much as they can over the next 10 to 11 months, because they are headed back to LA on an F-14 Tomcat.
Starting with the redesigned point guard match-up, the Spurs aquisition of Jason Kidd immediately comes under fire when he goes head up against Gary Payton
In their head to head meeting this playoff season when the Nets and the Bucks (two teams with far lesser supporting casts)- the matchup was fairly close to even.
Name....PPG....APG...RPG...SPG...BPG...FG%...3P%.. .TO...A/TO
Kidd.....18.8....9.2....6.8....1.7....0.3...46.1.. ..37.5...4.2....2.2
Payton..18.5...8.7....3.0.....1.3...0.2...42.9.... 06.7....2.2...4.0
Any supporter of Kidd would be quick to point out how his numbers would improve with the benefit of playing alongside Tim Duncan- but lest we forget how much Gary Payton would be playing alongside Shaq, Kobe, and the Mailman. Much like Kidd, Payton has never had the luxury of playing alongside a superstar- but that changes in LA, where Payton becomes a piece of perhaps the most offensively potent starting 5 in the league (Dallas notwithstanding).
Of course, part of the Kidd aquisition inherently includes the shifting of Tony Parker to the two guard, moving Stephen Jackson to the Small Forward position to share time with Bruce Bowen.
Here, Gregg Popovich has an interesting choice. Bruce Bowen is a must versus the Lakers, but his minutes would see a reduction to make room for Stephen Jackson. Be rest assured that any time Bruce Bowen is not in the game, Kobe Bryant has a far easier time scoring baskets. The offensive production from Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Stephen Jackson may improve from being the recipient of a Jason Kidd pass, but the Spurs exposure to Kobe Bryant’s offensive explosions is increased by the marginal decline in Bruce Bowen’s minutes, thus offsetting the offense created by Jason Kidd’s presence.
At the power forward position, Tim Duncan still has the clear-cut advantage on both ends of the floor against Karl Malone. The Mailman's production versus San Antonio this season was non existent- averaging just over 14 points a game. We can most likely expect similar production as the Mailman's efficiency increases playing with Shaq, Kobe, and Payton, but his touches will be limited. LA will most likely be forced to employ their double teaming strategy vs. Tim Duncan again, as Karl Malone is no longer a viable post defender against the top 4/5s in the league.
For the first time in year we are going to be faced with the most undesirable situation in the league... having no answer for Shaquille O'Neal. Talk has centered around Alonzo Mourning replacing David Robinson at center, but even that is a question mark at best given Mourning's health. Even if healthy, Mourning along with Malik Rose will have their hands full attempting to hold Shaq to 40 points, something Spurs fans have not been forced to endure in the past.
So, given the gloomy prospects ahead of them, what can the Spurs do?
The answer(s) is simpler than you may think.
Choose one of the following:
A.        Jermaine O’Neal
B.        Elton Brand
C.        Choice A
D.        Choice B
Tony Parker has already shown he can match up with Gary Payton in the playoffs as well as Jason Kidd can, and Bruce Bowen’s minutes will not be reduced as they would with Jason Kidd in the line up. The key, of course, is the interior presence provided by either O’Neal or Brand. Both O’Neal and Brand are in the top 10 in blocks per game, as well as rebounds. With either, the Spurs would need to use a combination of Brand/O’Neal and Duncan throughout the game- but guarding Shaq becomes no less daunting than it was with David Robinson.
In the end, Jason Kidd will make the Spurs better, one way or another. But he won’t make the Spurs champions.
Hope for Jermaine or Elton, Spurs Fans.
I skimmed/read most of your post because I'm a tad busy at the moment, but what i read was generally spot on.
Alot of people think Malone and Payton on LA will do nothing, but that makes them very very tough.
Jermaine and another player, or Elton and another player, or Kidd and Mourning will be the Spurs only hope in my opinion.
Shawn Kemp was very good for a while there. Very good.Much like Kidd, Payton has never had the luxury of playing alongside a superstar
IMO, Kemp was not significantly better than Kenyon Martin, Jamaal Mashburn, or Shawn Marion, certainly not a star anyway.
Kemp's best season with the Sonics was 19.6 ppg to go with 11.4 rebounds.
Kenyon Martin didn't quite put that up, but he did put up 16.7 ppg and 8.3 rebounds.
In his best year paired with Kidd, Marion put up 17.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg (and it should be noted that Marion's productivity has increased without Kidd).
In Kidd's first two seasons with Dallas, Mashburn put up 24.1 and 23.4 ppg, respectively.
so basically if the Spurs go any other route besides O'neal or Brand...they are done for the season and its hopeless because LA is a lock to win the le next year?
Please.....Spurs Fans never change
Thanks for the insight Dizz. I'll keep holding out hope we can win a le through the magic of pixie dust.Please.....Spurs Fans never change
Dizz??? Where?
Even if the Spurs land O'Neal or Brand they would be facing a Laker team with two bigs...and Payton intead of a Derek Fisher. I don't think the Spurs win in that scenario either.
If we max out Kidd and get no starting big man, we're ed.so basically if the Spurs go any other route besides O'neal or Brand...they are done for the season and its hopeless because LA is a lock to win the le next year?
Please.....Spurs Fans never change
Period. End of story. We'd have zero depth on the front line, a cluster in the backcourt, a pissed off Tony Parker that would have to probably be traded, Manu's growth is stunted, the list goes on and on.
Let's be honest, we're in serious danger of ing ourselves right now, our biggest enemy is the Jason Kidd tunnel vision that apparently is perpetuating itself through the minds of Pop, RC, and Tim.
We can't afford to **** this up with the splash the Lakers are apparently going to make, but it's exactly where we're headed.
