Eliminated by a 2nd Rd. Team yet no changes aside from Murray?

[GreekSpursfan]

It's too late for that, Jackass. It would have been effective 3 or even 2 seasons ago. They would have had the new blood on the team, and their young players would have some good experience and court time together. They wouldn't have Fifty Mills bloated contract. They wouldn't have wasted $16M on Gasol last year, or $15M on him this year, or $5M on him next year. And if they had really, really committed to clearing space to bring in good players, they might still have Nephew.

Tanking now only does one thing - it gets the Spurs one draft pick. Before, it would have been strategic. Now it would just be desperation.

First of all watch your language, what are you 5 years old? This team as presently constracted is going nowhere fast. There is NO cornestone on this team and you'll never find it outside the lottery, the Giannis of the world don't come around every year. You will NEVER win without a center piece never. This team is the definition of a treadmill team. I'm not the GM, they better figure out how to get out of those bad contracts or the treadmill wil continue for years. Sam Hinkie knew that and did the right thing but he wasn't good at drafting. I'm all for some Hinkie process. Its never late if you are smart and can find the idiot GM to do business with.
But OP is right and i laugh at people thinking that Murray is gonna be the difference maker next season or White is gonna make any huge leap. I love Pop but he needs to retire yesterday and start the rebuilding somehow. These next two years will be more of the same.

[exstatic]

Nurkic is hurt. But yeah, the blazers' top 3 players are clearly better than the Spurs' top 3. And they are younger too. The role players on both teams are basically a wash, but kanter is better than anyone on the Spurs bench.

Lillard will be 29 in July. He's literally a year younger than DDR. McCollum will be 28 in September. In contrast, our 'Old' younger guard, White, will be 25 in July. Dejounte will be 23 in September. Lonnie will be 21 in December.

[ECOV]

That's all well and good for a blind homer except that Pop already said there won't be any real changes.

Good we don't need to change much just bring a SF

[itzsoweezee]

Lillard will be 29 in July. He's literally a year younger than DDR. McCollum will be 28 in September. In contrast, our 'Old' younger guard, White, will be 25 in July. Dejounte will be 23 in September. Lonnie will be 21 in December.

Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic, is a much better and younger core than DDR, Aldridge, and Murray.

[Russ]

Nuggets were just eliminated by a crippled team that will be slaughtered by the Dubs...and the plan is to trot out the same team PLUS Murray and maybe get lucky in the draft? Bleak outlook, tbh.

Young players get better year to year even if no one makes any changes . . .

That's why the Spurs from 2002 on got better. It wasn't Big Dog Robinson.

[itzsoweezee]

Are we in the 2nd round or even WCF with a healthy Murray?

I think you can guess so given we lost a couple very close games where his defense and rebounding make a huge difference.

Furthermore, we also will have year 2 of Walker, coming off yet another GLeague and Summer run like White had. I'd expect him to be loads better.

It's not at all out of the realm of possibility that we are in the championship game next year with pretty much the same roster, IF, Durant signs elsewhere, particularly in the East with NY or something.

This sort of delusion is amazing. I guess tell yourself whatever it takes to get yourself to sleep at night, but the Spurs have zero shot at a top 4 seed next year and absolutely are not getting out of the first round.

All of these teams will be better than San Antonio next year: GSW, LAC, DEN, POR, HOU. And that's not even considering LAL, DAL, OKC. The Spurs will be lucky to get the 8 seed.

LMA is going to be past his prime, DDR will be a net negative player (again), Murray can't score, Lonnie will essentially play his rookie year and be on a very short leash, the 2 first round picks will get next to no playing time. It all adds up to a big pile of mediocrity. If the front office is smart, they'll try to get out of the LMA/DDR/Mills contract, but who are we kidding, we know that's not going to happen.

[exstatic]

Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic, is a much better and younger core than DDR, Aldridge, and Murray.

Yeah, except that's not our core going forward. People keep harping on DDR and Aldridge when neither may be on the roster in 3 years. They're nothing more than a bridge. The building blocks going forward are our three guards, Poeltl, and our draft picks over the next few years.

[DPG21920]

Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic, is a much better and younger core than DDR, Aldridge, and Murray.

So that core that is so much better took the same DEN team to 7 that SA did and got a narrow win that Spurs almost did as well. Ok.

[R. DeMurre]

Ironic that the team that triggered ty thread no.1000 is a team that was swept in the first round last season by a 2nd round fodder, then did nothing in the summer and are now in the WCF.

