Paul detractors: What realistic path would give Spurs better championship odds?

[cutewizard]

Trade Aldridge, even I soured on him, hmmmmmppp

[JohnnyMax]

The way Paul plays would cripple the Spurs. If anyone plays team fundamental ball it's the Spurs. Paul is an ISO player who pretends to be a field general.

[DMC]

You gotta rob Peter to pay Paul. That means you got to sign some Golden State players. You don't have to be as good as Golden State, you can just reduce how good they are. Franchises should be working on that together.

[cutewizard]

What can the Spurs do to be compe ive with Golden State>????

[SAGirl]

What can the Spurs do to be compe ive with Golden State>????

I wouldn't bring Pau back... he didn't play well against them... and he significantly slows down a bench that likes to play faster,
but then again what can you do against that team?

[cutewizard]

By any chance can we get Gordon Hayward??

[Mr. Body]

By any chance can we get Gordon Hayward??

Are you trading Kawhi Leonard or something?

[cutewizard]

Are you trading Kawhi Leonard or something?

---------------------------

Nope. Hehe

[TheDoctor]

Are you trading Kawhi Leonard or something?

D-League.

Kawhi and Hayward can switch positions (SG<-->SF) with no problem.

[LittleCriminal]

Why not put leonard at the point guard position?

[DPG21920]

You gotta rob Peter to pay Paul. That means you got to sign some Golden State players. You don't have to be as good as Golden State, you can just reduce how good they are. Franchises should be working on that together.

We will hopefully see the with Iggy & Livingston and to a lesser degree Clark.

[Mr. Body]

D-League.

Kawhi and Hayward can switch positions (SG<-->SF) with no problem.

Whatevs. For that money get a player at a position of need.

[LittleCriminal]

D-League.

Kawhi and Hayward can switch positions (SG<-->SF) with no problem.

Can you imagine that starting lineup?

Leonard
Green
Hayward
Aldridge
Gasol

[cd98]

D-League.

Kawhi and Hayward can switch positions (SG<-->SF) with no problem.

Even better, Kawhi at the 4.

[TheDoctor]

Whatevs. For that money get a player at a position of need.

I agree. But if you were asking about the trade because positions Verde was gone in that scenario.

[itzsoweezee]

Mmmh, what about the guy that started most of the season for us and was, metrics wise, our best defensive player?

I don't know why Dedmon is an afterthought in most Spurs fans' heads. The dude exceded expectations and has a lot of room for improvement, imho.

If I'm the Spurs I wouldn't doubt one bit on resigning him, he's the type of center you need in today's NBA: a big, athletic, mobile guy that doesn't demand the ball on his hands.

The bigman that needs to go ASAP is ing Aldridge. Another thing I don't get about Spurs fans: the lifetime pass this cancer gets. As long as Aldridge is here, we aren't winning . He just isn't built for efficient winning basketball, so the sooner we get rid of him, the sooner we can start planning on becoming a true contending team.

Dedmon is going to get a big raise. Spurs can't afford him

[callo1]

Build a team which allows the Spurs to switch everything while at the same time mitigating defensive breakdowns. If you look at who they drafted, that is exactly what they are trying to do. Only time will tell if Blossomgame and White can provide what is needed.

I think Dejounte is the future starting pg of this team. I would hate to see Paul come in and stunt his growth. Start him from game one next year and let him develop. I feel that by the playoffs he would be ready.

The reason why LA sucked so bad is simple...no Kawhi. Kawhi drew so much attention that teams could not afford strong double teams on LA. When Kawhi went down, the offense broke down. Had Tony been healthy, he would have at least been able to lead the team and control pace better. Add the David Lee injury into the mix and it was just too much. I think LA was catching too much blame for his poor play. He rightfully deserved some of it, but at the same time, much of it was not his fault, it was just cir stance. To avoid blame, he did deflected, and in doing so, really hurt his value. I am completely fine with him staying, because I know that he has to play his butt off to regain the reputation of his game.

If a situation arises where the Spurs can benefit from trading LA, then by all means, they must do so, but there are very few legitimate opportunities out there to do so. People here are clamoring for shipping him out, and at the same time saying we need a big.

[ceperez]

Build a team which allows the Spurs to switch everything while at the same time mitigating defensive breakdowns. If you look at who they drafted, that is exactly what they are trying to do. Only time will tell if Blossomgame and White can provide what is needed.

I think Dejounte is the future starting pg of this team. I would hate to see Paul come in and stunt his growth. Start him from game one next year and let him develop. I feel that by the playoffs he would be ready.

