Aldridge splash irrelevant if Tony Parker keeps slipping

[Kawhitstorm]

all TP jokes aside...how could FO not see this coming?

You don't think Pop was aware of Tony's demise? Pop was simply playing the loyalty card & was back paying Tony (someone who he treats as his own son) for taking pay cuts during his prime (most likely a handshake agreement). You also have the issue of finding a replacement that Pop is willing to trust right away since Tim/Manu are nearing the end of their career not to mention Tim/Manu might have vouched for Tony & might have retired if he wasn't retained.

After 2014 Pop basically didn't give a about chasing trophies b/c there was nothing that was going to top it so he main focus was ushering in a new era while allowing the Big 3 retire on their own terms w/ their dignities intact.

[SpursforSix]

You don't think Pop was aware of Tony's demise? Pop was simply playing the loyalty card & was back paying Tony (someone who he treats as his own son) for taking pay cuts during his prime (most likely a handshake agreement). You also have the issue of finding a replacement that Pop is willing to trust right away since Tim/Manu are nearing the end of their career not to mention Tim/Manu might have vouched for Tony & might have retired if he wasn't retained.

After 2014 Pop basically didn't give a about chasing trophies b/c there was nothing that was going to top it so he main focus was ushering in a new era while allowing the Big 3 retire on their own terms w/ their dignities intact.

that's a lot of assumptions. Tim and Manu retiring if they don't sign Tony?

I don't mind them being loyal to Tony but it shouldn't be a contract that hurts the team like it does. Give him 30 years at $2,000,000 per. At this point, there won't be much drop off between now and 2045.

LOL about Pop not caring about trophies.

Regardless, by now, they've had plenty of time to get a decent back up. Mills is great at what he does but they could surely have found a veteran PG by now.

[Kawhitstorm]

that's a lot of assumptions. Tim and Manu retiring if they don't sign Tony?

I don't mind them being loyal to Tony but it shouldn't be a contract that hurts the team like it does. Give him 30 years at $2,000,000 per. At this point, there won't be much drop off between now and 2045.

LOL about Pop not caring about trophies.

Regardless, by now, they've had plenty of time to get a decent back up. Mills is great at what he does but they could surely have found a veteran PG by now.

Plenty of time to get a decent backup? You mean Patty/CoJo. Why in the would they get another backup when they couldn't even keep CoJo b/c of LMA? If Pop wasn't loyal & Tony wasn't part of the Big 3 then he would have been shipped out of like Richard Jefferson's terrible contract. The fact is there is no way Tony is getting traded ala Kobe. The solution would have been to let Tony play out his contract then resign him to his market value instead of back paying him via an extension. They could stretch his contract if he want to retire but dude is claiming he wants to play for 20 season for the sake of his legacy.
In any case stubborn Pop is going to do it his own way & nobody can stop him b/c he rules w/ an iron fist:

[SpursforSix]

Plenty of time to get a decent backup? You mean Patty/CoJo. Why in the would they get another backup when they couldn't even keep CoJo b/c of LMA? If Pop wasn't loyal & Tony wasn't part of the Big 3 then he would have been shipped out of like Richard Jefferson's terrible contract. The fact is there is no way Tony is getting traded ala Kobe. The solution would have been to let Tony play out his contract then resign him to his market value instead of back paying him via an extension. They could stretch his contract if he want to retire but dude is claiming he wants to play for 20 season for the sake of his legacy.
In any case stubborn Pop is going to do it his own way & nobody can stop him b/c he rules w/ an iron fist:

I don't know. Maybe I should just send Pop an email.

[SAGirl]

We spent how many years searching for an athletic sf before Leonard? How long to replace Robinson?

It just seems kind of short sighted to say we should have done something about Parker. It's just not possible with a salary cap to stockpile talent like you're the Alabama football team or something.

The team will be different. We are not getting another star PG. Tony will do what he does, but he won't be the same as he was. He's more of a roleplayer now. You hope he can hit his 3s, take good care of the ball and be opportunistic when the ball comes his way to score or set someone else up. If we move on from Tony we are not getting his equivalent in his better years. Hopefully we get someone who is tough defensively and can hit a 3. Ray might be able to do that for stretches (hopefully).

The worry right now rather is that Kawhi is not the playmaker a prime Tony, TD, or Manu were. At one point or another one of these 3 was in dominant fashion and made a lot of plays, with the others adding and contributing and some overlapping. At this point, if our best player is Kawhi, the question is can he be the dominant playmaker/scorer these guys were in their primes. If he comes up short in this department, then you need Tony to supply that, and that could be a problem at that point.

Slo-mo will contribute and we will see development from him as a playmaker this year. Its' his best asset and he's damn real good at it. Only, he's in a development path of his own, with improvements required in his range shooting and other areas. He has potential of his own, but still young and inexperienced, he won't supply what the main unit needs. I do see Aldridge playing with the bench some. Kyle and LMA have good chemistry. I have been so surprised by Kyle, that I'll be honest and say there isn't a guy he doesn't know how to set up for a shot TBH. That aspect of the game comes very naturally to him. Its the other stuff where we hope to see him get better this year.

[DAF86]

Not necessarily true. The '14 championship was won with pretty mediocre contribution from TP, tbh.

[RD2191]

If there's ever a night where Parker takes more shots than Kawhi or LMA his ass needs to be benched for the season.

[sasaint]

We spent how many years searching for an athletic sf before Leonard? How long to replace Robinson?

It just seems kind of short sighted to say we should have done something about Parker. It's just not possible with a salary cap to stockpile talent like you're the Alabama football team or something.

So true. Where would Bama be if it were burdened by a salary cap?

