have we really improved?

[z0sa]

The faceless one: So little talk about him that you forget he came over in the trade with Bonner. I'm gonna give this one a zero until I'm sure they plan to keep him.

Horry? Who knows if Horry can still be of much value. His whole career has been long periods of seeming indifference punctuated by miracle shots that redeemed him. As a 3 point specialist, Horry had ice water in his veins. Too bad they are vericose veins now. I think it is probably time to cut him and free up a spot if there is any young player with some upside out there. There probably isn't. A downgrade due to advancing age.

Bonner > Sean Marks ? Actually I thought the Kiwi shot well when he was in the games, but the coaches obviously didn't think he could play much. Surely Bonner will get more minutes and may steal some from Horry.

Center: we gave up proven guys with modest talent and too large contracts for unproven guys with modest talents and smaller contracts. Could be a wash or if they don't come through to Rasho/Nasr level, we're worse off marginally.

Small forward? Hopefully only a modest downgrade because of aging of Bowen and Finley. Here's a position where you have two acclaimed vets and we still worry about it. What does that tell you?

Barry will be Barry. Another step slower on defense and he can't get any smarter. Will the shots fall this year? Will he take them?

Beno should be better for simply having another year in the league. He will have to gain the confidence of the coaches that he can do the job as backup. I wonder if he could be faster if he lost weight?

Tim = last year but probably not > than last year. He is another year older. The outside bank shot is history so he'll play more of an inside game. Hopefully his foot will be better and let him play.

Tony > than last year. I don't think he's reached his full potential. So far, he's been a little better each year.

Manu surely must be > than last year. He didn't play up to his previous level.

Summary: We make the playoffs easily as usual, but may or may not make it to the WCF. We are right on the edge and could go either way with the squad we have now.

Let's be optimistic. A couple of calls and a ball or two bounces our way in the playoffs and we go to the Finals. A couple of calls and a ball or two bounces our way in the Finals and we win it all. Go Spurs!

alot of this is bs if you ask me.

first of all Tim Duncan's outside shot is fine. His game was always inside, hes a ing pf for Godsakes, but he can still hit the outside shot fine.

Bonner is alot better than Marks.

Horry is Horry, old or not, hes still do what he needs to do because he doesn't play most of the season, he just plays during the playoffs... which kind of cancels out the age factor.

Barry and Findog are fine, specially Finley - he made every big shot, they just didn't lead to W's.

Centerwise, I think we got a definite upgrade.

[Extra Stout]

The guy who will back up Bruce Bowen and throw himself all over the floor, he came with Bonner and has an expiring contract. I suspect he may be traded midseason for a young 3 prospect, but until them he will hustle hustle hustle!

Will Williams even be on the active roster? I don't see his being in the top 12.

[EVAY]

The key to whether or not we improved is going to be a function of whether this lineup will necessitate a change in our defensive tactics. For all the years that we have had big men in the middle our defense was geared to "guiding toward the rim". Everyone who played spurs defense had to buy into that, and it pretty much worked just fine. It even worked during the regular season last year, except when we played without two big men in the middle.

Then, the playoffs. Our defense did not change tactics, and the same "drive em to the rim" scheme was employed with the embarrassing result that there was no shot blocker there to stop them once they got to the rim. Hence, the outrageous scoring percentage against us by Dallas.

My point is this: we can win with smaller "bigs" in the middle, but we can't win with smaller "bigs" and a defense that is geared toward driving shooters into to BIG "bigs". I don't think this is rocket science, but I sure haven't heard much about it. If we change our defesen, it doesn't matter whether or not the guys in the middle are big or not. But if we DON'T change our defense, then it matters hugely.

I have no idea if this off season made us better or worse. I agree that we have to wait and see. I just don't want to wait until after the Rodeo road trip for folks to start getting serious about how we set ourselves up for the playoff run.

[Obstructed_View]

As proven last year, the coach determines the fate of this team, regardless of who is on the roster. If the Spurs play one way for 82 games and then suddenly decide to change philosophy, they won't win no matter who is here.

[Bruno]

have we really improved? no.

I'm pretty disapointed with our offseason. It's not finished and I still hope a trade but i don't see Spurs winning the le with this current roster.

1. Big men are basicly Duncan and 5 players who are, at best, average backups. Bonner is a great shooter but is a poor defender and rebounder, Elson isn't very talented, Horry is too old, Butler is just a very young prospect and Oberto isn't athletic enough. When your second best big men is that weak, it's a big concern.

2. We needed a big SF and we haven't get him. Williams is old and has been bad last year with injuries and weight problems, Melzer seems to be limited and Smith is a PF.

Of course it can work : the big 3 can be healthy, Beno has the level to be a very good backup PG and stops turnovers, our bigs D can improve with Pop as coach, Williams can be about at the same level that he was with NJ 18 month ago...

For the moment, I'm not really opstimistic but I would like to be wrong.

[LilMissSPURfect]

I've Improved.......

"Emotionally"!!!!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I would've thought the 12 be:

Parker/Udrih
Ginobili/Finley/Barry
Bowen/Williams
Duncan/Bonner/Horry
Elson/Butler

with Oberto and Vaughn on the IL.

However, you may be right about Williams. If so, why the haven't haven't we traded his 3+ million (3.9?) expiring contract for something? Surely someone could use that?

If he isn't to be used, I would expect him to be gone by the deadline, unless there truly is a plan to clear salary for 2008.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

We're the same as last year, but older. So either we get left behind by the league. Or it's steady as she goes.

We're not exactly a broken team, so I'm just anticipating the upcoming season to be another potential le year as years before. The Spurs dumped two weak centers, so hopefully Elson and Butler bring something, which was better than the relative nothing Rasho and Nazr gave us this year in the Post Season.

[mabber]

Spurs will be fine. If they're healthy going into the playoffs they will have as good as chance as anyone to win the west & nba le. Dallas & Phoenix are their only compe ion in the west.

It's amazing how spoiled some of you Spur fans have got. I suppose it's just human nature after winning so much.

[Pero]

The Spurs dumped two weak centers, so hopefully Elson and Butler bring something, which was better than the relative nothing Rasho and Nazr gave us this year in the Post Season.

How will they bring something if they won`t play in the postseason like R&N?

[Pero]

.... unless they bring cookies with them.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

How will they bring something if they won`t play in the postseason like R&N?

true, i'm just saying they were unusable in Pop's eyes against the Mavs, so maybe the two new guys will pose as usable?

[Obstructed_View]

I suppose it's just human nature after choking away the #1 seed. Again.

Fixed