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I hope Pop wakes up. The Injuries was not the reason why Spurs lost to the Grizzlies and is just sounds like a big cop out.
I gather that you're looking in the mirror as you type this?
The Big 3 can no longer carry us to victory when needed. Who gives a about what they did during the regular season? They got handled when it mattered. The Big 3 of yesteryear didn't have any such issues.
It's the Big 2.25 to 2.5 at best. That sans Horry, Barry and Bowen = No Ring.
This roster wasn't winning a ring regardless of who was patrolling the sideline over the past 3 years.
I hope Pop wakes up. The Injuries was not the reason why Spurs lost to the Grizzlies and is just sounds like a big cop out.
Last edited by Chomag; 05-16-2011 at 03:36 PM.
Wakes up to what? You don't think he knows what this team is lacking? The question should be what can Pop and RC realistically do as far as finding more size and athleticism?
Pop of old yes, but this current Pop I have no idea what is going on in his head. Whatever it is hasn't worked very well in the past 4 years.
He blames injuries, but the Grizzlies had Gay out, and they have $70M roster, like the Spurs, and except for Gasol they don't have impact players under rookie contracts and tbh the Spurs have Splitter who plays for a minor contract, but Pop didn't want to integrate him because, "it's unfair for the team".
The Mavs were able to overcome the injuries of Butler and 'Bois that aren't even playing, but it's true they had +21M more to spend on salaries (plus another $20M on luxury and another $2-3M from luxury paying teams). The Lakers have an even higher payroll, and they unloaded a player trough mid-season without taking a contract back.
Unfortunately, the Spurs let players like S-Jax and Hedo walk for nothing, when they had salary cap in 2003 they signed Rasho and Mercer instead of star players Odom or Miller, then they traded too many first rounders and finally they traded Scola for almost nothing (speaking in NBA terms).
The Spurs looked the bottom line in short term, but now that the Spurs are older, they don't have enough talent to overcome injuries. If they want to contend, they will have to throw the MLE and BAE, pay big $$$ on luxury tax, just to get proven talent to overcome injuries and/or make miracles with low 2011 draft picks.
Last I checked, the Grizzlies spend the better part of the last decade in the lottery while we spend it in the playoffs (winning three les in the last 10 years). Common sense says that when you win like we did (historically we've been the best regular season team ever) you don't get those coveted lottery picks, so eventually your talent will age and you redo everything by going back to the lotter (see Utah Jazz).
The Grizzlies have been stockpiling lottery picks for the better part of the decade. They should have younger assets than us. To fault the Spurs front office for not having younger talent is to fault them for being so successful.
Also, you can't discount that the Mavs and the Lakers can spend an extra $20 million over the cap and we can't. With an extra $20 million, the Spurs would have the current roster plus Scola, Jackson, and Turk. That's the advantage that wealthy teams/owners have over small market teams.
Can't fault the S.A. front office, they hit more than miss. They are the model for the league.
jjktkk, for the record you are on-point and your opinion is consistent with others (analysts, radioheads and even most of us knuckleheads on this board), who claimed the very same thing. Obviously, the Spurs had a smallish, aged frontline to start the season, yet all I remember hearing in my head, is Pop proclaing, when asked about the apparent lack of size, was the retort, "we already have enough bigs." Having enough bigs and having the "right" bigs are two completely different things. Still, this is precisely what angers me about Pop - that he elected to enter the season with this set of bigs, which included the "Turd Towers" - thereby compromising his team's chances of a prolonged playoff run, as we near the end of the Duncan era. There just wasn't enough help for Duncan among this group.
If Pop cannot realize Grizz was the better team then he needs to retire seriously.
The argument of the #8 seed is full of fail, they massively tanked to get the 8 spot the grizz team is not an #8 seed.
Manu injury has nothing to do with the loss, we lost because our D sucks and because Memphis frontcourt dominated us badly. Why do you think Conley looked like an all star ? when you are playing behind a dominant frontcourt your life is so much easier.
Now next year this grizzlie team will be better especially with Rudy coming back, with Rudy they take the WCF against the thunder. The lack of scoring option was blatant against OKC.
