With the exception of a few posters, the premise of the thread has been rejected by many, who've weighed in with an opinion similar to yours. Again, I don't see the point of your argument with those people, and again, those people are the majority of posters in this thread.
I think fans are excited, but not because they believe Finley is a savior. Why shouldn't we be excited about this. Had he signed in Phoenix, Suns fans would be soiling themselves with excitement, too. Probably moreso there than here, all things considered.Check the other threads, people are ting themselves, or that's what they're saying in their posts.
Finley alone might not. But he does add depth. Depth, coupled with better health to Duncan and Ginobili, plus a full season with an improved situation at the center position, plus a year of continuity with a core group that has been to the top -- those things might be enough to suggest that an improvement of say 8-10 games is possible. Is it not?
Then why are you digging on anyone for having that optimism? This franchise has won 3 les in the last 7 years and has won division les in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and finished one game back of the division le in 2004 with a good T'Wolves team in the division. Will Houston be better? Probably. Will the Spurs be better? Probably. If the Spurs are better and the Rockets are better, will the Rockets improvement be enough to surmount the Spurs? Perhaps, but it wouldn't be likely if the Spurs put together even 62-65 wins. And, as you've already acknowledged 60-65 is realistic here.Nothing at all, and you're allowed to have optimisim, just like the other 29 teams. But people are almost too giddy over this. Spurs fans should be more concerned with winning the division than 70 games. That Houston team might be a handful for the division.
Rational thinking? Watch the comments flow after that last sentence..
We may be giddy, but you almost sound jealous.
don't forget what a healthy Tim Duncan would mean.Finley alone might not. But he does add depth. Depth, coupled with better health to Duncan and Ginobili, plus a full season with an improved situation at the center position, plus a year of continuity with a core group that has been to the top -- those things might be enough to suggest that an improvement of say 8-10 games is possible. Is it not?
I think it will be 65-68 wins this year. Pop's team start slowly, and it's difficult to keep being focused in the regular season after winning an championship.
We started hot early in the season last year, i can see it happenning again this season.
I be happy if we get 60+ wins or even 70+ wins, then that will automaticallly make duncan = another mvp year
So you're saying we didn't get any better by adding Finley? Right...
First, Finley>>>>Barry.
Second, the Spurs were on pace to win like 65 games if TD didn't go down.
Third, stop hating. It's our time. Eat it and take it like a man. Like the Admiral said, it all starts with a good foundation. The Admiral layed that foundation and he is seeing it flourish in the third row of the SBC.
The big question I want an answer to is:
"Are the Spurs a better franchise than the Patriots?"
Last edited by slayermin; 09-01-2005 at 03:05 AM.
Yes, because Brady's a weiner.
Thanks. It is nice to have posters from other teams that aren't trolling and trashing!
I have to get your Pistons credit for a tough series! They could have hung it up after the first two games, but they put us on the mat in games three and four.
They also have the players who can cover Duncan one on one better than anyone else.
Finally, due to all that length (Prince esp and Rasheed) and the presence of Ben Wallace (defensive player of the year), I have to give them props and say that imo their defense was the best in the league, a shade better than ours.
IMHO, this is an impressive lineup. My biggest fear is health and I won't say what I fear most, but almost any Spurs fan and most NBA fans know what keeps me up at night (in terms of fears of what could happen to the Spurs).
I'm excited. I'm also ready for the season to start already. Seems like it is taking forever!
Finally, tell me how you think your team will compete against the new Heat (not sure if they are better or not!), the Nets (who are probably better than last year) and the Pacers (with Artest back and O'Neal healthy). Will your team be as good without Brown (distracted as he was and with his health issues, he still is an incredible coach)?
My guess is right about the same as it was this year ... 59-62 wins at most - i can see us starting slowly, and then gaining momentum as the year goes on. We do have a fairly tough early schedule, dont we?
My question tho is this - will we still have those annoying games that we should of won, but got slack at the end and the opposition comes back to win? Ie toronto? Will the collection of 'clutch' players that we have allow that?
Not if they're playing the Heat and you ask Stephen A Smith. I hate that guy, Im actually going to watch his monologue today to hear how he thinks it still won't be enough to put us over the top.
I think 65+ is a good target to aim at.
The biggest advantage of depth is that players can be saved from tiring out during the regular season. The Suns of last year were an example of this. I think if Pop handles the minutes correctly, our Spurs can stay relatively fresh and healthy late into the reg season, and more importantly, into the playoffs. There is no pressure on Manu to play 35+ mpg in reg season games now.
