Tuesday, July 14th, 2009...4:41 am
The Dennis Lindsey Interview
During the 2nd quarter of Sunday’s Spurs Summer League game, Dennis Lindsey gave an insightful interview to Joel Myers, who had the game call. An transcript is not available, but LJ Ellis has summarized the interview in a set of talking points. He’s given me permission to reproduce his notes here. The Spurs are sometimes stingy with the media, but Lindsey let’s his guard down just enough for us to get a rare peak at our target, however obscured.
From LJ:
-Players added during the draft have skills that can fit the Spurs.
-Spurs didn’t get the chance to work out Blair prior to the draft. However, he was a priority interview during the pre-draft camp in Chicago.
-Blair is down to 274 pounds with 8% body fat.
-Spurs like Blair’s force, size and that he carries his weight well. What they really like is his feel — he’s a very underrated passer. Also has great hands.
-Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said that Blair carried practice. As a power forward, it’s a rare trait to have a bigman who is a leader.
-Spurs hope that Blair’s rebounding numbers will carryover from college. Historically, rebounding is something that is predictive when going from college to pros.
-Spurs thought that McClinton’s range to be selected in the draft was going to start in the 30s. They were surprised he was still on the board at 51. Spurs were very pleased he dropped that far.
-McClinton’s skills comparable to Eddie House — but still a long ways away.
-They like McClinton’s motor. They also like the fact that not only is he a shooter, he’s a shooter with good footspeed. Spurs like his ability to create separation — especially on pin-down screens.
-This is a key offseason for Mahinmi.
-After they drafted him, Mahinmi made good progress in France and then they were pleased with his play in Austin. One of the best players in d-league two years ago.
-This is Mahinmi’s real season to show what he can do after a year off due to injury. He has good physical tools — now the Spurs want to give him some experience.
-Spurs hope Mahinmi has a lot of upside. The Spurs view Mahinmi and Gist as rookies since they are both just 22 years old. Both have physical gifts but they still need to connect all the dots.
-Gist had a very good year in Italy with a low budget team that overachieved. Gist was a big part of why that team overachieved and the Spurs like his development.
-Going over to Europe and experiencing the world helped Gist’s development. Dell Demps, RC, Pop and Lindsey went over to Italy and saw Gist growing.
-Gist improved his skillset in Europe thanks to two-a-day practices and playing in a highly competitive environment.
-Felt fortunate to draft George Hill last year. In the 2008 draft, the Spurs felt really good about six or seven players so they decided not to trade their first round pick.
-Picking Hill was a tough choice but they liked that Hill fit them culturally and they liked that he was an NBA defender from Day 1.
-The Spurs think that Hill’s rookie season was productive. Played well backing up Parker and played well when he was forced to start. Also played well at shooting guard and performed well in the playoffs.
-Hill has been working with Chad Forcier and Chip Engelland and the Spurs have seem some good growth. They think he has good tools and they like that he’s a hard worker.
-Hill and Roger Mason, Jr. elevated their games last year early on to keep the Spurs afloat.
-The Spurs program is a “work program”. When the Spurs bring in players, they have to believe that the player is a worker. Duncan and Robinson set the foundation of the program due to both being humble people. Humility and intelligence are important. Players have to be able to have a conversation in an adult manner because the culture of the team is worldly. All these attributes help players get better.
-There’s no indications that Manu Ginobili won’t be healthy. He’s fully healthy and cleared. Ginobili provides the pace and pulse to the team. Ginobili is a postseason player — a championship-moment player. There was no way to replace that in the playoffs without him.
-Big commitment by Peter Holt and the ownership group. Pop and RC went to Holt and told him their feelings about where the Spurs were at as a basketball club. Pop didn’t mince any words after the Dallas series — the team was short compared to the other conference finals contenders. Holt stepped up and allowed the Spurs to spend.
-Holt’s reasoning for letting the Spurs spend was due to: 1) trusting that Pop and RC know what they are doing 2) with Duncan only having three years left, the Spurs want to go out swinging to honor him.
-Antonio McDyess is a player the Spurs have tried to add to the program for a long time. The Spurs have a lot of respect for Detroit’s program — in a lot of ways they are similar to San Antonio’s program in nature. Due to that, the Spurs hope that McDyess’ fit will be seamless.
-The Spurs needed to give Duncan a little bit more help by adding an interior defender and an experience player.
-McDyess is understated — a pro’s pro. McDyess and Pop had a conversation during free agency and quickly got on the same page.
-Pop’s honesty when talking to free agents and agents is valuable. He speaks direct and between the eyes and people appreciate that.
-Pop told the front office that the Spurs really needed to add some physicality. McDyess and Blair address that need.
-There are no championships won during the offseason but if you don’t address needs, you won’t put yourself in a position to win a championship.
-The Spurs are happy with the needs they filled and they hope to push forward and add even more.
