Maybe the Spurs should just give up and concede the season now.
Oh, the juggernauts on paper that the NBA has seen.
BE AFRAID BE VERY AFRIAD ... KOBE/BYNUM/GASOL
They're BACK!!! The Lakeshow!!!
Spurs better win as much as they can now that window is closing ...almost as fast as Manu's hair is thinning!!!
I'm more worried about the Lakers than the Suns.
The Suns haven't really become a defensive powerhouse by swapping Marion for Shaq. If they think Shaq can guard Duncan one-on-one, they must have some good weed in the desert. Shaq was fouling out against weak ECF teams all year long despite having Haslem and Zo alongside. He is slow as molasses and will get killed by the pick-n-roll. Marion could guard TP and shield Nash; now Nash will have to try and stop Parker. Sure, Duncan can't bully Amare and draw the automatic double-team, but now we have more options to exploit the Phx defense.
On the other end, Nash/Amare the pick-n-roll was killing us regardless of who was on Amare. That won't change. I'd rather they toss the ball into Shaq than run the pick-n-roll. Shaq can't finish like he used to and still sucks at the FT line.
The bigger problem is LA. They have all the tools now, and multiple weapons on offense. IMO they have the best offense in the league. The good thing is that they still don't play much defense. 3 members of their starting lineup: Gasol, Odom and Fisher are poor defenders. If our offense improves to last year's level (I fervently hope it will although it doesn't look like it now) we should have our way with them.
On the other end of the court, the key is whether we can play Kobe one-on-one. With Bowen and Udoka we should be able to do that. If we play Kobe straight up, we negate easy points for Bynum. I'd also play Gasol straight up with Duncan or Horry. Regarding Odom, we can easily get away with Finley or Manu on him; the dude is 6'10" but reluctant to play in the post consistently. The other big worry is their bench, Farmar is a sharpshooter and Turiaf is an energy guy.
Our best lineup against the LA starting 5 is Duncan/Horry/Manu/Udoka/Parker. We can match up defensively, and have enough punch on the offensive end. the key is whether Horry and Udoka can produce consistently on offense.
Certainly there are formidable teams in the West and it might be that the Spurs will be unable to defeat them in a playoff series. My question is: what do you do about it? Certainly Ghost Writer is clamoring for a trade -- and that would seem to be the point of this thread.
But what trade can the Spurs credibly make without divesting themselves of a star-level player to match frontline talent (to the extent that there is a disparity at all)?
And then show me that the Spurs absolutely aren't working on trying to make a deal.
Last edited by FromWayDowntown; 02-12-2008 at 12:55 PM.
Not true. The Lakers are already looking better with Gasol and they have enough time to get Bynum back.
The teams that have taken out a Spurs team with Tim Duncan in the postseason since '99 have been with the Shaq of 4+ years ago or led by a former Spur with intimate knowledge of the Spurs' system and a 4 man capable of creating a major mismatch. Time will tell, but I don't see that on the Lakers or Suns this season.
In general I've wanted to see the Spurs improve their rebounding up front, but that predates these recent moves.
Oh, I agree with you. I'm not a BAMA acolyte at all. I do think that the Spurs could improve their roster and their chances to succeed at playoff time, but I don't think it's going to take a major move -- a minor tweak to find a rebounder who defends would be enough, I think.
I just have the sense that this thread is a prelude to another diatribe about the Spurs' unwillingness to make flashy moves.
You guys are still basing your analysis on pre-trade game performances.
Now, the Suns and Lakers are sporting starting 5s where every player is a threat. The Spurs can't afford to double team. Oh, and we're giving up not only more talent, but a lot of height, too.
For those of you who are not worried about the matchups on paper, please take the starting 5s of the Suns and Lakers and then tell me who will guard each one from the Spurs.
I did that in my post, but maybe if you play the game of tic-tac-toe yourself, you will see that we'll be overmatched in at least two positions.
The only way that we can win is by experience playing team defense together.
Or a trade.
