Good stuff.
Nice, thanks.
Spurs added a quality big with Splitter, they also added some shooting with Neal and Anderson but nothing at all happened on the wing defender front. Spurs have even send Hairston, whose main quality is the defense, overseas.
Have Spurs still a last trick in their sleeve or have they just failed to fix that need?
There is a question that no media member has asked of Pop or RC, yet, to my knowledge. That question is: Who are the candidates for the backup small forward position?
That was maybe the most telling thing I took. And combined with Pop's mentioning of the backup 3 being their real question mark (not exactly sure if it'll be fulfilled internally with an expanded role or from a rookie/FA in training camp), there's definitely work still to be done with the roster in their view.
At this point, it seems pretty likely that the only way they can get what they want and need is through a trade - internal growth and expansion of a role or two looks to be the better option than what's left in the FA market, IMO.
I believe a trade will most likely have to happen in the end, though.
Pop addressed that in his media session a few days ago, if you missed: Link
@ blackjack its obvious tony parker will be gone by mid season....
I liked this
RC – As we try to project what the success of our team will be this year, it’s going to be based on how well those three guys that carry us (Tim, Tony & Manu) play. We hope to be able to limit their early season minutes, but at the same time I think we are going to be more aggressive in our approach to early season play. All three came to Coach Pop at the end of last season and said “It’s good for us to be pointing to the playoffs, but we also have to recognize that there are a lot of really good teams right now and we want to attack early next season.”
Yeah, that was the other thing, T.
Very telling, and pleasant to hear.
I've often wondered if the approach Pop's come to take over the years hasn't actually conditioned the players negatively. It's pretty rational logic, keeping an older team fresh enough and healthy enough for the long haul of a season, but the importance and urgency of the season to the individual players has to wane at some point. A team can't help but lose its edge.
Plus, as the years have gone by, the Spurs' dominance has waned while the rest of the league has gained in strength. The formula once used to win championships doesn't have the same makeup and effectiveness, or the ingredients are missing altogether - the championship-caliber supporting cast (i.e., Bowen, Horry, Barry, etc.).
@SpursTillTheEnd, if the Spurs are flailing or completely out of the mix of championship contention, it's a very real possibility. But it's not a forgone conclusion. I do happen to believe Tony is very open to the idea of moving on though, considering the Spurs' championship trajectory. ... And I wonder if the Spurs are willing to pay Tony to be a max player on what will most likely become an average NBA team.
At worst, hopefully Tony decides he wants to get paid the max and will leave via sign-and-trade. I'm not sure there's a deal to be made for Tony during the season - he's in the last year of his contract, which means a team looking to acquire him (say, the Knicks) would have to be able to extend him and have the players to make it work for the Spurs.
Not all that likely.
We are going all out this year, I like it!!!RC – As we try to project what the success of our team will be this year, it’s going to be based on how well those three guys that carry us (Tim, Tony & Manu) play. We hope to be able to limit their early season minutes, but at the same time I think we are going to be more aggressive in our approach to early season play. All three came to Coach Pop at the end of last season and said “It’s good for us to be pointing to the playoffs, but we also have to recognize that there are a lot of really good teams right now and we want to attack early next season.”
They should have taken a flier on Bobby Jones. Good size for a three, always a good defender and supposedly an improved three-point shooter.Nice, thanks.
Spurs added a quality big with Splitter, they also added some shooting with Neal and Anderson but nothing at all happened on the wing defender front. Spurs have even send Hairston, whose main quality is the defense, overseas.
Have Spurs still a last trick in their sleeve or have they just failed to fix that need?
I know they like Temple defensively, but he can only guard the three in selective match-ups and I know they like Gee's potential defensively, but he's yet to establish a reputation as a defender. Even in the event either could fill that role, at least in stretches, it's highly unlikely either will be in the rotation. In fact, one will be inactive regularly.
At this writing, it looks like Jefferson and Hill will be filling this role.
The candidates for backup three are obvious: Anderson, Ginobili, Gee. Gee will be hard pressed to be active, let alone in the rotation, so rotation-wise it's Anderson and Ginobili. As of right now, it looks like Anderson will be playing the three almost exclusively.
Unless they can find a low cost three and all it takes to acquire that player is Gee and Jerrells, I can't see them pulling off a trade.
There is no veterans who makes a decent salary that they're looking to trade. No Mohammed, no Elson, no Barry, etc.
Good for the big three to take initiative in terms of this teams approach to the regular season, particularly the early part of it. The reality is this teams margin for error is slim as far as contending goes and it was probably going to be none had they continued to treat the regular season as they had in recent seasons.
Home court does matter and if the goal is to win the championship, they're going to have to have it for at least a round, but really, probably two at minimum. The Celtics had it for one last year and almost pulled it off, but they also had a historic run, the likes of which we're unlikely to see two years in a row.
If this team can get off to a good start and maybe get some separation between them and the rest of the pack (excluding the Lakers), then hopefully that will allow them to not have to kill themselves down the stretch just to get in, or to position themselves, like they've had to do the previous two seasons.
RC – As we try to project what the success of our team will be this year, it’s going to be based on how well those three guys that carry us (Tim, Tony & Manu) play. We hope to be able to limit their early season minutes, but at the same time I think we are going to be more aggressive in our approach to early season play. All three came to Coach Pop at the end of last season and said “It’s good for us to be pointing to the playoffs, but we also have to recognize that there are a lot of really good teams right now and we want to attack early next season.”
yeah.
