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LMA needs to learn to play defense in crunch playoff time.
The odds aren't in their favor this year. What has to happen for it to happen?
Quick thoughts:
Kawhi needs to take another step in his game averaging 24-26 ppg, and learn to take over games in crunch time consistently.
Someone needs to be 'that guy' off the bench that's a game changer every night.
I think people are underestimating the force the Pau / LMA front court will be this season.
LMA needs to learn to play defense in crunch playoff time.
Warriors shooting needs to fall back to earth.
Warriors need to have locker room issues, which I think may happen.
Warriors need to have a couple injuries.
They have to play very, very, very good!
Yes, at least NEAR 2014 playoff level, which is not easy.
Now that I'm old and have a little perspective, looking back at the Spurs since the late 80's, I see that winning a championship is really a very hard thing to do. The Spurs had good teams in 2004 and 2006, and 2000 before Duncan got hurt, but they didn't win championships. It takes a combination of playing great basketball, having a HEALTHY team, and a little luck with match-ups and the playoffs and injuries to opponents. When Golden State won last year the Cavaliers were injured. Pretty much every year injuries play a big role.
The Spurs should be a top 5 team next year so they definitely have potential to ring.
1. Leonard is still young enough to continue improving
2. Gasol should be an upgrade over Duncan
3. Aldridge in his 2nd season with team will be more comfortable
4. Green is a ? in my book, but he is in his prime
5. Patty Mills is in a contract year and might go off
That being said the bench is a huge mystery and the Spurs seem to be a few pieces away from putting it all together.
Pop will have to take a chance and play some of the 1st year players, since so many players left after last season. He will be forced to play some new guys.
Of course there's also Parker and maybe he'll go to Italy for 3-4 weeks, receive "treatments" from an old man wearing sunglasses, and return with increased speed, strength and agility like a 25 yr old. It happens all the time in sports these days.
1. A Warriors injury to Dominos, Curry or Draymond, which would make the Spurs' favorites
2. A Warriors injury to Klay Thompson, which would give the Spurs even odds
3. Parker needs to undergo a "special" procedure like Peyton Manning and Kobe did
4. Kyle Anderson needs to become legit
5. Need 1 competent bench big
6. Green needs to be 2014-2015 Danny, not last season's
Kawhi is two years away from having the skill set to take the Spurs all the way and this bench is the worst it's been in a while. They'll be good, but I could see them finishing like last year.
Spurs need SHOOTING,
They need Kyle Anderson, who is going to see his minutes go up, to shoot 3s south of 40%. He is already better defender than Diaw, and has higher free throw attempt rate when attacking the basket. If he improves his shooting, he will be an upgrade over Boris!
Tony and KL, already shoot 3s near or above 40%, if Danny Green is going to have a bounce back season, offensively, he is a solid defender year in and year out, and all three of them shoot north of 40% beyond the 3 point line (and it can happen for a playoff series, fellas) with LA, and Pau, who also shoots a respectable 35%, we would be hard to stop.
They will also need Patty to re-gain his shooting touch, and be able to produce on nights that Tony, who is going to be on minutes restriction, won't.
That's not a long shot, with the addition of Pau, who is good enough to carry the offense for short stretches, Patty and Danny will have more space to shoot next year. So I expect them to have better years all around. Also I expect Kyle to make the jump that is so typical of a 2 year to 3 year Spurs player.
The problem is that they only have the starters + Patty + KA + Manu, who is a liability on defense and has become a liability on the offensive end as well. His opponents know he is "looking to pass" on the pick and roll. We will need at least 2 of the new players, not named Pau Gasol, to be key contributors of the bench. Maybe it will be Jonathon Simmons and a big, or Dejounte sees minutes and Bertans shoots well.
Time will tell if that would happen or not. It's a long shot right now, to be honest.
1. Pop needs to show up in the playoffs.
Any of these lists need to start with "No more Bonner, plz"... even if he doesn't play...
Bryn Forbes needs to shoot 75% from behind the arch.
You think the Spurs would be favored over the Cavs? It's a good matchup for the Spurs but I don't think it's quite that good.
Most of this happened in the finals this year... Not out of the question...
Spurs will win if two of the GSW four stars are injured and the Spurs are fully healthy. Still a possibility.
If he can match Curry's output in the WCF finals, then Spurs will win.
Spurs will be in good position to compete for a Championship Ring in the next few years.
There are 15 elite players in this league (and by elite, I mean top15, duh). Warriors have 4, Cavs 3, that means there 8 players for 28 teams. We are lucky to have two, and we have the salary cup to go after another one next summer.
In the meantime, we are bringing all of our prospects over to see what we 've got, so to speak.
If Cavs have 3 that means you think Kevin Love is top 15 player in NBA?
I meant favorites vs. the Warriors..
I don't really buy the Cavs, though..they essentially needed every single possible break to win the championship(Draymond Green suspension, Curry and Thompson going ice cold, questionable officiating in the game where Curry fouled out, getting "good Kyrie" for 3 straight games, Iguodala getting hurt, Bogut missing the end of the series)..they also relied heavily on 3 super-human Lebron performances, which will become less frequent each year moving forward as he continues to pile on the mileage..
If he even plays at just an A- level, they lose..
Last edited by HarlemHeat37; 07-14-2016 at 08:43 PM.
Yeah, but PED's are illegal and I don't think its worth the risk of getting caught.
I wouldnt doubt if the Cavs repeat. Winning the championship lifts that monkey off and everything gets easier. Wouldnt doubt if Love finds his footing either with the pressure off.
Draymond Green needs to get into a nightclub brawl with KD and Curry and get them all kicked off the team like in Michigan.
Let's be realistic.. Nobody gonna win the next championship except Warriors.
Spurs might as well develop their young players and be ready 3 years down the road.
When the Spurs play the Warriors, they need to take advantage of the latter's lack of rim protection or elite rebounding by attacking the basket relentlessly.
Andre Drummond was one of the earliest to notice that glaring weakness in his tweet.
And PATFO have been quietly making all the right moves to exploit that weakness.
By signing Gasol, one of the best rebounders and low post threats in the league.
By signing Dedmon, one of the most athletic big men whose sole purpose is to grab boards and dunk the out of anything in the paint.
And by drafting Murray, who has the potential of being one of the best slashers in the league if developed correctly.
I agree. The Warriors will dominate just like the 2013-2014 Denver Broncos did with that unstoppable offense. They have their 2 Peyton Mannings in Durant/Curry. NBA= ed.
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