As of today teams like bulls, heat, okc, grizz would just beat a fully healthy spurs team. Manu injury, rythme bs, tp struggling are no excuses. We lost because Gasol and Zbo dominated the interior game. thats all.
They are the model for the league, Pop, RC Buford and the rest of the FO staff made many good things, however the mistakes they made were glaring and obvious at the time even for the casual fan, so it's difficult to understand.
Spurs' draft picks are not the problem. Splitter, Scola, TD, Blair (against certain teams) and say Ratliff would make an elite front line. The problem is Pop's arrogance/thinking that his system is so important (Bonner to stretch the floor and putting in work with RJ + second year in the system) which led the Spurs to give both Bonner and RJ 4 year contracts.
Another surprising comment from Pop, this time in the Rondo article. He essentially says the Spurs would have beaten the Lakers in '08 if Ginobili were healthy. This is the same guy who said after that series (to paraphrase) that "The better team wins seven game series. They were better than us". This is the same front office that overhauled their team a year later because they no longer had enough "firepower or athleticism to beat the Lakers". Now, after all that, he says this. Interesting.
They're clearly going to look to trade for a starting four. He doesn't sound thrilled about starting Splitter next to Duncan and Blair and Bonner are obviously not starting material. He's about as un-Spurs like as they come, but I wouldn't be shocked if they looked into trading for Blatche. For all his issues, he's young (25 in August), big (6-11), athletic, can shoot and because of his physical tools, is capable of being an adequate defender. In other words, unlike Splitter, Blair and Bonner, he has the capacity to not be a liability on either end, which is particularly important down the stretch of close games.
He's also signed for four more seasons at a number that's not enormous, depending on how the new CBA looks and if he grows up and plays up to his potential. Character issues aside, isn't that what they're looking for? He's in the Bosh mold and we all know they've coveted Bosh for years. If he can be had for what I think he can be had for (McDyess' partially guaranteed contract, Blair and the 29th pick), then it makes him all the more intriguing.
He'd be a risk, but I don't see a better realistic option available, if they want someone who is capable of improving them short term, while being a long term piece.
I hope he get his head out of his arse and goes back to being the old coach. His first thing he needs to do is get another assistant that has some balls and can get more out of the defense and offense. The second thing he needs to understand that he ed up letting Scola go, signing RJ, and Signing Bonner.
I hope he starts really looking at who is putting forth effort and gives a crap about winning and loosing. I hope he looks at every trade aspect that does not include Duncan and Manu and has the balls to make the trades. I hope he looks at every guy in the draft, and every foreing player and does what ever it takes to get playes who will help us.
I hope we have players who size matches their position they will be playing and I hope to God POP and RC don't freakin draft anymore TWEENERS!!!!!!!
SIZE MATTERS>>>>>>>>>EVERY WOMEN KNOWS THAT>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I actually thought our front line would be solid. My thinking, prior to the season, was Blair would continue to evolve and improve, Dyess would be the trusted vet. and by the all-star break, Splitter would be seeing more playing time, and Bonner wouldn't be overused. I didn't see Blair becoming part of the turd towers.
I stole that name from someone, but I love it just the same.
I like the Blatche option. I looked up his season stats for last year (16.8 pts, 8.2 rebs), were very impressive. Here's the book on him:
Born: Aug 22, 1986
Height: 6-11 / 2.11
Weight: 260 lbs. / 117.9 kg.
High School: South Kent Prep (CT)
Years Pro: 5
Would be a very serviceable upgrade. I wonder if the Wizards would be willing to part with him and what they would actually want in exchange.
Consider who he played with, though. As far as offensive options, there was Wall (who was injured on and off), Young, a declining and playing hurt (until he was shut down) Lewis and Crawford, who came over after the trade deadline. In other words, someone had to score. As far as advanced stats, he has a poor rebound rate and has had a slightly worse PER than Blair the past two seasons.