You are such a fool
I fail to see how the spurs can beat L.A without a trade. Lakers are simply too big inside and are a deeper more talented team. Kobe is still unguardable and Duncan will not have it easy vs two 7 footers inside.
a trade is needed.
You are basing your analysis on big splashy moves while the Spurs' machine keeps rolling on. 4 les in 9 years, grasshopper. 4 les after you said the Spurs would never win one without the...big splashy ESPN friendly trade. Go punch one out or order a double scotch.
We have to wait and see. If the Suns keep their system in tact then yes you are absolutely right. If the Suns adjust around Shaq, then I can only see the Suns staying as a contender or improving to a contender that actually wins. Shaq and Tim Duncan have dominated the decade and it's no coincidence. Besides those two Wallace x2 is the only tandem to win a championship. A low post presence is a must and Amare is not that. He cannot create for himself especially since he is not as quick as the Amare before the knee injury. Phoenix does not have a chance without this trade.Yeah after reading it again he meant what you said.
Bringing in Shaq to help with matchup problems is a desperate plea, which I think will not payoff.But I am in the minority.
Yawn.
Play the game of tic tac toe.
T. Duncan / S. O'Neal / A. Bynum
B. Bowen / S. Nash / K. Bryant
F. Oberto / A. Stoudamire / P. Gasol
T. Parker / R. Bell / D. Fisher
M. Finley / B. Diaw / V. Radmonovic
E. Ginobili / G. Hill / L. Odom
I know that the playoffs are more than just matchups, but it looks like the Spurs are giving up a lot of height and talent, player for player.
Upon further review, outside of the Oberto assignments, it's not terrible. The Spurs can hold their own. But Oberto is simply overmatched. If the Suns go through Amare and the Lakers go through Gasol, we're going to have a tough time.
Unless we can milk one single compe ive advantage and the sum our our team defense is better than their individual parts, we're doomed.
What team can hold the Spurs back on offense?
The Spurs have 3. They've done it before. Life is still worth living.Unless we can milk one single compe ive advantage
One would think 3 les in the last 5 years would at least put a silver lining on that cloud.and the sum our our team defense is better than their individual parts, we're doomed.
Are you on crack?
Our offense is dump in in to Duncan or pass it to Ginobili and pray for the best these days.
We no longer have a compe ive advantage other than Duncan.
Look at the matchups that I posted previously for krissakes.
Phx is nothing to worry about. I actually believe that the Suns got worse with Shaq...
Kill yourself.
Marion only hurt us in the playoffs when A. Stoudamire was not playing.
Now the Suns can play in the halfcourt with Shaq.
The playoffs are different, pal.
No one is looking at the matchups and seeing how we have the potential to get exposed, especially at the PF spot.
No, your drug of choice does not interest me.
ROFL. Do you even understand that the Spurs have been running a motion offense that's led to 3 les over the last 5 years?
Our offense is dump in in to Duncan or pass it to Ginobili and pray for the best these days.
They don't?We no longer have a compe ive advantage other than Duncan.
Why? They're just names. Idiots believe the hype.
Look at the matchups that I posted previously for krissakes.
popa lol.....and i think you're forgetting every embarrassing season since 03.
Shaq is nowhere near the physical capability he once was...sure he does clog the lane and he does have size, but the suns were not constucted to play in the halfcourt.
Holt's Cat, well, gee, you sure put me in my place.
We play in a motion offense and those are just names. Phew. What was I worried about?
Come with a take, please.
T. Duncan / S. O'Neal / A. Bynum
B. Bowen / S. Nash / K. Bryant
F. Oberto / A. Stoudamire / P. Gasol
T. Parker / R. Bell / D. Fisher
M. Finley / B. Diaw / V. Radmonovic
E. Ginobili / G. Hill / L. Odom
Where do you see the Spurs scoring easily or getting stops?
Well, we can start with the fact that the game is not 6 on 6.
Come with a take that actually shows some understanding of the game.
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