Donald Kaufman wrote:Fundamentals21 wrote:I would prefer to see a new set of stars and that's it. We have a top 10 guy with DeRozan. Otherwise, lost era, lost cause. This will be like the Gervin era again. Not looking forward to it for another few years.
No offense, it's this type of Spurs fan that really bugs me. We've had it good - scratch that, great - for two-plus decades. So what if we're "average" (read: hovering around 50 wins and a 1st or 2nd round exit) team for the forseeable future? How many fanbases would trade all of their misery for just one of our title runs?
We've been blessed to witness greatness for this long, being a treadmill team isn't the end of the world.
Let's not become entitled like Laker fans. We aren't owed anything.
Spurs greatness for so long has to do with what's driving the team underneath, and it's because of it that we don't take it for granted or feel we're owed anything, I agree.
But it's also why I disagree that we're somehow a 'treadmill' team now. An unexpected (relatively) transition was thrust upon us, and we made a good trade even after getting handcuffed publicly into it, so while we are in a transition year with roster changes, it is ironically on more solid ground internally and better balanced on the court (trades and FA addressed needs well, even if now there are new opportunities for guys to step up in areas we have openings to do so).
'Treadmill' is staying in the same place purposefully and without direction. Neither applies to us. The trade we made for DeMar and Jakob address 'now and future' - always the focus. To that end, team cohesion and instilling and emulating the program is progress, and the one and two year deals in place is the plan. At that point, whatever transition takes place, be it retaining or getting new players, will be to add to those who have the program instilled.
I know people focus on teams that are contenders, but if you play the right way and focus on details of fundamentals in games or at times that 'don't matter as much' (no such thing), then you catch teams off guard. After all a 73-win team losing the finals happened. Three years ago, we won 67 games, but got caught in the second round; two years ago we won 61 games and were up over 20 points against a juggernaut of a team until Zaza. Would the eventual outcome have been different had we stayed healthy? Can't argue a hypothetical, but we did have something figured out up to that point. At least the series would have been far more competitive and results up in the air.
Last year was an anomaly in many ways, because of both the internal friction to deal with and the ongoing changes on the court - altering the O on the fly, players adjusting to new roles and positions, guys in and out of the line-up due to nearly 200 games lost to injuries. The previous few years we were in the top five in 3FG%; last year, bottom five, this even with taking more 3s, and the misses coming more on open than on contested shots beyond the arc. Even with all these issues, we still had excellent D overall. The easiest thing would have been to mail it in, but the Spurs refused to do that and willed themselves into the post-season. That's part of the underlying foundation driving them; it's how they're wired, then and now.
I'm not a betting lady, but over is my choice, not because Vegas odds play to both ends, and not because part of their reasoning is 'a bunch of old guys shooting 2s' - even though we got younger and shored up a secondary scoring threat with a guy who can create his own shot and tertiary scoring with stronger 3 shooting. It's because of the program and the people that keep it all going forward together.