Aldridge: Neal told to expect some minutes at PG

[benefactor]

double

[Blackjack]

Who cares what the general consensus is? The fans and the media aren't the ones making the decisions. The people that are making the decisions have made it abundantly clear through their actions that they intend to attempt to continue contending until Duncan retires. Therefore, when we as fans discuss how the roster/rotation should be constructed, it should be with that in mind.

You're overthinkin it, my man.

Objectively, you just gotta ask yourself what the team needs to contend, where they are in the overall landscape of things and what you should be expecting from the team at this juncture.

The expectations and standards should be lowered. And with that in mind, it's time to think about what gets them back to where they want to be, and that means TD and Manu becoming key, essential players in lesser roles with Parker and new blood taking starring roles. That takes time, development.

The Spurs are in transition. Making moves and playing the game as if you're on an even playing field - at this point - is nothin more than spinnin the tires. The Championship, Duncan, era is over. Time to find a new way to skin a cat - or fade into obscurity.

[Bruno]

Spurs being done as a contender, having big holes in their roster or needing to blow up the team has almost nothing to do with the backup PG topic.

The situation is as simple as it can be. Spurs have 3 basic options for their backup PG slot:
1) Cory Joseph.
2) Playing without a true backup PG and going with a Neal/Ginobili backcourt.
3) Going after a relatively cheap vet free agent like Earl Watson, TJ Ford or Mike Bibby.

The question is: what option(s) should Spurs take? If none is satisfying, can Spurs do something more complicate like a small trade or going after an euro?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Spurs being done as a contender, having big holes in their roster or needing to blow up the team has almost nothing to do with the backup PG topic.

The situation is as simple as it can be. Spurs have 3 basic options for their backup PG slot:
1) Cory Joseph.
2) Playing without a true backup PG and going with a Neal/Ginobili backcourt.
3) Going after a relatively cheap vet free agent like Earl Watson, TJ Ford or Mike Bibby.

The question is: what option(s) should Spurs take? If none is satisfying, can Spurs do something more complicate like a small trade or going after an euro?

A combination of 3 and 1 with 2 in reserve for in season injuries.

Neal at point should be a contingency and not a strategy.

[TD 21]

Bruno's got it right, there's little to no correlation between the backup PG spot and the Spurs being done as a contender. It's a minor hole that they can have a veteran's minimum guy fill for a year. Even teams in transition need to plug holes with veteran stopgaps.

benefactor, misguided or not, that's not the point. The point is, they were at least trying. If they trade Parker and/or Ginobili, that's the opposite of trying and that's the ultimate slap in the face to Duncan.

I have no expectations of them winning another championship. What I'm saying is, the roster is being constructed in such a way that that's still the intent (while re-building simultaneously). So when we discuss roster moves and the rotation, it should be with that in mind.

The Spurs are fully capable of beating any of those three teams; the problem would be having to beat multiple ones. I don't buy that those teams are in a different league though. There's not much separating the top five-six teams in the West.

Blackjack, they need a couple of attainable pieces, virtually every possible thing to go right and they need to catch lightning in a bottle at the right time. Last year at this time, the Mavs needed the exact same thing. A year later, they're champions. Are the Spurs any worse off now than the Mavs were going into last off season? Like I said, I'm not expecting anything at this point, but they're at worst a top eight team and if you're in that group, you've got a chance, considering the lack of a dominant team.

So let me get this straight. You wouldn't trade Parker or Ginobili, but you want to forget about contending and start re-building towards a new core that can contend? Last time I checked, they don't have a single young player who projects to be a top three player on a contending team.

Whatever microscopic chance they have left at contending, they should utilize. Because that's probably better than the chance they'll have with their next core. They still have 3 top 30 players. They'll be hard pressed to get 1 in the future.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I think the biggest difference between the Spurs and Mavs is that the Mavs still have a franchise player in his prime. I know some people wanna look at the Mavs this year as hope for the Spurs going into next season, but if the Spurs aren't capable of having the best player in a playoff series anymore then they sure as better have the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best players of the series. Dirk was probably the best player of the entire playoffs. Without elite D, that puts an awful lot of pressure on the Spurs offense as a whole, and with players like Bonner and RJ still on the roster I still see this team struggling without a true strength to fall back on.

