An Objective Look at Our Offseason

[Ghost Writer]

That's better, travis.

When you quit trying to manipulate my thoughts and concentrate on presenting your own, you come acroos much more intelligently.

I concur with most of what you're saying.

"Standing pat" and maintaining is pretty good, assumming your challengers have not improved.

I noticed you disregard the backup PG spot.

Interesting.

[travis2]

And when you aren't calling people names you aren't so bad...

As far as disregarding the backup PG...I'm not discounting the job that Speedy did last year. But let's keep things in perspective. Exactly what did we see from Speedy? A few playoff games, really. The regular season (what little he played) showed that he definitely had some talent, but he wasn't going to be taking TP's job anytime soon. Speedy is too young a player to start depending on him performing every playoff as he did against the Nets...at least, not yet.

Also, his performance was a product of what the Nets threw at him. Kittles was able to shut down TP with his length...but they didn't keep that up with Speedy. When Parker left...the Nets switched defensive schemes. So a head-to-head playoff comparison between TP and Speedy is not entirely relevant...the conditions of the test aren't the same.

During the regular season, Speedy didn't play at all for quite a while...and the Spurs proved they could survive without him. I'm not saying I would turn down a decent backup...I'm merely saying it's not a season-ender if the Spurs don't pick one up.

[bigzak25]

GW-

Robinson's departure will hurt us defensively. We still need to see who replaces Claxton.

Nail on the head their man. Our championship hopes hinge on those 2 factors. Having to go against TD everyday in practice will hopefully help Rash improve on D. Maybe I missed it, but anyone have the stats on DBrown, anyone see his play....

[tlongII]

When I objectively look at the moves during the off-season I have to admit that it appears the Spurs are decidedly better. Nesterovic does not have the natural talent of Robinson, but he is younger and Robinson was worn down by injuries last year. Nesterovic will not have as much pressure on him inside as he did at Minnesota since Duncan is a more imposing inside player than Garnett.

The big piece that many Spurs fans don't realize in my opinion is that Stephen Jackson was WAY OVERRATED. The combination of Turkoglu and Horry will be much better than Jackson. Turkoglu in particular has a chance at being a star in the Spurs system. He has an excellent offensive game and his defenciencies on defense will be covered by the Spurs shot-blockers.

Ron Mercer could also be a surprise for the Spurs. This guy can play and could flourish in a role off the bench if his ego doesn't get in the way.

The key for the Spurs will be Tony Parker's health. He will be playing a lot of minutes this season and if he goes down the Spurs could be in trouble.

[2Cleva]

As a Laker fan, SA did well to attempt to maintain but they still are missing that player that really scares the opposition. It is comical from the outside that SA didn't get the impact player you guys wanted but you still have a championship worthy team.

But to parrot, not having a defensive center and is the biggest weaknesses. Your perimeter players are nice but so is the rest of the league. The bench is strong as well but not having Robinson is going to hurt. No way Rasho's numbers match Robinson's impact. Teams just won't be as scared to take it inside as they were in the past. Plus Nesterovic won't get the calls that Robinson got. SA went from having the best defensive center in the West to 4th (behind LA, Sac, Minny). I wonder if Popovich changes the scheme more.

You guys need a veteran backup for Parker but there are plenty out there still so I don't think you guys should worry about that. Parker is obviously still to young to be reliable every night but SA can compensate in FA.

But even hurt, many here are underestimating the presence Robinson brought to the game.

[2Cleva]

Honestly, as long as SA didn't get O'Neal I was happy. But I think either Kandi or Brad Miller would have been better fits on both ends than Nesterovic.

[tlongII]

I have to disagree with 2Cleva. Robinson was not near to being the best defensive center in the league last year. Tim Duncan was, even though he played power forward. Teams definitely ARE afraid to take it to the rack against Duncan and they still will be.

[travis2]

Having said that I don't see it as a disaster we haven't picked up a backup PG...what is my solution?

Admittedly, my solution would require some definite work...but it's a possibility.

Submitted for your approval...


Split the backup role primarily between the following:

Steve Kerr...Good old Ted Williams reincarnated certainly knows the current Spurs offense well enough to run it. While he doesn't have the penetration that Parker does, he certainly has the range to prevent the opposing PG from sagging off of him. And he's a smart player. What we give up in mobility we get back (at least partially) in reliability with the ball.

Manu Ginobili...That's right, Manu. This kid's got absolutely sick passing skills, plus you don't lose the penetration aspects of Parker's game. In fact, I put him down as a better passer than Parker right now. What he needs is not so much a muzzle as some tempering. He needs to learn how to use those impossible passes within the framework of the current offense. Which also means his teammates will need to learn just how well he can get them the ball.

Also...at 6'6" (or thereabouts) he's tall enough to post up most PGs. Now, you're going to say that he doesn't have a post up game...and I would tell you yet. It would take some work...but with his quickness and his passing, working from the post would just fill out his overall game incredibly.

[genghisrex]

I think either Kandi or Brad Miller would have been better fits on both ends than Nesterovic.

You think Kandi would have been a better fit offensively? How? Defensively, I think we would be, but Kandi's offensive game is completely low-post oriented and he would just get in Tim's way.

[2Cleva]

genghis - you're right about Kandi's offense. I was distracted. He would get in the way. Thats another reason why neither O'Neal nor Brand was really interested in SA, they operate just like Duncan does.

tlongl - Duncan never had to hold the fort. Robinson always did that. Tim just had to play free safety and gobble up rebounds and blocks because Robinson always was the presence at the rim.

If he plays the same kind of roaming D, no one of significance will be guarding the basket.

[Ghost Writer]

I agree, Cleve.