The reason why LA sucked so bad is simple...no Kawhi. Kawhi drew so much attention that teams could not afford strong double teams on LA. When Kawhi went down, the offense broke down. Had Tony been healthy, he would have at least been able to lead the team and control pace better. Add the David Lee injury into the mix and it was just too much. I think LA was catching too much blame for his poor play. He rightfully deserved some of it, but at the same time, much of it was not his fault, it was just cir stance. To avoid blame, he did deflected, and in doing so, really hurt his value. I am completely fine with him staying, because I know that he has to play his butt off to regain the reputation of his game.

If a situation arises where the Spurs can benefit from trading LA, then by all means, they must do so, but there are very few legitimate opportunities out there to do so. People here are clamoring for shipping him out, and at the same time saying we need a big.

Spurs really need a 2nd offense option and hopefully an LMA and Green trade gets us a Paul George or perhaps someone lesser.

So here's the team now with all its assets:

Murray/White/Parker/Forbes
Simmons/Hanga
Leonard/Blossomgame
Anderson/Bertans/(Missing All-star)
Pau/Multinov

[cutewizard]

Rosen | How to dethrone the Warriors

OFFENSE

• Do not be sucked in to playing small ball.
• Instead, feature a quick-footed post-up big man, who can pass, shoot and, most importantly, make quick, explosive moves.
• Both the center and the power forward must be menacing shot-blockers.
• Attack GS’s small-ball lineup by always sending these two bigs to the offensive glass.
• Any smart, good-shooting, long-armed point and shooting guards would work.
• The bench has to be deep and versatile.
• Because trying to run with the Warriors is futile, an opponent must fast break only on turnovers and any other optimal situations. When running opportunities do present themselves, 3-pointers should be shunned and the ball must be forcefully driven to the hoop.
• Set the pace with slow-down, but quick-passing and quick-cutting sets. Actually, the Triangle would be extremely effective.
• In any case, avoid quick shots and make the Warriors play defense for a minimum of 20 seconds on every possession.
• Get Steph Curry involved in as many high- or mid-level screens as possible, thereby forcing him to switch on to a bigger, stronger player who has the ability to drive into the lane. Overall, and except for his fast hands, Curry is the weakest link in the Warriors defense.
• Take good care of the ball.
• That means making no out passes or cross-court passes while the passer is airborne.

DEFENSE

• The Warriors certainly feature several players who are excellent shooters from downtown.
• However, more damaging than their triples are the numerous layups, dunks and floaters generated by dive-cuts, back-door cuts, screen-rolls and baseline screens that demand perfect coordination from the defenders.
• To counteract these devastating high-percentage interior shots, various zones must be employed and staffed by long-armed, quick-footed defenders.
• For example, a well-rehearsed, semi-trapping 1-3-1 alignment with a dominant shot-blocker nearest the hoop and a secondary shot-blocker in the middle. However, the only Warriors who should be trapped are Curry (but only if he bags three consecutive treys) and Kevin Durant (always).
• Throw in an occasional 2-1-2 and 1-2-2. Also some match-up zone.
• Change defensive looks after ever timeout, quarter break and especially after the clock is stopped for free throws. This, to prevent the Warriors from getting into a comfortable rhythm against any of the defenses.
• These defenses will effectively negate the Warriors’ perpetual-motion offense as well as the efficiency of their screen/roll game.
• Overplay Klay Thompson’s right shoulder.
• Zones will work because the zone offenses used in the NBA are simplistic and are minimally effective.
• However, one of the detriments to playing zones is the vulnerability to consistent outside shooting. For sure, forcing the Warriors to shoot 50 or more treys will often be costly, but playing straight-up defense certainly hasn’t worked.
• Let Draymond Green shoot as many 3-pointers as he wants.
• Another drawback in playing zones is yielding offensive rebounds, since the defending bigs have no specific opponents to box out. That’s why the frontcourt must feature long, quick, hungry rebounders.
• Zones also need a few extra seconds to set up, which make them more susceptible to fast breaks.
• Also, offensive guards and wings must diligently retreat on defense whenever a shot goes up. This, to prevent one of the Warriors from leaking out.

But there’s a much more viable way to subdue the Warriors. That is, if the Spurs can take the court with a healthy Tony Parker (or Chris Paul?) and an undamaged Kawhi Leonard.
In fact, it says here that had Zaza Pachulia not stomped on Leonard’s foot, today’s victory parade would have been celebrated in San Antonio.
ByCharley Rosen

[ceperez]

You gotta rob Peter to pay Paul. That means you got to sign some Golden State players. You don't have to be as good as Golden State, you can just reduce how good they are. Franchises should be working on that together.