The problem with him is he's immature and inconsistent. Two seasons ago, he had a big finish to the season, showed glimpses of fulfilling his potential, they paid him and how did he reward them? By showing up to camp out of shape. He's been involved in myriad incidents throughout the years. But he also might be at the point where he's ready to turn the corner, a la Randolph. Put him in a structured environment, with an established, stable culture and maybe he conforms and fulfills his potential. Obviously, they'd need to be confident in him doing so to pull the trigger.
I'm fairly certain the Wizards would not only be willing to part with him, but for value not indicative of his talent level. I think they'd like to dump his contract and get him away from Wall, so that he doesn't negatively influence him. Also, they're going to be picking in the top five. Even if they win the 1st pick, they're obviously set at the point with Wall, so it's likely they'll be selecting a big, whether it's Williams, Kanter, Vesley, etc. To get a decent young player back, who plays the same position (Blair), a decent secondary asset (29th pick) and financial relief (McDyess/clearing Blatche's salary), I think they'd do it.
Good stuff. Now that you've provided the additional information on him, he just doesn't sound like a player that Pop and RC would want in the program. I can't see Pop having the patience needed to deal with this kid. On the other hand, if they did, I don't know about spending a late first on him. I know this is a weak draft, and probably the year to do so, but certainly the Spurs could potentially nab a player that could conceivably be part of the post-Duncan era, at that spot. I'd certainly utilize the other assets you mentioned, though.
He's such a headcase that even though I'm proposing this, I'm not entirely sold myself. But there's a lot of aspects about this that make sense and what's the alternative? Overpaying for Varejao? Not making a trade and just signing a veteran's minimum fifth big? With McDyess' contract, this is their chance to take back salary. For all of Blatche's shortcomings, find me another big with his combination of size, athleticism, skill and youth, on a non astronomical contract, that's potentially attainable without surrendering Hill or Splitter?
As far as the draft pick, it's the 29th pick in a weak draft. Even though he's been around for six seasons already, Blatche is a few months younger than Hill. If Hill is a part of the post-Duncan era, why couldn't Blatche be? The way I see it, he'd be almost like a draft pick.
Blatche sounds like a descent option, tbh. Despite his character issues he would be an upgrage over blair/bonner, then again, that isn't saying much. I hope the fo doesn't get Sideshow Bob, though.
This is nothing but sour grapes from Pop. He's really demostrating to the world that he's not above behaving like a goddamn, hypocritical child. He should be ashamed of himself. It bugs me that he continues to chime about how injuries robbed his team's chances of making a long playoff run. Since he normally is not one to make excuses, it's a bit surprising that he would do so now. Especially when the truth is that the team wasn't good enough this year because it was talent-compromised, just like it was in 2008 - injuries notwithstanding.
As much as they did this past offseason, it wasn't enough. He and R.C. have to assume the blame for that. It's also quite possible they've missed their window and they may never get close again.
As pragmatic as Pop usually is, it's troubling that he keeps spewing this garbage. Because unless he's just huffing in frustration, he's totally delusional. This bears watching over the next couple of years because it could be a clue as to how Pop either elects to hang onto the past, or whether he will ultimately make some tough decisions to move this franchise through the post-Duncan era and embrace the expected years of suckiness that will follow.
I would gladly take on Varejao's contract because that would mean we lost a worst contact in Rj.
Blatche remaining contract- 6.4,7.1,7.7,8.4 mil. Not the worst contract but he better be a pretty damn good prospect to commit that kind of money in. I personally know nothing about him.
Unfortunately, it is kinda catchy huh?I stole that name from someone, but I love it just the same.
Hes got the talent, but he is a knucklehead. Just this past season, he was involved in a fist fight with his own teammate, McGee, in a bar. I would definitely look into it, but I don't know if Pop and RC want to take on a headcase.
To be fair, I think Mcgee is the bigger of the two.
Blatche is a big risk.
And a risk that, imho, isn't worth of giving up nothing more than something we already want do dismiss.
I'd trade for Blatche only for just the Dice contract (numbers works) or for giving them RJ contract.
In case, for example, RJ for Blatche + Seraphin works...and RJ is the kind of player that Washington needs (they don't have a good sf) and that could work very well in a supposedly up tempo system (like the Phoenix, Atlanta, Golden State just for putting there some names) like the Washington Wall's.
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