I am waiting for the Spurs to get that one player that would make me sit up and pay attention.

I want an "over the top" kind of signing that makes it obvoius that this was a good offseason.

If we let Jackson walk, I'd like to see Mercer get dealt and a really good backup PG be brought in.

[tlongII]

tlongl - Duncan never had to hold the fort. Robinson always did that. Tim just had to play free safety and gobble up rebounds and blocks because Robinson always was the presence at the rim.

I disagree. Duncan not only held the fort, he WAS the fort! If Robinson always was the presence at the rim why was Duncan at the top of the league in rebounds and blocked shots? You don't pile up those statistics by roaming around the court like a free safety.

[2Cleva]

tlongl - roaming is exactly how you pad those stats. Robinson took care of taking the main presence from the other team either off the boards or guarding him so Tim could help. Robinson was always the backbone of SA's D. The guts to Tim's glory.

ghost writer - I doubt SA will get that player now. Not sure what PGs would be available to trade but Mercer's last year deal would allow you guys to deal for a player under a longer K.

But it does depend on when the deal was made. Mercer can only be traded within 48 hours by SA or they have to wait 3 months.

[Marcus Bryant]

Um, you have a whole thread to satisfy your Turkoglu fetish. Until Sacramento's 10th man proves he can perform at our former starting SG's level (Jackson), I consider him a minor upgrade based on unrealized potential alone.

Oh get real Turkoglu had to play behind friggin Stojakovic. SJack had to beat out Steve Smith for Chrissakes. It's not my fault you cannot evaluate talent. You were so sure that Parker sucked and that we "homers" were overrating him. Turkoglu is more than a minor upgrade for this team should they lose SJackson. If they manage to keep Jack then they are golden.

[Ghost Writer]

If you wnat to continue your love affair with Hedo, please go back to the thread dedicated to that. We're not discussing him specifically here. For someone who seems to be Hedo's #1 fan, you must've missed his entire last season. He failed in spot start and actually spent most of the season as the Kings' 10th man.

[scott]

Until Sacramento's 10th man proves he can perform at our former starting SG's level (Jackson), I consider him a minor upgrade based on unrealized potential alone.

This appears to be the crux of your analysis of our offseason Ghost. So, please allow me to respectfully rebut.

I see Turkoglu as more than a minor upgrade. As a starter, Stephen Jackson put up respectable numbers- 11.8 ppg in 28 minutes on 43% shooting. While I see these as a first step in what could be a fantastic career for Stephen Jackson- I think his numbers are inflated by being the Starting SG for the San Antonio Basketball Spurs. The previous season, we were able to insert an old, broken Steve Smith at the starting 2 guard spot at get almost identical numbers. Smitty put up 11.6 ppg in 28 minutes a game on 45% shooting (and 47% from 3).

There is a lot of potential in Jack, but I don't think he is as good (at this point) as his numbers indicate. Further proof of The Spurs Effect is seen in Bruce Bowen. He's managed to average 7 points a game as a Spur, and become the league's top 3 point shooter. Any other team in the league, and Bruce is probably back to earth.

Turkoglu, however, managed to put up similar numbers (10.1 ppg in 24 mpg) as a backup in Sac, where he was often times the the 4th option (where as Jack and Smitty were 2nd or 3rd options). Given Starting SG/SF minutes in the Spurs SG/SF system, I think Turkoglu can make the jump from Steve Smith like numbers to at least Derek Anderson (15ppg) numbers.

[Marcus Bryant]

If you wnat to continue your love affair with Hedo, please go back to the thread dedicated to that. We're not discussing him specifically here.

Oh yeah like you have never deviated from the subject at hand in a thread before. In case you didn't notice this thread concerns the Spurs' offseason. Of course it says an "objective look" not a 'mindnumbingly pessimistic screed about the Spurs' so perhaps you shouldn't post in here either.

For someone who seems to be Hedo's #1 fan, you must've missed his entire last season. He failed in spot start and actually spent most of the season as the Kings' 10th man.

There you go again. You come up with these ridiculously negative views on anything the Spurs do and then accuse anyone who dares to disagree with you as being too optimistic. That fact is that you are almost laughingly negative about anything the Spurs do. As for Turkoglu he was the Kings' 10th man or whatever for a reason. He was playing on a ing loaded team. This is not hard to understand. , Detlef Schrempf was buried on the Mavs bench in the 80s before he blossomed elsewhere. Turkoglu didn't "fail" at starting. , they had him starting at the friggin 4 for Webber once.

It's time you realize that the Scott Layden is not the Spurs' GM and the Spurs are not ed like the Knicks are.

[Ghost Writer]

My job is to temper your biased enthusiasm with objective pessimism.

Don't call Turkoglu Peja's backup when he was not.

Don't act like Hedo's addition is going to make this summer an obvious success.

I agree in theory that given the opportunity, Hedo will go from a forgotten man to a top performer for the Spurs.

Heck, we gave Jackson an opportunity and he went from a IR player to a starter.

The same fortune will probably be in store for Hedo and the Spurs.

I don't know if that's enough to clearly call this summer a success, but it's a great start.

[sportcamper1]

I finally found the thread where Travis said a very dirty word…this was worth the price of admission! LMAO!

I was going to give a serious post but now I just can’t I can’t stop laughing….

[Marcus Bryant]

Your job? Um, ok.

Your takes are exceedingly negative day in and day out. I'm not the only one who has said that.

Yes, Turkoglu is a steal.

[Ghost Writer]

Getting back to the topic at hand, I am not convinced that Hedo makes this summer an unabashed success, although he's a step in the right direction.

It's nice to see the Spurs on the receiving end of an unfair deal.