PATFO did not realize this when they went for Aldridge instead of trying to sign Green. Heck, if we had Green we would have been more compe ive.

I will try to get Livingston and Iggy in free agency if possible.

Roster:

Murray/White/Parker
Green/Simmons
Leonard/Livingston/BlossomGame
Igoudala/Anderson/Bertans
Dedmon/Pau

[SAGirl]

Rosen | How to dethrone the Warriors

OFFENSE

• Do not be sucked in to playing small ball.
• Instead, feature a quick-footed post-up big man, who can pass, shoot and, most importantly, make quick, explosive moves.
• Both the center and the power forward must be menacing shot-blockers.
• Attack GS’s small-ball lineup by always sending these two bigs to the offensive glass.
• Any smart, good-shooting, long-armed point and shooting guards would work.
• The bench has to be deep and versatile.
• Because trying to run with the Warriors is futile, an opponent must fast break only on turnovers and any other optimal situations. When running opportunities do present themselves, 3-pointers should be shunned and the ball must be forcefully driven to the hoop.
• Set the pace with slow-down, but quick-passing and quick-cutting sets. Actually, the Triangle would be extremely effective.
• In any case, avoid quick shots and make the Warriors play defense for a minimum of 20 seconds on every possession.
• Get Steph Curry involved in as many high- or mid-level screens as possible, thereby forcing him to switch on to a bigger, stronger player who has the ability to drive into the lane. Overall, and except for his fast hands, Curry is the weakest link in the Warriors defense.
• Take good care of the ball.
• That means making no out passes or cross-court passes while the passer is airborne.

DEFENSE

• The Warriors certainly feature several players who are excellent shooters from downtown.
• However, more damaging than their triples are the numerous layups, dunks and floaters generated by dive-cuts, back-door cuts, screen-rolls and baseline screens that demand perfect coordination from the defenders.
• To counteract these devastating high-percentage interior shots, various zones must be employed and staffed by long-armed, quick-footed defenders.
• For example, a well-rehearsed, semi-trapping 1-3-1 alignment with a dominant shot-blocker nearest the hoop and a secondary shot-blocker in the middle. However, the only Warriors who should be trapped are Curry (but only if he bags three consecutive treys) and Kevin Durant (always).
• Throw in an occasional 2-1-2 and 1-2-2. Also some match-up zone.
• Change defensive looks after ever timeout, quarter break and especially after the clock is stopped for free throws. This, to prevent the Warriors from getting into a comfortable rhythm against any of the defenses.
• These defenses will effectively negate the Warriors’ perpetual-motion offense as well as the efficiency of their screen/roll game.
• Overplay Klay Thompson’s right shoulder.
• Zones will work because the zone offenses used in the NBA are simplistic and are minimally effective.
• However, one of the detriments to playing zones is the vulnerability to consistent outside shooting. For sure, forcing the Warriors to shoot 50 or more treys will often be costly, but playing straight-up defense certainly hasn’t worked.
• Let Draymond Green shoot as many 3-pointers as he wants.
• Another drawback in playing zones is yielding offensive rebounds, since the defending bigs have no specific opponents to box out. That’s why the frontcourt must feature long, quick, hungry rebounders.
• Zones also need a few extra seconds to set up, which make them more susceptible to fast breaks.
• Also, offensive guards and wings must diligently retreat on defense whenever a shot goes up. This, to prevent one of the Warriors from leaking out.

But there’s a much more viable way to subdue the Warriors. That is, if the Spurs can take the court with a healthy Tony Parker (or Chris Paul?) and an undamaged Kawhi Leonard.
In fact, it says here that had Zaza Pachulia not stomped on Leonard’s foot, today’s victory parade would have been celebrated in San Antonio.
ByCharley Rosen

Good suggestions.

[DAF86]

Dedmon is going to get a big raise. Spurs can't afford him

Of course he is going to get a big raise, if you are planning him to be your center for the future you have to pay the guy. Depending on how much he asks, I would be willing to make the effort.

[therealtruth]

I agree with Rosen on not trying to beat them at small ball. They have better and more smallball players. You need to control the tempo and get easy baskets in the paint. You also need enough length to defend and bother their passing game.

[Mr. Body]

I agree with Rosen on not trying to beat them at small ball. They have better and more smallball players. You need to control the tempo and get easy baskets in the paint. You also need enough length to defend and bother their passing game.

They're eventually going to get beat by a long, quick, strong team that gums their offense up.

[cutewizard]

They're eventually going to get beat by a long, quick, strong team that gums their offense up.

-------------------------

Question is which team right, hope its the Spurs one of these days......