Popovich, Spurs content to stand pat

[rascal]

Yeah, but LA looks like it will get better and OKC should improve too, so if that happens and the Spurs improve then we might be in the same situation as before. Unless they think the Spurs can improve so much that it will offset LA's new additions and also offset OKC's improvement.

The Spurs will be lucky to play the same, never mind improve. They had the number one seed last year. How much more can they improve bringing back the same team? And they were injury free going into the playoffs, the number 1 seed won't happen next year.

[lmbebo]

One can argue that staying pat is the right approach. We brought in 2 players late in the season, had a 20 game win streak and made it to the conference finals.

On the other end, we lost a 2-0 lead. We had defensive issues that were apparent.

I think internal growth can work with Diaw being in the system more, Diaw being more aggressive and Pop playing Splitter more.

I still think getting a defensive 4/5 would help tremendously.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

No reason to believe he won't shoot more. The problem is will he shoot at a good %, that translates into better play. The guy has confidence issues.

One reason to believe he won't shoot more is that each team he plays for complains that he doesn't shoot enough. So you know, there's a historical trend going on.

It's a problem that he shoots at a good percentage?

He might have confidence issues, but nothing in the same universe as say Matt Bonner. I think he has confidence playing basketball, but he just doesn't want to be in the spotlight. I would call it more settling or complacent.

[Seventyniner]

Diaw learning not to foul so much (and thereby compromising the whole Spurs' defensive system) would help tremendously. Will training camp + preseason + regular season be enough for this to happen? I'm not sure, but we'll see.

[therealtruth]

I think part of getting Diaw to be more aggressive is putting the ball in his hands and letting him run the offense. He did that pretty well with the Suns even though they had Nash. It will also allow Parker to play of the ball more where he can use his speed.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

I think part of getting Diaw to be more aggressive is putting the ball in his hands and letting him run the offense. He did that pretty well with the Suns even though they had Nash. It will also allow Parker to play of the ball more where he can use his speed.

I've wanted to see some point-forward from Diaw. If the team can't get reliable backup PG play...and they compromise the defense in trying to do so, then I'd rather explore atypical options like this. Force the offense through him and see what happens. It's worth an experiment.

[SA210]

The Spurs may have no other choice than to stand pat, but in doing so they've not solved any of the issues that plagued them a few months ago. I certainly understand the financial constraints the Spurs are under. That's just the way it is. Still, if the Spurs start next season with exactly the same team, as presently constructed, then will continue to be defensively inferior and a notch below the big dogs on the block - OKC Thunder - for yet another season and THAT is a concern.

This was all made very clear in the recent playoff series. Looking at both sides of the coin, scoring points is one thing and the Spurs can do that pretty well. Yet the Thunder clamped down on the Spurs and were able to generate key stops at critical moments. They did so by taking away the Spurs strengths, negating their pick-n-roll offense and thus killed their ability to score. On the other side, the Thunder were able to raise their level of offensive play when they most needed it. They literally scored with ease - off turnovers, runouts, offensive rebounds and putbacks, etc. The veteran Spurs were left powerless to do anything about it.

Stand pat all you want so long as everyone knows that improvement for this team IS NOT coming from within - contrary to what Pop and RC have told us so far. Improvement must come from one or two positional upgrades, which the Spurs. at this moment, are in no position to make. This isn't a good receipe - especially for team who has 2 major stars on the wrong side of 30 years old. Osmosis is not going to close the talent and skill-level gap between the Spurs and the Thunder.

One of the best posts ever!

[Duncan2177]

Just sign Kenyon for the vet min and call it a day.

[silverblk mystix]

Content= The Spurs system and franchise is one of the best in the NBA-if not the best. Standing pat makes sense.


Content= No les in past 5 seasons-standing pat = no les anytime soon the way the NBA has become a superfriends league.

[Mel_13]

Content= The Spurs system and franchise is one of the best in the NBA-if not the best. Standing pat makes sense.


Content= No les in past 5 seasons-standing pat = no les anytime soon the way the NBA has become a superfriends league.

I'll try a serious question.

Given the assets available to the Spurs, can you outline a course of action that would have had a reasonable probability of producing a better team than the course of action that has been taken?

[yavozerb]

I'll try a serious question.

Given the assets available to the Spurs, can you outline a course of action that would have had a reasonable probability of producing a better team than the course of action that has been taken?

This should be interesting to see the crap people come up with trying to answer this question. Spurs have done about as well as they could have done this offseason and thats simply putting back last seasons team.

[silverblk mystix]

I'll try a serious question.

Given the assets available to the Spurs, can you outline a course of action that would have had a reasonable probability of producing a better team than the course of action that has been taken?

Serious answer;

Only one.

The only way, with what is/was available that would produce a better team would be by subtraction- not by addition.

I won't mention who should be subtracted for obvious reasons, but subtracting dead weight and trying to improve in that way is probably the best way to improve.

Probably not enough to win a le (depending on who they get in return) but a step in a positive direction.

[Mel_13]

Serious answer;

Only one.

