Now that Parker, Kawhi, LMAlpha are our official bug 3. whos our 4th best player?

[YGWHI]

I have to believe that Parker knows whats up and is readying himself like never before. Of course hes not as spry as he was but whatever happens it wont be because hes not giving 100%. What I dont see people say is that we needed Parkers points last year. People call it hero ball and selfishness but KL and LMA werent scoring enough and great passing wasnt going to be enough. When we had the beautiful game EVERYONE was passing but with the acquisition of LMA and KLs new iso game the beautiful game had to go by the wayside. This was not Parkers fault.

I guess people expected that Parker was more a facilitator of the Kawhi/LMA offense, creating plays for them, instead of looking for his own shot in crucial minutes of playoffs games.

Also, Kawhi/LMA scored enough. They scored 50 ppg combined, almost matched Durant/Westbrook production (53 ppg).

But if you said we won't need a great passing game since we're now an iso-team, at this point Patty is a better shooter and can beat his man easier than Parker, it would make sense if Mills plays more minutes than Parker after all.

[james evans]

nice find. the future is now. unless pop gets in the way

Popovich really is the ing problem. As bad as Parker is, It's up to Pop to sit his ass down when he's playing bad. It's as if when someone is playing too good, he benches them and when a player is struggling, he leaves them on the court to find their groove. It's the most confusing I've ever seen as a spurs fan. That's you u do in the preseason, not the regular season and ing playoffs. And he does it to make himself look like a genius if something miraculous occurs. I personally think he's lost it cuz he's been having trouble adjusting much over the years. Starting Diaw over Splitter in 2014 WCF(something I said he should do beforehand and a few posters here thought I was crazy) was one of the last great adjustments he's made since 2014. That old man needs to stop ing around

[cutewizard]

Our lead point guard is an ageing one......

Murray is not yet a point guard, though he has potential....

Patty Mills is a shooting guard in a point guard's body

So it makes sense to have a look at another pure point guard, NICOLAS:

[gambit1990]

parker wasn't even a top 3 spur in the olympics.

[TheGreatYacht]

Our lead point guard is an ageing one......

Murray is not yet a point guard, though he has potential....

Patty Mills is a shooting guard in a point guard's body

So it makes sense to have a look at another pure point guard, NICOLAS:

I just threw up. Keep that slow Unathletic got away

[Spurtacular]

Diaw? west? Boban?

Imo gotta be Bobo. He makes our bench 10x better.

You're no less gay than apalisoc_9. In fact, I'm betting you're the same er.

[buttsR4rebounding]

Best Gasol, Kawhi, LMA

Gotta be the best front court in the league.

[Chinook]

I wonder if this is how the units will end up looking:

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray
SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons
SF: Leonard/Anderson/Garino
PF: Aldridge/Lee/Bertans
C: Dedmon/Gasol/LJC

(Adjustments to a potential other 15th man would shift guys around)

That seems one of the most likely ones on paper, and you'd have essentially the same roles for both units

Ball-handler (Parker, Manu)

Shooting guard (Green, Mills)

Iso wing (Leonard, Anderson)

Iso big (LMA, Gasol)

Finishing/rebounding big (Dedmon, Lee)

This would balance out the scoring loads of the top-four offensive players on the team, while also easing the offensive burden of the guards. The defense is imbalanced as , though. Anderson and Gasol would really have to step up, or else one of Garino or LJC would have to make the team/rotation and make an impact. Or the team would have to trade Mills for a guard who can defend. If two of more of those things happen, the Spurs could be a deadly, deadly team.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

I wonder if this is how the units will end up looking:

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray
SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons
SF: Leonard/Anderson/Garino
PF: Aldridge/Lee/Bertans
C: Dedmon/Gasol/LJC

(Adjustments to a potential other 15th man would shift guys around)

That seems one of the most likely ones on paper, and you'd have essentially the same roles for both units

Ball-handler (Parker, Manu)

Shooting guard (Green, Mills)

Iso wing (Leonard, Anderson)

Iso big (LMA, Gasol)

Finishing/rebounding big (Dedmon, Lee)

This would balance out the scoring loads of the top-four offensive players on the team, while also easing the offensive burden of the guards. The defense is imbalanced as , though. Anderson and Gasol would really have to step up, or else one of Garino or LJC would have to make the team/rotation and make an impact. Or the team would have to trade Mills for a guard who can defend. If two of more of those things happen, the Spurs could be a deadly, deadly team.

Deadmon our starting center?

[Chinook]

Deadmon our starting center?

Guess you missed that report.

[Spurtacular]

I'm a got

[dabom]

Guess you missed that report.

Link.

[dabom]

Do people see a trend? Dwest/Dedmon starting center for the Spurs. @thinktank

[K...]

Link.

It was speculation from high level real gm sources alleging lower level spurs coaches were considering the scenario

[dabom]

It was speculation from high level real gm sources alleging lower level spurs coaches were considering the scenario

So "ThinkTank" takes it as proof to assume the dude is gonna start for the ing Spurs?

[SAGirl]

I wonder if this is how the units will end up looking:

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray
SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons
SF: Leonard/Anderson/Garino
PF: Aldridge/Lee/Bertans
C: Dedmon/Gasol/LJC

(Adjustments to a potential other 15th man would shift guys around)

That seems one of the most likely ones on paper, and you'd have essentially the same roles for both units

Ball-handler (Parker, Manu)

Shooting guard (Green, Mills)

Iso wing (Leonard, Anderson)

Iso big (LMA, Gasol)

Finishing/rebounding big (Dedmon, Lee)

This would balance out the scoring loads of the top-four offensive players on the team, while also easing the offensive burden of the guards. The defense is imbalanced as , though. Anderson and Gasol would really have to step up, or else one of Garino or LJC would have to make the team/rotation and make an impact. Or the team would have to trade Mills for a guard who can defend. If two of more of those things happen, the Spurs could be a deadly, deadly team.