Great point.

[itzsoweezee]

Yeah, except that's not our core going forward. People keep harping on DDR and Aldridge when neither may be on the roster in 3 years. They're nothing more than a bridge. The building blocks going forward are our three guards, Poeltl, and our draft picks over the next few years.

Ouch. That's an even worse "core". The plan is to go from mediocre to bad? So they're just putting off rebuilding for 3 years

[itzsoweezee]

So that core that is so much better took the same DEN team to 7 that SA did and got a narrow win that Spurs almost did as well. Ok.

They lost Nurkic right before the playoffs. They're much better than the Spurs, even with no jumpshot Murray

[Pavlov]

They lost Nurkic right before the playoffs. They're much better than the Spurs, even with no jumpshot Murray

So you're a Spurs fan?

[elec7ro]

here me out, there's this magical thing called >player development< that we've been doing for about 20 years. that's the plan. I really don't understand why damn near every spurs fan is so pessimistic, we just went through our first year of a complete roster change and some of y'all thought everything was going to be peaches and cream.

[Seventyniner]

Ironic that the team that triggered ty thread no.1000 is a team that was swept in the first round last season by a 2nd round fodder, then did nothing in the summer and are now in the WCF.

[R. DeMurre]

The basic premise of the thread is pretty biased and disingenuous to begin with... The Spurs were in it with 30 seconds left in Game 7 with Denver, who then also went to Game 7 and had a definite chance to win it at the end. So, if you're being honest, you'd have to conclude that all three teams were pretty evenly matched and any of them had a legitimate shot at making the WCF. Last year, Portland got knocked out in the first round and Denver missed the playoffs completely-- and neither team did much in the off season, but both improved in the post season.
Starting next season with a healthy Murray & White plus an acclimated Poeltl & DeRozan is a huge improvement over this year's start.

[itzsoweezee]

The basic premise of the thread is pretty biased and disingenuous to begin with... The Spurs were in it with 30 seconds left in Game 7 with Denver, who then also went to Game 7 and had a definite chance to win it at the end. So, if you're being honest, you'd have to conclude that all three teams were pretty evenly matched and any of them had a legitimate shot at making the WCF. Last year, Portland got knocked out in the first round and Denver missed the playoffs completely-- and neither team did much in the off season, but both improved in the post season.
Starting next season with a healthy Murray & White plus an acclimated Poeltl & DeRozan is a huge improvement over this year's start.

Given this huge improvement, how far will the Spurs advance next year?

[itzsoweezee]

here me out, there's this magical thing called >player development< that we've been doing for about 20 years. that's the plan. I really don't understand why damn near every spurs fan is so pessimistic, we just went through our first year of a complete roster change and some of y'all thought everything was going to be peaches and cream.

No, they had a guy called Tim Duncan. Heard of him? Then they had a guy called kawhi. You can't win in this league without a superstar or two. Developing young guys that aren't going to be superstars and paying mediocre guys superstar money will get you nothing but irrelevance

[R. DeMurre]

Given this huge improvement, how far will the Spurs advance next year?

Impossible to say, because so much is based on what else happens in the League. If Durant stays, Kawhi goes to the Clippers, and a Western conference team gets Zion, the West could be tougher. If Durant, Kawhi, Butler, Irving, Kemba, & Zion all play in the East, it could make the West a little easier. Also, obviously, who the Spurs get in the draft. Right now, barring injuries, I'd say a 52-55 win season/WCF appearance is within reach.

[TimDunkem]

This sort of delusion is amazing. I guess tell yourself whatever it takes to get yourself to sleep at night, but the Spurs have zero shot at a top 4 seed next year and absolutely are not getting out of the first round.

All of these teams will be better than San Antonio next year: GSW, LAC, DEN, POR, HOU. And that's not even considering LAL, DAL, OKC. The Spurs will be lucky to get the 8 seed.

LMA is going to be past his prime, DDR will be a net negative player (again), Murray can't score, Lonnie will essentially play his rookie year and be on a very short leash, the 2 first round picks will get next to no playing time. It all adds up to a big pile of mediocrity. If the front office is smart, they'll try to get out of the LMA/DDR/Mills contract, but who are we kidding, we know that's not going to happen.

Facts. These fluffers are so delusional that they forget that they were trashing these losers DD, LMA, and Gay for never having "it" before they were Spurs, saying that they can never win.

Now, all we need is IG Baller (who still can't shoot), and we're champions? Riiiight.

