Diagnosing the Problems on Defense

[rmt]

Yup but against good defensive teams in the PO's Bonner is gonna be closed out upon and his slow,low release on his 3 ball shot is a killer rendering him mostly useless.Only Neal and Green have a quick shot release on the 3 ball.Even Jefferson takes a little too much time gettin' set unfortunately.that being said GO SPURS !!!!

Have you seen how quickly Novak releases the ball? Hate when the commentators say Spurs let him go while he's draining 3s.

Pity there are no good big men around (unlike SG that Spurs like to collect).

[Bruno]

@Bruno

Who do you think the spurs are targeting right now if anyone at the trade deadline? Is a trade likely?

There is a load of constraints to do a trade for Spurs:
- Spurs can't take a player with a too high salary because they won't be able to match salaries. Their tradable players all have a low salary.
- Spurs won't be able to get a too good player because they don't have the assets to do so.
- Getting a bad player obviously won't help Spurs.
- Spurs don't have a lot of holes. Aside of a defensive bigman, I don't see what can really help them.
- Spurs will have cap space this summer and might want to keep it.
- Because of the luxury tax, a trade that will increase too much Spurs salaries might be vetoed by Holt.

If you sum up:
Spurs must get a defensive bigman with a low salary, who is good enough to help them and who has an expiring contract. To get him, they only have Blair, Anderson, Joseph and picks.

Well, good luck with that. Needless to say that a trade is unlikely. There are maybe a handful of realistic targets for Spurs.

The most realistic scenario if Spurs doing no trade or a meaningless one (salary dumping Anderson). Their best odd to improve their front-line is a vet PF/C waived by a lottery team before the waiving deadline (March 23).

[DesignatedT]

Really wish we would have made a push for Pryzbilla. Don't understand why we didn't even pick up the phone.


Also, Say the deadline passes and the Spurs make no move, is their any possibility at all that McDyess or the Spurs might be interested in reuniting for the rest of the season? Would anyone be in favor of this happening if there was mutual interest? I mean he knows the system and there would virtually be little to no growing pains.

[Paranoid Pop]

Really wish we would have made a push for Pryzbilla. Don't understand why we didn't even pick up the phone.

How do you know? What we do know is that he only ever considered the Heat and the Blazers, we had no chance to begin with.

Also, Say the deadline passes and the Spurs make no move, is their any possibility at all that McDyess or the Spurs might be interested in reuniting for the rest of the season? Would anyone be in favor of this happening if there was mutual interest? I mean he knows the system and there would virtually be little to no growing pains.

0, McDyess recently said that he was happy with his decision to retire.

[DesignatedT]

How do you know? What we do know is that he only ever considered the Heat and the Blazers, we had no chance to begin with.

I was just going by the many articles that stated this. "The 7-foot-1 center was pursued by Portland, Chicago, Miami and Milwaukee but decided to rejoin the Blazers last week, pending a physical exam."

, McDyess recently said that he was happy with his decision to retire.

I must have missed that. Link?

[Paranoid Pop]

I was just going by the many articles that stated this. "The 7-foot-1 center was pursued by Portland, Chicago, Miami and Milwaukee but decided to rejoin the Blazers last week, pending a physical exam."

Ok I was pretty sure I read that we were interested but who knows, at this point everyone should be thankful he didnt choose the Heat.

I must have missed that. Link?

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...ed-2432224.php

[DesignatedT]

Thanks, I missed this article.

[maverick1948]

I went back to the last championship year and checked the Points Allowed in the NBA and how the Spurs stand in relation from year to year.

Year avg place where we
would be with 2012 PA


2007 90.1 1st 8th
2008 90.6 3rd 5th
2009 93.3 2nd 10th
2010 96.3 8th 5th
2011 98.0 14th 9th
2012 95.6 16th


Just from this set of stats, defense has become a bigger priority for other teams. Last year, Philadelphia gave up 97.5 ppg, this year 87.5. What did they add that makes the difference? Not much, jusr a coach that has them playing D. Removing the 3 bad games this year, Por 137, Mia 120, and Den 117, we have an avg of 92.8 per game. That aint bad for 31 games.

[TD 21]

So if I'm reading you right, you've basically surmised that lack of shot blocking is a major problem, if not the major problem, for the Spurs defensive slippage in recent years. Despite this, you'd rather they continue to not only play, but start Blair, than find out if a guy like Turiaf can help them without destroying the offense?

I'm really not concerned about the offense. I have confidence that Pop and the big three would figure it out and make it work. Maybe it regresses some if they start Splitter or go with Turiaf, but if the trade off is a significant improvement defensively, I'd do it in a second. And if it doesn't work out, they can always go back to Blair. Yeah, maybe mentally they lose him in the process, but that's a risk they should be willing to take.

[jjktkk]

So if I'm reading you right, you've basically surmised that lack of shot blocking is a major problem, if not the major problem, for the Spurs defensive slippage in recent years. Despite this, you'd rather they continue to not only play, but start Blair, than find out if a guy like Turiaf can help them without destroying the offense? Or you just think Pop wouldn't go this route?

I'm really not concerned about the offense. I have confidence that Pop and the big three would figure it out and make it work. Maybe it regresses some if they start Splitter or go with Turiaf, but if the trade off is a significant improvement defensively, I'd do it in a second. But if it doesn't work out, they can always go back to Blair. Yeah, maybe mentally they lose him in the process, but that's a risk they should be willing to take.

Imo, Pop won't stop babying Blair until they find another big. Because of the Spur's lack of bigman depth, Pop can't afford to lose Blair mentally.

[MaNu4Tres]

Because of the Spur's lack of bigman depth, Pop can't afford to lose Blair mentally.

That take sounds familiar.

[TD 21]

Imo, Pop won't stop babying Blair until they find another big. Because of the Spur's lack of bigman depth, Pop can't afford to lose Blair mentally.

I'm talking if/when they get another big. To me, it makes sense to immediately plug that big in and find out if he can make them better. Because they know what their upside/end game is with Blair, or at least they should; and it isn't championship. I'm not suggesting it would be with whoever they may be able to acquire, but at least the possibility would exist, so long as it would provide them with more rim protection and allow them to have more balance.

[Spursfanfromafar]

I think finding a starter quality big for the PF position is going to be near impossible before the trade deadline. If there are not any decent vets worth taking a risk on.. I think one decent 10th/11th man big the Spurs can target is DJ White of the Bobcats.

A trade featuring James Anderson + Cory Joseph for DJ White + Cory Higgins is probably worthwhile.

DJ White seems to be an average big who can block shots and shoot the midrange and play decent team defense. May he can be motivated to do more in a contending team as compared to a bottom feeder like the Bobcraps.

[DMC]

Really wish we would have made a push for Pryzbilla. Don't understand why we didn't even pick up the phone.


Also, Say the deadline passes and the Spurs make no move, is their any possibility at all that McDyess or the Spurs might be interested in reuniting for the rest of the season? Would anyone be in favor of this happening if there was mutual interest? I mean he knows the system and there would virtually be little to no growing pains.

The McDyess formula failed last season. I don't think revamping it will do anything for us. We don't need edge of death people defending the paint, we need energy and length.

[jjktkk]

The McDyess formula failed last season. I don't think revamping it will do anything for us. We don't need edge of death people defending the paint, we need energy and length.

The difference, theoretically, would be Dice and Splitter change roles, with Dice comeing off the bench, playing spot minutes, maybe more.