Rebuilding the Spurs

[Jamaaliver]

It's time to put a legitimate succession plan in place at Head Coach.

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[G R E Y]

It's time to put a legitimate succession plan in place at Head Coach.

Read on Twitter

Did you really just quote yourself? ...

And Spurs have one. It's in the article.

[Jamaaliver]

Did you really just quote yourself? ...

And Spurs have one. It's in the article.

Yes. You kinda dismissed the sentiment when I mentioned it earlier in the season.

How are you guys feeling with what's to come?

[G R E Y]

Did you really just quote yourself? ...

And Spurs have one. It's in the article.

Yes. You kinda dismissed the sentiment when I mentioned it earlier in the season.

How are you guys feeling with what's to come?

Wow. Doubled down, this after all that's in the article.

What's to come will come. Feeling hopeful Pop wants to come back and is hopeful himself of being able to. Thanks for asking.

[Rustyman]

Ok, I'm back on some light duties after a setback in January. I will do a rundown on the player performances and team needs leading into the draft but I am just going to state here and now, the no.1 to no.100 priority for the Spurs is who will be coach next year. Mitch did a good job while learning but I don't think next year's team is going to be one for a learning coach. We need a coach who can put us in contention. I am thinking a minimum of 50 wins next year so we need someone who can make that work. My best scenario would be in Pop takes a more managerial position (like Buford did) and we get Bud from Phoenix.

[G R E Y]

Ok, I'm back on some light duties after a setback in January. I will do a rundown on the player performances and team needs leading into the draft but I am just going to state here and now, the no.1 to no.100 priority for the Spurs is who will be coach next year. Mitch did a good job while learning but I don't think next year's team is going to be one for a learning coach. We need a coach who can put us in contention. I am thinking a minimum of 50 wins next year so we need someone who can make that work. My best scenario would be in Pop takes a more managerial position (like Buford did) and we get Bud from Phoenix.

Welcome back!

Best case coaching scenario is a rejuvenated healthy Pop returning and raring to go, and I say that not as imposing my will, but as going by Pop's own words.

Bud and Pop as of last I heard were on the outs the last several years going back to just pre-pandemic so he won't be the eventual answer. Plus he's failed spectacularly in Phoenix his first year, whatever factors led to it, coaching was one of them in keeping a group together or not.

I think it will be internal or at the most, someone who has been under Pop a long time. To that end, on the Nuggets broadcast one of the commentators said someone had seen Pop recently and he looked great. It's hard to overstate the work he's putting in, the desire that drives him, and he deserves the reward for it.

Like you said, Mitch was placed in a trial by fire situation and there was a lot of experimenting before settling on a better roster use / lineup balance via whatever group discussions were had. At least another season of growth under Pop in what will surely be more meaningful games from next season onward will help but the familiarity that players developed with him this season will also provide valuable feedback and is important for respect and continuity. It's one voice, and right now it's still Pop's.

[Rustyman]

Bud and Pop as of last I heard were on the outs the last several years going back to just pre-pandemic so he won't be the eventual answer.

Did not know that but then someone of that ilk. Someone who has shown proven success from the Pop tree.

[imagump1313]

Bud and Pop as of last I heard were on the outs the last several years going back to just pre-pandemic so he won't be the eventual answer.

Did not know that but then someone of that ilk. Someone who has shown proven success from the Pop tree.

Pop deserves it if he wants it but I don't believe he is the best option at this point. As long as we dont give it to Mitch Johnson because that guy is in way over his head.....

[Rustyman]

Bud and Pop as of last I heard were on the outs the last several years going back to just pre-pandemic so he won't be the eventual answer.

Did not know that but then someone of that ilk. Someone who has shown proven success from the Pop tree.

Pop deserves it if he wants it but I don't believe he is the best option at this point. As long as we dont give it to Mitch Johnson because that guy is in way over his head.....

I don't think Mitch is a bad coach however, we should be expecting to be contending next year and I don't think he has the expertise/savvy to be the one leading the Spurs with those expectations.

