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hahha trade parker seriously, stop riding td
Spurs' Popovich stoic, says trade not a solution
Johnny Ludden
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.1bdf7cf.html
Express-News
If the Spurs are going to emerge from their current funk in time to make a serious run at another le, they're going to do so with their current roster.
That, according to players, is what coach Gregg Popovich told the team after Wednesday's loss to Houston. The question now is whether that holds true.
"He made a statement last night that he wasn't trading anybody, that we were going to do it together, that this group of guys is going to do it as a team," Robert Horry said. "But you know how that is. I'm not saying he won't do that, but it's the nature of the business.
"If somebody came up and said, 'We'll give you Tracy McGrady,' he would be foolish not to do that."
The Spurs don't expect McGrady to fall into their laps. But Popovich's comments to the team were somewhat surprising considering the Spurs have aggressively looked to upgrade their athleticism on the perimeter and probably will continue to do so.
And the Feb. 22 trade deadline is nearly a month away.
"This team is a veteran team and most guys understand that you never know what can happen," Horry said. "If a good trade could come up, you'd be foolish not to take it. Most guys know that. He just said that to try to get guys to relax.
"I just think with all these trade rumors going around it's put people on edge, and that's one thing you hate about the business. But it happens. Guys just need to relax and play."
Brent Barry and Beno Udrih, according to league sources, have been mentioned prominently in trade discussions.
Barry ranks third in the NBA in 3-point accuracy, and is one of the few players aside from Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker with value to other teams. Udrih, meanwhile, has struggled in a season in which the Spurs had hoped he would lock down the backup point-guard job.
The Spurs had discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers about forward Corey Maggette, but team officials were reluctant to include both Udrih and Barry in a possible deal because it would cost them two of their best ball-handlers. The Clippers have fielded several offers for Maggette, but have remained patient while debating whether to trade him.
Barry was nearly traded last season to New Orleans, and his defense and occasionally daring passing has sometimes tested the patience of Popovich, who hit him with a particularly harsh rebuke during the team's Jan. 10 victory in Denver. Barry, however, has handled the current speculation about as well as possible while remaining the team's most productive reserve.
Some Spurs officials also think it will be difficult to find a more skilled backup point guard than Udrih, whose inconsistency has repeatedly raised Popovich's ire.
Popovich has a policy of not commenting publicly on trade talks but has previously said team officials will do their "due diligence" while looking at ways to improve the roster.
In the meantime, the Spurs hope to regain some of the edge they've lost over the past month.
Wednesday's loss to the Rockets appeared nearly identical to that of a week earlier when they lost to the Lakers. Both games were at home and both opponents were missing their second-best player. In each, the Spurs fell behind big in the fourth quarter before starting an energetic comeback that came up short.
"I think we have to understand that we're not playing with the same physicality and focus for as many minutes of the game as we have in the past," Popovich said. "Along with that, there are some individuals who just have to pick their games up — some starters and some people off the bench."
The Spurs have increasingly looked tense, which isn't much of a surprise considering they're 7-6 this month. Parker, in particular, has had a difficult time, saying Popovich has asked him to focus less on scoring and more on setting up his teammates.
"The last three or four games is hard," said Parker, who is averaging 11.0 points and 6.3 assists in the past three games. "I'm not having fun and if I don't have fun, it's hard."
Parker said Popovich wants him to shoot less. Popovich said he wants only for Parker to make good decisions. In either case, Parker has labored while trying to strike a balance.
"I have to try to please him and at the same time stay myself," Parker said. "If I'm not myself, I play bad, and I know it."
Parker isn't alone. Michael Finley has missed 28 of his past 35 3-point attempts and Bruce Bowen 13 of his past 16. Ginobili has remained the team's constant motor, but also has recently struggled with his shot.
The Spurs haven't endured such a tough stretch in recent seasons. Parker thought Popovich's comments after Wednesday's loss were aimed at reducing some of the pressure.
"If Pop thinks we'll stay with the team, that's great," Parker said. "But we have to believe we can do it."
Last edited by timvp; 01-26-2007 at 02:18 AM.
hahha trade parker seriously, stop riding td
The Spurs had discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers about forward Corey Maggette, but team officials were reluctant to include both Udrih and Barry in a possible deal because it would cost them two of their best ball-handlers.
Where the are they looking?Some Spurs officials also think it will be difficult to find a more skilled backup point guard than Udrih
I like how Horry admits Pop was saying no trade was going to be made to calm everyone down.
I wonder how loud td, tp, and manu groaned when they were told this was the team they were probsbly going to be stuck with.
So Tony isn't sad?
No trade is going to happen because we don't have to give up that other teams would actually want. I mean com'on, we hate our bench so why would anyone else see anything there?