[313]

Surely Pop will adjust the gameplan like he did whehn he moved from Tim to Manu to Tony... Tony shouldn't be the head of the snake anymore, and it's on Pop to figure how to properly integrate LMA or Kawhi into that role.

[SpursforSix]

Surely Pop will adjust the gameplan like he did whehn he moved from Tim to Manu to Tony... Tony shouldn't be the head of the snake anymore, and it's on Pop to figure how to properly integrate LMA or Kawhi into that role.

I'm not as worried about his offense as his defense. As long as he can move the ball on offense and hit an occasional jumper, he'll be OK maybe. But he's going to be consistently exposed on defense.

[TEXICAN]

I'm not as worried about his offense as his defense. As long as he can move the ball on offense and hit an occasional jumper, he'll be OK maybe. But he's going to be consistently exposed on defense.

This.. Why does there have to be so many damn good pg's in the West. He's going to be torched on a nightly basis.

[sasaint]

I think Pop feels he can transform Tony into more of a playmaker... he did the same with Manu. We'll see if it works out.

I think Pop can mold Tony. Tony has limitations, but he is not stupid. He has worked hard on his game, and it has evolved effectively. He foresaw this day and worked to develop his jump shot. His mid-range game is money, and he can get hot from 3, too. I expect that part of his game to continue to improve. He and Manu are our best ball-handlers, and I expect that to continue this season, as well. That's what we need from Tony now. Bring the ball up the floor, break the press as necessary, and initiate the offense.

Going forward, If Tony is an effective combo guard he will be fine in a new role. As long as our offense continues to stress player and ball movement, we don't need the Tony of old (which should cause some to rejoice), and he is good enough and smart enough to provide what we do need.

[sasaint]

This.. Why does there have to be so many damn good pg's in the West. He's going to be torched on a nightly basis.

Pop will not consistently task Tony with defending the opposing PG. He will guard the opposing SG most of the time. We will guard the great PGs in the West by committee - a little Tony, a little Danny, a little Kawhi and a little pestering with Patty.

[TEXICAN]

Pop will not consistently task Tony with defending the opposing PG. He will guard the opposing SG most of the time. We will guard the great PGs in the West by committee - a little Tony, a little Danny, a little Kawhi and a little pestering with Patty.

True, but there are some matchups where he will not be so easy to hide...GS, Houston with new addition of Lawson, Clips w/Pierce and Stephenson come to mind who are potential playoff matchups

[RD2191]

The are people talking about? Porker refuses to change his game. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Bartleby]

***

[spurraider21]

https://instagram.com/p/9J5Ql4Rh6z/

[mingus]

Last season Parker had injuries that plagued him and in addition the Spurs had deep post season runs the prior 3 years causing fatigue no doubt--not only him but the whole team. We'll know fairly quickly into the season I think what are realistic expectations for him. If after a long off-season where he dieted and trained better than ever he struggles like last year at getting to the rim, then I have little hope he'll get better as season wears on. If he's his normal or close to normal self, then hopefully we can rest him so he is fresh for the Playoffs even if that means giving up a seed or two.

If Parker can't perform to level needed, the only hope is that Kyle Anderson can step up hugely. But he's unproven, so not going to rest hopes there--but I do like him a lot and think there is a possibility he can be a real good player.

So outside of expecting epic things from KA which is unfair and not probable, I agree with OP. If Parker doesn't perform, the Spurs are done for. He's too instrumental to the offense, which is basically built around his penetration.

[ElNono]

Peeps underselling NBA champ Patty Mills a ton, tbh... He's no Parker, but with the scoring load tilting somewhere else, we know him and Manu are good enough to go all the way...

Also, McCallum is still largely an unknown quan y... for basic ball handling and play calling, he seems serviceable so far... time will tell

[SAGirl]

Peeps underselling NBA champ Patty Mills a ton, tbh...

I love me some Patty Thrills for sure.

[Mikeanaro]

Not necessarily true. The '14 championship was won with pretty mediocre contribution from TP, tbh.

But he was willing to pass the ball renouncing to his hero antics, which wasnt the case in ´15.

[dabom]

I love me some Patty Thrills for sure.

[SpursforSix]

Pop will not consistently task Tony with defending the opposing PG. He will guard the opposing SG most of the time. We will guard the great PGs in the West by committee - a little Tony, a little Danny, a little Kawhi and a little pestering with Patty.

There's going to be tons of match up problems. SG shooting 3's over him or forcing him to play tight. They'll blow around him forcing someone to help and leaving someone else open. Teams will do to the Spurs like they have done.

[Ice009]

I'm not as worried about his offense as his defense. As long as he can move the ball on offense and hit an occasional jumper, he'll be OK maybe. But he's going to be consistently exposed on defense.

Exactly. This is what I've been saying all along. His defense is the real worry.

[sasaint]

Peeps underselling NBA champ Patty Mills a ton, tbh... He's no Parker, but with the scoring load tilting somewhere else, we know him and Manu are good enough to go all the way...

Also, McCallum is still largely an unknown quan y... for basic ball handling and play calling, he seems serviceable so far... time will tell

True, Patty has decent handles. But I am concerned that forcing him into the role of principal ball handler for long stretches would have an adverse impact on his shooting, which we need more than ever this season. As for McCallum, you are seeing something that I do not. Yes, he is largely an unknown quan y, but what I have seen does not lead me to believe that he is "serviceable" against anybody but the opponents' scrubs in mop-up time. Basically Tony and Manu are the guys who will have to bring the ball up the floor especially against pressure. Patty will need to some, and Kawhi, also, against favorable match ups. But I really want those guys concentrating on what they do best.