Spurs 2012 Forecast

[ElNono]

Killa, you looking at this only from the offensive side. The biggest structural problem the Spurs have (and have had for a while) is on defense. With Tim and Manu being basically the top defenders and only getting older, the gap is only widening. Lot of people put stock on this kid leonard, and maybe one day he'll be a great player, but he's a rook now and coming from a weak draft class, the odds are not in our favor that he'll make that much of an impact on D.

Shooting at a 'ship by basically hoping to luck out that the other team will have 4 out of 7 bad shooting nights is really pushing it. That's the reality of it.

We never really recovered from losing Bowen, and TD and Manu have only become older. They can have a vintage game here or there, but if you can't make stops, it's a waste. Pretty to watch though, that's why I'll be watching.

[lcroock]

If we can land Jeremy Pargo, who will be playing in the NBA this year since he did no sign in Europe, that should be a pretty sweet deal (i.e. essentially trading George for Pargo and Leonard). He is no worse that Hill at the point so he could be our backup 1 and come off the bench with Manu if Neal starts. I think the Spurs should really mix it up this year, maybe go with RJ and Manu off the bench and use some fresh legs in the starting lineup. A lot will depend on if Leonard can contribute from day 1. Watch out for David West on the FA market. He may only get a 1-year deal since teams are looking to maintain space for next year, and he is coming off injury as well...

[mathbzh]

Parker just talked about the team forecast in his radio show (in France).
I don't know if there is some truth in this or if it is just a trick to make the impression in France that the Spurs are still an elite team.

« Nos objectifs ce sont toujours les mêmes : gagner le re. On veut faire la même saison et aller plus loin en play-offs. On est sur des gros trucs (pour les transferts). Notre équipe c’est une équipe de vétérans. Les Spurs vont faire un pe effort. L’année dernière, on s’est fait bien dominer à l’intérieur. C’est là qu’on va devoir recruter

Basically, they still want the le. They are on something big (Trade? Free Agent?). They are a veteran team. Spurs will make a small effort. Last year they were dominated inside. This is where they must recruit.

[Killakobe81]

Killa, you looking at this only from the offensive side. The biggest structural problem the Spurs have (and have had for a while) is on defense. With Tim and Manu being basically the top defenders and only getting older, the gap is only widening. Lot of people put stock on this kid leonard, and maybe one day he'll be a great player, but he's a rook now and coming from a weak draft class, the odds are not in our favor that he'll make that much of an impact on D.

Shooting at a 'ship by basically hoping to luck out that the other team will have 4 out of 7 bad shooting nights is really pushing it. That's the reality of it.

We never really recovered from losing Bowen, and TD and Manu have only become older. They can have a vintage game here or there, but if you can't make stops, it's a waste. Pretty to watch though, that's why I'll be watching.

No i concede that defensively there are issues here ... never denied that. In te west OKC plays pretty good defense, the Lakers are "sometimesy" defensively. (but Dallas torched both last playoffs) .Memphis is no world beaters on defense... Battier is solid but has lost 2 steps and Allen though a good defender sucks so bad on offense he hurts on the other end.

Heck Dallas played championship level defense with only Chandler truly playing elite level defense. Dont get me wrong Kidd, stevenson and Marion all played key roles in their defense ...and yes I do think right now (who would of said this 3 years ago) that they are a better defense than you guys have right now ...but I just dont buty that players like Manu and tim will not squeeze one more playoff run. Not predicting any more trophies for this crew but 10-12 games of good ball is possible. I say 2nd round at least and a tough out ...but i have been wrong the past 2 seasons.

[ElNono]

No i concede that defensively there are issues here ... never denied that. In te west OKC plays pretty good defense, the Lakers are "sometimesy" defensively. (but Dallas torched both last playoffs) .Memphis is no world beaters on defense... Battier is solid but has lost 2 steps and Allen though a good defender sucks so bad on offense he hurts on the other end.

Heck Dallas played championship level defense with only Chandler truly playing elite level defense. Dont get me wrong Kidd, stevenson and Marion all played key roles in their defense ...and yes I do think right now (who would of said this 3 years ago) that they are a better defense than you guys have right now ...but I just dont buty that players like Manu and tim will not squeeze one more playoff run. Not predicting any more trophies for this crew but 10-12 games of good ball is possible. I say 2nd round at least and a tough out ...but i have been wrong the past 2 seasons.

Dallas major improvement from the year before to this one was strictly defensive with Chandler anchoring the paint. There are other minor factors, like Kidd actually making you pay from 3 point land, but overall, the gains for them came on the defensive end.