The one move I can't see NOT happening is an E Williams trade. Surely you can get at least draft picks out of him and right now those picks look really attractive if we're not going to play him.
"Some Spurs officials also think it will be difficult to find a more skilled backup point guard than Udrih, whose inconsistency has repeatedly raised Popovich's ire"
Please tell me why? The Spurs reluctance to part with this guy is astonishing. It's not like he's giviing them quality minutes.
So let me understand. Stick with the same roster - which has many flaws - and totally give up trying to upgrade? ing unbelievable!
This team isn't going to say it's actively seeking a trade if it doesn't have to.
They've said it all along. This is a new stance, not the same one.
publicily saying your seeking a trade makes it seem like your desperate.
Wich drives down the chance of a trade.
Have they really said it all along?
Publicly?
Damn...
We're gonna suck for awhile.
Saying something through Ludden is saying is publicly. Its not as though the other teams in the league don't know whats going on.
Pop has never come out and said "We're not making trades" or "We're making trades" to the media directly, but Ludden's articles are always a good indication of what is going on.
I think they've gotten almost zero interest in anything they have to offer because everything they have to offer is crap. I'm not so sure moving Scola is high on their radar anymore considering what we have on the bench right now, so they may not even be offering his rights.
I think its a clear sign that they CAN'T make a trade, not that they won't make one.
Horry's stupid because he wasn't supposed to blurt that out.
Now Barry, and the rest of the loser parts of the team will keep playing depressed.
you do realize it takes more than 1 team to make a trade right.So let me understand. Stick with the same roster - which has many flaws - and totally give up trying to upgrade? ing unbelievable
If said other teams don't want what you have, is it said Spurs fault they don't make a trade?
Think for the love of pete.
Eh ...
I'm guessing Pop just told them no trades are coming, so they could try to re-focus (meaning not worry about get traded and don't expect a miracle player to come bail them out).
But, as always, they will keep their options open.
This article is like a non-article, in terms of information.
i wanna know what duncan thinks about the organization and popovich not making any moves.
Trade Pop.
Damn.. you beat me to it..
But if they if thats what the spurs staff believe is the problem, then they are sadly mistaken.
how many times Pops said there will be no trade but a trade happened?
he said that few months before trading Malik Rose to NY, if i remember correctly
But why was the Maggette trade even discussed? Because Ludden brought it up.[quote]It's not as though the other teams in the league don't know whats going on.[quote]Sure, but this is on the record stuff.Huh? Before almost every trade, he has said they weren't making any trade.Pop has never come out and said "We're not making trades" or "We're making trades" to the media directly, but Ludden's articles are always a good indication of what is going on.I don't disagree with that part. The Spurs requirements preclude most possible deals.I think they've gotten almost zero interest in anything they have to offer because everything they have to offer is crap. I'm not so sure moving Scola is high on their radar anymore considering what we have on the bench right now, so they may not even be offering his rights.
I think its a clear sign that they CAN'T make a trade, not that they won't make one.
Completely agree. Pop would prefer never to talk about trades ever. This Maggette business is festering because someone else brought it up.
The Spurs have multiple expiring contracts and draft picks, so the ability to make trades is there. I'm sure they'll continue to look for a deal that makes sense.
If Pop is basing these comments off anything, it'd be the realization that Maggette isn't coming to town. Perhaps the Clippers said the deal involving Barry is officially off the table. If Pop isn't saying these comments just to say them, that's a plausible explanation for what caused the change of heart.
If the Maggette deal is dead (as I expect it now is), the chances of an impact trade are pretty low. At most, I can imagine something like Williams, Beno and a pick for Atkins.
You know how happy moving Beno/Williams for Atkins would make me?
Thats sad, isn't it.
speaking about Pop's plan regarding trades...
it seems that it's true, no trades right now folks!
Saving it for later
The Spurs aren't young -- and they aren't panicking
No contender in the East is nearly so frightening as San Antonio is in the West. The Spurs hold the third-best record in the league with an All-Star trio aged 30 (Tim Duncan), 29 (Manu Ginobili) and 26 (Tony Parker). And yet there is a growing sense that they are too old, that the younger, livelier Mavericks and Suns have passed them by.
"It's a legitimate concern for us,'' acknowledges 35-year-old Brent Barry, who is one of seven Spurs on the wrong side of 30.
On Thursday morning, the Spurs were five games behind Phoenix and a further half-game behind Dallas, lending credence to reports that they are interested in trades that would make them younger and -- theoretically -- more relevant.
"I don't think that our bench play has been as good as it has been in the past,'' coach Gregg Popovich says. "From time to time our starters have been a little bit inconsistent. And thusly we've lost three or four more games at this point that we usually do. That's not a good thing because I think the West is probably tougher than it's ever been, but it also doesn't mean that the sky is falling.''
