How will Spurs defense improve?

[Nathan Explosion]

The Spurs have some guys with the physical tools to be good perimeter defenders. But they have to want to do it. Hill, Hairston, and Temple all have the size, length and quickness to be good at defending their respective positions.

[Zelophehad]

With the new rules like Defensive 3 seconds it's going to be hard for any team to have a defense like the spurs did in the late 90's and early 2000's. Much to David Stern's liking this is becoming more of an offensive league than ever before.

I do agree that the spurs need to step up the D as much as they can next season especially with the formation of whatever you want to call that over in Miami.

"The three-second rule was introduced in 1936"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_second_rule

[Solid D]

"The three-second rule was introduced in 1936"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_second_rule

Defensive three second rule.

[barbacoataco]

I think a big part of the Spurs defensive decline is that they have become more and more undersized. Look at their projected roster for next year:
1. They have NO true Centers. Duncan, McDyess, Blair, Bonner and Splitter are all players who are usually listed as PF's. They have 5 power forwards in the C/PF positions. Blair is undersized for his position.
2. Their SF's are undersized. Jefferson, Ginobili, James Anderson, Hairston are all well below the 6'9" standard of most long SF's in the NBA.
3. The SG's are not particularly long or tall. Now that Hill is often playing at SG, the Spurs are undersized here too.
4. Pop sometimes plays a smallball lineup with only one big on the court and someone like Jefferson as the PF.

Add all this together, and figure that the Lakers are oversized at nearly every position, and that is a big problem defensively. A team like the Portland Trailblazers that isn't even that good gets by on defense just because they are tall at every position.

[Zelophehad]

Defensive three second rule.

duh nvm. Don't know how I forgot/confused that.

[widowmaker]

Raja bell isn't our defensive answer he never stopped Manu. Who's to say he stops kobe?

[tmtcsc]

Tiago Splitter can actually move laterally I believe. Poor Tim kissed that goodbye years ago.

The Spurs played decently to close out the regular season and did well in the 1st round.

Phoenix was on a tear and absolutely killed us. Well, next year Utah and Phoenix will be worse and Houston will be a little improved. The Blazers have good talent but that organization is a mess.

It should be:

Lakers
Spurs
Thunder
Dallas
Blazers
Jazz
Suns
Rockets

A dark horse may creep in there and the bottom four teams could all swap places. By us adding Tiago, having improved health (Tony) and having another year of chemistry together, we should do pretty well.

Gotta be a little lucky.

Duncan
Splitter
Parker
Ginobili
Jefferson

Hill
Anderson
Blair
McDyess
Bonner

Hairston
Temple
Gist

Who am I missing ? Mahinmi is gone, Bogans is gone..

[G-Dawgg]

Which is why i would like the spurs to go after Tony Allen. He is a great presser and is very good at denying the ball. He knows he has help down low.