Fellow Spurs fans

[Spurtatcus]

Who else here thinks that our beloved team is being severely underrated going into this season?

I don't think many casual fans watch our team, so they don't really know half the crap they talk about. Do any of you guys doubt that Ginobili will come back with a vengeance and tear **** up next year? Does anyone think the George Hill won't continue to excel in his 2nd year in his backup PG role? The kid was running the team like a man in his rookie year while Parker was out.

What about Blair? We all know he is going to be a rebounding force which we desperately needed. Mason? Does anyone else think in his 2nd year he will improve even more? Most FA acquisitions are notorious for stinking up their first year in SA and coming into their own in the 2nd, which makes it even better because he played quite well and I think he will only play better with another year under his belt.

What about Duncan? Do any of you guys question his conditioning? We've all read that he is thinner and leaner than ever and even Popovich said he is coming back fiery and determined for his 5th ring. And Jefferson. I feel like everyone is paying more attention the additions of Artest, VC, Wallace, etc, when the Spurs got the perfect player for their system who addresses the glaring holes we had last year while giving us another 20ppg threat.

Now let's talk about McDyess. Personally, I think next to Duncan he will excel. He has always been a superb rebounder and tenacious player and he's never really played next to a big man of Duncan's quality. Hell even Theo Ratliff I think will be able to contribute in his limited minutes with key blocks and rebounds/defense.

And let's not forget about Tony motha-effin Parker. Does anyone doubt that he will up his scoring average and perhaps even his assists with another capable option in Jefferson? The dude is already a top 3 PG in the NBA and just gets better every year. I think his 28.6ppg versus the Mavericks was a preview of what's to come.

The only real unknown hear is Haislip. He was a lottery pick back in 2002 I believe and has polished his game overseas, matured, and added a reliable three point shot. If he even halfway pans out to be the player we hope, he gives us someone to defend the likes of Odom, Nowitzki, etc.

All in all I think we have revamped quite nicely and there's not much else the Spurs can do to improve except maybe go out and trade for a defensive specialist. So, my fellow Spurs fans, give me your thoughts, feedback, and opinions on the upcoming season for our beloved Spurs.

[Donald Kaufman]

We've always flown under the radar of media/fan love. No big deal. We're never the sexy pick to win it all, and now that the Lakers are back on top, they're always going to get the media coverage and fan attention. It's something that a fan of a team from a small market, "boring" team gets used to after a while. Cue the violins.

But all it is is talk, and talk is cheap. Either we jell with our new players and it works or it fails miserably. Time will tell. I feel positive with the moves we've made, but other teams made improvements as well.

[co_laper]

Well I really don't think we're under the radar right now... It sure looks like we're on everyone's radar compared to past years.

I mean, from like 2003 to 2007 we are, without a question, one of the league's best team but no one is counting us to win it. This year, there are more question marks than ever.

Your post basically is the positive answer to all of our questions.

Healthy of Manu. We hope he becomes the 2005 Manu, but we don't know that yet. It's still a question.

George Hill showed great defense but didn't really know how to run the team last year. He showed great signs in summer league but that's a different league. He can tell guys where to go on that squad and be a leader, but will he do that in a veteran team as a backup PG and other accomplished leaders such as Duncan, Manu, Parker? I really can't imagine George Hill even ordering Matt Bonner around on what to do.

Is Blair gonna be more like Reggie Evans or Charles Barkley? 2009 Draft is obviously a very weak draft. In this draft, Blair has no business falling to the 2nd round. But in a normal draft, 2nd round is exactly where he'd fall. So are we overrating him or underrating him?

Roger Mason having a better season than last year can't mean it's a good thing for the Spurs. The only reason he got that much minutes was because of injuries to Manu. Without Manu, there goes our title hopes. All Mason needs to do this year is come off the bench and have his shooting percentages as good or atleast close to last year's.

We haven't had a 100% Duncan come playoff time for 2 years now. Will we finally have a healthy Duncan? Or will it be 3 years and counting?

Will McDyess supply enough defense next to Duncan? I don't doubt his midrange jumper but he's not going to get 15 midrange jumpers every game anyways. Not worried with his rebounding either. But Dice never was a great man to man defender. I'm guessing the Spurs won't let Duncan be guarding the Boozers or Amares. That'll be Dice's job. We'll see how good Dice's defense really is.

All this are big questions that will determine whether we win the title or not. And I think almost all of this questions has to turn out good if we want to go anywhere.

[SApuro_]

Not too sure if the spurs are flying under the radar this year. We have gotten alot of national media coverage from trades, free agent pick ups, the draft, and pop quotes. If anything the media knows that the spurs are a very dangerous team and have been fueling the rivalry with LA. If we come together no doubt we'll go far in the playoffs.

Big market teams will always get the favorite status heck they actually have fans who log on to sites like this in the hundreds and thousands not like our small market team who has 5 guys replying to ever spur hater around.