The End of a Great Era

[4>0rings]

Slowly disappearing into the hole that is losing to an 8th seed is not the end ot a graet era.

everything

[lowdown]

I just finished watching the game and this is exactly what I'm now thinking. I hope they can come back but this game was embarrassing. It's funny. I hated how the Gervin years were always predictable. The Spurs would lose to better teams - the one year they maybe could have won was the Washington Bullets championship - but these last few years have been tough. Injuries & bad coaching decisions have pissed me off. What's stupid is that this is the first round, the Spurs are the #1 seed and they are being outplayed & OUTCOACHED. But you know what? No one can take the 4 - yes Phil Jackson, 4 - championships away. I just hope they can achieve another one at some point in the future.

[ecksrobecks]

the spurs had the best record in the nba. so they finally choked in the playoffs. doesn't mean you blow up a team that finished with the best record

[NewcastleKEG]

the spurs had the best record in the nba. so they finally choked in the playoffs. doesn't mean you blow up a team that finished with the best record

This team has been on a steady decline since the le 4 years ago

Realistically the end of the era was after getting swept by the Suns last year and returning this season with essentially the same team. While it seemed during the season that Duncan was saving himself, really he's out of gas

IF Grizz make a run to the WCF then maybe you can sugar coat it another way

[peskypesky]

the spurs had the best record in the nba. so they finally choked in the playoffs. doesn't mean you blow up a team that finished with the best record

Spurs didn't choke. They got exposed as frauds.

[PublicOption]

If the Spurs losing game 5, I hope the fans give TD a great big standing "o".

It would be great to be there for that.

[baseline bum]

The era has been far greater than anything I could have hoped for when the Spurs won the 97 lottery.



It looks like it's coming time to put that in the past though.

[FkLA]

it had to end some day

[ynh]

God damn you guys over react. Yeah gut it up.. trust me it's the best thing to do.. we gutted a team that was going to confrence final after confrence final and look how great it worked for us! Back to back number 7 picks baby!

[baseline bum]

God damn you guys over react. Yeah gut it up.. trust me it's the best thing to do.. we gutted a team that was going to confrence final after confrence final and look how great it worked for us! Back to back number 7 picks baby!

Detroit traded Billups for capspace; I would be mad as if Ginobili ends up getting moved for the same.

[FkLA]

I will turn my back on the Spurs if Manu and Tim dont retire in silver and black.

[Fpoonsie]

[shrug]

[024]

honestly, i expected the end of the spurs this season but did not think it would come so early, especially against this grizzlies team that has been mouthing off at the spurs. it's sad really, i wanted the spurs to go down swinging against the thunder or have one last chance at the lakers. now all the spurs can do is win their next home game and face their executioner back at memphis in game 6. spurs better not go down on their home court or it will be even more depressing.

[SenorSpur]

The run, the era, lasted far longer than anything I could've ever expected. 22 years of winning seasons (starting with the D-Rob era in 1989), 14 years of championship contention (starting with Duncan's arrival in 1997).

Now there's no denying it any longer. The end has been on the horizon for some time. It actually came last spring, in devasting fashion, with the unexpected playoff ouster by the Suns.

The FO has done a decent job trying to stave off the invevitable. However, what we've all feared has finally arrived. The end has clearly arrived. There's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. There's no sense trying to stave it off any further.

Embrace the mediocrity that is forthcoming and let the rebuilding begin.

Memo to the FO: Corporate knowledge be dammed. Go young, go with length and go with athleticism.

[baseline bum]

The FO has done a decent job trying to stave off the invevitable.

No way; the Scola trade was the death blow this team hasn't been able to get up from.

[SenorSpur]

No way; the Scola trade was the death blow this team hasn't been able to get up from.

True, but that was because they fell in love with Splitter. It's clear to me that even adding Scola would've just been a band-aid. He would've likely enabled them to pry the window open for another year or two. However, look at him now. He's still productive, but he's no defender and he's also an older player. The Spurs are better off without him and instead having Splitter as a future building block.

This roster needs to be gutted. The Spurs should quickly seek to rid themselves of the contracts of RJ and Bonner. Hill and Blair should be packaged for a younger, talented (if possible) or future draft picks.

It's time to rebuild this franchise around young players. These players should be saved, installed and given the majority of playing time.

[Borosai]

If the team isn't restructured to properly compete for championships, then I guess the run is over (although in that case it ended a few years ago). However, Tim, Manu, and especially Tony can still be part of a championship team, but they would need major help and not the typical role players they've had previously. Can --and will-- the Spurs get those players? That's the question.

