The Spurs Will Be Back

[Spurminator]

Bring back "Yall Ready For This"!!

[DieMrBond]

Why did it have to be the f'n Mavs...

[Borosai]

Bring back the good luck charm: Beno.

[Popo>Phil]

About Timmy, we'd better be a little more realistic, sure he'll get healthier, but older and less athletic more.

If he will still be the most athletic big in silver and black the next season, Spurs will get less chance than this playoff.

[barbacoataco]

First of all, Thank you Timmvp. I post on several boards and Spurstalk is without a doubt THE BEST. You allow freedom while keeping the trolls at hand. That is hard to do and this forum makes it work. Also, many of the posters on this board are very well informed and thoughtful.

2nd- doesn't it feel different losing after winning 4 championships, compared to before like during the DRob days circa 94-95 etc? After winning 4 rings, the Spurs are already more successful than just a few NBA franchises. You can't hope to win every year. But the Spurs are in contention every year, which is as good as it gets.

3rd- the Spurs really got away from playing tough defense this year, and it killed them in the playoffs. They were never going to go anywhere in the postseason without being able to get defensive stops. Next year I hope they go back to putting more emphasis on D.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Why did it have to be the f'n Mavs...

Eh. Big deal. A loss is a loss to us. The Mavs can relish in Cuban breaking protocool to set up American Airlines banners for Playoff Series Victories Against The Spurs 2006 and 2009 but that's all they really have to cheer about in their entire franchise existence. Let them have it. It's not like they're getting out of the West.

Now that this series is over...it's back to the real game: FTL

[Marcus Bryant]

In ten years nobody will remember the Mavs.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Spurs will slam the door shut on team of the decade with a 2010 le.

[Warlord23]

More than anything, Pop needs to take a long, hard look at the way he spreads minutes. He's using the same strategies that worked with deep, veteran squads on a team with several new faces. That just will not work. You can't just bench Hill late in the season because he might have made a few mistakes. You stick with him and help him improve. IF Pop handles things right, we might see Hill blossoming into a terrific 2-way role player.

Same goes for Mahinmi or Gist or Hairston or whichever young player is expected to feature on the Spurs in the next 2 years. Live with their mistakes and shape them into smart, productive players. The way Phil Jackson has done with Shannon Brown and Trevor Ariza; the way Carlisle had done with Barea, Bass and Hollins. Pop needs to practice patience and start teaching rather than simply benching the younger players and leaning on his broken-down old veterans.

Which brings us to the broken-down old veterans. Finley absolutely needs to retire and make way for some youth. I love Bruce, and he can be called upon for specific assignments, but we need to give 90% of the minutes at SF to players under 28. They need to let Udoka and Vaughn go. Bonner has 1 year left but I'd do everything in my power to trade his expiring contract along with that of Thomas and Oberto to get some fresh blood. Not sold on Mason yet, but he can be a serviceable SG *if* Pop doesn't with him by asking him to run the offense. If Gooden or Sheed can be had for cheap then bring them aboard.

Bottomline: Keep the Big 3 + Bowen + Hill + Mahinmi + Mason. Convince Fin to retire. Let go of all the players whose contracts end this year except maybe Gooden. Try and trade all last-year (expiring) contracts for youth. Draft wisely and play whoever you pick.

[marini martini]

Maybe when the band waggoners fall off the wagon, we'll have a stronger fan base next season!!!............See Ya!!!

[polandprzem]

Ahh yea - fantastic job LJ

You've been productive all season long.


Probably you will come up with the season ending post, but I'd rather say thanks now, so I prevent myself from forgetting about that later.

[Buddy Holly]

Could the Spurs pull off a sign and trade with another team using Finley and Bowen's contracts?

[Dex]

Silver and Black for life.

Thanks for all the memories so far, Spurs, and hopefully there are many more great ones in store.

[holcs50]

I'm interested to see if the spurs can man up and to after a Richard Jefferson.

I would take VC any day over jefferson.
and much rather have our loss be the Mavs than the Fakers!