[G R E Y]

Hmm.

I'm mulling over that Barnes game winner and have a hunch you could feel the collective Spurs brass tense up in how much more complicated things just got.

I thought we secured 8th. But what we've really done is opened up anywhere from 8th to 10th!

Ffs...

So we won the season series with Blazers. And the upcoming series ender with the Suns decides the 1-1 split.

If we win the next two games, and Blazers lose their next two to GSW and LAL and Suns, losers of the last 8, although all to PO teams to be fair, lose their last two to us and Kings, we have the potential of a three-way tie record of 35-47. And with us having winning records against both in this scenario, does that take precedence in deciding picks seeding or does a coin toss do it?

Well I'd rather not leave it in the hands of a coin toss, though when we lost the one with Houston a couple years ago that worked out phenomenally well.

Still, our fate is in our hands. I'd like to think that Suns players are sick of losing, will feast on a non-PO team, and try to screw over their franchise on the way out.

I think we should give lots and lots of minutes to guys who haven't played all that many. And fewer to the vets. Like I said, I loved our come from behind early and late compete level vs. GS but I'd rather at this point the young guys sink their teeth into handling pressure situations. Jobs are on the line. Let them show what they've got.

Manifesting at least 8th or higher...

[Rustyman]

We should be playing our G-League guys in the last 2 matches. Rest Castle, Champagnie and Vassell. Give big minutes to Mamu and Blake.

[Rustyman]

My current thinking is Queen/Newell as 8 and Kneuppel/Essangue at 15 in the draft.

[G R E Y]

I like Newell and Essangue, too.

Kon is currently listed 6! on Tankathon!

We must get shooters though either via draft or trade or FA market.

And I still hope we somehow get Traore.

Now with Nunez injury we need bolstering there. I don't think Malaki or McLaughlin or maybe even CP are with us next season so suddenly we have Fox and Blake as true PGs and Castle who is a combo G and Nunez out so yeah Traore would be a quality get.

[imagump1313]

We should be playing our G-League guys in the last 2 matches. Rest Castle, Champagnie and Vassell. Give big minutes to Mamu and Blake.

We can rest Champaigne forever as far as I'm concerned....

[imagump1313]

Hmm.

I'm mulling over that Barnes game winner and have a hunch you could feel the collective Spurs brass tense up in how much more complicated things just got.

I thought we secured 8th. But what we've really done is opened up anywhere from 8th to 10th!

Ffs...

So we won the season series with Blazers. And the upcoming series ender with the Suns decides the 1-1 split.

If we win the next two games, and Blazers lose their next two to GSW and LAL and Suns, losers of the last 8, although all to PO teams to be fair, lose their last two to us and Kings, we have the potential of a three-way tie record of 35-47. And with us having winning records against both in this scenario, does that take precedence in deciding picks seeding or does a coin toss do it?

Well I'd rather not leave it in the hands of a coin toss, though when we lost the one with Houston a couple years ago that worked out phenomenally well.

Still, our fate is in our hands. I'd like to think that Suns players are sick of losing, will feast on a non-PO team, and try to screw over their franchise on the way out.

I think we should give lots and lots of minutes to guys who haven't played all that many. And fewer to the vets. Like I said, I loved our come from behind early and late compete level vs. GS but I'd rather at this point the young guys sink their teeth into handling pressure situations. Jobs are on the line. Let them show what they've got.

Manifesting at least 8th or higher...

I could say it over again but you nailed it. This is why this team is stupid.....

[G R E Y]

Hmm.

I'm mulling over that Barnes game winner and have a hunch you could feel the collective Spurs brass tense up in how much more complicated things just got.

I thought we secured 8th. But what we've really done is opened up anywhere from 8th to 10th!

Ffs...

So we won the season series with Blazers. And the upcoming series ender with the Suns decides the 1-1 split.

If we win the next two games, and Blazers lose their next two to GSW and LAL and Suns, losers of the last 8, although all to PO teams to be fair, lose their last two to us and Kings, we have the potential of a three-way tie record of 35-47. And with us having winning records against both in this scenario, does that take precedence in deciding picks seeding or does a coin toss do it?

