Pop & RC - take note as Mr. Presti gets it

[LongtimeSpursFan]

Randolph - 9pts and Gasol - 15 pts; I think they did a pretty good job.

Keep in mind Gasol was picked 20 picks after Tiago (hindsight 20/20)

Game 5: Ibaka - 9 pts, Perkins - 5 pts, Collison - 9 pts. Again, OKC strength is backcourt not frontcourt.

Game 1 - Gasol 20/13; Randolph - 34/10:
Game 2 - Gasol 13/10; Randolph - 15/9
Game 3 - Gasol 16/7; Randolph - 21/21
Game 4 - Gasol 26/21; Randolph - 34/16

As you can see it would be a stretch to say that OKC frontcourt is outplaying Memphis . For the series Collison is averaging about 5 pts, Perkins about 4 points, Nazr about 5 points. Only Ibaka is averaging double figures.

[pad300]

Resigned Ginoboli and Parker. WTF do you exactly want the Spurs FO to do, giving limited finiances, consistantly picking in the lower rounds for years, lack of tradable assets, etc...?

Learn from their mistakes and quit bidding against themselves. Look RJ was a lousy fit it turned out, so why resign him to that ridiculous contract, when no one else was bidding anywhere beyond the MLE. Same with Bonner - nobody else had so much as put an offer on the table for his choking in the playoffs for the last 3 years ass...So the spurs run up and offer him 3 million a year or so.

And if you say we committed a collusion and RJ wouldn't have opted out - eat the short term pain and then trade his expiring ass for say Iguolda or Deng (who was probably available at the time, before Chicago blew up this season) or SJax or whoever...

To go back another season, don't do stupid things like keeping Finley instead of Barry, or signing Bogans instead of offering Bowen a vet min.

[underdawg]

They're going to have to pay Harden, too, and eventually (2-3 years) make decisions on Ibaka, Maynor, Cook, Sefalosha, and a bevy of other young players.

As for the "mistakes", at least we never made any Eddie Curry, Jarred Jeffries, Danny Fortson New York debacles. Bonner makes half the league average salary. Udoka made nothing. Jefferson is a bad contract, but it was an abomination before the re-negotiation that allowed other moves like Splitter's signing and Neal.

not until 2014 - that's not too bad.

Udoka was a bad move because that was pretty much the Spurs only move in '07 and bringing him back was more salt on the wound. Resigning Finley in '08 was pretty bad too.

Yes, you are corect though - the Spurs FO (post 2007) has not been as bad as Isaiah Thomas' Knicks.

[Strike]

Bad enough moves to keep chodes like Bonner and Jefferson in spurs uniforms, though. Pop/RC must have been doing mountains of blow or getting some epic blows to think those were good ideas.

[underdawg]

Game 5: Ibaka - 9 pts, Perkins - 5 pts, Collison - 9 pts. Again, OKC strength is backcourt not frontcourt.

Game 1 - Gasol 20/13; Randolph - 34/10:
Game 2 - Gasol 13/10; Randolph - 15/9
Game 3 - Gasol 16/7; Randolph - 21/21
Game 4 - Gasol 26/21; Randolph - 34/16

As you can see it would be a stretch to say that OKC frontcourt is outplaying Memphis . For the series Collison is averaging about 5 pts, Perkins about 4 points, Nazr about 5 points. Only Ibaka is averaging double figures.

Nazr didn't get more than 9 minutes until game 4 and 5 - that's what I'm talking about. They're starting to play well as a 4 player rotation of bigs. Collison's not going to score alot of points, but he's playing pretty good D on Randolph (even the commentator have pointed that out.)

Also, where's Conley's easy drives to the rim? I'd reckon good interior D has something to do with that.

[LongtimeSpursFan]

not until 2014 - that's not too bad.

Udoka was a bad move because that was pretty much the Spurs only move in '07 and bringing him back was more salt on the wound. Resigning Finley in '08 was pretty bad too.

Yes, you are corect though - the Spurs FO (post 2007) has not been as bad as Isaiah Thomas' Knicks.

'07 Splitter
'08 Hill
'09 Blair
'10 Neal and Anderson

Those are hardly bad pickups. Especially for late first and second round picks.