[DPG21920]

This Spurs lost to the better team. Props to the Mavericks for advancing. Good luck.

As far as the Spurs are concerned, they still have more gas in the tank. Tim Duncan will have the longest offseason of his career to get his knees right. Tony Parker proved he's taken his game to another level and will be able to carry a bigger portion of the load for the foreseeable future. Manu Ginobili will get healthy, he'll be rested and and he'll once again be once of the best players in the league next year.

Bruce Bowen has another year in him. George Hill should really blossom next season. The Spurs should be able to fill out the roster with younger and better pieces.

Even though any objective Spurs fan knew the Spurs were extreme longshots to do anything this postseason, losing still hurt. Especially to the Mavs. But in the long run, this early loss well help the team. More rest and the roster's deficiencies are now painfully obvious. Winning a few more games in the postseason would have been great but escaping without a major injury to Duncan or Parker is way more important. Duncan could have hurt himself playing on one leg, Parker could have hurt himself trying to carry the whole load.

After a decade on the grind, this rest will do the team good. Come back next year with the Big Three intact, get refueled with better role players and make a run at #5.

Thank you to the Spurs for the effort. Thank you to Spurs fans for supporting your team.

The Spurs will be back.

Believe.

I am was extraordinarily happy with the effort in the regular season. I felt this team did a great job and slightly over-achieved wins wise.

However, I was very disappointed with this 1st round. You know I was one of the loudest voices with regards to the Mavs being the worst match up. I knew that as a fan of basketball. As a fan of the Spurs I still thought they had enough to compete. I do not mind losing; the Mavs were the better team. I do mind not competing. I felt the Spurs did not give a good effort and that is disappointing.

So, I know you say they will be back, and I agree. But how do you think they do it? I know it is hard to target specific players, but in general. Here is my thoughts, what do you think?

This is what I want to happen, but it depends on three things: Will the Spurs scrap the 2010 plan, open up their wallets and go into win now mode in order to maximize Tim's years here?

If they are willing to do all of those things here is what they need to do in my opinion:

1) Really Target Team Needs: What does this team need? A true center that can help Tim patrol the paint along with rebound at a high rate. More than ever it has become evident that Tim can no longer do it on his own. It will go along way to improving the Spurs defense along with giving Tim some rest on that end.

Go for athletic wings that can do this combonation: Defend with some size and speed, hit the 3 efficiently or score efficiently. I would say lean to the scoring. Not all the way, but do not think you can find the Bowen replacement today. If you can get someone who is a solid defender and a better scorer, than it will go a long way to improving the line up.

How do you do this?

1) Buy into the Buyers Market: If people are willing to part with elite talent in order to increase cap space and shed salary, then the Spurs need to buy now. Especially if it is a player that fits a situational and positional need.

This especially makes sense if the player is relatively young and would be just as good as who the Spurs could expect to get in 2010 with the anticipated cap space. The NBA has shown that this is a distinct possibility, and the Spurs need to be ready to pounce. Spurs have 3 guys in Oberto/Mason/Bowen whom they can trade (because they expire in 2010) that will allow for the Spurs to trade for someone who makes 15 million dollars. That can buy you a nice player.

This becomes double effective if you can do so without trading Ginobili. Obviously, out of the big 3, Manu is the most likely to be traded. If you can use some kind of combo of players like I mentioned to get talent, without giving up Gino it would be a major bonus.

3) Use all of the MLE if the Right Player Comes Along: The spurs need to look for forwards and centers. If the Spurs can fulfill one need by trading, they need to use the MLE to target the other needs.

Do not just waste money, but if you have an opportunity to sign someone for a bargain (meaning somewhat of a good player who cannot really command more than the full MLE a la Maggette) then they need to do it.

With the combination of trades and the MLE, the Spurs have some options if they are willing to open up the checkbook. Will they? Probably not to the degree that I outlined, but I hope they try and win now, and worry about the future down the road when we do not have Duncan to appreciate any more.

