Article from The Ringer: The Spurs Are Who We Thought They Were

[cariocaz]

By pairing DeMar DeRozan with LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio will begin a strange, new era playing like the tedious team most have perceived it to be for years

By Danny Chau Jul 19, 2018, 6:20am EDT

The Spurs will start this strange new era in a holding pattern, as the team will learn in real time whether there is still any magic in their scouting: all of the young talent they’re banking on, from Murray to Lonnie Walker IV to Derrick White, were drafted in the mid-to-late first round. In the meantime, the roster reflects the Spurs’ awkward new reality: one that’s decidedly uncommitted to its future, and quickly unbinding from its past.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/7...-demar-derozan

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By pairing DeMar DeRozan with LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio will begin a strange, new era playing like the tedious team most have perceived it to be for years

By Danny Chau Jul 19, 2018, 6:20am EDT

The Spurs will start this strange new era in a holding pattern, as the team will learn in real time whether there is still any magic in their scouting: all of the young talent they’re banking on, from Murray to Lonnie Walker IV to Derrick White, were drafted in the mid-to-late first round. In the meantime, the roster reflects the Spurs’ awkward new reality: one that’s decidedly uncommitted to its future, and quickly unbinding from its past.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/7...-demar-derozan

I think this dude is so offbase. If anything, we are moving toward a younger, more athletic version of ourselves.

We have all noticed the slowing, methodical pace over the last several years. And pop will keep it controlled always. But now we have the beginnings of a team that's going to be attacking the basket from multiple positions again. Even Poeltl, at center. And DD at wing will help in that regard (given we got nothing from Kawhitter last year)

Add in Murray, White, Walker, Belinelli (who is always backcutting) and future picks and see Tony, Green, Kyle, and a non player in Kqwhi exit.

I think fans are going to be pleasantly surprised actually. Meanwhile this dude can go back to his mom's basement and learn about Spurs basketball.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

What has been going on in San Antonio for the past 20 years is unique so none of these guys will ever get it right if they analyze it from the same viewpoint they do everything else

[FireMicoHalili]

Analyses are okay. This is all just basketball opinion. What’s more important is knowing not to take any information from Cris Carter and Jabari Young. takes, zero cred. I hope they bolt to Toronto as well.

[dbestpro]

Media is just mad that the Spurs will continue the winning tradition. They have been predicting the collapse for 10 years. The fact that the Spurs can still remain compe ive after all that has happened is nothing short of amazing.

[jjktkk]

I actually think Pop will be reinvigorated and ready for the challenge of coaching this new version of the Spurs.

[szkorhetz]

I actually think Pop will be reinvigorated and ready for the challenge of coaching this new version of the Spurs.

Agreed.
Now he can prove that the system made Leonard who he is. There are numerous valid arguments against Leonard being the better player.
DD can make his teammates better and for me that's one of the cornerstones to supers om. KL never had any playmaking, so the loss of his D will be somewhat compensated.
Leonard's rebounding will surely be missed, though.

[TDomination]

I actually think Pop will be reinvigorated and ready for the challenge of coaching this new version of the Spurs.

I hope this is true. Would love to see that fire back. It just seems like he's been going through the motions lately. That better not be the case this year.

[jjktkk]

I hope this is true. Would love to see that fire back. It just seems like he's been going through the motions lately. That better not be the case this year.

Two reasons imo for my thinking: One, coaching will help him get over the loss of his wife, and two, I think he will be highly motivated to show Kawhi what an idiot he was for quitting on the Spurs.

[HankChinaski]

People mentioning pop mailing it in an not having the fire.

Having been someone who lost a family member to a terminal disease. Your career is pretty much a obligation at times because you want to be elsewhere when things are going down. I think it says a lot about Pop an his dedication to the organization that pays him his salary he committed day in an day out to the job at hand an still managed his life at home.

Can you even imagine that emotional an mental toll that takes after a long day of work to come home an see your partner struggling with something you have no way of easing the troubles. Yeah I think my fire/passion would be placed elsewhere despite my firm commitment to the job.

[rjv]

the le of the article never really matched the content of the piece.

[HankChinaski]

I think he comes back strong this year. He loves the sport an his job. That alone is a blessing for him, despite the drama of Nephew. The took a hit with the trade but now they can focus on the team an the game instead of a singular en y trying to play spy.

[sasaint]

I actually think Pop will be reinvigorated and ready for the challenge of coaching this new version of the Spurs.

I have wondered whether we might see him more engaged. With all of the new parts, I expect we will see even more early season mad scientist than usual. I hope he can get a better handle on rotations come next spring than he showed last year.

[dbestpro]

Pop will come with fire, but I think DeRozan will play with a chip on his should and a Chip helping that three point shot.

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I have wondered whether we might see him more engaged. With all of the new parts, I expect we will see even more early season mad scientist than usual. I hope he can get a better handle on rotations come next spring than he showed last year.

