Tuesday, January 26th, 2010...5:06 am
Chicago Bulls 98, San Antonio Spurs 93
The scouting report on the Lakers says they have a difficult time containing quick guards. Count the Spurs into that camp as well.
The Chicago Bulls didn’t do quite as much damage as Houston’s backcourt-Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry combined for 46 against the Spurs on Friday-but last night’s box score records that the tandem of Rose-Hinrich recorded 45 points on 55% shooting. San Antonio’s much-celebrated defense is merely mediocre through the first half of this season. Visiting teams smell blood.
Tony Parker continues to play as well as possible, even though he’s numbered with the walking wounded. His numbers are down across the board, and everyone knows he’s not himself. Parker registered 20 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in 37 minutes in one of his best games of the season. But this didn’t stop Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro from testing Parker, and his Plantar Fasciitis, by running him through a violent maze of screens all night. Parker represented himself well, but he’s clearly a marked man.
Parker, never an All-League defender, is, nevertheless a capable defender who gives good effort. On offense, his devastating change of speed is missing zip. On defense, one got the impression from this game that Chicago wanted to exploit Parker for a perceived lack of of defensive quickness. You look at his line and think, “Oh, he’s playing well.” But relative to last season, his production is down a third.
Having said all this, it was actually defensive tough guy George Hill who lost the battle against Derrick Rose on the game’s final few possessions. Which takes us back to the start. The Spurs are not bothering the opposition enough to take them out of their game. It’s on everyone. We can dress it all up in a lot of analysis, but the bottom line says that San Antonio’s defense is soft.
The Rodeo Road Trip is just around the corner, and this season one gets the feeling that San Antonio is several steps removed from where they need to be. It’s not just a matter of intensifying their play. The Spurs have dropped 3 straight. And 5 of their last 6. They’re not playing terribly, but there is no aspect of their game in which they’re playing great basketball.
I finally know what it’s like to cheer for an average team.
Despite all the doom and gloom, the Spurs are playing just enough good basketball to offer hope, which is the most frustrating part of their current losing streak. For about a quarter per game we’re teased by the impression of championship-caliber basketball. And the other 36 minutes is a series of foibles, fumbles, and just-misses.
63 Comments
January 26th, 2010 at 6:20 am
People look to the rodeo road trip like it’s some magical time of the year where the Spurs find their mojo. Well, it worked for them in the early and mid 2000s, but I don’t think the last 2 rodeo road trips were all that great. The fact is, if the Spurs continue their struggles we may look back and see that the rodeo road trip was the part of the season where the Spurs lost their chance to go to the playoffs.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:31 am
The spurs really suck right now, it´s time to trade TP I think, despite having his best offensive year of his career Duncan can no longer carry the team.
What can we do at the deadline?
January 26th, 2010 at 6:57 am
can someone explain Rj’s contract. I mean if I sign a contract on my job and I don’t perform my duties as expected I get fired… plain and simple.
Why can’t we just get rid of the guy, he doesn’t provide anything and missed all his shots last night except a dunk (seems to be all he can do)
Seems that we can’t get all players playing well for a single game, last night Tony played well, everyone else sucked.
Blair, man, slow it down!!! He rushes so much to shoot the ball.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:58 am
Tough game last night. I actually thought the defense was ok. Derrick Rose took a number of long 2 pt jump shots (which is what the Spurs want), but rarely missed. When that happens, I think you just have to tip your hat to him.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:08 am
It’s a tough loss. it is very frustration. I have watched every single Spurs game this season on NBA league PASS, but no more. They have just lost me because I can’t take it anymore.
the fact is they are not the old spurs. they can’t win the games with this team they forgot to how to close the games. I never see this type of play in entire Duncan era. Duncan era is over and spurs decade is also over. now spurs is just another regular nba team no more title contender. i hate to see how nervous we are in final minutes. did anybody see any confident in any single player in the team. did anybody see that any player confidently scoring beyond the paint. no shooter in the team except RMJ which pop is not using properly. all records brake in the season which it didn’t happen in entire Duncan era like Jazz sweep lost 3 home home games twice and so on….. less winning record by half season and also we will see that we are not going to be in Playoffs in this season NO DOUBT ? is any spurs fan is confident to go in Play offs??? i don’t think so..
Already in the second half of the season and the issues still remain. Lazy, lazy defense, no offense, bad, bad, bad rotation, and bad bad plays.
it’s time to digest that no more spurs.
We are too small and weak. We have no bigs but RJ and TD and RJ SUCKSSSSSS.
