Pre-Draft Summit

[APerna]

Hey posters,

First of all, I'm sorry that your team wasn't able to make it to the Finals. I definitely identify with you, since my Pacers weren't even able to make it that far. I am looking to put together NBA Summits for each team as the Draft draws closer.

I put together a ton of these on the NFL forums heading into the draft and they were wildly successful. I hope for the same here, and I know the population of these boards will lend itself to many responses.

Editor Chris Reina and I have put together these seven questions for you all to answer, with the best answers making it into posted pieces on our main page. The only thing that I ask is that you please limit your responses to two sentences per question. Please try your best to heed that request, it makes the Summits easier to read and quicker to put together.

Thanks gang, and best of luck in the Draft.

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
2. Where were the team

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

The main difference for our early exit was Manu Ginobili. He was constantly off in the whole series, with only one good game, and if he at least put up stats slightly below his average, it might be a Spurs-Celtics Finals.

2. Where were the team

[HarlemHeat37]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

There's nothing that could have been done IMO..little adjustments like playing Kurt Thomas more might have stretched the series out, but there's nothing that could have been done to avoid elimination..the reason being that Ginobili's injury completely crippled the team..the Lakers won the series 4-1, but it was a lot closer than it looked..Ginobli was completely unable to take advantage of Radmanovic, who is a poor defender..he was missing wide open shots..he was just unable to play even half as good as he usually..with that being said, there were plenty of moments during the series where the Spurs could have ended droughts and took the lead with wide open 3's, but missed them..this could be attributed to fatigue from age and playing what was probably the most difficult 1st round and 2nd round series of any team in the playoffs..

Ginobili's injury couldn't be avoided, so there's nothing the Spurs could have actually done to avoid elimination with this old team..the Lakers were just a better team this year, mostly due to youth and freshness..

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

there isn't anybody that "surprised" me in this season..if I had to pick somebody that would be "surprising" to fans of other teams, it would probably be Udoka in the playoffs..his shot was off during the season..somehow in the playoffs, he was making shots consistently, which was his main flaw during the regular season..

there wasn't anybody that surprised in the regular season though..

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

I'd have to pick Robert Horry..Finley was terrible too, but I saw that starting last year..Horry was still very active last year, and looked like he could still play in the playoffs, specifically the series vs. the Nuggets..this year, his offense was absolutely horrendous, and his shot selection was terrible as well..Horry is definitely done in the NBA..

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

very confident..the Spurs have a successful championship core, and only need a few younger role players..this is a relatively easy scenario to be in for the Spurs front office, so I expect them to bring in some younger pieces through FA and the draft..we don't need any big-time players, just compliments to Duncan, Ginobili and Parker..

6. What are the team

[the southern dandy]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
The Ginobili injury was no one's fault. I think if Pop had played Kurt Thomas some decent minutes over Horry during the bulk of the Lakers series we could have advanced. Also the Spurs didn't play Barry over Finley until they were already in a massive hole.


2. Where were the team

[ss1986v2]

oh crap, i have to give short answers? this is going to be hard...

1. not a whole lot. the problem was manu not hitting, and theres not a lot you can do about that. i would have liked to see a bit less horry though.

2. the defense, as usual. we could still put the clamps on at times. it was the offense that let us down.

3. udoka. nothing spectacular, but progressed well as the season advanced.

4. horry or finley, whichever you like. finley was wilding inconsistent, and horry was barely on the team this season (and laid an egg in the post season for the most part).

5. somewhere between cautious optimism and cautious doubt. we have lost a lot in the FO over the last few years, and im worried about pop and rc making the best moves possible for both the long and short term.

6. depth at the wings. we are old as dirt there (and everywhere else really).

7. ideal world: rush or batum. realistically: courtney lee. very complete game, great character guy, would have time to ease into a larger role on this team. 2nd round is a crap shoot at this point, so no opinion there.

god, i think i pulled something in my brain trying to do that. and i still ended up deleting like 20 lines. dont know how yall keep things short and sweet...

[johnnyjohnnyjohnny]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

More Barry and Kurt Thomas in the Lakers series, less Ginobili and Horry. Ginobili and Horry hurt us more than they helped, while Barry became a hidden gem midway through the series and Thomas would have helped a lot with our rebounding woes.

2. Where were the team

[SD2042]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

I guess being more consistant offensively. With Manu playing injured, and key bench players like Horry and Finley being inconsistant in the Laker series. The Spurs chances to advance to the Finals was void at that point.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

The defense and the ability to make their opponents work for their shots. Veteran experience, and being able to be versitile on offense in terms to slashing to the hole or hittin it from the perimeter.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Ime, although it took time for him to crack into the rotation.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Finley and Horry. Unfortunately they are getting on up in age and it's effecting the way they play the game.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

Considering the Spurs FO history, I can say confident. They however need to switch from drafting foreign to drafting domestic due to the Spurs needing upgrades to the majority of their roster. Continue to draft smart as they normally do best.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

SG, PF, C

7. Who would you like your team to select?

Brandon Rush, Chris Douglas-Roberts or Courtney Lee for the 26th pick. As long as it's one of the three. I won't be disappointed.

For the #45, I'll go with Richard Hendrix

For the #57, I'll go for Joe Crawford or David Padgett

[Blame Rasho]

1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?

Barry should have gotten more playing time, and Pop should have known when to stop playing Horry and Finely

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

The big three. When they are healthy and on the same page it is very hard for any team to win vs us.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

Ime, he had an up and down season but showed that he is a quality rotation player.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

Finley was unbelievability disappointing and ineffective the entire season and post season.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

I have faith in our front office. They have managed to keep this team a championship contender for various years. They can't hit a homerun every offseason but it is important to realize that it is harder to win when everyone is gunning for you. Their draft picks have left alot to be desired as of late but they have one quality prospect who could be a gem(Ian) as soon as this coming year.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

Youth. We are older than dirt. There is a fine line between being experienced and being old. We showed that we were old vs the Lakers. We should* look for that mystical tall small forward that but we also need another big man to help Duncan with rebounding.

7. Who would you like your team to select?

Realistically we would have to trade up for these two players.

1.Batum would be in my opinion the best fit for our team.
2. Rush would also be an excellent addition to this team

In case we don't/can't trade up we should look into players like Bill Walker and Courtney Lee.

With our 1st 2nd round pick we should look into some senior big men
Joey Dorsey and DeVon Hardin to help out TD incase Ian isn't ready to contribute this coming year.

Our last pick... well usually they never amount to anything so I say waste it on some guy none of us has heard or seen of and hope that he becomes someone.

[APerna]

Thanks gang...this should be up tomorrow (Friday).