Yep, rotations were an utter mess last year, which I'll attribute to them not knowing if and when Kawhitter was returning fro his temper tantrum.

[Perry Mason]

The article may be ok, but le and opening line are terrible.

Spurs do one thing that many posters even miss. They prioritize character, drive and hard work over skill. There is a balance, of course (as skill is necessary), but they would rather have 10 guys who are blue collar, off the court workers, than a hodge podge of high draft pick athletic guys that bring drama, emotional instability and weakness in the face of adversity.

For a small market, I think there is no other way to go. The hard working guys will always compete and give you a chance at the playoffs. Talent may be slower to arrive (since this strategy does not involve tanking or catering to pussies), but when it does, the team jumps to elite, much like Kawhi gave the Spurs in 2016 and 2017.

There is some truth to PAFTO needing to learn how to better interact with the new generation of players, basically babied millennials (stereotype but with truth there). But, it is only somewhat true.

Teaching good habits, having a mentor that pushes you hard, and tough love are timeless, and are for every generation. The Spurs are overall better off avoiding the typical spoiled but skilled player, and bringing up lesser skilled character guys. So when you get that rare combination of character and talent, the Spurs are ready for the next period of dominance.

And then we never have to put up with ten years of "rebuilding", as Timvp rightly points out.

[Marcus Bryant]

Fair. Lots of questions, but the Spurs had benefited from star players who bought into the program over the last 30 years.

[Marcus Bryant]

Pop will come with fire, but I think DeRozan will play with a chip on his should and a Chip helping that three point shot.

Written off. Right where they want to be.

[Marcus Bryant]

Pop just buried his wife and went through the Nephew drama. Getting back to basketball is probably a good thing for him.

[Chucho]

Media is just mad that the Spurs will continue the winning tradition. They have been predicting the collapse for 10 years. The fact that the Spurs can still remain compe ive after all that has happened is nothing short of amazing.

The media = typical ST poster, tbh, fwiw.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

;tldr spurs is boring

[TheGreatYacht]

Pop said basketball was a little kids game less than 24 hours ago

He doesn't give a anymore. He's just collecting paychecks and it's time to send him packing.

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The article may be ok, but le and opening line are terrible.

Spurs do one thing that many posters even miss. They prioritize character, drive and hard work over skill. There is a balance, of course (as skill is necessary), but they would rather have 10 guys who are blue collar, off the court workers, than a hodge podge of high draft pick athletic guys that bring drama, emotional instability and weakness in the face of adversity.

For a small market, I think there is no other way to go. The hard working guys will always compete and give you a chance at the playoffs. Talent may be slower to arrive (since this strategy does not involve tanking or catering to pussies), but when it does, the team jumps to elite, much like Kawhi gave the Spurs in 2016 and 2017.

There is some truth to PAFTO needing to learn how to better interact with the new generation of players, basically babied millennials (stereotype but with truth there). But, it is only somewhat true.

Teaching good habits, having a mentor that pushes you hard, and tough love are timeless, and are for every generation. The Spurs are overall better off avoiding the typical spoiled but skilled player, and bringing up lesser skilled character guys. So when you get that rare combination of character and talent, the Spurs are ready for the next period of dominance.

And then we never have to put up with ten years of "rebuilding", as Timvp rightly points out.

[Seventyniner]

The article may be ok, but le and opening line are terrible.

Spurs do one thing that many posters even miss. They prioritize character, drive and hard work over skill. There is a balance, of course (as skill is necessary), but they would rather have 10 guys who are blue collar, off the court workers, than a hodge podge of high draft pick athletic guys that bring drama, emotional instability and weakness in the face of adversity.

For a small market, I think there is no other way to go. The hard working guys will always compete and give you a chance at the playoffs. Talent may be slower to arrive (since this strategy does not involve tanking or catering to pussies), but when it does, the team jumps to elite, much like Kawhi gave the Spurs in 2016 and 2017.

There is some truth to PAFTO needing to learn how to better interact with the new generation of players, basically babied millennials (stereotype but with truth there). But, it is only somewhat true.

Teaching good habits, having a mentor that pushes you hard, and tough love are timeless, and are for every generation. The Spurs are overall better off avoiding the typical spoiled but skilled player, and bringing up lesser skilled character guys. So when you get that rare combination of character and talent, the Spurs are ready for the next period of dominance.

And then we never have to put up with ten years of "rebuilding", as Timvp rightly points out.

Good post. Pop is the polar opposite of Calipari in this respect, and Pop tends to overachieve given his team's talent level while Cal underachieves.

By all accounts DeRozan is a high-character guy.

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Pop said basketball was a little kids game less than 24 hours ago

He doesn't give a anymore. He's just collecting paychecks and it's time to send him packing.

Let me guess, replace him with Jim Jordan, huh?