We need some shooters who can shoot at least from beyond 15 ft. hope we can find somebody in near future.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:10 am
I think we are in real trouble. I love Blair, but I dont believe he is defensively minded enough to carry the weight of weak side post. Time and again we fail to box out. We need Robinson back!(In my dreams) We do however need another defensive minded big to block the shots that Timmy can no longer get to. I dont know how we win every damn tip. Look at the elevation. Tim’s verticle might be 10 in. If Ratliff is here for low post defense… Make his ass play! If not, bundle Him, McDyess, and Bonner for a big man, please, now!
January 26th, 2010 at 7:51 am
So if “Vinney El” has a defensive specialist coach…who’s up for trying to hire Bowen back as an assistant?
I agree with @DieHardSpur’s idea of moving a few of these under-performers for future-minded defending big…but then you’ve got to find one. And isn’t that what every club wants? A big defender to anchor the paint?
What about trading RJ for a defensive wing? Send him and his years of accumulated bad habits on to a team with lower standards.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I honestly don’t think trading TP would be of any help to the ball club, I think instead he should take a week or two to rest his foot and then come back. George Hill has proven he can handle the point position for a short period of time. It was extremely ironic that the Bulls are suppose to be one of the poorest shooting teams in the league, yet the shot the ball more efficiently than we did.
RJ has acknowledge that he is not playing up to his contract or expectations this season, however his performance still hasnt improved. I mean 1-8 shooting with 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block! Seriously? I don’t think trading him is the answer but he needs to start delivering, or else they are going to continue to double Tim and Manu to give RJ the open shots which he can’t seem to knock down. One thing to be thankful for is that McDyess has been playing better lately.
I would like to see a trade made for either a SF/PF to help out RJ so that he doesnt have so much responsibility and can focus on a simpler/ more efficient role.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:13 am
I am gettin a little worried myself. I thought we would pull threw the funk, but that not the case. I don’t understand where there is an issue. Does Manu and R.J. not have good chemistry. They have a great lineup. I just don’t get it.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Maybe we can petition the League to end games after the 1st quarter, all season things seem to go down hill from there!
January 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Well, I’ll argue the other side on a couple of points:
Rose and Hinrich had good nights, but I thought they did their damage on mid-range or long two pointers.
According to hoopdata.com, Rose went 10-18 and Hinrich 7-9 on those shots, when they normally shoot in the low 40% or upper 30%, respectively.
Some of those makes weren’t contested enough, sure, but that’s the shot the Spurs allow. Could just be an abberation.
Jefferson also was the victim of receiving the ball with the shot clock winding down a few times. The point guards got to get things going earlier.
Still, what a crappy loss.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:41 am
In regards to trading TP, I really hate myself for saying this, but I think it makes the most sense.
Tony is showing us right now what he’ll be like in a couple of years once he loses his unbelievable speed. Even when he recovers from his foot problems, he’ll still be another year older and another step closer towards slowing down.
The problem, though, is that the Spurs need to win right now, and just plugging someone else into his spot isn’t going to start making wins magically appear (unless New Orleans loses its mind and actually does that Chris Paul deal).
I’ve spent the last couple of days on the trade machine, and I just don’t see too many deals, though, that make a whole lot of sense for either club. The closest one I can see is with Toronto to get us Calderon and Nesterovic (we could throw Mahinmi their way as well if we needed to sweeten the deal, using one of their trade exceptions).
That would give us a big who knows the defensive system and could help cover for perimeter guys getting beaten, and helping to stop the layup line we’ve got going on right now.
Calderon, on the other hand gives us an accurate shooter who drives to pass more than to score. He’s a good pick and roll player who makes good decisions with the ball.
From the Toronto side of things, they can show Chris Bosh that they’re making things better, and he’ll have an All-Star point guard to play with if he stays.
From our side, we get to cut $2.4 million off of our salary for this year (saving Holt almost $5 million), while hopefully helping our defense and not hurting our offense.
I spent lots of time trying to come up with RJ trade scenarios (I’d much rather keep Tony), but I think he’s played poorly enough, and has that huge contract to boot, that he’s toxic. We might be able to use him next year as an expiring contract if we want, but I think he’s pretty much unmovable at this point.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Imagine having traded for Stephen Jackson for Bonner, Finley, and Bogans(3 players not good enough to play against the Bulls according to Pop)!
Management refusal to trade for Stephen Jackson is a poor decision that is costing the Spurs dearly. Stephen Jackson outplayed Dwayne Wade and scored 44 pts in a different game recently. Spurs should’ve traded for Stephen Jackson.
Small ball in crunch time lost the game. McDyess was playing well but on the bench? Why?
