Weaknesses of the team, were they addressed?

[Man In Black]

I think you just run what you brung. It's a team game, that's why the team with the best individual players, doesn't win as much as one thinks.

Some people will say that this kind of depth causes issues in the playoffs. I call BS on this. Case and point, the 77 Trailblazers. Deep team and every player on that team played their roles to perfection and backdoor swept a team with the likes of Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Lloyd(Not yet World B) Free, Doug Collins, Daryl Dawkins and scrub scorer named Joe Jellybean Bryant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_NBA_Finals
That was the 1st series I ever followed intently as I was a huge George McGinnis fan back then.

We could use Argentina's Golden Generation as a model as well. I mean outside of Ginobili, not any other of the players on that team have even sniffed an All-Star game although both Scola and to a lesser extent, Delfino, have games that fit really well in the L. But it's the way they played as a TEAM that got them that Gold Medal in Athens.

The sum of the Spurs parts as a whole is better than the Individual parts and that's why I think they will overcome.
Let's repeat the *!

[TheSkeptic]

I think you just run what you brung. It's a team game, that's why the team with the best individual players, doesn't win as much as one thinks.

Some people will say that this kind of depth causes issues in the playoffs. I call BS on this. Case and point, the 77 Trailblazers. Deep team and every player on that team played their roles to perfection and backdoor swept a team with the likes of Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Lloyd(Not yet World B) Free, Doug Collins, Daryl Dawkins and scrub scorer named Joe Jellybean Bryant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_NBA_Finals
That was the 1st series I ever followed intently as I was a huge George McGinnis fan back then.

We could use Argentina's Golden Generation as a model as well. I mean outside of Ginobili, not any other of the players on that team have even sniffed an All-Star game although both Scola and to a lesser extent, Delfino, have games that fit really well in the L. But it's the way they played as a TEAM that got them that Gold Medal in Athens.

The sum of the Spurs parts as a whole is better than the Individual parts and that's why I think they will overcome.
Let's repeat the *!

It's a balancing act.

Sure chemistry and continuity go a long way but when a player is clearly compromising your defense and your offense (and it'll likely get worse during the playoffs) and you have better players who fit in and can contribute more right away you make the change.

In the NBA talent matters. What determines success is how that talent fits together.

Dragging down your starters and hoping Tiago/Manu's crew can come in and salvage games just isn't a winning basketball strategy imo. And believe me, against the LAL and the Grizzlies of the league that's exactly what'll happen because Tim can't guard entire frontcourts by himself.

Blair needs to either go to the bench or drop out of the rotation.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

From what I've seen I'd say Diaw could have success defending ZBo, better than last year's Dyess or Blair/Bonner at least.

However, the Lakers front court is way too long and on paper is tailor-maid for a Duncan-Splitter combo. Guess we'll see how Pop handles it in the upcoming 3 games against them. They might change his mind about pairing Tim with Tiago if the Lakers bigs destroy Pop's other bigman combinations.

[100%duncan]

I totally agree with MIB. People think depth in the PO is overrated just totally underrated it tbh.

[TJastal]

I think it gives the team a better chance but to prevent Splitter from getting hurt I'd want to see him getting those 26+ more spread out. I don't think having him play essentially two 8-10 minute shifts/game is good from the perspective of keeping him healthy.

Come to think of it I'm not sure if any of the other guys play a similar schedule with the exception of Blair...

I think if Splitter got those minutes on a regular basis his conditioning would improve to the point of being able to handle it, without the nagging injuries.

I actually think the spreading out the minutes strategy is probably not a great idea especially for a guy like him, he seems like the type who needs a few minutes to get warmed up and in the groove but once he's there he becomes a well oiled and funtioning nightmare for opposing teams to handle.

Just like in your car you don't kill your engine restart it at every traffic light, why would you do the same with you're 7 footer?

[100%duncan]

I think if Splitter got those minutes on a regular basis his conditioning would improve to the point of being able to handle it, without the nagging injuries.

I actually think the spreading out the minutes strategy is probably not a great idea especially for a guy like him, he seems like the type who needs a few minutes to get warmed up and in the groove but once he's there he becomes a well oiled and funtioning nightmare for opposing teams to handle.

Just like in your car you don't kill your engine restart it at every traffic light, why would you do the same with you're 7 footer?

That's actually a pretty good analogy there. When Splits gets going, there's a high chance he can't be stopped again (injury-wise).

[100%duncan]

Update: Although the team played great today during the 3 and and half quarters. Pop's decision making on the rotation who's going to close out the game was quetionable. Without the big 3, Splitter can't still even start and close out a game! I know he was there in the last minutes but we already trailed that time! When Pop pulled him out in the mid of the fourth, the time when you're supposed to bring the game to your side, Blair did an awful effort and the lead was given up. Kawhi also didn't close out the game in which he played a very good 3rd to early 4th quarter and instead he put Jax and Green who were awful tonight, with this I am expecting them to play great the next game which is one of the most important ones of the season.

[TheSkeptic]

I think if Splitter got those minutes on a regular basis his conditioning would improve to the point of being able to handle it, without the nagging injuries.

I actually think the spreading out the minutes strategy is probably not a great idea especially for a guy like him, he seems like the type who needs a few minutes to get warmed up and in the groove but once he's there he becomes a well oiled and funtioning nightmare for opposing teams to handle.

Just like in your car you don't kill your engine restart it at every traffic light, why would you do the same with you're 7 footer?

Oh definitely. I'm not saying play him in 4 minute periods. When he's on he can and sometimes does end up dominating because he'll score multiple baskets and then get stops and secure rebounds just in a row. It'd be dumb to pull him like that all the time.

I'm thinking more in sets of 6-8 minutes as opposed to the 12 in a row stretch we saw against the Jazz. That would let him warm up, do work with the second unit, and finish without needing to take breaks.

That said, those qualities are another reason why I think he's a starter as opposed to a bench type player.

Update: Although the team played great today during the 3 and and half quarters. Pop's decision making on the rotation who's going to close out the game was quetionable. Without the big 3, Splitter can't still even start and close out a game! I know he was there in the last minutes but we already trailed that time! When Pop pulled him out in the mid of the fourth, the time when you're supposed to bring the game to your side, Blair did an awful effort and the lead was given up. Kawhi also didn't close out the game in which he played a very good 3rd to early 4th quarter and instead he put Jax and Green who were awful tonight, with this I am expecting them to play great the next game which is one of the most important ones of the season.

Yeah. This big rotation is becoming a problem. I've said it before and I'm saying it again: the Spurs are not winning it all unless Splitter/Tim/Diaw are seeing most of the 4/5 minutes. Otherwise they're not winning a championship this year.

And as for the Leonard thing, nothing really surprises me anymore. This would've been the game to start Leonard with Jax imo rather than bringing him off the bench.

[100%duncan]

^ Agreed, Jax should have come of the bench even though he was the #1 option on this game and the leader without the big 3.

[100%duncan]

I think the big man problem can be crossed out now. And health is really looking good for us!