As far as the offense, as good as Tim and Manu can still be, they're no longer consistently 'unguardable', unlike Dirk who is pretty much a nightmare for anybody in the league.

Again, I think the odds are against us and frankly, I don't see it. But anything can happen out there, and that's why we watch.

[lefty]

Spurs are done since 08

Move along

[Winehole23]

but anything can happen out there, and that's why we watch.

+1

[Bruno]

Parker just talked about the team forecast in his radio show (in France).
I don't know if there is some truth in this or if it is just a trick to make the impression in France that the Spurs are still an elite team.

Yep, Parker said he was talking about that with Tim and that Spurs were trying to do something big to get better in the paint. I don't think it's just a tease.

Spurs have some good trade assets with Dice's contract and Blair. RJ could be also be traded if Spurs find a taker. The good way to improve the roster is to spend all the money and the trade assets to get better at PF/C. Spurs are fine on the perimeter and they could just fill the rotation with a couple of "Euros" they have been rumored being interested in (Jeremy Pargo and Gelabale).

[Leetonidas]

Spurs could probably put up a similar record as last season. They obviously have the tools to be a dominant regular season team with their shooting, but unless we get another big man and a backup PG we're ed. Timmy is still a pretty good center but he ain't what he used to be. I doubt Manu will be able to replicate his rejuvanated play from last season. If Parker has his best year, which is possible, things might look better. But Leonard needs to become Bowen really fast and Bonner needs to just...I don't know, leave, die, choke on a hoagie, whatever, get this ginger got off our team already

[DesignatedT]

Spurs are done since 08

Move along

Why dont you?

[Russo21]

Spurs are totally farked. Holt should sell up now and let some other bas deal with paying all that salary for no success

[DPG21920]

Yep, Parker said he was talking about that with Tim and that Spurs were trying to do something big to get better in the paint. I don't think it's just a tease.

Spurs have some good trade assets with Dice's contract and Blair. RJ could be also be traded if Spurs find a taker. The good way to improve the roster is to spend all the money and the trade assets to get better at PF/C. Spurs are fine on the perimeter and they could just fill the rotation with a couple of "Euros" they have been rumored being interested in (Jeremy Pargo and Gelabale).

I agree with that because Tony is known for his candor with the media which is part of why I appreciate him. If TP says that, it's because it's what is legitimately going on (he is as plugged in as anyone on the Spurs as to what the FO is doing).

Having said that, we all know there is a fine line between wanting to do something and getting something done in the NBA. Just because the Spurs really want to do something, doesn't mean they will find a partner. But as a fan, I am really glad to hear that they are still trying to win as much as possible (for as much as I don't think they are a contender, a big trade along with players stepping up (Tiago/Leonard/Neal/Anderson) could change that slightly). I'm not expecting anything because I understand how hard it is to get a deal done in the NBA, but it's nice to hear.

[DPG21920]

Also, I know the PG pool is weak, but if the Spurs could nab Pargo I would be about as excited as I could get about a low end back up PG option.

[Nathan89]

No one wants Rj.

[TD 21]

I agree with that because Tony is known for his candor with the media which is part of why I appreciate him. If TP says that, it's because it's what is legitimately going on (he is as plugged in as anyone on the Spurs as to what the FO is doing).

Having said that, we all know there is a fine line between wanting to do something and getting something done in the NBA. Just because the Spurs really want to do something, doesn't mean they will find a partner. But as a fan, I am really glad to hear that they are still trying to win as much as possible (for as much as I don't think they are a contender, a big trade along with players stepping up (Tiago/Leonard/Neal/Anderson) could change that slightly). I'm not expecting anything because I understand how hard it is to get a deal done in the NBA, but it's nice to hear.

Not to keep harping on the same thing, but if you'd consider Blair/McDyess for Amir Johnson big, then I think they are capable of doing something big (relatively, at least). If they can't or aren't interested in doing that, then I see no trade for a starting power forward occurring. And if that is the case, then I think they'll pursue Clark and McRoberts in free agency, to be the fifth big.

[therealtruth]

Amir Johnson is a bad contract. He was part of the gm's overpaying last summer. I think it really comes down to defense this season if they want to win. The Spurs had the #1 offense last season. If they get back to defending they can be dangerous. You combine a #1 offense with a #5-#7 defense and they are serious contenders. I think defense should be important in any free agent pickups. And no undersized players. They already have too many with Blair.

[SenorSpur]

It's obvious to anyone remotely familiar with this team that they MUST get better in the paint. The Spurs have been man-handled for two straight years in the postseason (Suns and Grizzlies) and have been rendered powerless to do anything about it. If the Memphis series didn't sound the alarm, then the FO wasn't paying attention.