A second advantage is that when it becomes clear that a player is in a total funk during a game, he can replaced with a player of decent quality. If Parker goes cold for 3 quarters, Pop can have NVE play the full 4th .. meaning there won't likely be many liabilities that the opposition can bank on .. they can't dare the off-form player to shoot, cuz the back-up will step up in that scenario .. and the back-up will be pretty darned good.
68-14.
Ans BC, you would be ting in your pants if Finley would've signes with the Suns.
I would say SA could reasonably shoot for around 70 wins, but probably won't, because Pop needs to work out his rotations, and will likely try some experiments that wind up costing some games but teach him a lot about who should play with whom. This will help come playoffs time, and is the right thing to do.
On the other hand, since the West got weaker overall, it might not matter too much. Phoenix got worse, IMO, Seattle lost Nate and AD, LA will continue to be a circus, not a winning team, LogDogs got nada. Dallas is probably a push. On the other hand, SActo and Houston made some upgrades.
So yes, on paper SA looks more formidable. But as the Lakers' failed 4-star experiment showed, confirmed by SA's and Detroit's team-first championships, stocking up on names does not equal more wins. And that's without even mentioning Portland.
I hope they can match the 72 wins or surpass the mark, however unlikely... It seems as though this will be the only way people 15-25 years down the road will remember the Spurs....
Unless we can show our dominance...
Unless we become historic...
Unless we rampage through the playoffs on route to a repeat
Then people will forget us and write us off as a footnote in NBA lore.
If we target that record, people will have to say... "Oh yeah, that awesome Duncan team that kicked everybody's rear has got to be one of the best teams ever!!"
I think the question was:
Do the Spurs have a chance at 72 wins?
The answer:
Yes, there is a chance, but it depends on health and new talent showing up and blending in.
Is that way over optimistic?
No, just merely over-optimistic. But keeping your le rotation players, and then adding Finley, van Exel, and Oberto are good reasons for optimism.
I think they will get 60-61. Every team is gonna be out to be them because they're the champions and I'm expecting a slow start but an exceptionally strong finish.
i'm just interested in 16 wins come playoff time
Pop isn't going to put a target on the back of his team; so that EVERY game is a playoff game for the compe ion.
The Spurs WILL NOT run away from the pack this regular season - it makes it too difficult and demanding on the team. They already get every teams "best" game for being champions, they don't need to draw out that "playing way above their head game" from every team in the league by chasing some "greatest team of all time" le.
The Spurs have added fantastic depth, and Pop will use that depth not to blow teams out, but to rest the players he is going to need in the playoffs; having the 8 people who will see time come May - June next year being as fresh as absolutely possible is what this does.
I predict the Spurs have the best record in the West (Indy of Miami may, or may not have a better record) next year by 1 game. Then they simply ROLL through the playoffs.
I agree wholeheartedly.....
I guess what I'm trying to say is that as much as I relish the present... I want my children and grandchildren to know just how special this team was...
Unless they make it historic no one outside of San Antonio will care...
Look what people say about the Spurs' championships... "Yeah they're champions, but a weak ones because it took them 7 games to knock out Detroit"
or
They'd be taken to school by Magic's showtime Lakers and Michael's Bulls
.... I'd personally think they would matchup well against those former champions based simply on their defensive prowess and offensive versatility (as demonstrated against the Suns)...
The fact that the Spurs record in the playoffs was 16-7 doesn't make them any less dominant than the 01' Lakers that went 15-1. To that I simply say that the compe ion now was much much better and balanced. And let's face it the Lakers didn't do too well against the Pistons themselves...
Shut up,,,shut up
Lalalala....I can't hear you (as I cover my ears).
I bet you would love to have kept Finley on the Mavs....don't deny it.
Finley in his day was a great player for Dallas but the last 2 years hasn't been great. Just look at his stats in the playoffs and you will see what he is.
With who?
The Mavericks..
Just shut up, your like every other Mavs fan...stop crying about the fact that he's here. I'm sure you know he'll win in this franchise, and that he'll be happy.
Coming off the bench, he has enough time to rest and improve as a role player, and I'm sure he'll do that.
Spurs>Mavericks
That's what you're still crying about, go mourn some more in mouse's shoulders, he needs it too.
40% from the arc?Just look at his stats in the playoffs and you will see what he is.
Sold!
I know the spurs are better than the mavericks. I also know that Dallas is glad to have Finley gone. He has been a big disappointment for Dallas in the big games.
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