[NewcastleKEG]

If the team isn't restructured to properly compete for championships, then I guess the run is over (although in that case it ended a few years ago). However, Tim, Manu, and especially Tony can still be part of a championship team, but they would need major help and not the typical role players they've had previously. Can --and will-- the Spurs get those players? That's the question.

You have to choose

Continue to steadily decline with the BIG3 and watch them fade into the sunset (another 1st Round exit next year)
vs
Trade 1 or 2 of the BIG3 and make one final run with Duncan in the next couple years



You can't have both. Spurs are too good to get a worthwhile draft pick and already have cash invested in guys that people aren't going to take off your hands (No more Knicks around).
Spurs are also not as attractable of a destination for a Last Hurrah le run like Miami or LA is for an aging vet

This core is and has been DONE. You have 3 seasons (Tops) left with Duncan and he's still a valuable post player if surrounded with other POST talent

Honestly, with the current scene of the league and all the Super Teams; Duncan will retire with 4 rings. So do you trade a Parker/Manu for more dreams at the price of a messy/bitter exit? I say you do, Pippen returned to Chicago eventually.

Spur fan should expect more. Some of you are acting like Parker/Manu are once in a generation players and once they are traded or even Duncan retires (Gasp) your going to pack up the franchise and move. Life goes on and so does the franchise. You've waited long enough and now are no longer the best team in your own DIVISION.

You trade Parker and his friendly contract because down the stretch Manu controls the ball anyway. The league is full of serviceable Point Guards, we are in the middle of the PG era.

[Proxy]

You have to choose

Continue to steadily decline with the BIG3 and watch them fade into the sunset (another 1st Round exit next year)
vs
Trade 1 or 2 of the BIG3 and make one final run with Duncan in the next couple years



You can't have both. Spurs are too good to get a worthwhile draft pick and already have cash invested in guys that people aren't going to take off your hands (No more Knicks around).
Spurs are also not as attractable of a destination for a Last Hurrah le run like Miami or LA is for an aging vet

This core is and has been DONE. You have 3 seasons (Tops) left with Duncan and he's still a valuable post player if surrounded with other POST talent

Honestly, with the current scene of the league and all the Super Teams; Duncan will retire with 4 rings. So do you trade a Parker/Manu for more dreams at the price of a messy/bitter exit? I say you do, Pippen returned to Chicago eventually.

Spur fan should expect more. Some of you are acting like Parker/Manu are once in a generation players and once they are traded or even Duncan retires (Gasp) your going to pack up the franchise and move. Life goes on and so does the franchise. You've waited long enough and now are no longer the best team in your own DIVISION.

You trade Parker and his friendly contract because down the stretch Manu controls the ball anyway. The league is full of serviceable Point Guards, we are in the middle of the PG era.

I agree with trading Parker, but you overestimate TD's value at this point in his career.

[SenorSpur]

I agree with trading Parker too. There's absolutely zero reason to keep him chained to this team for the future. He's probably the team's best and biggest asset. His value could possibly net a future 1st round pick and a young player.

[ynh]

What exactly do you hope to get back for Parker? I'm curious because as someone mentioned this is a very very heavy PG era and there are plenty out there and plenty that I would take over Parker for a number or reasons. Just curious what you guys think you would get.

[ynh]

I agree with trading Parker too. There's absolutely zero reason to keep him chained to this team for the future. He's probably the team's best and biggest asset. His value could possibly net a future 1st round pick and a young player.

Not sure you get both of these unless one is of significantly less value than the other.

[analyzed]

So just how do you rebuild, knowing next year is probably Tim's last and the year after Manu's ? This is probably dice last year as well

Who can we trade and get good value in return ? Hill, blair , Anderson , tony and Splitter are possiblities.

No one is touching bonners and RJ's contract , while Neal is just to much of a bargain to let go.

I still see us making the playoffs at least before Timmy retires

[analyzed]

If all your getting from Parker is being outplayed by a non all star. you might as well trade him for a border line all star with athleticim and decent length

[analyzed]

The Spurs just had a quick start ( due to corporate knowledge of the bonner's etc) that took advantage of teams still getting into the groove of things.

But as Mchale pointed out after Jan 1 . Memphis record and probably half of the teams in the playoffs had better or equal records compared to the Spurs.

So really the Spurs peak level only translates to a mid level playoff team. certainly not a contender as their record seems to indicate

the spurs had the best record in the nba. so they finally choked in the playoffs. doesn't mean you blow up a team that finished with the best record