2011-12 Spurs Preview - Part 3: Navigating Route 66

[tp2021]

A fifth bigman has to be arriving sometime soon -- unless the franchise has officially lost each and every last marble. Even a Joel Przybilla type would help things start making more sense.

Looking at the schedule, the Spurs have about two weeks to add that big before we need to look at committing RC and Pop to the nearest facility.

Where's that big?

It took a bit longer than 2 weeks but the FO finally got us Eric Dawson.

[therealtruth]

It took a bit longer than 2 weeks but the FO finally got us Eric Dawson.

You think Dawson will stick?

[tp2021]

Absolutely. For 10 days anyway.

[timvp]

Ike Diogu was signed about a week later. But yeah, the Spurs have been playing with fire by not getting that big. It appears they were thinking they will try out a few players while going hard after Przybilla and Kenyon Martin. And Plan C was to wait for the post trade deadline waivings.

If there were no injuries, it could have saved a few bucks. But it was pretty damn risky ... and we're seeing why now.

[tp2021]

So it's looking like Plan C then? I'm guessing Przybilla is just gonna go back to the Blazers.

[Brazil]

Tbh, I don't understand the hubbub. This was an obvious surrender game before the season even started.

good call tbh

[Yuixafun]

I admire your foresight and fluid thinking.

[timvp]

Wed 29 vs Bulls 8:00 PM
Fri 02 vs Bobcats 7:30 PM
Sun 04 vs Nuggets 8:30 PM
Wed 07 vs Knicks 7:30 PM
Fri 09 vs L.A. Clippers 7:30 PM
Mon 12 vs Wizards 7:30 PM
Wed 14 vs Magic 7:30 PM
Fri 16 @ Oklahoma City 8:30 PM
Sat 17 @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Wed 21 vs Timberwolves 7:30 PM
Fri 23 vs Mavericks 7:30 PM
Sat 24 @ New Orleans 7:00 PM
Sun 25 vs 76ers 6:00 PM

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Spurs have a great opportunity to rest a bit and rack up some Ws. This stretch starts with seven straight home games -- none of which are back-to-backs.

To maximize the rest, it makes sense to skip either the Thunder game on Mar. 16 or the Mavs game on Mar. 17. Although, considering that this two-game road trip is surrounded by home games, Pop may opt to just play both.

The first back-to-back-to-back occurs late in March. With it comes the most obvious surrender game of the entire season. By surrendering Feb. 24 against the Hornets, Duncan, Ginobili and Parker will get even more time to spend at home. I can't imagine any scenario in which the Big Three takes that trip to New Orleans.

So, Ginobili and Splitter don't make the trip. The signing of Dentmon makes me think that Parker probably won't play. Duncan going on the trip is surprising to me but perhaps Pop's plan is to play Duncan tonight and then hopefully have Splitter back for tomorrow night.

[Hoops Czar]

Yeah, your probably right. Or it could be that he wanted to wash away that D+ he received after the Mavs game so he opted to play in NO and sit out Philly.