One more piece missing on this team

[I. Hustle]

I think all the spurs need is a hot silver dancer. Not just a hot body but a pretty face

[Interrohater]

I think all the spurs need is a hot silver dancer. Not just a hot body but a pretty face

+1

Call me the eternal optimist, but I feel like we already have the pieces to get there. Sure, it would be nice to have Tim, D. Howard, Tony, Lebron, and Wade as our starting five, but we've got quite a deep team as it is. Do we have all-stars at all positions? No, and neither does any other team, but we've got a lot of guys who are crazy talented and are really hungry for a le. We've got arguably the deepest bench in the league, a defensive (and patient) minded coach who just got a new recliner for Christmas, but it requires some assembly, a perennial all-star who's still getting his double-double every night, a superstar point guard who's really just starting to peak, a healthy x-factor that nobody in the NBA has ever had an answer for, and on and on and on.

This will be a great team, they will astonish us. We will cheer, we will cry, we will fight back the tears as they begin to remind the league once again, to never count out the San Antonio Spurs.

[superjames1992]

at 2.05 bpg, Timmy is .4 blocks a game away from the league leader and is currently 7th in the NBA.
he's also 1st in the blocks to personal fouls ratio

Just like Timmy to a scoop shot, "get that weak stuff outta here!"

If Duncan is so good on D, then why doesn't he guard the opponent's best offensive player. We had Bonner on Dirk all game long against Dallas. Why wasn't Timmy covering Dirk?

I can understand that maybe we wanted to keep Tim out of foul trouble, but Duncan did not cover Dirk the WHOLE game, even at the end.

[superjames1992]

And, people, our front courts in our 2005 and 2007 Championship teams were hardly exceptional, either. Heck, we probably have a better front court now than we did then. Yet we still got two rings.

[ElNono]

We'll be fine just as long as Dice comes around... and I think he will... Ratliff should get spare minutes and should help us protect the rim. And Bonner will be helpful against their bench big (powell) IF he's hitting shots. Otherwise, just throw Blair in there.

What are Pargo and Tyrus Thomas going to do? Mason is arguable as good or better than Pargo. Tyrus Thomas is a very dumb basketball player right now. Gasol could probably toy with him all night.

I would take a chance on a Camby for Bonner and Finley type of deal, but the clips don't seem to be interested in getting rid of Camby, and they'll probably want to package some other bad contract with him (like Kaman).

[HarlemHeat37]

superjames' 2 posts on this page are horrible..

[the crimson blur]

+1

Call me the eternal optimist, but I feel like we already have the pieces to get there. Sure, it would be nice to have Tim, D. Howard, Tony, Lebron, and Wade as our starting five, but we've got quite a deep team as it is. Do we have all-stars at all positions? No, and neither does any other team, but we've got a lot of guys who are crazy talented and are really hungry for a le. We've got arguably the deepest bench in the league, a defensive (and patient) minded coach who just got a new recliner for Christmas, but it requires some assembly, a perennial all-star who's still getting his double-double every night, a superstar point guard who's really just starting to peak, a healthy x-factor that nobody in the NBA has ever had an answer for, and on and on and on.

This will be a great team, they will astonish us. We will cheer, we will cry, we will fight back the tears as they begin to remind the league once again, to never count out the San Antonio Spurs.

The optimist spin right now is that we are finally fully healthy (lol Fin), our SRS, the best indicator of how good a team is, is actually 5th in the league despite our rocky start, our defense has gotten better and better brinking on absolute dominance, we have demolished teams on the board consistently lately, Tim Duncan is playing phenomenal, and even if our turnovers become a long-term habit, which I doubt they will because a Pop coached team never is, we won't have many 28 TO nights anyways.

Do I believe the spin? Well I want to, but I am more the type to watch things play out. As Pop says "we either are going to be good enough or we wont."

[VI_Massive]

I agree that beating LA looks like a tall order at this point. They seem like a juggernaut, especially when compared with the way the Spurs are playing right now.

But its all about peaking at the right time. To analogize, the NY Giants looked invincible at the beginning of this football season but are now fighting for a playoff spot. Hopefully, LA is peaking early and will experience difficulty later, whether it be from injury, bad play, or a combination thereof.

As Spurs fan, given the mediocre play so far, we can only hope that this team will be peaking late in the season when it matters. And there is reason to believe that will happen, based on our history and the fact that we have a lot of new players.