[Josepatches_]

'07 Splitter
'08 Hill
'09 Blair
'10 Neal and Anderson

Those are hardly bad pickups. Especially for late first and second round picks.

Surely outside TP they are the only players with trade value we have in the roster so they are good pickups for late first and second round draft picks

[underdawg]

'07 Splitter
'08 Hill
'09 Blair
'10 Neal and Anderson

Those are hardly bad pickups. Especially for late first and second round picks.

the picks aren't necessarily bad, but it's the other moves (Bonner, Jefferson, Butler, Scola, Finley, etc.)

Hindsight is 20/20, but here's some food for thought

2007 - after Tiago, players still available: Carl Landry, Glen Davis, Josh McRoberts, Marc Gasol, Ramon Sessions

2008 - after Hill, players still available: Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Luc Mbah a Moute, Chris Douglas Roberts, Goran Dragic

2009 - after Blair, players still available: Marcus Thornton, Chase Budinger, picks just before Blair - Dante Cunningham, Sam Young and Jeff Pendergraph

2010 - after Anderson, players still available: Jordan Crawford, Greivis Vasquez, Landry Fields and maybe trading a couple of spots up to get Eric Bledsoe or Kevin Seraphin

[rmt]

Doesn't matter who we have if Pop is going to let them rot on the bench (see Splitter '11 & Nazr and Rasho '06). The way I see it - it's a philosophical move toward small ball - re-signing Bonner and benching any "7 footer" (not named Duncan).

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

And if you say we committed a collusion and RJ wouldn't have opted out - eat the short term pain and then trade his expiring ass for say Iguolda or Deng (who was probably available at the time, before Chicago blew up this season) or SJax or whoever...

It's easy to spend someone else's millions, isn't it? Especially for posters on a fan message board

[Capt Bringdown]

Also, where's Conley's easy drives to the rim? I'd reckon good interior D has something to do with that.

Sooo frustrating to watch him do layup drills against the Spurs, hit jumpers etc.

Gotta give him credit for playing well in these playoffs, but isn't he playing over his head?

It seemed like he was always there with a back-breaking play against the Spurs.

[TE]

It's so frustrating reading this thread. There are tons of things the FO could have improved on but failed to do so over the years, all starting with Pop shifting to more small ball.
ing stupid.

[ElNono]

Presti has done a great job in OKC, IMO. They're on a very different boat than the Spurs though. They have a young superstar in Durant, another young great talent in Westbrook and now they mixed in some veteran savvy and size with Perkins and Nazr. Harden is another gem in that team, which is as good a scorer as anybody coming off the bench.

The Spurs are trying to fit pieces to maximize the potential of an older core. It's a different situation.

[Capt Bringdown]

Presti has done a great job in OKC, IMO. They're on a very different boat than the Spurs though. They have a young superstar in Durant, another young great talent in Westbrook and now they mixed in some veteran savvy and size with Perkins and Nazr. Harden is another gem in that team, which is as good a scorer as anybody coming off the bench.

The Spurs are trying to fit pieces to maximize the potential of an older core. It's a different situation.

What about our situation dictates Pop's decision to elevate Bonnerball over Spursball?
Of course our situation is different, it's a matter of understanding what works. Defense and size has proven to be a pretty good bet in the post season. Bonnerball not so much.

[TE]

Presti has done a great job in OKC, IMO. They're on a very different boat than the Spurs though. They have a young superstar in Durant, another young great talent in Westbrook and now they mixed in some veteran savvy and size with Perkins and Nazr. Harden is another gem in that team, which is as good a scorer as anybody coming off the bench.

The Spurs are trying to fit pieces to maximize the potential of an older core. It's a different situation.

Any situation that includes a Bonner and Blair frontcourt being a central component to a system is due to fail, even at the college level.

...


Any situation that includes Bonner to play more than 10+ minutes is due to fail. Just fail. Just ing fail.

...

Any situation that includes Jefferson to be a significant offensive contributor in crunch situations is due to fail.

[Capt Bringdown]

Any situation that includes a Bonner and Blair frontcourt being a central component to a system is due to fail, even at the college level.