[KobesAchilles]

Hypothetically we match up well with anybody going forward tbh. We have 2 elite defenders for guards and that will help with guarding: Rockets, Blazers, Jazz, Thunder, and even somewhat the Warriors (if Durant leaves).

The problem is still SF. Idk what the Spurs will do to address the situation, but clearly Rudy Gay isn’t the answer. I assume Kawhi is going to the Clippers and that will be a bad match up. Also if Durant stays then we are screwed either way but we wouldn’t match up well. Denver is a wild card tbh

so standing pat isn’t a dumb idea but it isn’t smart either. This draft (or the next one) will kinda determine the outlook for the next couple years. No pressure RC

[vavvi]

This sort of delusion is amazing. I guess tell yourself whatever it takes to get yourself to sleep at night, but the Spurs have zero shot at a top 4 seed next year and absolutely are not getting out of the first round.

All of these teams will be better than San Antonio next year: GSW, LAC, DEN, POR, HOU. And that's not even considering LAL, DAL, OKC. The Spurs will be lucky to get the 8 seed.

LMA is going to be past his prime, DDR will be a net negative player (again), Murray can't score, Lonnie will essentially play his rookie year and be on a very short leash, the 2 first round picks will get next to no playing time. It all adds up to a big pile of mediocrity. If the front office is smart, they'll try to get out of the LMA/DDR/Mills contract, but who are we kidding, we know that's not going to happen.

Same disposition before this season. Yet we were able to sneak into the playoffs ahead of more talented teams like LAL or Pels. Moreover, we had a great chance for WCF with zero top15 players on the roster.
Next year we'll find the way to get into postseason just because of organizational sanity.

[SpurPadre]

Facts. These fluffers are so delusional that they forget that they were trashing these losers DD, LMA, and Gay for never having "it" before they were Spurs, saying that they can never win.

Now, all we need is IG Baller (who still can't shoot), and we're champions? Riiiight.

Murray is still better than White and he's my favorite Spurs player so I'm definitely glad he's coming back. But it's unfortunate that he's going to have a lot of pressure to carry this lackluster team at times. I think Murray is a star in the making but it would be nice to get some more reliable help. Maybe in two years we'll be back in business but it's tough to expect much from next year's team.

[Chucho]

I've been patient and positive w/ the Spurs no matter what they've done over the years. But if Patty gets extended, dear god

This.

It will surpass my loathing of the Malik Rose deal and Bonner being on the roster as long as he was.

[elec7ro]

And now exactly do you know that one of these guys wont turn into a superstar? because I know for damn sure you didn't know kawhi was going to be a superstar.

[offset formation]

This sort of delusion is amazing. I guess tell yourself whatever it takes to get yourself to sleep at night, but the Spurs have zero shot at a top 4 seed next year and absolutely are not getting out of the first round.

All of these teams will be better than San Antonio next year: GSW, LAC, DEN, POR, HOU. And that's not even considering LAL, DAL, OKC. The Spurs will be lucky to get the 8 seed.

LMA is going to be past his prime, DDR will be a net negative player (again), Murray can't score, Lonnie will essentially play his rookie year and be on a very short leash, the 2 first round picks will get next to no playing time. It all adds up to a big pile of mediocrity. If the front office is smart, they'll try to get out of the LMA/DDR/Mills contract, but who are we kidding, we know that's not going to happen.

They could try to trade one of them, most likely Mills or DeRozan but that's not likely. As far as my delusions, you made me chuckle.

I think you underestimate how much of the Pop defense is geared toward stopping or at least slowing down the ball from the point of attack. Having either a combination or rotation of White and Murray, and hopefully an improved Walker out there will take a bunch of the load off the backside defense, which was the meat of our defense. Poeltl and Aldridge played well. We just need a better wing defender and we are automatically a very much improved defense over this year's squad. Assuming that falls into place, we win at least 7-8 more games next year, which in fact puts us in the two or three seed. We will be close with Denver who we lost a very close game 7 to in the final minute on the road. Imagine Murray's defense in that series.

Our offense should be even better. So if you take better D, and at minimum, equal offense, this squad will win more, not fewer games. Btw, Mills probably returns to better form next year since he'll likely be tasked with being who he is, a spot up shooter coming off screens rather than dribbling into his shot like he's had to the past 2 years. Murray immediately makes us better on both sides of the ball, and that's even before we know what kind of improvements we get from him on offense. Imagine him shooting 38% or better from 3. Holy .


We'll be fine. Maybe better than fine