Why does Ratliff never play? He’s the only shot blocker, protect the rim, prevent easy layups player on the team. Why doesn’t he play 12 minutes a game?
Ginobili has played poorly the last 3 games. Ginobili can’t make open 3 pointers or drives to the hoop. Even his turnovers have led to easy layups.
I thought Spurs could get the 8th spot in the playoffs, but now I’m not so sure.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Calderon is really not an improvement on defense and is slower han a slow TP. He will maybe make assists but to whom ? RJ ?
January 26th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Parker needs to sit and rest. The fear of losing usually prevents a player from taking an extended absence but the team is losing anyway, in part due to TP not being near even 90% healthy. Too often he over-dribbles as he can’t beat his man (except for one quarter per gm when the foot feels good). The shot clock winds down and a wasted possession ends with a turnover or Parker shooting a contested jumper from a spot on the floor that is not his rhythm shot. I know we don’t have great backup options but I’d rather have Hill, Mason and Manu all man that spot and run a more disciplined and methodical offense, which might reduce turnovers and thus help the defense. Other teams have sat their stars (Roy, Melo) and the rest of the guys have played well. It’s better to ask the role players to hold the fort for a week or two than hurt the team by having an injured guy play.
You’re right that teams smell blood. They feel more confident shooting against the Spurs than anyone has in a dozen years. It used to be that trailing by six or more points in the second half of games meant teams might need an entire quarter to make up a deficit, even if the Spurs had their usual scoring dry spell. We were a mental vise. Now opponents make up double digits deficits in a matter of 3-4 game minutes. We’ve become the Suns: if our 3pt shot is falling, we can run it up on people. If not, no lead is safe and no opponent feels uncomfortable.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:10 am
As much as I like Jax, that contract won’t be pretty 3 years from now! I think if the Jefferson deal hadn’t already been done the Spurs would have brought Jax back but they are too similar to overpay both of them. Add to that having both of them would def be the end of Manu in a Spurs uniform past this season.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Tank the season!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Beyond the mediocre record, what is most depressing about the first half of the season is that we don’t seem to know any more now about our team then we did at the start. For example, Keith Bogans was supposed to be our “stopper” on the perimeter. Yet, he gets a DNP against the Bulls even after we see their point guard tearing us up. There was some hope that Hairston, Haislip and/or Mahinmi might be able to slow down the Dirks, Aldridges, Gasols, Stoudamires. They never got the chance to see what they could do. Blair can rebound, but can he do anything else? Dyce gives us no clue what he can do on a nightly basis. Ditto RJ. So we’re basically back to last year; a team that can put some points on the board, but can’t get stops. What a waste.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Coaching on this team sucks. Yes, coaching sucks for some time already. We didn’t have steady rotation since 2007/08 season. Players are there, for some reason Pop just don’t use them. Nobody knows when they are going to start and what role they gonna be playing. If you need inside shotblocking (and we do) you go with Rattlif who averages 2,5 blocks for his career. Your young wing player, Malik Hairston, is not even with the team and you lack perimeter defence. And we don’t even have true point on the team. Why is that?
Every year we bring players to the team and they underachive becouse they don’t get chance long enough. We need some consistacy in players rotation so they can get comfortable within sistem. Or maybe sistem is old and oposing coaches had figure it out. Jerry Sloan is more familiar with Spurs sistem than half of our players. Is it time to adjust or change the sistem? I just know that if gameplan stay the same we are not giong nowhere.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Forget about trades. nobody interest to take RJ who is burden for any team. but change the system adjust with the same players . see the denver, Portland and Houston how they are well adjusted with their key players injured why not spurs with new players?? some times pop is crazy with his rotation we can say very inconsisitance rotation of the entire league. i think pop has changed his starting line up almost 12 times so far.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Lets ship RJ ,Bogans ,and Mahinmi to Knicks for Milicic, Duhon, and Wilson Chandler.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:06 am
I am always on here defending the Spurs, saying they just need time to gel. MAn is it frustrating.
I’m blaming POP. Small ball aint working. Sure they get a lead early, but its all on lay ups. Teams aren’t going to let you do lay-up drills for the whole game. The offense is too predictable.. Everything is about getting to the rim. TD.TP, MANU, RJ, HILL. THey all try way to hard to get to the cup. Now, I don’t mind it, if the lay up is there, then take it. The problem is its not always there. You need to spread it out with some simple jump shots. I’m tired of saying this but THE SPURS NEED SOME SHOOTERS!!!!!
Why is Manu struggling??? Maybe because there is no 3 point threat. Its easy for teams to collapse on him. THe same can be said for TP and TD. TD has actually declined in these last few games.
Everyone just tries to go to the rim. There is literally no one behind the three point line.
