Brutally Honest Truths

[holcs50]

-It's not gonna happen. Richard Jefferson won't fit on this team. It's not so much his skillset is incompatible, it's more to do with his fragile psyche. You really don't know how a player will fit on a championship level team until he's thrown into the fire. He's been thrown into the fire -- and has melted. He's an inconsistent offensive threat who does absolutely nothing positive when his shot isn't going in. And as the pressure mounts on him to perform, he's just going to become more and more inconsistent. I can't imagine a happy ending with Jefferson in San Antonio.

I agree with most of your assessment and just wanted to focus on head and a few other points. I've watched (and played with him a few times!! hehe...but no really i did play with him while at UA) a lot throughout his career and like timvp has pointed out he has resorted back to his lackadaisical ways. He looks like there's absolutely not a bone in his body with energy, he doesn't even look for the ball, and consistently stands around the 3 point line not budging. To go on top of that it seems he makes stupid ass defensive plays over and over-piling up stupid fouls just so people notice he's even on the court. His confidence is low and he is pouting...thus leading to another huge problem timvp pointed out

Look how many players on the spurs are confidence players...a lot! Parker, ginobili, jefferson, hill....that's all your good guards...mason also but mason just sucks. There is no chemistry now and everyone is down, ginobili seems to be shaking his off a little but I don't see jeff turning it around. Having that many players that are pouty and get down on themselves is a problem and a reason why this team continues not to glue.

Another team observation is there is no emotion out there. No one is communicating, no one is smiling, no one is yelling, no one is even looking energetic or interested. This team sorely needs a player that will bring some "swagger", some fun, some emotions to this team. Hating myself for bring Stephen Jackson up again but a player like him is exactly something the spurs need. A player to stir the pot, a player who doesn't get all sad and depressed when not playing up to par, a player that will keep firing and stay energetic even when having the bad games. Too bad i don't think we can get someone like that in a trade this year.

The bright side if there is any to me is s contract will become an expiring during the season next year and we very well could find a team who wants a salary dump and pick up a guy that will bring some fire to the team. But i agree this team is going nowhere this year-too many "truths" to overcome.

[SenorSpur]

The biggest problem I see...is that Pop has TOO MUCH POWER...when Pop was ON---this was a reassuring thing...to have a coach,GM,LEADER,talent evaluator,prez,etc
not even reporters summoned up the courage to question his moves,decisions,plays,rotations,etc...

but now this has become a problem, because he has really hurt this team for the last two seasons---but there is no-one there to put him to the fire--so-to speak,

I never thought of this, but it's a good point. With Pop having so much organizational control, where are the checks & balances? Who overrules Pop if it's believes his decisions are shortsighted, when it comes to personnel?

I know Holt leaves most personnel decisions to Pop and RC, but after this RJ debacle, both of these guys now have s in their armor. They've not made many bad decisions, but this one is, by far, the worst of the bunch.

Also, I'd wanna know why they elected not to pickup the option of the most athletic big on the roster? And even more, why is the former 1st round pick not playing at all?

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Even if we were to make a trade this year, there's not enough time to work the person in and realistically contend for this years le. Maybe if it was Lebron...and I'm serious. It would take that kind of player to give this team any hope

[vander]

Gasol > Duncan

Phil >>>>>> Pop

[Duncan21kid]

not you too timvp
BELIEVE

[objective]

There's checks & balances in the front office, and everyone has a role to fill.

Pop is there to make sure Finley and Bonner get new contracts. RC is there to degrade Scola. And KGB Lindsey is there to make sure Scola goes to his old team.

[SenorSpur]

Spursfan needs to start to root for the playoffs instead of going all-in for a championship.

Uh no. Spurfan needs to start rooting for the draft lottery. And not because we're seeking the possibility of a number one pick. No. The draft if the quickest and cheapest way to start getting better, if you make good decisions. Stockpiling picks would really help, but that's probably out of the question.

Making the playoffs as 7th or 8th seeds and the accompanying first round exits are just keeping this roster on life support. If you want to rebuild on the fly, the draft, and an occasional key free agent, is the best approach.

[Vic Petro]

It might be time to tank another season.

[Russ]

For the first time since '02 the Spurs are not le contenders.

That's the easy part.

The hard part for the Spurs is what to do next.

[rayray2k8]

Ahhhh.. It was a good run.
I will always remember the years of Duncan in his prime.
Now we'll watch Pop run this team to the ground.

[MaNu4Tres]

This team ain't winning anything. And I don't see a realistic move that would get us past the 2nd round.

Mine as well get something for Manu while we can.

Not to mention just get back expirings for Jefferson.

I'd even look into trading McDyess to a contender for expirings and a 1st rounder.

Start rebuilding now.

If we wait to long, the longer the rebuilding process would be.

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's best to pull the plug and get as many first rounders we can get and start clearing space up for next off-season.

[SenorSpur]

For the first time since '02 the Spurs are not le contenders.

That's the easy part.

The hard part for the Spurs is what to do next.

Personally, I think the hard part is to get the FO to "get over themselves" and their much-publicized pristine track record, long enough for them to realize that they need to make some drastic personnel decisions.

First up, is to start divorcing themselves from their "vets only" philosophy,

[timtonymanu]

I wonder how empty this forum will be when the Spurs rebuild. No offense to Pistons fans, but I hope its not like their forum.

[Baseline]

I think there are lots of coaches out there who could coach the talent on this team to a 2nd or 3rd in the West. There's really no excuse for a team this healthy, with this much talent, and payroll, to be lower than 3rd.

