The Spurs Will Be Back

[angelbelow]

lets have a strong offseason.

[Obstructed_View]

I now see why you choose your user id name. Its really simple math. 3 stars(Nowitzki,Terry,Howard) and you can even add Kidd to the list vs.2 stars (Duncan and Parker). Mavs had too much talent. Lack of effort has nothing to do with it. Lack of talent, offense and defense had everything to do with it.

If the Mavs have so much talent, then why were they the 6 seed and the Spurs the 3 seed? The role players that absolutely failed to show up in 4 of the last 5 games must have done something right during the season. The Spurs had two of the top three point shooters in the league this season. How'd they do in the playoffs? The Spurs were one of the better rebounding teams in the league this year. How'd that work out once the playoffs started? The Mavs won with guys like Brandon Bass, JJ Barea and even Antoine Wright and Ryan Hollins showing up and contributing. How's the lack of talent excuse valid for San Antonio but not for anyone on the Mavs?

[TJastal]

Keep dreaming. Tim's only going to be older next season. He's past his prime, so every day he loses a little. Same for Manu. He's broken down even more than Tim. He'll be 32 next season with a LOT of mileage...Doubt he'll be playing in the playoffs next year.

Bowen will be even older. Tony will be in his prime, no doubt, but PG's can't drive contenders. Just doesn't happen.

And Pop has proven himself to be a complete ing idiot and stubborn , so if he's back, we're even more ed.

It is over.

+1

A good coach could easily phanagle 2-3 deep playoff runs out of this bunch but given Popovich's deteriorating coaching ability I'm not sure the spurs will even make the playoffs next year, too many good teams in the west with solid coaching.

I started noticing a couple years ago Pop making alot of coaching miscues, and its just gotten to the point of ridiculousness this year. I'm afraid I don't share a positive outlook on the future as long as Popovich is pulling the strings.

[TJastal]

IMO the spurs need to start rebuilding from the top - which means, Gregg Popovich. GONE.

[KenziE]

The Spurs weren't going far without Manu so to get upset over a first round loss is silly.

Spurs exit earlier allows our returning players to rest.

Also, I'm pretty damn excited about the change the team will go through over the summer. We'll see a lot of new faces, mostly younger and athletic players.

don't keep your hopes high and if you're a betting man don't bet on it. !!!

this is for SURE , FINLEY will be back next season and that is the ing truth that we have to deal with !!! it sucks but he will be back to eat up minutes again and give TD,TP & Manu a hard time carrying him coz ing FINLEY should retire already man ....

i won't be excited until i SEE real change man ... also remember this OBERTO will be back again for sure ... now that's the REALITY of it it really sucks !

but im still a fan a die hard fan !!!

[crc21209]

People calling for Pop's head are ing insane...this man brought us 4 championships and this is how you repay him? Please...without Manu..everyone in the city of San Antonio knew it was going to be to get so far without him. And come on...with players like Matt Bonner, Udoka, and Vaughn (arguably some of the worst players in the NBA)..it's not too hard to see why the Spurs lost. TD, TP, Bowen, and Hill in his limited mins played their asses off...there was only so much they could do though...

[sprrs]

If the Mavs have so much talent, then why were they the 6 seed and the Spurs the 3 seed? The role players that absolutely failed to show up in 4 of the last 5 games must have done something right during the season. The Spurs had two of the top three point shooters in the league this season. How'd they do in the playoffs? The Spurs were one of the better rebounding teams in the league this year. How'd that work out once the playoffs started? The Mavs won with guys like Brandon Bass, JJ Barea and even Antoine Wright and Ryan Hollins showing up and contributing. How's the lack of talent excuse valid for San Antonio but not for anyone on the Mavs?

Adding to that, didn't the Suns have more talent in '05 and '07 than the Spurs? How'd that work out for them.