RMJ had a decen game, but I bet POP will bench him in the next game. And BOnner didn’t even play yesterday.
Why did the Spurs lose to the Jazz,Rockets and BUlls? Becaus they can actually hit jump shots.
AK47 Killed them all night hitting shots. WHat Rocket didn’t hit a shot? ANd last night Derrick ROse single handedly one the game by consistantly hitting easy shots.
The SPurs spend so much energy running through screens and attacking the rim. It would be nice to get easy points off of jump shots.
All this I blame on POP for not putting in Bonner and not using RMJ correctly.
Then their is the D. WHy are the SPURS doubling KIRK HEINRICH. KIRK HEINRICH!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me?
Again, I’m blaming POP.
Everything seemed stable but now POP is at it again with his small starting Line up.
I love Blair, but he should not be starting. He was better on the second unit with MANU.
POP KILLED THE SECOND UNIT. Remember when the second unit would come in and just destroy teams?? Well that’s gone.
The big 3 are doing enough. The Spurs just need that little thing called hitting a jump shot, maybe you’ve heard of it.
Its all on POP. Come on man get it together.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Just reading these comments makes me realize how spoiled I am as a Spurs’ fan.
I’m a big believer in the view that things are never as good or bad as they seem. To be clear, we’re playing absolutely terrible right now. TP is hurting, RJ isn’t living up to his billing (although I’ve always thought that there was no way he could ever live up to the sky high expectations fans had). However, I don’t think a midseason trade is what we need (barring a no brainer i.e Chris Paul).
I think this team still needs more time. There’s no sense in making a knee-jerk trade, even when that trade probably won’t put us over the top (Are we really going to trade Bonner, Ian, Bogans, etc. for a player that is going to win us a championship? Doubtful - GM’s aren’t stupid.) All a deadline deal will do is add more salary to our cap for the coming year (s). If I were RC, I’d rather let this season play out in hopes that we get our act together (and right now, that’s a big “if”), let our expirings, with the exception of Manu and maybe a few others, roll off the cap and use RJ’s huge, expiring deal as a trade chip next season.
Jefferson’s $15M expiring contract will be one of, if not the, biggest trade assets any team will have next year. If we can parlay RJ into another quaility piece (s), I think that needs to be the plan. This was the beauty of the RJ trade - decent player now, with the ability to flip him for another nice piece.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:14 am
We are going for a repeat just not the ones we are used too. If Spurs make the playoffs once again they are going to be the team everyone wants to play in the first round. Our mighty Spurs have become the pigeons of the playoffs. What a frustrating year it has been. We all had such visions of grandeur. The preseason consensus most improved team in the league. Unfortunately there are no easy answers to remedy this mess. Not to undermine the colossal underachieving of our new veteran players and it has been great; the big three have not collectively been themselves. Let’s face it without these guys in championship form the wolves are gathering to feast. POP at this point we may be closer to just going young and healing up our champions then opting for the eighth seed in the playoffs.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:15 am
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ykmgjqp
This deal should happen since the players involved aren’t making any contributions to their current teams.
Richard Jefferson never was and never will be the player Pop envisioned. First off, if he wanted RJ to be an all around player he should have noticed RJ’s game. But all he knows how to do is pull up for jumpers and dunk. He does not have any lateral quickness like a Gerald Wallace or Shawn Marion who can move quickly in any direction to get a loose ball or even drive at different angles other than RJ’s baseline moves. RJ has short arms and can never be a decent defender as well; he constantly gets abused when he’s the power forward in the lineup. We need someone quick and that has different facets to his game like a Kirilenko, Iguodala, or like Tayshaun Prince, who I think will cause havoc as a small or power forward in our system because he can hit the three or use his lefty hook shot.
I think its time for this trade now!
January 26th, 2010 at 11:18 am
I´ve seen more Spurs games this season than last year, but right now I see a lazy defense, I can’t see the defensive effort that was a Spurs’s blueprint some years ago.
RJ has to improve, he is a great athlete but outside a couple of dunks he has not colaborated a lot this season.
We need a greater defensive effort if we want to compite for the title, right now the Spurs are headed to an early playoff exit.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:22 am
So frustrating I had to post twice.
I wouldn’t mind the SPURS losing if they just played straight up. Instead of having all these rotations and playing small.
WHy not lose with all your bigs in there? IAN, THE RAT. You’re telling me they couldn’t snuff those gaurds??????
The only thing that keeps me going is that Maybe just maybe POP is waiting. We all know POP doesn’t care about what happens in the regular season. So, I just hope he is gonna pull the trigger after the all Star break. Hopefully sooner.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:31 am
While RJ is seriously underperforming, I don’t think it’s very likely that teams will be willing to take on his contract in a trade.