But that coach just isn't going to be Popovich. He's getting the least out of his team than any coach in the league this year. His ragaholic disciplinarian routine is tired and old and nonsensical in the first place. I'll tell you what his legacy should be...that of the luckiest coach in the history of the league.

The Spurs wilt too often and play with no confidence much of the time. That's because Popovich's style is to beat on them and degrade them -- everybody except for Finley and Bogans, neither of whon have an ounce of talent left, and arguably shouldn't be in the league.

And then he does things like play smallball, which takes them out of games they could win. Tonight against the Lakers, we were cutting the lead in the 4th, trying ot make arun. And who doe he put in the game...Bogans. Who on the Lakers is slow enough for Bogans to guard besides Fisher?

We could have cut the lead down to five, as Doug Collins said, if the three-point shot Parker's pass set up in the corner had fallen. Who took that shot? Bogans. As if that's ever going to go in. Bogans never should have been on the floor. If any other 2 or 3 on the team takes that shot, it has a better chance of going in.

Just another example of how Pop is making this team worse, not better. Timvp very accurately stated that fact in his excellent original post.

[MaNu4Tres]

I wonder how empty this forum will be when the Spurs rebuild. No offense to Pistons fans, but I hope its not like their forum.

Joe Dumars did a horrible job in his rebuilding. He overpaid Ben Gordan, gave an old veteran a new contract worth 60 million. Traded their best player and McDyess for Iverson straight up ( No assets for the future). He got no assets for the future in any moves he made.

Spurs would be wise to start cutting their losses now and getting picks for Manu and McDyess most specifically. Not to mention getting expirings for Richard Jefferson. That would speed up the rebuilding process by a huge margin for the Spurs.

[J_Paco]

I wonder how empty this forum will be when the Spurs rebuild. No offense to Pistons fans, but I hope its not like their forum.

Hey, I'll still be around lurking or posting.

[ulosturedge]

The brutal honest truth is we suck.

[HarlemHeat37]

I'm blaming Pop for a lot too, but we really don't have the talent to compete..people need to stop saying this..

Parker and Ginobili have been inconsistent all year..while Tony will show flashes on a semi-consistent basis, Manu only brings it out once in a while..it's safe to say that Manu is no longer an all-star caliber player..

Jefferson is an average player..

This team has too many old players and no athletes that get court time..

We have only 1 shot blocker and he's 33 years old..our other bigs have serious flaws..

We don't have any perimeter stoppers..

Where is all this talent that some people speak of?..

[siraulo23]

This is a sad, sad day

At least I might be able to enjoy other nba games more

[SenorSpur]

Joe Dumars did a horrible job in his rebuilding. He overpaid Ben Gordan, gave an old veteran a new contract worth 60 million. Traded their best player and McDyess for Iverson straight up ( No assets for the future). He got no assets for the future in any moves he made.

Spurs would be wise to start cutting their losses now and getting picks for Manu and McDyess most specifically. Not to mention getting expirings for Richard Jefferson. That would speed up the rebuilding process by a huge margin for the Spurs.

I agree with you. However the problem is most teams aren't willing to part with picks. Most sellers will be looking to get rid of bad salaried players too, while looking to get youngsters in return.

[timtonymanu]

I hope Atlanta or Orlando comes out of the East.

And Denver comes out of the West.

I cant stomach Shaq or Kobe getting a 5th ring. I dont want Boston to win again cause KG will go in full bag mode again. Also Dallas cause I enjoy their winless franchise.

[MaNu4Tres]

I agree with you. However the problem is most teams aren't willing to part with picks. Most sellers will be looking to get rid of bad salaried players too, while looking to get youngsters in return.

Send Manu and Theo Ratliff to Cleveland for Big Z's expiring contract, JJ Hickson and a 1st round pick.

Send McDyess to Boston for Scalabrine expiring/ Sheldon Williams expiring and their 1st round pick

Trade Jefferson and Mason to Clippers for Camby's expiring and Rasual Butler's expiring.

Tell Duncan to go to Virgin Islands. Tell Parker to go lay low with Eva. Tell the media they broke their foot and would be out for the rest of the year.

Tank the rest of the season.

Use our new 3 first round picks wisely.

Bring Splitter over.

Go after Bosh with the 20 million of cap space we have.



What do you think?

Contenders would part with picks.

[SenorSpur]

Contenders would part with picks.

If they can get it done, it certainly doesn't hurt to ask.

Draft picks, and in turn young, talented players, are just the antidote this aging franchise needs. Call it rebuilding, reloading or whatever, the time has come.

All the losses the Spurs have stockpiled against upper-echelon teams means they're starting that long walk on the "treadmill of mediocrity." A place you don't want to be.

[TheSpursFNRule]

I agree with AJ and Ellie being a vocal leaders, yes it truly does help and I would feel much more comfortable with losing close games if there was a guy like Mario or AJ around to be loud and get people motivated in that way. The thing is we won 3 championships without guys like that. Well maybe 2 without guys like that, im sure SJax fired some people up. I don't think that was a main problem until now. Someone needs to yell at this team and get their ing heads straight.

[neboat]

I don't know what the POP is doing... He had Blair going up against a lineup of Gasol, Artest, and Odom? WTF... Why didn't POP throw Ratliff out against Pau for a few mins? Why the did you sign Ratliff if you aren't even going to play him against bigger lineups? POP's strategy against a big lineup is to play nanoball????

For a guy that keeps on experimenting lineups, he never tries a bigger lineup...he only experiments small and nano lineups...it's really baffling!!