With Duncan in a downhill performance spiral, and Dice literally at the door of retirement, that only leaves Blair and Tiago - and that simply isn't enough. Of course, that leaves Bonner, who doubles as Pop's red-headed favorite and everybody's whipping boy - and deservedly so. Pop has to finally realize that he cannot continue running Bonner out as this team's first frontline player off the bench. He's overmatched and always has been. As a matter of fact, because of his diminishing returns, this team would be better served with Bonner in a drastically reduced role.

All that said, I'm glad to hear that they are at least considering some options for frontline help - as limited as they may be. Aaron Gray and Earl Clark could be possibles for available, low-cost, low-risk, frontline help. Clark would be my preferred target because he's young and underdeveloped, but has decent skills, intriguing ability and untapped potential.

As for the 2012 forecast, I believe this team will be good enough to secure a playoff spot, but not good enough to sustain a deep playoff run.

[Nathan89]

I wonder if Eddy Curry worked himself into shape. He was trying play for the Heat last season. Doubtful though I read he was 350pds.

[TD 21]

Amir Johnson is a bad contract. He was part of the gm's overpaying last summer. I think it really comes down to defense this season if they want to win. The Spurs had the #1 offense last season. If they get back to defending they can be dangerous. You combine a #1 offense with a #5-#7 defense and they are serious contenders. I think defense should be important in any free agent pickups. And no undersized players. They already have too many with Blair.

He's overpaid, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "bad contract". His numbers won't wow you, but he'd essentially provide what McDyess has, only he's far more athletic/quicker and can actually block shots. He's not exactly ideal, but he's probably as close to ideal as the Spurs can come, given their trade assets and financial situation.

It's not a matter of focus or effort with this team defensively; it's a matter of personnel. If they added Johnson to Splitter, Leonard and Anderson, they'd have more athleticism, length quickness and versatility than they've had in years.

[Ice009]

He's overpaid, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "bad contract". His numbers won't wow you, but he'd essentially provide what McDyess has, only he's far more athletic/quicker and can actually block shots. He's not exactly ideal, but he's probably as close to ideal as the Spurs can come, given their trade assets and financial situation.

It's not a matter of focus or effort with this team defensively; it's a matter of personnel. If they added Johnson to Splitter, Leonard and Anderson, they'd have more athleticism, length quickness and versatility than they've had in years.

I'm pretty sure that I have read that the Spurs have tried to get Amir Johnson before, a few seasons ago I think it was. I don't think I have even seen him play before. What kind of game does he have?

[SenorSpur]

He's overpaid, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "bad contract". His numbers won't wow you, but he'd essentially provide what McDyess has, only he's far more athletic/quicker and can actually block shots. He's not exactly ideal, but he's probably as close to ideal as the Spurs can come, given their trade assets and financial situation.

It's not a matter of focus or effort with this team defensively; it's a matter of personnel. If they added Johnson to Splitter, Leonard and Anderson, they'd have more athleticism, length quickness and versatility than they've had in years.

^ This.

Now that's a fact!

If Johnson could be had, they should go get him.

[TD 21]

I'm pretty sure that I have read that the Spurs have tried to get Amir Johnson before, a few seasons ago I think it was. I don't think I have even seen him play before. What kind of game does he have?

Strengths: One of the most athletic, high energy bigs in the league. Solid shot blocker and offensive rebounder. Improved free throw and mid range shooter, with range out to 20 feet. Has ideal length and quickness to be a good face up/pick-and-roll/help defender.

Weaknesses: Extremely foul prone and lack strength (the two maybe related). Has trouble defending the post against power players, but battles hard. Is not an adept passer or ball handler.

[SenorSpur]

Strengths: One of the most athletic, high energy bigs in the league. Solid shot blocker and offensive rebounder. Improved free throw and mid range shooter, with range out to 20 feet. Has ideal length and quickness to be a good face up/pick-and-roll/help defender.

Weaknesses: Extremely foul prone and lack strength (the two maybe related). Has trouble defending the post against power players, but battles hard. Is not an adept passer or ball handler.

Another possible weakness is that Johnson is considered to have a low BBIQ.

[Russo21]

Hopefully Tiago has been locked in the weight room all summer long and has put on a good 20 + pounds of pure muscle. That'd be handy :-) Dude got pushed around too much last year, when he was actually on the floor that is.

[Fireball]

Watching Tiago playing for Valencia nothing indicates he got bulkier ...