That being said, I wouldn't be opposed to a trade to improve our chances inside against an LA team that features 3 top flight 6'10" and above players. I'm not sure that such a trade is feasible, but if it could happen, I'd be in favor.

My ideas in that department are as follows:

1. Use Bonner as a trade piece. This is probably a popular idea and with good reason. His usefulness in the playoffs is dubious. He's probably at the height of his trade value right now while he's in the midst of a career year and also (maybe not coincidentally) in the last year of his contract. He's also a "big" who "can score".

2. Target Washington as a trade partner. They have three bigs in whom I'd be interested -- McGee, Blatche, and Haywood. Two of the three are likely considered untouchable by management, but one of them might be obtainable. To get one, we'd probably have to absorb a bad contract, I'm guessing Mike James'. That's just a question of Spurs' ownership being willing to take on the salary of a guy who won't play. Just consider it extra salary for the big whom we would use.

My guess though is that we won't make a move unless its for something awesome like Camby. We've had enough troubles integrating new guys and I don't think Pop relishes the idea of working another new guy into the mix later in the season. And I think it would have to be a crucial guy, otherwise it doesn't make sense for us to make the deal if the guy won't play a big role down the stretch.

So don't hold your breath for a big deal. I think we're stuck hoping our existing guys mesh. And I don't think that's a farfetched hope.

[HarlemHeat37]

Brendan Haywood would be my dream trade, but he's expiring too, so we'd probably have to throw in some nice sweeteners and/or get a 3rd team involved..

a Camby move for a combination of our non-Manu expirings would be fine with me..

[VI_Massive]

Brendan Haywood would be my dream trade, but he's expiring too, so we'd probably have to throw in some nice sweeteners and/or get a 3rd team involved..

Exactly. When I looked at Washington on the trade machine, they don't have too many bad contracts to absorb. Most of their guys are signed for a year or two. It seemed like Mike James was their worst contract for the money. Also, of course, there's the issue of whether ownership would be willing to take on more money/years given the commitment with Jefferson and others.

[CGD]

Theo was brought in with the Lakers in mind. I'm curious to see what he can bring on the defensive end.

Also, it will help us tremendously against the Lakers if Dice can keep one of their bigs honest by knocking down his jumper from the top of the key.

BTW, I'm Impressed this didnt deteriorate into a Tiago Splitter thread.

[Dice]

Who are all these awesome post and interior defenders out there? Besides Dwight, Garnett, and IMO Timmy D, who are all the big time interior defenders out there that everyone keeps talking about? Sure we can name some guys who get a couple of blocks a night (Brock Lopez, Eric Dampier, Samuel Dalembert). Any of these guys you consider lock down defenders? These are the guys that would shut Dirk down? Make Pau go scoreless? Seriously, I realize Bonner isn't the best but he's a bench player. how many bigs coming off a teams bench are big time defenders?

Bringing in another big man would be great. But , it'd be great for any team. I'm pretty pleased with the depth of the Spurs big men as they are. I'd bet a lot of other teams out there would be happy to have Blair and Ratliff as their 4th and 5th big men.

It's a team game. I think that once this Spurs team really gets it going, they're easily one of the best in the league.

[VI_Massive]

Theo was brought in with the Lakers in mind. I'm curious to see what he can bring on the defensive end.

Also, it will help us tremendously against the Lakers if Dice can keep one of their bigs honest by knocking down his jumper from the top of the key.

BTW, I'm Impressed this didnt deteriorate into a Tiago Splitter thread.

Don't jinx it!

But re Lakers: my thinking has been that this season might come down to whether Dice can do a decent job on Gasol. Given Bynum's size and development down low, I think Tim needs to guard him and if Dice can do a decent job on Gasol, we have a fighting chance. I don't know though. Part of me keeps hoping for a Lakers injury, and that makes me feel bad.

[Interrohater]

superjames' 2 posts on this page are horrible..

+1

[coachmac87]

If Chicago accepts Tyrus Thomas for Roger Mason and Ian...I say pull the trigger

[Manufan909]

Don't jinx it!

But re Lakers: my thinking has been that this season might come down to whether Dice can do a decent job on Gasol. Given Bynum's size and development down low, I think Tim needs to guard him and if Dice can do a decent job on Gasol, we have a fighting chance. I don't know though. Part of me keeps hoping for a Lakers injury, and that makes me feel bad.

Hopefully Ratliff can slow one of them down significantly. Most likely Bynum, or Gasol if I'm wrong and the Spaniard is the slower player.

