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You can watch videos of our championship seasons. The '99 team in particular which featured Tim Duncan and David Robinson at or near their respective primes protecting the interior made for some of the best defense, possibly ever in NBA history.
Imagine a coach who actually plays a 7 foot rookie.
You can watch videos of our championship seasons. The '99 team in particular which featured Tim Duncan and David Robinson at or near their respective primes protecting the interior made for some of the best defense, possibly ever in NBA history.
Spurs' defense was great because they had the best perimeter defender of the last decade and the best interior defender of the last decade. Bruce is retired and Duncan is done as a great player.
You can as much as you want about Pop and Bonner but it doesn't change the fact that time has passed and Spurs don't have the roster to play defense like they did in the past or like Bulls do this year. It's sure they could have been better with Pop doing other choices but it wouldn't have been enough.
Spurs are done as a contender or as an elite defensive team. Nothing can be done to change that and there is no shame in it.
True, but signing, trading for, or re-signing defensively inept players doesn't really help the Spurs cause.
Horse hockey - we've seen time and time again in these playoffs that a commitment to D is the THE WAY to improve your team, and that it doesn't take a roster of superstars to make it happen. Look at the Bulls and their roster of turds.
Maybe an elite defense lies beyond our grasp, but the thing is, we didn't even try - in fact, the Spurs ran away from defense. And that is indeed a shame.
Because other than Duncan, who on that roster can play consistant defense? Maybe Hill? Splitter?
the bulls have neither and still playing great Defense. the Grizz had great D and a bunch of scrubs playing it.
good D starts with the coach. Pop dropped the ball and has no excuses.
nobody is expecting old Spurs type D. but a good D is possible with any NBA player with the right coach. And it starts by not playing defensive soft players like Bonner and .
Noah, Gibson, and Asik are all long, athletic, can board and all three are committed to defense. The Spurs have one player right now who can be that type of player, which is Splitter.
Too many Pearls Capt.? Commitment to defense is one thing, but you have to have the personnel to pull it off. You honestly think Pop decided to do away with defense, because it seemed like the vogue thing to do? Tell me how with this current Spurs roster, can you realistically expect them to shut down an opposing team defensively? How many times did you see Pop cringe when he saw the countless mistakes being made out there on defense? This group got old and with the limited resources by the ownership, Pop and RC got a lot of work to do to somehow build around the big 3.
You really need to take a ing anti-depressant and stop spouting this bull . If the Spurs had played everyone on their roster, then you might have a point. They didn't. You don't.
Keith Bogans still completely sucks, but at least he's not being played out of position and asked to single-handedly shut down the other team's best player.
It's sad how the Bulls essentially are doing now what we did for so many years, taking less-heralded players who stay active on D and building a team around them. As opposed to the modern Spurs who sacrifice defense in the name of "spreading the floor", whatever the that means.
Perhaps it's true that our time is over. However David was "done" before Tim came along. Splitter, after a summer with Chip and Pop, and a new pf will do wonders for this team. You know they know this and will be trying to rectify this all summer long. I think TP is far from done and Manu's injury was untimely. We will not be favored to do much next year, but might surprise a few people.
Spurs defense should benefit from the full integration of Splitter. He helped to noticeably shore up the interior in his brief stints, and that was with limited knowledge and reps. He's had his year on the bench to figure things out; time to get to work and get comfortable (and, for the love of God, stay healthy through camp). Hopefully that will be coupled with development by guys like Anderson and Neal, maybe another defensive pickup somewhere in the offseason.
Knowing the Spurs M.O., though, they will probably continue to pile up undersized wings and shooting forwards.
You seriously saying Gibson and Asik are better defenders than Duncan?
Duncan is old but still is a good defensive bigman.
My point is it starts with the coach preaching defense and punishing those who fail miserably at it (Bonner/ )
It is truly amazing to watch the maniacal, energetic and aggressive manner in which the Bulls play defense. Watching them get into the jocks of the opposing players, rotating appropriately and crashing the glass on both ends, is pure job. It's not as though they have a team of elite defenders, but it certainly helps to have younger, more athletic, hungry players, who have all bought into the concept taught by Coach Tibs. The guy does not and has not compromise his defensive principles nor sold out his soul in exchange for fielding a team of 3-pt shooters. It does indeed make one become nostalgic.
No, not at all. I meant in terms of youth,athleticism and defensive ability, Noah, Gibson, and Asik are a nice trio of young post defenders. Duncan is still one of the best post defenders. And as far as potential Splitter(youth, athleticism) can evolve into that type of player.You seriously saying Gibson and Asik are better defenders than Duncan?
Duncan is old but still is a good defensive bigman.
My point is it starts with the coach preaching defense and punishing those who fail miserably at it (Bonner/ )
[QUOTE=SenorSpur;5243087]It is truly amazing to watch the maniacal, energetic and aggressive manner in which the Bulls play defense. Watching them get into the jocks of the opposing players, rotating appropriately and crashing the glass on both ends, is pure job. It's not as though they have a team of elite defenders, but it certainly helps to have younger, more athletic, hungry players, who have all bought into the concept taught by Coach Tibs. The guy does not and has not compromise his defensive principles nor sold out his soul in exchange for fielding a team of 3-pt shooters. It does indeed make one become nostalgic.[/QUOTE]
Thibodeau didn't have to compromise his principles, because of the defensive talent he possesses, along with the league's MVP and one of the best pgs in the league.
You need to quit putting off that Optometrist appointment if you think this current Spurs team can be an elite defesive team.
Could it also be the fact he keeps guys like Scalabrine (Bonner's long lost brother) nailed to the bench where he belongs? Just maybe?
Uh, the Spurs played better defense against Memphis than Oklahoma City did, and that's with absolute on the front line aside from Splitter and Duncan. Not surprised that you make your judgments without regard to what actually happens on the court.
I love that some of you ing nimrods think the Bulls have all this talent, when they just play their players in their proper position.
Does Pop have a trio like Noah, Gibson, and Asik playing for the Spurs? Go ahead, I'll let you google it.Could it also be the fact he keeps guys like Scalabrine (Bonner's long lost brother) nailed to the bench where he belongs? Just maybe?
And its dip s like you and your protege Tjastal that fail to see the big picture. Your answer to the Spurs roster problems, is just be a good athlete, athleticism will win championships. Pop will rue the day he ever let Pop Mensah-Bonsu and Ian Mahimni walk out that door.
Not quite. Our answer is all those things but more importantly size (need 7 footers) Maybe you should get a secretary to dictate for you since your memory sucks so badly.And its dip s like you and your protege Tjastal that fail to see the big picture. Your answer to the Spurs roster problems, is just be a good athlete, athleticism will win championships. Pop will rue the day he ever let Pop Mensah-Bonsu and Ian Mahimni walk out that door.
Oh right, my bad. Just get some more 7 footers out there. It doesn't matter if they can play or not, cause according to Tjastal, just being 7 foot, is the end all cure all, to what ails the Spurs. I hope you decide to put out a basketbal training dvd, and you can even let OV make a few appearances in it. Maybe have future allstar Mahimni go one on one with someone to show the kids out there how its done.
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