[Obstructed_View]

People calling for Pop's head are ing insane...this man brought us 4 championships and this is how you repay him? Please...without Manu..everyone in the city of San Antonio knew it was going to be to get so far without him. And come on...with players like Matt Bonner, Udoka, and Vaughn (arguably some of the worst players in the NBA)..it's not too hard to see why the Spurs lost. TD, TP, Bowen, and Hill in his limited mins played their asses off...there was only so much they could do though...

If Matt Bonner is one of the worst players in the NBA, then why is he starting? And who's decision is that? If Udoka is one of the worst players in the NBA, then how's he getting minutes over Bowen in the playoffs? If Vaughn is one of the worst players in the NBA, then why is he still on the team, and how did he end up above Hill in the rotation? If Hill and Bowen played so well, then why were their minutes limited? At some point all these decisions rest at one person's feet, and I don't understand how some of you ing nimrods keep missing that.

[BWS-1994]

Here's to hoping that a better and more determined Spurs' will be back next season!

This "long" off-season will give players more rest and the front office more time to clear their heads

[Wainseven]

It sucks that we lose so early, all our rotation players take a hit in their trade values (may be except hill)

[BeeGee]

Spurs need more talent, period. Duncan is no longer great enough to throw a bunch of d-league caliber players around him and TP. Bruce Bowen is a liability more than not, now. When Matt Bonner is one of your better support players, your GM is not doing his in' job, I don't care what anybody says. The team needs more talented NBA players. Most of that roster falls short of that. Of course, the Spurs will compete, with Manu healthy, but unless RC gets off his ass, they won't be good enough to get back to the Finals. Time to make moves.

[timvp]

Spurs need more talent, period. Duncan is no longer great enough to throw a bunch of d-league caliber players around him and TP. Bruce Bowen is a liability more than not, now. When Matt Bonner is one of your better support players, your GM is not doing his in' job, I don't care what anybody says. The team needs more talented NBA players. Most of that roster falls short of that. Of course, the Spurs will compete, with Manu healthy, but unless RC gets off his ass, they won't be good enough to get back to the Finals. Time to make moves.

I don't think you could find a person alive who disagrees with that.

[wijayas]

My heart is heavy with the loss. But I love my Spurs regardless the wins and losses. We the fans are spoiled with the Spurs greatness on and off the court, for years. We will be there at the top of the league again.

Believe.

[objective]

I've advocated a plan that I'll reiterate on this thread.

This is the 2009-2010 Minimum Scrub Plan.

The plan is very realistic and perfectly within the means of the Spurs and their finances and doesn't depend on other teams making trades with them or doing them any favors. It is the objective approach to a Spurs re-build.

Every one of the following should be jettisoned, and bought out if necessary: Kurt Thomas, Michael Finley, Ime Udoka, Drew Gooden, Jacque Vaughn, Fabricio Oberto.

These three should be available in trades, but if they stick around to fulfill their one-year deals, so be it: Bruce Bowen, Matt Bonner and Roger Mason, Jr.

Who to replace them all on the roster? Well, besides whoever is signed with possible MLE money (Rasheed, McDyess, some other old has-been, maybe even Javtokas, even pipe dreams like Ariza or Odom) . . . the roster is to be filled with minimum salary players the Spurs already hold the rights to. This includes Mahinmi's modest 1 million dollar deal. That means signing Viktor Sanikidze and James Gist and re-signing Malik Hairston. That means signing at least 2 of the 3 second round picks from this coming draft.

Why?

The current supporting cast has proven they aren't good enough to win with. That was obvious to anyone with a clue before the season started, but should be plainly clear now. Even with a healthy Ginobili, this team wasn't good enough.

Why lose with broken down players that Pop will keep playing beyond their use at the expense of any young players? That coaching bit from Pop is unlikely to change. His favorite toys have to be taken away from him (ie Finley) before he accepts the possibilty of a new toy. Pop must be forced into playing the youth.

Remeber the 03 dvd where Pop early in the season talks about the team having "young type mistakes" and how hopefully they would overcome that? That needs to happen again, and Pop needs to have plenty of youth to have mistakes with.

