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It will be interesting to get Ludden's take on this too...
Could the Spurs get more from four?
By Mike Monroe
The Spurs have won three NBA les with their Big Three — Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Does the addition of Richard Jefferson, a 2004 Olympian with a career scoring average of 17.7 points per game, give the Spurs a fourth star to share the scoring load on a team that understands adding offense is the only way to keep pace with the NBA champion Lakers, a team that averaged nearly 107 points per game last season?
Express-News NBA beat writer Mike Monroe analyzes the potent potentials. Averages are for the past two seasons to more accurately reflect Ginobili's true impact.
Tim Duncan
Minutes Per Game: 33.8
Points Per Game: 20.3
Potential for change: Obviously, Duncan will be affected less by Jefferson’s presence than will Parker and Ginobili because he is an inside player, rather than a perimeter player. Any diminution will be a result of Gregg Popovich lightening the workload of a player who will be 34 by next season’s playoffs.
Manu Ginobili
Minutes Per Game: 29.4
Points Per Game: 18.0
Potential for change: Popovich wanted the Big Three back in the starting lineup for the stretch run last season, but Ginobili’s stress fracture ruined that plan. With Jefferson on hand, Popovich can ease Ginobili back to a full load by playoff time, so expect these numbers to shrink slightly.
Tony Parker
Minutes Per Game: 34.3
Points Per Game: 20.6
Potential for change: The Spurs were at their best last season when Parker was aggressive driving to the basket. That won’t change much with Jefferson. If anything, his presence will keep opponents from packing the lane as much. Parker’s numbers are apt to improve.
Richard Jefferson
Minutes Per Game: 37.4
Points Per Game: 21.1
Potential for change: Injuries to Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut put much too big an onus on Jefferson to produce in Milwaukee. He is much more suited to a role as a third or fourth option, and that is what he will be with the Spurs. Expect both his playing time and scoring to drop, but also expect him to be happier in a tertiary role on a winning team.
Last edited by duncan228; 06-24-2009 at 01:41 AM.
It will be interesting to get Ludden's take on this too...
Seems like the front office is getting brazen here. What a great trade. Looks like this will be an interesting summer after all!!
Richard Jefferson is one of two players to play all 164 regular season games last two seasons to average more than 20 points. The other player would be Kobe Bryant.
Jefferson is a version of VC minus the star-at ude!
I like these two aspects fo the trade. First the opposing teams can't pack the lane agianst Parker with RJ on the wing and secondly RJ seems to be the player who can't handle being "the man" and would prefer a lesser role.
Getting a player that can score 20 a game will be huge for the Spurs. I see TD's minutes possibly going down to around 30 or less if RJ contributes like he has. I see more blowouts against lesser teams which will give TD more time off. It has been frustrating to see the Spurs continually in dogfights with the likes of OKC, GS and other sub .500 teams. Come playoff time those blowout Vs will be worth their weight in gold.
Now the FO needs to address our very thin frontcourt.
I predict RJ will average about 10-12 ppg.
Tim Duncan - 19.4 ppg.
Tony Parker - 20.0 ppg.
Manu Ginobili - 15.6 ppg.
Richard Jefferson - 14.5 ppg.
This is more likely....
It isn't about adding offense to keep up with the Lakers, it is about removing Finley as the primary defender on the opposing teams scoring wings. The offense is gravy.
I actually think this moves Tim down to the 3rd or 4th option on offense until the playoffs start. It'll allow him to focus his energy on playing defense.
Oh man, with Manu healthy, this might be the best fast break team in the league!
And the best 1, 2 & 3 in the league when it comes to slashing to the rim.I actually think this moves Tim down to the 3rd or 4th option on offense until the playoffs start. It'll allow him to focus his energy on playing defense.
Oh man, with Manu healthy, this might be the best fast break team in the league!
Bonner will have a field day shooting 3s.
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