Yes, and in addition, Dice was a starter for us in the playoffs. I don't understand how such a successful organization could be so delusional.

[temujin]

Centerpiece going to the East Finals as a starter.
G5, 11 points (JJ taken out of his game), shooting 50% from 3 in PO.
Making 1,6 M/year.

Jefferson says hi.
Pop says hi to Thibadeau.

[ploto]

Sam was the one behind many of the Spurs best moves during the time he was here. He was extremely responsible for Pop finally being convinced to draft Tony Parker and he is the "cap master."

[G-Dawgg]

We've picked as high as 24th once in the Duncan era, and IIRC that #24 pick was part of the Sonics teardown, as well. Ibaka isn't if you don't have Durant (#2), Westbrook (#4) and Hardin (#3).

Bull . Ibaka is an excellent shotblocker/defender, strong for his size, excellent athelete, quick, has rebounding skills and has pretty good range on his jumper. Ibaka is a pretty sick talent.
And he's pretty young and can still improve alot....

Not trying to call you out or anything but what more do you want from a frontcourt player?

I'd be blowing my load if we could ever get a player like Ibaka on the Spurs.

[G-Dawgg]

Centerpiece going to the East Finals as a starter.
G5, 11 points (JJ taken out of his game), shooting 50% from 3 in PO.
Making 1,6 M/year.

Jefferson says hi.
Pop says hi to Thibadeau.

This may sound stupid, but the Spurs perimeter defense has really suffered since they lost Bogans....

[TJastal]

You are giving Nazr and Collison way too much credit. While the Thunders front court has had some success against Memphis it is their backcourt that is giving Memphis difficulties. In the past 3 three years the Spurs have picked up Splitter and Blair. Not bad when you consider that Splitter was taken late in the first round and Blair a late second round pick. Plus both their combined salaries are less than four million dollars.

It may be a little premature to be comparing success of FO in selecting front court players as both Splitter and Blair have only one and two years NBA experience. Had Splitter come to the Spurs right after he was drafted the comparisons would probably favor the Spurs. Blair just turned 22 years old so he still very young with lots of potential. He has vastly improved his game in the short amount of time he has been here.

So who do you think held Gasol & Randolph to 1 offensive rebound total in game 5? Maynard & Nate Robinson?

[TJastal]

Bull . Ibaka is an excellent shotblocker/defender, strong for his size, excellent athelete, quick, has rebounding skills and has pretty good range on his jumper. Ibaka is a pretty sick talent.
And he's pretty young and can still improve alot....

Not trying to call you out or anything but what more do you want from a frontcourt player?

I'd be blowing my load if we could ever get a player like Ibaka on the Spurs.

We had a similar version, name was Mahinmi IIRC, not sure what happened to him

[TJastal]

It's so frustrating reading this thread. There are tons of things the FO could have improved on but failed to do so over the years, all starting with Pop shifting to more small ball.
ing stupid.

Well this is spurstalk. Popsuckers everywhere and all of em make excuses, trivialize bad FO moves, or just flat out pull stuff out of their asses to keep Pop's image unblemished.

[spurspokesman]

The thing is I would still take Tim Duncan by far over anyone of those bigs unfortunately the Spurs FO surrounds him with some of the worst bigs in the league.

This

[TJastal]

Game 5: Ibaka - 9 pts, Perkins - 5 pts, Collison - 9 pts. Again, OKC strength is backcourt not frontcourt.

Game 1 - Gasol 20/13; Randolph - 34/10:
Game 2 - Gasol 13/10; Randolph - 15/9
Game 3 - Gasol 16/7; Randolph - 21/21
Game 4 - Gasol 26/21; Randolph - 34/16

As you can see it would be a stretch to say that OKC frontcourt is outplaying Memphis . For the series Collison is averaging about 5 pts, Perkins about 4 points, Nazr about 5 points. Only Ibaka is averaging double figures.

Memphis gets most of its scoring from Gasol & Randolph, OKC gets theirs from Durant and Westbrook. So of course those two are going to be outscoring their OKC counterparts. Bad comparison IMO.