AND this benefits the 2010 plan greatly.

Because all the cap flexibility of 2010 means is this: If the Spurs do land a premiere free agent, that one player takes up everything as far as capspace. So the Spurs will have to fill up the rest of the roster with minimum salary players anyway. Might as well get a one year headstart to figure out if any of them can play before having to enter 2010 free agency.

Furthermore, you never know, one of these guys might actually . . . develop into something good! I've long been a fan of meth-jesus, aka Viktor Sanikidze, ever since seeing him actually play in the summer league years back. Maybe Gist can play. Maybe they draft Pendergraph or De Colo and they can play.

, with youth running up and down the court, maybe the Spurs actually get better!

Besides, what's the worse that can happen? The Spurs lose in the first round with everybody playing horrendous, disgusting basketball except for Parker, Duncan, Ginobili and Hill? Well guess what, that's guaranteed to happen anyway. Can minimum salary scrubs do worse than the role players did in game 4? no. But they can do it cheaper and make for more interesting television.

, if the Minimum Scrubs are bad enough maybe the Spurs get a lotto pick in what is purported to be a loaded draft class in 2010.

The 2009-2010 Minimum Scrub Plan is the way to go.

[TJastal]

If Matt Bonner is one of the worst players in the NBA, then why is he starting? And who's decision is that? If Udoka is one of the worst players in the NBA, then how's he getting minutes over Bowen in the playoffs? If Vaughn is one of the worst players in the NBA, then why is he still on the team, and how did he end up above Hill in the rotation? If Hill and Bowen played so well, then why were their minutes limited? At some point all these decisions rest at one person's feet, and I don't understand how some of you ing nimrods keep missing that.

+1

I have to admit I was a proponent of Bonner starting early on in the year, when he was shooting well and giving the spurs some energy/hustle plays but as the season progressed it became increasingly clear he's mostly just a liability out there. He's a defensive liability and his shot is screwy and maddeningly inconsistent. His mid-range game is also inconsistent. His dribble game is limited, at best. He cannot create much off the dribble or finish consistently around the basket, something Gooden is proficent at. At the time Gooden was acquired he should have been immediately placed in the starting lineup. By then, Bonner was in full-choke and burn mode. This was a no-brainer for any other coach in the league. That Gooden didn't get 30-35 mins a game was an absolute waste of talent.

Lets just be blunt, Popovich's coaching especially the last couple years has been terrible. As a GM you could convince me he's got some talent, as he's helped put some very decent talent (Parker/Ginobili) around two of the best big men to play ever play the game, and he's managed to win a few les in that time frame. But as for coaching and recognizing in-game/out of game situations and trends (and making the proper adjustments) he sucks absolute ing donkey balls. A good coach needs to figure out the best roles for the players he has early in the year, and stick to that day in day out to establish team chemistry heading into the post season. The last two years have been a discombobulated mess. Popovich has fallen in love with experimenting with lineups and roles all the way into the post-season. From game to game, you never know who he's going to bring in and when he's going to bring them in. And don't tell me the injuries are to blame. Coach still needs make the adjustment get the best players to step up for the injured people and get everyone on the same page. Popovich can't even get any cohesion and consistency of lineups even when he has everyone healthy.

[kobyz]

the only disappointment from this season is that the spurs didn't handle manu injury right, if the spurs were knowing that Manu couldn't realy contribute this year thay much have better tank the season: rest Duncan and Parker a lot of the season and make them fresh for next season and get a high draft pick that very much will halp to improve for next year.
very disappointment that we didn't tank this season!

[Capt Bringdown]

Hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Too many roles to fill and I've lost a lot of faith in Pop this season. TD's starting to slide, but I'm not that worried about him so much as Manu. Spurs will likely bet the season on his declining health and come out losers again. At 32 years old and with brittle wheels, his warrior days are behind him. I hope the Spurs FO aren't as deluded and living in the past as his many fanboys on this forum and can come up with a move to ship Manu out - he's finished.