Interesting post. It might in the end be how Pop plays it but the real question is Gasol. How will Pop manage that ego?
Also, how about playmaking? TD provided a lot of playmaking and passing for the SL, maybe LMA can step into that role, that is probably what is required but he hasn't shown to be that good of a playmaker for his career.

The second unit has other issues of their own. The Lee and Gasol tandem together is a scary, scary tandem on defense and the impact a wing can have on them other than rebounding is unknown. They won't fix the problems in the paint or the terrible PnR defense with Mills. Manu is older and when he sits you are not getting an upgrade with Simmons there. I'd really hope Pop goes a different direction, but he won't trust Bertans right away I am sure.

[sasaint]

Interesting post. It might in the end be how Pop plays it but the real question is Gasol. How will Pop manage that ego?
Also, how about playmaking? TD provided a lot of playmaking and passing for the SL, maybe LMA can step into that role, that is probably what is required but he hasn't shown to be that good of a playmaker for his career.

The second unit has other issues of their own. The Lee and Gasol tandem together is a scary, scary tandem on defense and the impact a wing can have on them other than rebounding is unknown. They won't fix the problems in the paint or the terrible PnR defense with Mills. Manu is older and when he sits you are not getting an upgrade with Simmons there. I'd really hope Pop goes a different direction, but he won't trust Bertans right away I am sure.

No me gusta. The 2nd team has all the playmakers except Tony.

[SAGirl]

No me gusta. The 2nd team has all the playmakers except Tony.

I agree. It's why I mentioned playmaking specifically and depending who you ask, Tony is not a natural playmaker either. All of his playmaking actions are "choreographed". He actually misses teammates in good scoring position often bc he's not always looking to set up or to pass to somebody.

The second unit has defensive liabilities all jumbled together. I actually think Pop will need someone else to be a playmaker in the SL and they are probably counting on Pau to play a role similar to Tim with the Hi-Lo passes and the lobs to Kawhi.

[ElNono]

I wonder if this is how the units will end up looking:

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray
SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons
SF: Leonard/Anderson/Garino
PF: Aldridge/Lee/Bertans
C: Dedmon/Gasol/LJC

How about...

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray
SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons
SF: Leonard/Bertans/Garino
PF: Aldridge/Lee/Anderson
C: Gasol/Dedmon/LJC

I can see Anderson being played over Lee and/or Lee taking Dedmon mins if he doesn't work out too.

[dabom]

How about...

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray
SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons
SF: Leonard/Bertans/Garino
PF: Aldridge/Lee/Anderson
C: Gasol/Dedmon/LJC

I can see Anderson being played over Lee and/or Lee taking Dedmon mins if he doesn't work out too.

I can see this. I can also see Fathead get less minutes in the playoffs this season.

[apalisoc_9]

I can see this. I can also see Fathead get less minutes in the playoffs this season.

How you holding up in the offseason bro? Offseason is so long

[DeRozan m8]

Can Anderson just f*ck off already?

[dabom]

How you holding up in the offseason bro? Offseason is so long

Pokemon Go.

Seriously.

[YGWHI]

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray

SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons

SF: Leonard/Anderson/Garino

PF: Aldridge/Lee/Bertans

C: Gasol/Dedmon/LJC

I could hardly believe it when I read "the report" about Gasol coming off the bench, and can hardly believe it now. I doubt that Pau accepts that role.

Also, I fear that LMA will leave the team after this season.

He sacrificed his own individual statistics for the good of the team, to win a ring.

This new season he will have to play along with Parker/Kawhi/Gasol in the starting lineup, other three high-USG% players...It's likely that LMA and Kawhi will take less shots to help to add Gasol to the frontcourt, once again LMA's numbers decrease.

I wouldn't blame him if he jumps on the Cavs/Warriors/some- badwagon next season, at least he will play the Finals.

[SAGirl]

PG: Parker/Mills/Murray

SG: Green/Ginobili/Simmons

SF: Leonard/Anderson/Garino

PF: Aldridge/Lee/Bertans

C: Gasol/Dedmon/LJC

I could hardly believe it when I read "the report" about Gasol coming off the bench, and can hardly believe it now. I doubt that Pau accepts that role.

Also, I fear that LMA will leave the team after this season.

He sacrificed his own individual statistics for the good of the team, to win a ring.

This new season he will have to play along with Parker/Kawhi/Gasol in the starting lineup, other three high-USG% players...It's likely that LMA and Kawhi will take less shots to help to add Gasol to the frontcourt, once again LMA's numbers decrease.

I wouldn't blame him if he jumps on the Cavs/Warriors/some- badwagon next season, at least he will play the Finals.

It would be a bad omen. If LMA leaves, Kawhi will have to be traded the following season in all likelihood and the team on to a rebuild. While LMA is not the most important player in the team (Kawhi is), no team can be considered a real contender without a legit quality big. Pau is going to get into TOSB territory soon after LMA leaves in your scenario and won't be able to shoulder that burden on his own. It would put in perspective Pop holding on to his vestige backcourt until the end and not upgrading positions of need. I am sure reference to Tim retiring would be made by PATFO but not to Pop standing pat in the backcourt. Dijon growing up as a player would actually bail them out. He could be a difference maker.

I don't think as grim as you do. By all accounts LMA has been happy here. They have some young players they are developing to replenish the talent pool and really the only thing that can be said is that Pop holding on to Tony and not looking for a more immediate PG upgrade than Dijon who is a project right now may come back and bite them in the ass.