Well I'd rather not leave it in the hands of a coin toss, though when we lost the one with Houston a couple years ago that worked out phenomenally well.

Still, our fate is in our hands. I'd like to think that Suns players are sick of losing, will feast on a non-PO team, and try to screw over their franchise on the way out.

I think we should give lots and lots of minutes to guys who haven't played all that many. And fewer to the vets. Like I said, I loved our come from behind early and late compete level vs. GS but I'd rather at this point the young guys sink their teeth into handling pressure situations. Jobs are on the line. Let them show what they've got.

Manifesting at least 8th or higher...

I could say it over again but you nailed it. This is why this team is stupid.....

Looks like we've wizened up going into the game...

[Rustyman]

I like Newell and Essangue, too.

Kon is currently listed 6! on Tankathon!

We must get shooters though either via draft or trade or FA market.

And I still hope we somehow get Traore.

Now with Nunez injury we need bolstering there. I don't think Malaki or McLaughlin or maybe even CP are with us next season so suddenly we have Fox and Blake as true PGs and Castle who is a combo G and Nunez out so yeah Traore would be a quality get.

I hope that short-armed white shooters become undervalued like it was with Knecht last year. If not Kneuppel then I am thinking of Newell at 15 or something similar.

Traore is interesting as the Spurs have been scouting him for years but the trade for Fox has thrown a loop into that. If they cannot get a shooter at 15 then I wouldn't be against Traore in that range as long as we have a 4/5 hybrid with the first pick. I am also looking at a bruiser like Kalkbrenner in the 2nd.

[G R E Y]

Let's breathe a collective sigh of relief. At least for now:

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[Rustyman]

2024-25 Spurs Season Review

Okay, 81 games played. 8th Lottery Seed locked in. Waiting for the draft lottery.

Overall Season Grade: B-

The Spurs going into this season would have had a a realistic aim getting a .500 record and making the play-in. The Spurs fell well short of this record with 33 wins which while it was 50% better than last year was still around 10 games below expectations.

Primary reason for the underperformance is the injury to Wemby which removed him for the last 30 games. However, even then, the Spurs were questionable on getting to a .500 record.

The big move this season was the trade for Fox which while I thought the price was reasonable, the jury is till out on whether Fox is the right match with Wemby. Then Fox was sidelined when the Spurs decided to tank the rest of the season once the play-in was impossible for some minor surgury. A decision I agree with by the way.

The biggest bright spot of the season was the resiliency of the traded veterans Paul and Barnes and the development of Castle who we can say is ahead of initial expectations. Castle is still extremely inefficient but his development over the season bodes well for the future.

[Rustyman]

Season 2024-25 Player Reviews:

Wemby - B+

It may seem crazy to rank Wemby as a B+ when if he simply continued his trajectory this season, he was likely to be an All NBA selection. However, my ranking of Wemby is based on the expectation that he should be challenging for MVP every year.

On the positive side, Wemby has been the best defensive player in the NBA this year even if he only played 2/3 of the season. He needs a bit more bulk/strength to defend against he big C's in the NBA (Jokic/Zubac/etc) but he is active and works. His offensive game has also expanded and I am someone who believes that he should be shooting 40/45% of his shots as 3's.

The downside for Wemby is that though he improved his efficiency from his rookie year, he was still short of the 48/37/80 splits I was projecting for him at the start of the season. Also, it seemed that his stamina was lacking at time although that could have been related to the blood clotting issue. Also, he needs to be more assertive as the closer. This is his team and he needs to be acting like it. However, the one thing that absolutely drives me nuts about Wemby is the stretches where he takes 4 3's to start the game and misses them all to put the team in a hole in the first Q. That is what Wemby has to improve most of all. His game awareness and IQ. I have no doubt that skill wise he can do whatever the team needs but his awareness of how to manage a game will hopefully be the one thing he takes away from working with Chris Paul this season.