Things reach a point where "heart" and all that don't matter. Nobody can overcome age and injury.

[timvp]

Objective, that's not a bad idea.

If the Spurs go that route, they should only give a one-year MLE contract ... like how they originally landed Horry. Get a McDyess or Wallace and start him up front. Keep Bowen and Mason but go with a bunch of young guns off the bench. Hope they blossom like what happened with the Celtics last year.

Something like:

C Duncan
PF McDyess (or Wallace)
SF Bowen
SG Mason
PG Parker

C Mahinmi/Thomas
PF Gist/Bonner/Young Prospect
SF Hairston/Young Prospect
SG Ginobili/Williams
PG Hill

That's a good mix of veterans to give a championship hope and youngsters to build for the future while hoping to get lucky. Plus then you have a huge amount of financial flexibility the next year.

[objective]

Objective, that's not a bad idea.

If the Spurs go that route, they should only give a one-year MLE contract ... like how they originally landed Horry. Get a McDyess or Wallace and start him up front. Keep Bowen and Mason but go with a bunch of young guns off the bench. Hope they blossom like what happened with the Celtics last year.

Something like:

C Duncan
PF McDyess (or Wallace)
SF Bowen
SG Mason
PG Parker

C Mahinmi/Thomas
PF Gist/Bonner/Young Prospect
SF Hairston/Young Prospect
SG Ginobili/Williams
PG Hill

That's a good mix of veterans to give a championship hope and youngsters to build for the future while hoping to get lucky. Plus then you have a huge amount of financial flexibility the next year.

and it's perfectly within reason.

The Spurs will only have the ability to sign minimum players anyway outside the MLE/LLE.

AND

It doesn't need some flight of fancy or leap of faith re: trades. It's real easy for fans to get excited and say the Spurs should trade for Richard Jefferson or Vince Carter or whoever, maybe even reasonable in some cases . . . but the Spurs can't control other teams. , they could have a dream deal 99% done until the other owner pulls a Donald Sterling . . . or the other GM doesn't fax the paperwork in on time because he's at a funeral.

The Spurs can only control what they can control: players they have rights to, and even then just the ones who are susceptible to playing for the minimum (like Sanikidze).

Same with free agency . . . what if McDyess wants to go home to Denver? What if Rasheed decides he'd rather be in Cleveland? Spurs can only control the players they have the rights to, and sometimes not even then (Splitter). But it's the most logical and objective approach I believe there is.

[timvp]

Yeah, it's realistic and probably what the Spurs will do.

Step 1 in the offseason is to figure a way to get Finley off the team. Step 2 is to get Bonner out of the starting lineup. And then between now and the summer of 2010, the Spurs need to find a way to get another good player on this team outside of the Big Three and hopefully Hill.

[benefactor]

As I and many others have said, it was a season of cir stance. Injuries, over used role players, new players, young players, etc. We had about as much success as could be expected with the hand we were dealt. That being said, there is much to be positive about. We will have a lot of rest and our Big 3(hopefully 4) should be healthy and ready to make another run next year. It's going to be an interesting offseason as there are several young players we have and other young players/vets on the market that we could acquire with little financial ramifications.

As bad as the league wants us to be done, I am afraid that we will have to disappoint them yet again.

[layupdrill]

IMO the spurs need to start rebuilding from the top - which means, Gregg Popovich. GONE.

Really?

[Bukefal]

yeah! Of course we will!! GO SPURS GO!

[DBMethos]

Hear, hear!

[silverblackfan]

I love these Spurs! They just couldn't pull out the miracle this year with Manu out and a suspect bench. The extra rest and the exciting new prospects next year with Ian finally playing will make this a hungry, talented team next year. I am excited about next year and know they will make some noise.
On the plus side, all of the Spurs fans families get their significant others back in April instead of June.
Thanks timvp for all the reviews and posts you cranked out this year. Your one of a writer and a fine analyst. Thanks for all the excellent reading.
See you all in September for the training camp.