[quentin_compson]

There is no question that the Lakers' FC will/would give us a of a lot of problems, but that goes for any team, not just for the Spurs. I'd also agree that the Celtics's FC (IF healthy) is probably better than ours, but Cleveland? Come on ...

I'm quite sure Theo will be part of the big man rotation in the playoffs to protect the rim, block some shots and give the team some length - after all, that's what he was brought here to do. If Blair keeps improving on D, he could play his role as well.

[TJastal]

Call me crazy and i've harped and harped on Matt Bonner in the past for his playoff failures but he is going to turn it around this year, just watch. There is a new confidence brimming in this kid that I haven't seen before.

I think a confident Matt Bonner is a heckuva weapon to have on the bench.

When he gets his stroke going just at the right time (against the lakers, for instance) he can singlehandedly shift the entire momentum the spurs' way.

The question shouldn't be "What leftovers can we get for Matt Bonner by the trade deadline?", it should be "How can we afford not to have this guy bringing his unique shooting skillset off the bench?"

[urunobili]

Foster or Collison >>> Camby on this roster...

[PublicOption]

they wanted hill, oberto and bowen for him last year.

we got bonner, ian, haislip, and splitter, mason and finley to trade with now?

I think we are getting camby.

[Chieflion]

No, I don't think Camby is available for the Spurs' offers. The only prospect the Spurs are willing to give up is Ian (if he is still a prospect.) The Clippers have DeAndre Jordan as a center prospect and have no need for Ian in their roster as another extra prospect. The Spurs are not willing to part away with George Hill, unless an all-star calibre player is coming to the Spurs, even then the Spurs may not do it. Dejuan Blair was a pick almost every team shied away from. It has barely been a quarter through the season and there is no way the GMs around the league are going to admit that Dejuan Blair can be in the league for long. Unless the Spurs take on a "bad" contract, the Spurs would not get a player like Camby, who is an expiring. I don't know whether management would give up a future 1st for Camby although I don't think he is the answer to inerior defense. I agree with HarlemHeat37 for a guy like Brendan Haywood, but the trade scenario is similar even the prospect bigs like Javale McGee.

[rascal]

And, people, our front courts in our 2005 and 2007 Championship teams were hardly exceptional, either. Heck, we probably have a better front court now than we did then. Yet we still got two rings.

The league is not the same as in 2005 or 2007. The formula for success has changed. Teams have improved since then and the Lakers are now a powerhouse.

[rascal]

they wanted hill, oberto and bowen for him last year.

we got bonner, ian, haislip, and splitter, mason and finley to trade with now?

I think we are getting camby.

None of those guys in any sort of package will get you Camby.

[rascal]

If Duncan is so good on D, then why doesn't he guard the opponent's best offensive player. We had Bonner on Dirk all game long against Dallas. Why wasn't Timmy covering Dirk?

I can understand that maybe we wanted to keep Tim out of foul trouble, but Duncan did not cover Dirk the WHOLE game, even at the end.

The spurs don't want Duncan trying to run around the court guarding Dirk. Dirk is not a low post player. That would be a poor matchup for Duncan and will get him in foul trouble.

[tav1]

I think there is a fair chance the Spurs could land Thomas or Collison.

Thomas is restricted after the season, which complicates things. And he's a debatable fit. But in terms of adding younger athletes, he's what they had hoped for in Haislip, just better. 5x the cost.

Collison makes all sorts of sense and his contract fits into the current cap strategy.

Raja Bell makes sense too.

Dorrell Wright, James Jones, and Andres Nocioni are options too.

Finally, I think Boris Diaw would be ideal for a variety of reasons, but I doubt the Spurs would trade for a guy whose contract would all but make resigning Ginobili possible. Having said that, the Bobcats might unload his contract in February if their chances at the postseason are slim.

In my estimation, the Spurs are best served to trade for a player who is a 3-4 or 4-3 simply because they won't have minutes otherwise. Factor in more minutes for Blair next season and the possible addition of Splitter, and the projected minutes are even more tight.

But for the immediate playoffs, the backcourt rotation is Parker-Ginobili-Hill and either Bogans or Mason, depending on what the team needs. The front court is Duncan-McDyess-Bonner and maybe Blair or Ratliff, depending. The only place I can see the Spurs using another player is an upgrade reserve for Jefferson--and RJ will play at least 35 minutes a game during the postseason.

Watching Casspi the other night, I couldn't help but think that type of combination forward would be perfect for the Spurs off the bench. You can see why the Spurs have targeted players like Casspi and Batum in recent drafts.