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15 Comments
July 14th, 2009 at 5:23 am
great stuff! i like the part about Robinson and Duncan setting the foundation for a cultured team of players who can hold a conversation in an adult manner. i mean who/what sports franchise thinks in that manner???
i think we loose appreciation for these small details when it comes to supporting the spurs. it kind of makes it feel like being a fan is making a commitment to something greater than yourself. i guess that is why our loyalty runs so deep.
that being said, i still think the ownership needs to find a way to spend more money because it’s obvious that the leadership in place at the organization would not spend frivolously. it’s obvious the foundation of the organization has been set in stone, we just need more financial backing.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I agree. Two things I loved from these notes:
“Humility and intelligence are important. Players have to be able to have a conversation in an adult manner because the culture of the team is worldly. All these attributes help players get better.”
“Pop’s honesty when talking to free agents and agents is valuable. He speaks direct and between the eyes and people appreciate that.”
Such a class organization. It makes you like them that much more.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:39 am
This was a great offseason for the Spurs, they addressed key needs and I believe they put themselves right back at the top of the Western Conference.
And apparently, the Lakers and Lamar Odom are having difficulty coming to an agreement as far as contract talks goes.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-42-70/The-State-of-Lamar-Odom.html
July 14th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Hmmm, I’m thinking you are saying the Spurs are still willing to add somebody and that somebody would be somebody long. Are you seeing any other hints in there?
July 14th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Wayne,
That seems to be the message. They’ll wait until after summer League, of course.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:55 am
The Lakers not signing Odom could be a big help for the Spurs.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Great tidbits from the interview, I’m really intrigued to see what the Spurs will do next whether through free agency with the LLE or in pursuing another trade.
As far as Lamar Odom is concerned, I cannot believe the Trail Blazers aren’t making a run at him. Instead of signing Millsap as a back-up PF, they could sign LO as a starting SF that could back-up Aldridge in a pinch. They have the money to spend, and it would also weaken a primary hurdle in their championship quest. Baffling.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I’m not sure what the Blazers are doing either. Are they thinking of pairing up Milsap and Aldridge as a high/low frontcourt combo? What does that say about Greg Oden? Is some “not-so-good” news about to come out about him? It just seems odd to spend so much on a back-up PF.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Kevin Pritchard better have some smart move in store…
July 14th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I live in SLC and have the “blessing” of hearing all about the Jazz and Paul Millsap. In the eyes of local fans and media the Jazz will match the offer sheet for Millsap as he is in their longterm plans and is a great fit within the organization and locker room (he’s a Sloan guy). Jazz ownership has also expressed something similar to Holt regarding spending and being willing to venture into the luxury tax for a season (Boozer and Harpring come off the books next season giving them ~$18M in relief). They are shopping Boozer in the hopes that they can move him and put Millsap into that starting PF role.
The feeling locally is that the Blazers made this move to impact the Jazz financially as much as possible. The contract they offered is incredibly frontloaded (Millsap gets $10M as soon as the contract goes into effect) and would cause the Jazz to essentially pay in the neighborhood of $20M next season for Millsap if they can’t work anything out on the Boozer front.
My point is that I don’t believe Portland is actually as interested in Millsap as their making an offer to him appears. I believe they are taking a calculated risk to affect a division rival as much as possible and if they get Millsap they will have a big energy guy on their roster that would go very nicely next to an Aldridge, or provide decent offense when it’s Pryzbilla/Oden at center and Aldridge is down. It would definitely give them some options. It’s a lot to pay for a backup PF, but teams have done far more WTF-provoking moves than that.
July 14th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I agree with SAinSLC. i’ve been thinking the same thing about what portland is up to.
July 14th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Let me just say, I am not a big fan of Manu. but after all this rumors, still, I thought spurs are never going to trade him. Every head coach in nba would like to have him on his bench even if he play 10min/game in playoff, becoz he is “a championship-moment player” and nightmare for opponent coach. Even if spurs trade him to some nonplayoff team, he can buyout the contract and championship contender teams like cavs, lakers, magic go after him. He is going to be automatic upgrade to their benchs. After reading this article (interview), i am thinking of shelving the idea that Spurs are going to part away with Ginobilli in near future ( may be never). I also think spurs are going to extend his contract and money is goin to depend on how healthy he is goin to be. Please correct me if i am thinking wrong. Go spurs GO
July 14th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
It certainly makes more sense.
Though not as much sense as getting Odom. You rip a key component out of the lakers. Barring horrific injuries to major players, the path to the NBA finals has to go through L.A if you are in the West.
If Odom is gone to Portland and either Gasol or Bynum has injury woes the lakers are a far far less intimidating team.
I can only think that Kevin Pritchard may well have become caught up in his own hubris and is looking to hit that home run that no one else is seeing.
July 14th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
about that Odom thing this is worth reading guys… Lakers pull Odom offer
July 16th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Come on guys, does it really matter. First, and foremost, Manu isn’t going anywhere. But, portland, utah, the lakers even. The Spurs are going to be the team to beat. The entire org. sounds envigorated, the bench is fired up. Sounds like a good season. “They” shouldn’t have passed up on Blair. And thats just one beast we got this offseason.
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