AHF
You're right, AHF. Courting Kidd is a serious waste of time unless we broker a sign-and-trade to bring in a starting center, too.
My only fear is that the Lakers manage to have a better offseason than us.
Right here!Dizz??? Where?
pub97.ezboard.com/fspursdominionfrm4.showMessage?topicID=156.topic :moon
Malone and Payton are Lakers... time to face the music for the Spurs.
@Tj's link.
Awesome post, scott. We are most definitely screwed if we get Kidd and the Lakers get Payton and Malone. We're partly screwed just by getting Kidd, for reasons previously discussed ad nauseum.
It's pretty ironic (and somewhat humorous) that the Lakers have been winning les and not trying to win the "how much cap space can you set aside for 2003?" game. While we seem to have that le in the bag, we are probably not going to be the big winners this summer. The Lakers are, and we're left wondering what we can do to stay even.
This was supposed to be our summer to get ahead and build the dynasty that the homers promised us two years ago when the Fantasy Summer of 2003 plan was officially unveiled. Now, we must add Jermaine O'Neal (which seems highly unlikely given the news out of Indiana today) or somehow hope that Sterling will not match a max offer made to Elton Brand. That is, of course, assuming we're not too starstruck by the mere mention of Kidd's name to make Brand an offer.
Barring a serious turn of events by CIA Pop, we're looking at Kidd or nothing. We no longer have the plethora of options that we were assured that we would have this summer. Our future is being dictated for us, which is exactly what dominant teams don't allow to happen. Again, trades allow you to be in control, and free agency doesn't. This can be salvaged, but the HOYA stock is definitely on the decline according to after-hours trading.
Shut up Admiral your post is ridiculous.
Actually, the addition would be Kidd & PJ Brown. If you think that is awful you need to go watch a Hagee TV special.
Anyways, please stop complaining just to be complaining. I've yet to hear one coherent alternative plan for life after David Robinson. You show up and you drop 5 full paragraphs of nothing on us like you know something. Yet they are only full of useless whines and nothing substantive. What exactly should the Spurs have done differently? Damn, they have DRob retiring and you would want them to be capped out with DA and Lamond Murray right now? The Spurs have the chance to add a variety of talent to this team now that DRob's retired and that's a bad thing?
You're worse than Ghost.
No, saving all of our cap room for this summer to try to build a dream team roster is what's ridiculous.Shut up Admiral your post is ridiculous. -Archie
Archie assured us that superstars would flock to San Antonio's warm climate to get to play with Tim Duncan. I hope you are actually CIA Archie and know something we don't, because things aren't looking good from the civilian point of view.
Have you considered the fact that Kidd is likely to stay in New Jersey? Then we might have to give a max deal to your boy Olowokandi.
What I assured you is that the Spurs would have the flexibility to shape their roster around TD once DRob retired. All you've done is like a little girl.
Hagee TV Special?Actually, the addition would be Kidd & PJ Brown. If you think that is awful you need to go watch a Hagee TV special. -Archie
Kidd is likely to stay in New Jersey. Even if he doesn't, and signs with us instead, is it worth losing Tony Parker for Kidd?
That was never the agenda. It was to give the Spurs the flexibility to add talent once DRob left. Would you prefer that the Lakers made those acquisitions and the Spurs had no flexibility at all during Duncan's prime? Get real.No, saving all of our cap room for this summer to try to build a dream team roster is what's ridiculous.
Unless flexibility can play center, it doesn't do us much good, now does it Mr. Bunker?What I assured you is that the Spurs would have the flexibility to shape their roster around TD once DRob retired. All you've done is like a little girl. -Archie
Kidd is likely to stay in New Jersey. Even if he doesn't, and signs with us instead, is it worth losing Tony Parker for Kidd?
The only way Parker is moved is if the Spurs get something worthwhile in return. The Spurs don't plan on shipping him out just to ship him out. He and Kidd would form a pretty damn good backcourt if you would take your blinders off and think for once.
If the Spurs were capped out now Spurs fans would be whining about that. Dammit have some ing patience.
Yeah, **** signing a great player we just absolutely have to get a center. So now you're saying that Chris Mihm should have been traded for? Get real.Unless flexibility can play center, it doesn't do us much good, now does it Mr. Bunker?
PJ Brown will fit in well on the frontline.
What's the difference? Saving your money to obtain one or maybe even two stars is the same thing as trying to achieve a dream team roster. People start to salivate over the idea of a team with guys like Duncan, Kidd, O'Neal, Marion, etc. The goal is to be very talented at two or three positions.That was never the agenda. It was to give the Spurs the flexibility to add talent once DRob left. Would you prefer that the Lakers made those acquisitions and the Spurs had no flexibility at all during Duncan's prime? Get real. -Archie
I'm glad we have flexibility, but so far that flexibility isn't doing much for us. It doesn't take regression analysis in your business statistics class to figure that out. You make it sound like it is either tons of cap space or a team filled with long-term max deals to players who don't deserve it. I think most of us here would prefer something in the middle - an area that you conveniently omit when trying to win an argument.
I also doubt that Kidd is likely to stay in NJ at the moment. Of course only in your warped mind would it be a bad thing for the Spurs to have a shot at Kidd and TD for the rest of their careers. Come on and whip out the old 'I want guarantees' drivel from Ghost.
What I'm saying, ultimately, is that things are never 100% perfect in this league. I don't know wtf you think this is. The Spurs can't force players to sign with them and they can't get rid of certain contracts (ie DA) immediately if they need to. The Spurs decided that DA was not worth keeping long term. Now you tell us that was wrong. What gives?
Damn. The Spurs just won a le and they have $16 mil in cap flexibility to shape this team for Duncan's prime. And now they have the flexibility to adjust to life with GP in LA. And you still complain.
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