The only way, with what is/was available that would produce a better team would be by subtraction- not by addition.

I won't mention who should be subtracted for obvious reasons, but subtracting dead weight and trying to improve in that way is probably the best way to improve.

Probably not enough to win a le (depending on who they get in return) but a step in a positive direction.

So, amnesty Bonner and sign a player to a minimum contract?

Then salary dump Blair and sign another player to a minimum contract?

IMO, that just leads to new whipping boys for ST, but doesn't improve the team's prospects.

I do appreciate the serious reply.

[silverblk mystix]

So, amnesty Bonner and sign a player to a minimum contract?

Then salary dump Blair and sign another player to a minimum contract?

IMO, that just leads to new whipping boys for ST, but doesn't improve the team's prospects.

I do appreciate the serious reply.

If you read the first reply correctly--it never implied which was better or worse.

It said that

Content = good

Content = not so good

Double-edged sword. The thing that makes the Spurs franchise so good sometimes is the thing that makes the Spurs franchise- not so good.

Realistic. Not implying one is better or worse than the other.

[Mel_13]

If you read the first reply correctly--it never implied which was better or worse.

It said that

Content = good

Content = not so good

Double-edged sword. The thing that makes the Spurs franchise so good sometimes is the thing that makes the Spurs franchise- not so good.

Realistic. Not implying one is better or worse than the other.

I understood. I was just asking if you saw a reasonable road for the Spurs to overcome the realities of a superfriends league. I don't think one exists. Going forward, if someone wants to be a fan of a perennial contender, they need to look to the franchises in NY, LA, and Miami.

[temujin]

I'll try a serious question.

Given the assets available to the Spurs, can you outline a course of action that would have had a reasonable probability of producing a better team than the course of action that has been taken?

One could argue: gambling on Lorbek instead of Diaw.

At the end of the day, the NBA is a superstar-driven business, and the Spurs, having no superstar currently, know that they can be really good with Diaw and really really good with Lorbek and yet won't come up with another le.

[-21-]

Cool stuff. I love Pop's comments about negotiating with Tim.

I agree with SenorSpur's post but he said it himself, "The Spurs may have no other choice than to stand pat."

Also Pop said De Colo is a "poor man's Danny Ainige." That's interesting.

[G-Dawgg]

So basically the Spurs are too short handed to beat the elite teams again and the Spurs and Popovich are content with that?

[spurs10]

So, amnesty Bonner and sign a player to a minimum contract?

Then salary dump Blair and sign another player to a minimum contract?

IMO, that just leads to new whipping boys for ST, but doesn't improve the team's prospects.

I do appreciate the serious reply.

Are we able to use the vet mimimum without crossing the luxury tax threshold? I'm not clear on the options we have. Is amnesting Bonner the only way we can sign anyone else to a minimum contract without paying the tax? Thanks for any insight...

[Mel_13]

Are we able to use the vet mimimum without crossing the luxury tax threshold? I'm not clear on the options we have. Is amnesting Bonner the only way we can sign anyone else to a minimum contract without paying the tax? Thanks for any insight...

It's too late to amnesty Bonner, but the Spurs appear to have room to use the vet minimum without going over the tax. Also, Blair's contract does not become guaranteed until November 1st and Neal's will not be fully guaranteed until January 10th.

[T Park]

So basically the Spurs are too short handed to beat the elite teams again and the Spurs and Popovich are content with that?

I'm sure they'd be all ears on how to improve the team seeing as no one is left.

[temujin]

So basically the Spurs are too short handed to beat the elite teams again and the Spurs and Popovich are content with that?

So WC finalist is not an elite team?

[spurs10]

It's too late to amnesty Bonner, but the Spurs appear to have room to use the vet minimum without going over the tax. Also, Blair's contract does not become guaranteed until November 1st and Neal's will not be fully guaranteed until January 10th.

Thanks! I wonder if they have their eye on anyone. In light of Blair's recent public airings, I'm guessing he is on thin ice until 11/1.
I knew about the amnesty deadline, but had a momentary lapse of reason. This happens often when I consider Matt's disappearing act in the last many playoffs. Much has been said about whether Blair or Matt would be our best 5th big. Looks like Blair is more likely for the chopping block I suppose.
It looks like we might have some intriguing options for a back-up pg in Nando. Mills, or CJ. I can only hope we bring in a vet for the minimum. Again, thanks for clearing that up.....

[ElNono]

Given the assets available to the Spurs, can you outline a course of action that would have had a reasonable probability of producing a better team than the course of action that has been taken?

Pro-actively shop Bonner, adding Blair as a sweetner if necessary... That's near $5 million bucks, which should be enough to land you a 4th big. But above all, it would remove Matty from Pop's reach, which arguably makes this team better when it matters.

IMO, anyways.

[Mel_13]

Pro-actively shop Bonner, adding Blair as a sweetner if necessary... That's near $5 million bucks, which should be enough to land you a 4th big. But above all, it would remove Matty from Pop's reach, which arguably makes this team better when it matters.

IMO, anyways.

The other teams have seen Matty play.