I would be a little more cautious than you with the idea that it will end with a trade.
First, I don't think there are very few good perimeter defenders. Most of the players called defensive specialist are called like that because they are poor offensive players and not because they are good defensive players. For example, Udoka and Bogans came to SA with the reputation of being good defenders and they were average at best.
Second, I think that if you give minutes to a young players that has enough physical abilities and who has the willingness to play defense, you end up with a player that is as good as 90% of the vet perimeter defenders. Gee could be that guy or maybe other candidates for that role will be in TC.
Matt Bonner is a big part of program and has been for several seasons. He’s proven to be one of our better shooters and to have lost that would have been pretty impactful.
Careful with the reality check, Benefactor.
I, too, wish he would've commented further on his thoughts regarding the wing defender situation? And what, if any, plans they may have for that backup SF position?
What the is he thinking?
I heard Pop's media session. In fact I made a comment in that thread, if you will remember.
My question is "Who are the candidates for the backup small forward position?" I'm wondering who he is seriously considering.
The question asked in the media gathering was something like...are you satisfied with the number of bodies you have at the 3 position or are you still wanting to add some players?
Pop didn't say anything specificother than the backup 3 was the most intriguing situation for them. He just basically said they were wide open in their evalution and weren't sure if would be a rookie or someone they have already or someone that walks in the door. Very generic and there were no names mentioned.
It's a limited view speculation, just as I was speculating in the Pop Media Session thread http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...2&postcount=27
Pop doesn't even know what Anderson can do for the Spurs at guard, yet, much less defending opposing 3s. It doesn't appear to be obvious to Pop, so why is it obviouos to you?
Oh, you meant considering options not currently on the team.
If you look at the current roster, though, it's not hard to conclude what the backup three options are.
Disagree. As I've stated in other threads, Anderson simply appears too small to be able to adequately defend even the backup 3's in this league. We know the kid can score. However his defensive capabilities is the one big, if not only, unknown with him. And asking him to guard NBA 3-men, would be an immediate matchup disadvantage for him. Obviously, I could be wrong, but I guess we'll have to see what shakes out during training camp. It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out.
Since Gee has NBA experience, I'm actually hoping that, barring a trade for a better player, he can assume this role.
I agree. He's truly a two, but he should be able to play there some and guard certain three's. However, three of the four best players on this team are guards and as such, they're going to play a lot of the available back court minutes. Also, at this writing, this team doesn't appear to have a better backup three option, therefore it makes sense for Anderson to play a lot of three. It may not be ideal, but it's not like he's any more undersized than Bogans.
Barely. And I'm not just talking about the small sample size, but also the team he played on and the situation they were in. He was on a bottom feeder that was playing out the string in a lost season.
The reality is Anderson is a better prospect, of similar size and has a skill that this team could use.
Last edited by TD 21; 09-20-2010 at 07:43 PM.
Uh . . . Anderson and Gee are pretty much the same size . . .
I wasn't stating that they will make a trade, I was simply suggesting that would be the only thing they could do at this point to accomplish their objective - I don't see the players in tow or on the periphery (free-agents/rookies to be brought in cheap) to come in and fill what they need.
They've really got two options at this point: expand the roles of a couple of their 2s; or hope taking a flier on a low-cost vet or rookie free-agent pans out.
I'd promote from within, at this point. ... Hope that something better comes about later on during the season, whether it's getting in on a trade or finding a nice buyout option.
Haven't been on much recently, Solid. I saw the interview but I'm not up to speed with the board as much as usual - was just trying to help a brother out.
I think it's very much up in the air.
You've gotta believe he knows the free-agent options are scarce and none-too-promising, so they're just waiting to see if they can get lucky with an undrafted player or vet free agent - they're searching for Wesley Matthews, so to speak. I'm not sure there's a name to be told until that name makes itself known.
When you look at their perimeter defenders, it's really Hill and Temple that have the most promise. Gee's got some great tools and Anderson might surprise now that he'll be tasked with defending to get on the court, but it's a big ol' fat question mark all the way around.
I expect Jefferson to be better, lighter, and a decent play against some of the legit small forwards with more size than quickness. But he'll never be a player expected to get stops on demand or take someone out of a game.
Having said that, barring a Wesley Matthews coming to fruition, I believe their best bet is to go with what they've got; find out and develop what they've got; and then see if they can improve themselves down the line after they know exactly what they need.
I believe a trade will have to take place at some point for them to be the team they want to be. ... Whether they can make that trade remains to be seen.
I didn't say you "stated that they will make a trade".
Outside of offering their '11 first-round pick, I can't see them getting what they need via trade, which is why they should bring in a mediocre veteran now for depth/insurance purposes. Hopefully between that veteran, Anderson, Ginobili and Gee, they're able to cobble together decent production out of the backup three spot, or better yet, one emerges from the pack.
I'm not in favor or burying Gee at the expense of a minimal vet, but I'm also not in favor of standing pat. Instead of handing the vet playing time over younger players just because of their vet status, it should be an ongoing compe ion throughout training camp/preseason for playing time and a constant battle throughout the season, unless one player emerges as the unequivocal, clear cut better option.
If you have a hole, the best thing to do is have options. Something this team doesn't have enough of at the three.
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