[DesignatedT]

When Manu is at his best he can still be a superstar caliber player, even today. The Spurs have to find a way to keep the guy healthy which doesn't seem realistic these days.

Watch the Spurs get out to another solid start and be a top team in the west at all star break only to slip and falter due to injuries and age down the stretch. It just seems inevitable right now.

It really goes back to RJ. When we acquired this guy, he was supposed to be able to take a huge load of pressure off of the big 3 to perform each and every night... not cause added pressure.

[TJastal]

Several reasons

1) Talent
2) Defensive ceiling
3) Offensive ceiling
4) Size
5) Progression of Anderson and Leonard (two best wing prospects in the Spurs organization)-- They need playing time and are more than capable.
6) Arroyo/Quinn type isn't significantly better than Neal in any point guard attribute on either end of the floor. Therefore, playing an Arroyo/Quinn type just because they are a labeled "point guard" is a stupid thing to do if it hinders the progression of young players with higher ceilings. Playing Neal at back-up point allows the Spurs to develop and give their best young talent playing time.

Having a 2nd year backup SG like Neal running the point with two guys who have zip for nba experience is a recipe for disaster.

I'm with El Nono here, I'd much rather just get a veteran backup PG and let Neal play his natural position. And I have no idea why everyone is so gung ho about Anderson but if you want to shift guys around I think it would be more feasible to have Anderson and Leonard shift to 3/4, respectively, which also has the added benefit of alleviating the Bonner/Blair problem.

[benefactor]

Anderson is a 2/3...not a 3/4.

[ElNono]

Anderson is a 2/3...not a 3/4.

Agree. I would actually argue he's just a 2 at this point in his career.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

A good, sensible decision if the Spurs believe they have something in Anderson/Green/Butler AND see Leonard as a part of the rotation straight away. Neal will do everything that Hill has done, while opening minutes at the 2 and 3. If the Spurs sign someone like Watson, then they'd better trade one of Anderson or Neal because there won't be enough minutes at the wing positions.

PG : Tony - 33 mins, Neal - 10 mins, Joseph - 5 mins
SG : Manu - 28 mins, Neal - 10 mins, Anderson - 10 mins
SF : RJ : 28mins, Leonard - 15 mins, Anderson - 5 mins

Additionally Leonard may see a few minutes at the 4 from time to time and one of Green/Butler may stick if the Spurs like him, they're decent prospects. A vet PG would take away Anderson's minutes. Personally, I'd prefer giving Anderson a chance to show what he can do, he could be next season's Neal as an impact, certainly has the talent anyway.

Whether this rotation is good enough for a championship run is another question.

[The Truth #6]

I think TJ was suggesting Anderson as 3 and Leonard as 4?

[TJastal]

i think tj was suggesting anderson as 3 and leonard as 4?

yes!

[TJastal]

Agree. I would actually argue he's just a 2 at this point in his career.

I tend to think this way too, I was just indulging the Anderson fanboys for a minute.

All indulgences aside, Green IMO would be the better fit as a combo G/F. Seems to me he's got the tools to pull it off, reminds me of a young Doug Christie.

Hard to say if Anderson will even be on this team next season, the spurs didn't bother to secure his option before the lockout started and the spurs are flush with 2's.

And I have serious doubts whether Pop will really roll with Neal as the team's backup point guard when push comes to shove. That's a risky path to go down and has a high likelihood of failure (RMJ) and therefore should only be used in a pinch not as a planned course of action.

In the (likely) scenario that Neal's role continues to be backup SG, the spurs really don't need to pay both Anderson and Green (unless they are really convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anderson is going to be a future star in the league (ie my defenition of "star", not Cane's).

