Spurs Roster as it stands right now

[Obstructed_View]

Is there any reason Elson can't do for us what Haslem did for the Heat?

Do you mean what Haslem actually did, or what Haslem is given credit for doing?

[Dalhoop]

I'm not talking hacking Dirk, just rotating defenders.

Elson is one of many options. One that might get a board every so often. In the real world outside of paper matchups this is what happens.

OK, that's cool .... kind of like when sometimes Howard guards Duncan .... i can see that.

I don't think that is a solution though, Dirk is more of a threat then Howard. Its a tough problem to solve because Duncan can't play Dirk. I don't see anything that the Spurs can do, right now, to keep their center on the court vs the Mavs without Dirk Killing them. Other then Duncan how many of the big men are known for their defense?

They will be forced to put Bowen on him ... or Duncan

The Spurs need to sign a SF to guard Howard. If they do that, they play their game and win. If they don't, the Mavs force the switch to small ball

[Mr. Body]

Slow your role, big boy.

Him adding a jumpshot would be a HUGE difference to his game from what it is now. Also, you talk about trading him for a 'adequate floor general' but what exactly will he be orchestrating?

This team IS tony parker 5-10 years from now. Without him, it'll be a PG leading scrubs.

I'm projecting, naturally. Parker leading scrubs will be a lottery team every single year. I can see trading him for value as Manu and Duncan are about to ride into the sunset. He'd have a lot of value -- replaceable value. He's not going to be pushing a team into the playoffs by himself, so why not restock, help those two guys out a couple last years, and look to the future?

I would absolutely not be stunned to see this happen. This is not 'Parker's team' once Duncan retires.

[ChumpDumper]

OK, that's cool .... kind of like when sometimes Howard guards Duncan .... i can see that.

I don't think that is a solution though, Dirk is more of a threat then Howard. Its a tough problem to solve because Duncan can't play Dirk. I don't see anything that the Spurs can do, right now, to keep their center on the court vs the Mavs without Dirk Killing them. Other then Duncan how many of the big men are known for their defense?

They will be forced to put Bowen on him ... or Duncan

The Spurs need to sign a SF to guard Howard. If they do that, they play their game and win. If they don't, the Mavs force the switch to small ball

If we sign a SF to guard Howard and have Bowen on Dirk, that's small ball.

Do you even think about things before you type?

I don't see anything that the Spurs can do

I have never met a Mavfan on these boards who ever gave the Spurs any chance of ever winning any game against the Mavs.

Never.

[Please_dont_ban_me]

I'm projecting, naturally. Parker leading scrubs will be a lottery team every single year. I can see trading him for value as Manu and Duncan are about to ride into the sunset. He'd have a lot of value -- replaceable value. He's not going to be pushing a team into the playoffs by himself, so why not restock, help those two guys out a couple last years, and look to the future?

I would absolutely not be stunned to see this happen. This is not 'Parker's team' once Duncan retires.

I'm not against trading Parker.

But you made it sound like you would let him go for a "floor general" type Point Guard. I would let him go for a reliable big, then pursue a "floor general" through other teams.


I'm not sure how good John Stockton would be on the hawks. But I bet if you stick Tony Parker on them they win a few games. So I would trade Parker for a Malone, then go after a Stockton via free-agency or the draft...whatever.

[Please_dont_ban_me]

Do you mean what Haslem actually did, or what Haslem is given credit for doing?

I hate to pull the "well if you actually watched the series..." card, but honestly if you did watch it you saw what Haslem did. Maybe not the stats, but his physical play really bothered Dirk.

[Mr. Body]

I'm not against trading Parker.

But you made it sound like you would let him go for a "floor general" type Point Guard. I would let him go for a reliable big, then pursue a "floor general" through other teams.


I'm not sure how good John Stockton would be on the hawks. But I bet if you stick Tony Parker on them they win a few games. So I would trade Parker for a Malone, then go after a Stockton via free-agency or the draft...whatever.

Well, we'll see. Chris Paul's contract comes up in a few years and I don't see him sticking in New Orleans (bad cap management this year). I could see the Spurs do a S&T and the Hornets grabbing Parker. That sort of thing. Highly speculative, but... it doesn't really matter at this point. I'm very happy with Parker (mostly).

[Dalhoop]

Is there any reason Elson can't do for us what Haslem did for the Heat?

Can a 30yr old center (with two years in the league) do the same job on Dirk as a young athletic PF ... I guess the technical anser is "Yes, it is possable"

Reality is a different though.

Not many euro-players are known for their spectacular defense (he has player 4yrs in Euro and 2 in NBA)

[ChumpDumper]

Eh, we have decent luck with getting tall guys to play good D -- even guys with no history of it like Hedo and Ferry. If Elson is coachable he might work out pretty well.

[Obstructed_View]

I hate to pull the "well if you actually watched the series..." card, but honestly if you did watch it you saw what Haslem did. Maybe not the stats, but his physical play really bothered Dirk.

Unfortunately the "if you actually watched" card is about all you've got, because Dirk was about the same against the Heat as he was against the Spurs. Haslem had a shot blocker behind him. Had Bowen that luxury he could have actually spent all his time on Dirk instead of trying to stop the guards that were able to parade unmolested to the rim all series.

[Dalhoop]

Chris Paul's contract comes up in a few years and I don't see him sticking in New Orleans (bad cap management this year).

He is signed till the 09-10 season. I would not overlook the Hornets. they have Cap to burn; 30M salary this next season, and 2.5M in salary for the following year, they have no commited money after that (Paul has several years of team options) They will be looking to sign all the big players.