Michael Finley and Robert Horry are shooting less than 38 percent, and San Antonio's depth -- historically a strength -- has been further diminished by frontcourt injuries to Francisco Elson and Matt Bonner. But at this stage the Spurs will be making an uncharacteristic blunder if they cash out their experience for youth.
This isn't the first time the Spurs have looked vulnerable in midseason. In their championship year of 2002-03, they were a middling 19-13 before closing out with a 41-9 run. One year earlier they went 15-13 in January and February, followed by a 22-3 sprint through March and April. And the year before that they were 23-15 at this point of the season -- and 35-9 thereafter.
It's as if something in Popovich's system creates these painful lulls of self-examination, followed by redemptive winning streaks in which they cleanse themselves at the expense of all comers.
"I know that we sort of go back to the beginning each year -- teaching-wise, offensively and defensively -- by going back to the basics, and starting slowly in that regard,'' says Popovich, trying to explain why it often takes so long to strike a rhythm. "And not doing everything then that we might do toward playoff time, as far as adjustments and things.''
"The M.O. is to get guys to watch it, then get guys involved in it, and then while you're getting involved in it there's an evaluation process as to what exactly is going to work for you and how you're going to fit into it,'' says Barry (and it would sound like a lot of hooey if the numbers didn't back him up.) "And then in the second half of the year that's how you get plugged in, depending on what the opponent is or what the situation is. And still ultimately you're relying on Tim, Manu and Tony to be steadfast and take care of most of the business.''
It's also not easy to find inspiration after so many long years of contending. While the Mavs and Suns are playing with a sense of desperation to win their first championship, most of the key Spurs are trying to recreate something they've already managed one or two or three times before.
Another problem is that the league seems to be trending against the Spurs. The rules now reward smaller more athletic players on the perimeter at the expense of Duncan, who has been shifting to center more than usual.
``It makes it tough for him defensively because there are fewer and fewer people a guy like that can guard,'' says Popovich of 6-11 Duncan. "Because there are no big forwards really; I mean, there are a couple, but in general (there aren't). And offensively when he's got the ball, it's easy to double- team a big guy. It's easy to get the ball out of his hands and decide that it's going to be done on the perimeter. And so if our perimeter isn't composed of guys who just got drafted in the last couple of years, or they're all 24 or 25 years old, then athletically we're a little bit behind the curve in that sense. So the rules definitely have made it tougher for us.''
Instead of surrounding the three-point line with youngsters to drive to the basket, the Spurs are settled with elderly shooters in Bruce Bowen and second-teamers Finley, Horry and Barry -- with Barry providing the only consistent performance off the bench.
A lot of people around the league give the Spurs little hope of winning the West. But Popovich's next statement has the ring -- in his case the championship ring -- of truth. "I look back at last year and people say, 'You know, you didn't get by Dallas,' '' he says. "Well, if not for one ill-advised foul (by Ginobili at the end of Game 7) we do get beyond Dallas. And if we do, then people wouldn't speak about us being old. They would say, 'Dallas still couldn't get over the hump against that experienced, executing bunch of Spurs.' But since that foul in the seventh game, you're old.
"So I try not to put us in a category. I think that we've got to grind it out like we usually do, play the way we play knowing full well the rules have changed. And our defense has changed in that regard, we've had to make some changes in the system. But I think being healthy at the end of the year, we'll be able to play with anybody.''
The big mistake would be in trading potential playoff contributors in order to bring in younger players who offer more athleticism to San Antonio but won't have a clue how to apply it within the Spurs' cerebral gameplan. Don't you think Popovich is relieved that his attempts at moving Barry for J.R. Smith collapsed at the trading deadline last year? A 21-year-old like Smith is years away from being able to help a contender like San Antonio win games in May and June.
The harsh conference environment may yet change. While the Mavericks have exhibited no weakness, the Suns' injury to Kurt Thomas (out until next month with a left elbow subluxation) leaves them with a seven-man rotation amid the annual fears that soon-to-be 33-year-old Steve Nash (career-high 35.6 minutes) will burn out by spring.
The Spurs owe it to themselves to give it one more year with this group. They're losing games in no small part because they're saving themselves for the real season ahead. "Health is the No. 1 key going into the playoffs,'' Popovich says. Elson (who runs the floor as if he's closer to 25 than his age of 30) is already back on the court, and Bonner (26) will return next month to provide some fresh blood -- and both players already know how to play around Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.
The Spurs won't be favored in the latter rounds of the playoffs, but that doesn't mean they aren't capable of rope-a-doping anybody. Duncan is far healthier than last year, and Ginobili is playing as well as when he was an All-Star two years ago. And if they can ever find their typical late-season rhythm, they might ultimately demonstrate that making the simple extra pass can overcome younger bodies and fresher legs.
the rest of the article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...urs/index.html
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