[ElNono]

Anderson will very likely get his option picked as soon as the lockout is over. Makes no sense not to.

[ChumpDumper]

Hard to say if Anderson will even be on this team next season, the spurs didn't bother to secure his option before the lockout started

Why would that be necessary?

[elemento]

lol @ thinking Spurs won't pick James Anderson option.

Philly did not pick the 4th year option of Jrue Holliday and the 3rd year option of Evan Turner.

Detroit did not pick the 3rd year option of Greg Monroe and the 4th option of Austin Daye. I guess those teams don't care about those players right ?

Pathetic troll attempt. Don't even know how you guys can take this serious.

[Chomag]

Why would someone saying that its hard to say if they will be picking up his contract a troll attempt?

Saying he will be signed is based off an assumption, while the fact is his contract hasn't been picked up yet. Either way no one knows other then the people planning it.

[benefactor]

Agree. I would actually argue he's just a 2 at this point in his career.

Agreed. I've thought from the jump that his game and size were a better fit in the NBA at SG. I think he can defend well there and be more effective offensively.

[MaNu4Tres]

I tend to think this way too, I was just indulging the Anderson fanboys for a minute.

All indulgences aside, Green IMO would be the better fit as a combo G/F. Seems to me he's got the tools to pull it off, reminds me of a young Doug Christie.

Hard to say if Anderson will even be on this team next season, the spurs didn't bother to secure his option before the lockout started and the spurs are flush with 2's.

And I have serious doubts whether Pop will really roll with Neal as the team's backup point guard when push comes to shove. That's a risky path to go down and has a high likelihood of failure (RMJ) and therefore should only be used in a pinch not as a planned course of action.

In the (likely) scenario that Neal's role continues to be backup SG, the spurs really don't need to pay both Anderson and Green (unless they are really convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anderson is going to be a future star in the league (ie my defenition of "star", not Cane's).

Just wow, on so many levels.

[stephen jackson]

this next season i expect tony to have a career year... its time he takes over now... he got his contract he better get 36-38 minutes a game and score 23+...

[Hooks]

neal playing pg

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Lolololololololololololololololololol
I get it hes playing pg because that guy intercepted his pass lololololololololololololololol lololololololololololololololol lololololololololololololololol!

[TJastal]

Originally Posted by TJastal

I tend to think this way too, I was just indulging the Anderson fanboys for a minute.

All indulgences aside, Green IMO would be the better fit as a combo G/F. Seems to me he's got the tools to pull it off, reminds me of a young Doug Christie.

Hard to say if Anderson will even be on this team next season, the spurs didn't bother to secure his option before the lockout started and the spurs are flush with 2's.

And I have serious doubts whether Pop will really roll with Neal as the team's backup point guard when push comes to shove. That's a risky path to go down and has a high likelihood of failure (RMJ) and therefore should only be used in a pinch not as a planned course of action.

In the (likely) scenario that Neal's role continues to be backup SG, the spurs really don't need to pay both Anderson and Green (unless they are really convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that Anderson is going to be a future star in the league (ie my defenition of "star", not Cane's).

Just wow, on so many levels.

Just like I thought back in July, Green is proving himself already the better long-term prospect between him and JA, and even though Anderson made the team, I doubt he'll stick once his rookie contract is up (might even be traded before). Pop also opted to sign a backup PG (Ford, like I thought he would) in order to keep Neal at SG.

Just, wow.

[TDMVPDPOY]

this next season i expect tony to have a career year... its time he takes over now... he got his contract he better get 36-38 minutes a game and score 23+...

wait a minute here.......

[therealtruth]

All indulgences aside, Green IMO would be the better fit as a combo G/F. Seems to me he's got the tools to pull it off, reminds me of a young Doug Christie.

That's a diss to Doug Christie. Christie came into the league playing pg and later sg and sf. He had much better playmaking and ball handling.