[Please_dont_ban_me]

Unfortunately the "if you actually watched" card is about all you've got, because Dirk was about the same against the Heat as he was against the Spurs. Haslem had a shot blocker behind him. Had Bowen that luxury he could have actually spent all his time on Dirk instead of trying to stop the guards that were able to parade unmolested to the rim all series.

So we agree on small ball.

And Dirk wasn't the same against the Heat. Haslem wore him down, against us he'd just pull up and shoot over Bowen, Finley, Manu and at times yes...Tony parker.

[Dalhoop]

I'm not sure how good John Stockton would be on the hawks. But I bet if you stick Tony Parker on them they win a few games.

Stockton had one of the sweetest shots of any guard to play the game ... and he knew when to shoot and when to pass

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

RROS-- If we get Butler and manage a trade for a difference-making SF, then it'll be a successful offseason (and I'll get over my Jak-heartbreak). That SF has to be better than Rasual Butler.

Jumaine Jones would also be nice from a trade.

Agreed, Mr Body. Fingers crossed.

[Obstructed_View]

So we agree on small ball.

And Dirk wasn't the same against the Heat. Haslem wore him down, against us he'd just pull up and shoot over Bowen, Finley, Manu and at times yes...Tony parker.

You and I have to agree that the problem with the above is anyone NOT named Bowen covering Dirk. Haslem wore him down because he didn't have to leave him. Dirk's stats are virtually identical for both series. Imagine if Bowen had gotten to stay on him. Imagine if the Spurs had been able to actually stop someone from scoring. Is the dream of "defense first" so foggy that nobody remembers how successful it was?

Because I DAMN sure remember what a ing trainwreck it was to completely change the rotation as soon as the playoffs started.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Hopefully since Dallas is paying Buckner all that money they'll play him and we can stick a big on him for some minutes, if need be.

[Obstructed_View]

Hopefully since Dallas is paying Buckner all that money they'll play him and we can stick a big on him for some minutes, if need be.

Buckner can shoot from the outside.

When did the Spurs become a team that has to make adjustments for other teams rather than forcing other teams to adjust to them?

[Please_dont_ban_me]

You and I have to agree that the problem with the above is anyone NOT named Bowen covering Dirk. Haslem wore him down because he didn't have to leave him. Dirk's stats are virtually identical for both series. Imagine if Bowen had gotten to stay on him. Imagine if the Spurs had been able to actually stop someone from scoring. Is the dream of "defense first" so foggy that nobody remembers how successful it was?

I think the hard-on Pop got from being able to beat the opponent at there own game just clouded his judgement.

Bowen would defend Dirk as well if not better than Haslem. Imagine that funnel defense this year with Timmy and Elson right there to meet/greet Dirk. I pray Pop's learned his lesson.

[Dalhoop]

You all know what the Mavs line-up will be vs the Spurs

Harris
Terry
Howard
Dirk
Diop

Bowen has to cover Dirk, Duncan has to cover Diop and that leaves the Spurs center to guard Howard ... or get him off the floor for a SF.

They need to sign a SF

If we get Butler and manage a trade for a difference-making SF, then it'll be a successful offseason (and I'll get over my Jak-heartbreak). That SF has to be better than Rasual Butler.

This is VERY TRUE

[Obstructed_View]

I think the hard-on Pop got from being able to beat the opponent at there own game just clouded his judgement.

Bowen would defend Dirk as well if not better than Haslem. Imagine that funnel defense this year with Timmy and Elson right there to meet/greet Dirk. I pray Pop's learned his lesson.

Imagine the funnel defense last year with Timmy and Rasho there to meet Dirk. If five games of layup lines didn't convince him, he's lost his mind. My wife actually suggested during the series that Pop was doing something nice for AJ. That's as close to a sensible explanation as anything I've been able to come up with.

[Dalhoop]

All the talk of Bowen on Dirk is not the problem ... Its who the center has to play on defense when your SF plays the PF and your PF plays the C

There just are not many centers in the league that can guard a young athletic SF (like Howard)

[Obstructed_View]

You all know what the Mavs line-up will be vs the Spurs

Harris
Terry
Howard
Dirk
Diop

Bowen has to cover Dirk, Duncan has to cover Diop and that leaves the Spurs center to guard Howard ... or get him off the floor for a SF.

Obviously that's what Pop thought. Of course, he got his ass handed to him. Since Howard and Harris did all their scoring in the paint a Spurs center could have defended them quite easily. There's no rule saying the center has to chase them around.

[Obstructed_View]

All the talk of Bowen on Dirk is not the problem ... Its who the center has to play on defense when your SF plays the PF and your PF plays the C

There just are not many centers in the league that can guard a young athletic SF (like Howard)

And they don't have to. The Spurs defensive philosophy is to funnel dribblers to the shot blockers. It's always been that way. Howard is not the most athletic SF the Spurs have faced. Howard is not a great jump shooter, and he could not possibly have gotten enough shots off to do more damage to the Spurs than the lack of a shot blocker did. It was a stupid adjustment, and it blew up in the Spurs' face. As a Mavs fan, you'd better pray that my signature is the truth.

[ChumpDumper]

Damn, why are Spurfans and Mavfans all acting like we got swept and lost by 50 each game?

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Buckner can shoot from the outside.

As long as he doesn't penetrate the Spurs could get away with a big on him. In 05 against the Suns Duncan was actually matching up with Richardson for much of the game and he had range too.