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I've been out of the country for a week, but I've been getting Spurs updates..I haven't been able to watch any games though, so I'd appreciate some feedback on what has been happening with the team lately..I thought 11 in a row would give us a start at playing like an elite team again..

HarlemHeat37 wrote:I've been out of the country for a week, but I've been getting Spurs updates..I haven't been able to watch any games though, so I'd appreciate some feedback on what has been happening with the team lately..I thought 11 in a row would give us a start at playing like an elite team again..

1. they got complacent
2. all those games in a short amount of time have caused Popovich to use terrible combinations on the court to keep the Big 3 fresh.

like i said a week ago, we're getting too old, winning this year still isn't out of the question, although I'd expect to see half our team gone after this year. We're getting out rebounded, out worked, out jumped, it's not going well at all.

Besides Tony, Duncan, Ginobili, Udoka and Bowen, I don't want to see any of the players coming back after this season..

Bring Splitter to fill some athleticism and rebounding/inside scoring.
Sign Duhon as Tony's backup
Go after Tryus Thomas and Ron Artest, and make sure you get both.
I don't understand how the Knicks go over all the taxes and everything singing millions of dollars for players and we're not doing the same, it has to be done.

Tony/Duhon
Manu/Tyrus
Artest/Bowen
Duncan/Bonner
Splitter/ Oberto

.. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE.

Our 3 point shooting and fast breaks have gone down the toilet without Barry, and the curtailing of Duncan's minutes has resulted in some truly disturbing rotations for increasing lengths of time.

I don't think we'd be getting both Artest and Tyrus... maybe one, and more likely Artest of the two.

Adde91202 wrote:like i said a week ago, we're getting too old, winning this year still isn't out of the question, although I'd expect to see half our team gone after this year. We're getting out rebounded, out worked, out jumped, it's not going well at all.

Besides Tony, Duncan, Ginobili, Udoka and Bowen, I don't want to see any of the players coming back after this season..

Bring Splitter to fill some athleticism and rebounding/inside scoring.
Sign Duhon as Tony's backup
Go after Tryus Thomas and Ron Artest, and make sure you get both.
I don't understand how the Knicks go over all the taxes and everything singing millions of dollars for players and we're not doing the same, it has to be done.

Tony/Duhon
Manu/Tyrus
Artest/Bowen
Duncan/Bonner
Splitter/ Oberto

.. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE.

Tyrus plays the PF, not SG.

The Plan:

Spus flex their muscle and show they are the best team still.

Then they drop just enough games to miss the playoffs in the competitive west, 2 more soon would do it.

Win the lottery.

Win the nest 4 titles starting next year.

Every ten yrs or so, we have a plan.

DRob, Timmy.... ?

I think our problem is that we are too stangnat on O and it is hard to get stops when you can't score yourself. We would always go thru dry spells and it seems that more than ever we need a player like BArry to space the floor more.

We need to get more athletic, we are getting up there in age. Our core still have the legs but our bench leave alot to be desired. I think with Splitter our frontcourt will get a nice injection but we need someone at the swing position who can attack the basket and get to the line. Maggette anyone? There was talk about Tyrus Thomas but we don't have the assets to get him.

TD is the MAN wrote:There was talk about Tyrus Thomas but we don't have the assets to get him.

I'd prefer Noah personally. But I doubt we could get either of them.

I have no doubt we'll get more athletic, younger on the perimeter in the summer. There's a significant group of players there.

Up front will be taken care of with Splitter and one or maybe two other veterans (replacing Horry and possibly Thomas).

TDITM wrote:Maggette anyone?

I'd be into Maggette

But he has to be willing to take a different role. Also unless the Clip Show trade him for cheap in that he opts in, he has to accept the MLE.

One thing of that role would typically not being in the game for most of the 4th qtr, Manu gets that spot, along with Bowen at SF. Because Tony/Manu/Maggette/Duncan on the floor at the same time, I don't think works, and isn't Pop-like at all.

Not sure Maggette would be willing to sacrifice that much. Maybe.

will age be a factor in the playoffs though? there aren't any back to backs, and it's a more physical game..that's the advantage we're going to have..who do we want in the 1st round?..

Turnover King wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I'd prefer Noah personally. But I doubt we could get either of them.

Noah is off the Bulls **** list already unlike Thomas who might be had if they are desperate.

HarlemHeat37 wrote:will age be a factor in the playoffs though? there aren't any back to backs, and it's a more physical game..that's the advantage we're going to have..who do we want in the 1st round?..

I'd prefer New Orleans in the first round. Sure they creamed us in a couple of games this regular season, but those guys haven't gone to the playoffs together and our experience would probably overwhelm them.

The biggest thing that I see is that something is different with Tim.

1. He's not as aggressive as in the past in the paint.
2. He's getting his shot blocked more frequently than ever before.
3. He seems a step slow on his moves.
4. He loves to set screens.

What my eyes are telling me is that Tim has slipped from the best player in the league to a very good player. Or he's nursing an injury, like a strained groin or something.

He's not dominating.

Secondly, other than the big 3 we are old and the only other creative player is Damon and he's 5 2.

I don't think Tim's slipped. The playoffs will tell that for me. And, he's still shown the ability to play at a superstar level several times this year. It hasn't been consistent, but that's part of the approach to the regular season.

Barring when key players were hurt, I can't recall a time in the Tim Duncan era when this team lost four in a row. A three game losing streak used to be cause for alarm.

I don't think Tim has slipped this year. He's playing better than I expected him to. He's going through a slump right now.

Manu I'm not worried about, he's having his best season yet.

But we have some dead wood, and we need to unload it.

The only team that's embarrassed us during this slump are NO. Other than that the games have been down to the wire.

If Tim can get it going we have a chance. In my opinion Tim has been the best player in the NBA the last 5 years during which we've won 3 titles.

He's still playing well but not at the "best in the league" level.

and some how Pop has to whip the other non "big three guys" into playoff intensity - now!

Last year I was ready to throw Finley away and he came up with some huge playoff games. So I'm hopeful.

And to my eyes Damon has to replace jacques. Damon can create for himself and others and hit the three. He can give parker rest and give us movement in our offense.

wizardg wrote:And to my eyes Damon has to replace jacques. Damon can create for himself and others and hit the three. He can give parker rest and give us movement in our offense.

But the issue is Damon has to starting showing it more than he has. He's only had a handful of moments so far... I was buying into the rhythm, getting his legs after sitting out for a month, and getting with the system. Now, maybe that's still there, but I'm beginning to fade on that stuff as being reasons, as all this time has gone on and he still hasn't filled in like expected.

Not sure what to think of him right now for the near future, only time will tell.

JV will still get minutes regardless because of his defense, hustle, familiarity, and has established himself with Pop (despite Cassell last night).

Although i'd like to see us go after Corey Maggette, i think the Spurs will go and try to get defensive minded players instead. Manu and Parker are taking shots away from Duncan right now. Imagine if we have Magz in there too. Forget Duncan getting 8 shots againts Boston, we'd be extremely perimeter oriented (with no real playmaker btw) and Duncan will get a whole lot of single digit scoring games.

IMO right now the Spurs still have enough firepower. We don't need 5 guys who can go one-on-one. We have 3 stars, and the other 2 are role players. That's exactly how it should be.

My guess is the Spurs go after Pietrus. Even though i think Udoka is a nice pickup, i think Pietrus can beat him out. Plus, it's not like we're locked with Udoka long term. If i'm not mistaken, he only got like a one or 2 year contract and he's paid like 1 mil a year or something.