[Obstructed_View]

Bowen's gone. Of that we can be sure. But suggesting that the Spurs are going to need a major overhaul to be contenders is the same short-sightedness that caused people to lament the decline of Timmy before the last two championships. The Spurs are going to have a lot of young talent that's going to get major minutes next year, in positions the Spurs desperately needed this season. Barring a complete mental meltdown by the coaching staff, the Spurs will be poised for a deep playoff run next year.

[dav4463]

Pop needs to come back next year without the beard. We need a fresh new look!

[timvp]

According to the media (and even a lot of Spurs fans), the Spurs "era" has ended so many times over the years. After Duncan's knee injury and the aging support, it was supposedly over. It was supposedly over again after the 2001 debacle. Then again after Robinson retired. Then the Spurs were lucky to survive the Suns in 2005. Then the Mavs in 2006 was supposed to be the final dagger.

I'm actually not that worried. Even a slowed Duncan is damn good. Manu didn't show any signs of slowing down this season when he actually got to play. Injury will be a risk with him but the Spurs know how to manage his minutes and he'll have like eight months to get ready. Parker should continue to grow and be a much bigger and better piece to the puzzle.

When you have three players who could potentially be top 20 players in the NBA, there's not much to complain about. You don't even need great role around them. Get a fourth player who can step up and a like two or three other trustworthy role players and the Spurs would be ready to make a deep run.

I was much more worried in past offseasons than this one. Parker's growth could very well cancel any slippage in Duncan and Manu, while Pop's gambles won't all blow up in his face like they did this year. Plus the Spurs have very intriguing assets to make moves this summer, at the trade deadline and next summer.

Number five is very much possible with this nucleus.

[EricB]

Bowen's gone. Of that we can be sure. But suggesting that the Spurs are going to need a major overhaul to be contenders is the same short-sightedness that caused people to lament the decline of Timmy before the last two championships. The Spurs are going to have a lot of young talent that's going to get major minutes next year, in positions the Spurs desperately needed this season. Barring a complete mental meltdown by the coaching staff, the Spurs will be poised for a deep playoff run next year.

I'm just not 100% sure Bowen is gone.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

According to the media (and even a lot of Spurs fans), the Spurs "era" has ended so many times over the years. .

I don't know man, as far as the Duncan thing....he officially has a permanent degenerative disease and not once commanded a consistent double team in a playoff series for probably the first time evers. I know a hurt and aging Duncan is still pretty insanely good, especially as a QB type that helps his teams through the regular season....but he needs to be able to command those doubles in the playoffs. That's what makes us the Spurs. Teams that rely on insanely good penetration point guards are a dime a dozen in this nba.

[Kori Ellis]

I'm just not 100% sure Bowen is gone.

I'm pretty sure Bowen will have some agreement to be released and re-sign for the minimum. He'll be used next year for spot minutes and to mentor the young guys.

[Borosai]

I really hope Bowen will be back. He can still play, and he should retire a Spur.

[SpursFan0728]

Thanks for your game thoughts throughout the season! It has been wonderful!

[Obstructed_View]

I'm just not 100% sure Bowen is gone.

It may not be 100 percent, but the interaction and body language during this game, the lack of trust this season by Pop, and his record of absolute blockhead stubbornness makes it about as definite as can be. Bowen doesn't hold a grudge, which is probably the only reason there's a chance he stays, unless he's bought out and offered a coaching job.

[Russ]

Number five is very much possible with this nucleus.

I hope you're right but I fear it may be very difficult to retool this roster enough to compete for No. 5 next year. The Spurs just don't have that many assets (players or draft picks) after the big three. In the past the Spurs had players in the pipeline that the media was unaware of but now I don't see that.

In addition, it appears that the big three may be more vulnerable to chronic health problems now. In particular, Manu has an injury that may be reagravated just by playing the game.

Past mistakes may be to much to overcome. Until now, I expected this run to last another two or three years . . .

But the Spurs may be able to pull off some magic by remaking the roster when we least expect it. Tony Parker said it best in the postgame press conference -- "It's a thin line between winning and losing."

Hopefully the Spurs will get lucky this offseason and go off in quest of Five.