In the past 10 games ...

[ploto]

Plus, you can't use Tim as the excuse. Tim is actually physically better than before the All-Star break, and the defense is worse.

[ShoogarBear]

Also, something I'm not sure other people mentioned, is that Starship Nine (aka TP) might be expaning a little too much of his focus on the other 47 feet of the floor.

I've mentioned before in other threads that Parker's D has definitely taken a step back this year. Last year he was superb for long stretches. This year, I guess he's had to conserve his energy on that end.

But I still think the major problem right now is in the paint.
We may have to face the fact that is not just a short-term problem. Even after Tim's foot is better, it's obvious that neither Rasho nor Nazr is the One Solution at center.

Our options would seem to be:
-Keep Rasho and Nazr (if we can) and hope for improvement, or better alchemy of the two by Pop. Unlikely, I'd say.
-Look for an upgrade. Who is out there who's available?
-Think about bringing Mahinmi in faster.

[ploto]

Yeah, I'd rather see some consistent numbers on rebounds and a little defense than one night where he takes down 20 rebounds followed by five games of obscurity.

My belief has always been that even on a bad night- Rasho gives you defense. On a bad night, Nazr gives you nothing.

[leemajors]

i think javtokas would be a better stopgap than ian. dude is 19 or 20 and may not be much help at this point, even if he is making strides improvement-wise in europe. at least javtokas has some experience professionally.

[ChumpDumper]

Our options would seem to be:
-Keep Rasho and Nazr (if we can) and hope for improvement, or better alchemy of the two by Pop. Unlikely, I'd say.
-Look for an upgrade. Who is out there who's available?
-Think about bringing Mahinmi in faster.

Well, Javtokas' team runs a very similar defense....

[timvp]

Just no denying-- the defense gives up fewer points and the opponent shoots lower FG% when Rasho is in the game. Period.

Yeah, I don't think anybody could deny that. Rasho is good defensively and is always in the right spots. Problem is he's bad at rebounding in a crowd and is soft as tissue paper on offense.

Truth is Rasho would work as a regular season starter and the Spurs would probably have a better record than they do now. But Pop and the Spurs know that Rasho starting won't win a le. You can't have a soft center and go thru teams like Detroit, Denver or even Dallas.

Nazr is just as bad as Rasho but Nazr isn't soft. Rasho has gone to the line 28 times in 1342 minutes this year. That's just disgusting.

[ploto]

You are not going to find someone to come in and learn and execute the Spurs defense the way Rasho does quickly. I know it will make people mad, but what Nazr brings is more replaceable by someone like Robertas.

[ShoogarBear]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Javtokas as ever amounting to anything more than a younger Tony Massenburg-type . He'll give you a physical presence, which is a nice piece to have, but is not somebody you'd want to have out there for more than 15 minutes a night.

[ploto]

Yeah, I don't think anybody could deny that. Rasho is good defensively and is always in the right spots. Problem is he's bad at rebounding in a crowd and is soft as tissue paper on offense.

Truth is Rasho would work as a regular season starter and the Spurs would probably have a better record than they do now. But Pop and the Spurs know that Rasho starting won't win a le. You can't have a soft center and go thru teams like Detroit, Denver or even Dallas.

Problem is-- can you get past the Clippers or the Lakers in the FIRST round with Nazr?

[timvp]

Problem is-- can you get past the Clippers or the Lakers in the FIRST round with Nazr?

Spurs won a championship last year with Nazr playing and Rasho cheerleading. Harsh, but I wouldn't change it up now, especially when the Spurs will probably have to face many of the same teams this postseason.

[leemajors]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Javtokas as ever amounting to anything more than a younger Tony Massenburg-type . He'll give you a physical presence, which is a nice piece to have, but is not somebody you'd want to have out there for more than 15 minutes a night.

have you seen him play much? he can cover a bit of space and rebound. i would like them to give it a try.

[ShoogarBear]

For this year, it's on Pop to determine when we need Nazr and when we need Rasho. I don't think you can just say one or the other is the starter and leave it at that.

I'd like to see more situation subs utions between the two, depending on what's happening on the court. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that isn't the case.

[Bruno]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see Javtokas as ever amounting to anything more than a younger Tony Massenburg-type . He'll give you a physical presence, which is a nice piece to have, but is not somebody you'd want to have out there for more than 15 minutes a night.

Nazr or Rasho don't play more than 15 minutes when they are subs ute.
I can see Spurs keeping Rasho or Nazr (they won't keep both) and sign Javtokas as a cheap backup.

[timvp]

For this year, it's on Pop to determine when we need Nazr and when we need Rasho. I don't think you can just say one or the other is the starter and leave it at that.

I'd like to see more situation subs utions between the two, depending on what's happening on the court. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that isn't the case.

I think Pop needs to go back to the playoff rotation soon. Buy some time with Nazr and then sub with Horry.

[ShoogarBear]

have you seen him play much? he can cover a bit of space and rebound. i would like them to give it a try.

Nazr or Rasho don't play more than 15 minutes when they are subs ute.
I can see Spurs keeping Rasho or Nazr (they won't keep both) and sign Javtokas as a cheap backup.

I've seen him play some, but not a tremendous amount. He's mobile, but shorter than both Nazr and Rasho, and has even less offensive game than Rasho, except for putbacks. I have no idea how good he'd be defensively, but I'm guessing he won't be as effective as Rasho.

So . . . a guy who's physical, but not as good as Rasho on defense and not as good as Nazr on offense. Not really the long-term solution either.

[ShoogarBear]

I think Pop needs to go back to the playoff rotation soon. Buy some time with Nazr and then sub with Horry.

This is of course assuming that Horry has also decided it's time to go back to the playoff rotation and starts boxing out and playing better defense.

[timvp]

Maybe it's time to move Duncan to center next season and go out and get a power forward. Centers are too expensive and not worth the price tag anymore.

[ShoogarBear]

Maybe Duncan will pull a Soriano when told he's the full-time center.

[ChumpDumper]

Wasn't Oberto supposed to be our starting center by now?

[timvp]

Wasn't Oberto supposed to be our starting center by now?

He couldn't be much worse than Rasho or Nazr.

[ShoogarBear]

Hmm, we should bump those threads . . .

[timvp]

Slide Duncan to center and sign Chris Wilcox.

(Or Melvin Ely)

[Kori Ellis]

Slide Duncan to center and sign Chris Wilcox.

(Or Melvin Ely)

Chris Wilcox here would be damn sweet.

[ploto]

Spurs won a championship last year with Nazr playing and Rasho cheerleading. Harsh, but I wouldn't change it up now, especially when the Spurs will probably have to face many of the same teams this postseason.

Denver and Seattle???

[timvp]

Chris Wilcox here would be damn sweet.

Yeah too bad it'd cost too much for Holt.

The Clippers got murdered on that trade...