I’m with Rick in terms of getting a well rounded pg and a big who can alter shots. What about this:
Spurs get: Baron Davis & Marcus Camby
Clippers get: Tony Parker, Roger Mason, Antonio McDyess
Why would the Spurs make this trade? When he’s not asked to be the entire offensive threat for his team, Baron has the potential on any given night to be the best pg in the NBA. On the offensive side, his court vision is far better than Parker’s and he makes his teammates shine. Much like Nash, he made J-Rich shine in the 07 season (not to mention Matt Barnes & Mikael Pietrus). He also brings a swagger the Spurs haven’t had since Stack Jack and a toughness they haven’t had since Mario Ellie. Camby still has some juice left and has that intimidation factor that McDyess lacks.
RJ, too would thrive with the addition of Davis. Not sure that the Clippers would be interested, so you might have to throw in a pick or Mahinmi.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:50 am
@Fan - As frustrating as this season has been thus far, a team coached by Pop and with a healthy Duncan will not be the team everyone wants to play in the playoffs. And last year that team was New Orleans, as was showed when they were throtlled by Denver.
@mori - we do not want Baron. Trust me.
@Tyler - I appreicate your pragmatism. It’s not easy seeing this team, which is quite talented, lose as they are. Even worse is that, though they are playing nowhere near great, they’re right there in everyame. If they could pull a couple of these close ones out, guys other than the big 3 might starting having more confidence in the clutch moments of games.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Don’t trade Parker…the guy is the Spurs offense when healthy. He’s going through some injuries now, but when he’s healthy is among the top 5 PG’s.
Spurs should also renew Manu’s contract, he’s thinking too much about it subconsciously. They should offer him $5-$7MM on a 3-yr deal. Good contract for a solid bench player. Watch his shooting improve!
Next year the Spurs will have the Big 3 + Blair. Trade away McDyess + RJ for a quality big man. 2010 is the big free agency! Can we pick up Bosch? McDyess + RJ is about $20MM in salary cap.
How does a front-court of Duncan/Bosch/Blair/Bonner look? Pretty darn good!
January 26th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Dream Trade: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yz5ebnp
Bosch - Bellini for RJ-Fin-Ian
January 26th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Would that be another one-sided Gasol type trade? He he
January 26th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
There’s no doubt that the Spurs are playing sloppy basketball lately, but you must acknowledge that they’ve played against young teams that had been playing very well of late before playing against the Spurs. Add injury issues on top of that and we have the Spurs in some f’d up situations. Of course, the Spurs should’ve came on top against these team if they were serious about winning a championship, but at least give credits to the opposing teams, as they rightfully deserve so.
Oh, and some of the trade scenarios that the fans are suggesting are outright ridiculous… Come on - this is a small-market basketball team that’s well into the luxury-tax land. Another overhaul in the offseason, maybe, but I just don’t see any major trades happening - unless the Spurs decide to trade Manu, although I’m doubtful whether they can get anyone that’s worth it.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Mediocrity, thy name is Spurs Basketball right now.
Is it too late to call the RJ trade a bust?
Maybe we could move him for a different wing and a solid defender.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yklhwpd
January 26th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
If we win the remaining three home games (Hawks, Grizzlies, Nuggets), and come back from the rodeo trip with a winning record (i.e. 5-3, I think we can beat Kings, Clippers, Pacers, 76ers, and Pistons) would that give us enough momentum/confidence to finish the season strong?
Trying to be optimistic, which was hard after watching last nights game but I can’t give up with 39 games left..
All starts with the next three games - all are pretty big in my opinion.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I came away from last night’s game with a few quick points.
-We must keep Manu- he kept us in that game for a stretch and made play after play (took 2 charges, 3 ball)
-George Hill is going to be a stud, if you watched last night you saw as I did how well he is developing
-Chicago shot lights out and we played a horrible game.
Things don’t look good at all for us right now, but lets keep it together..Only way this team is going to make a run is if we stand behind them.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
I think the season is at a fork: either we try to make a big deal in the next weeks (and it would be really hard, since no one is going to give away a perennial all star and an average guard for an insane contract and 3M of cap relief at the end of the season) or we look to swap players (all expiring contracts -other than Manu-, McDyess, Hairston) for better players/draft picks to be used in other trades, shut down TP and TD for an extended period and basically tank until the end of the season, hoping that next year, with a revamped roster (with two/three good players) and a better integrated core of TD, Manu, TP, RJ, Blair and Hill
we can be real contender on maybe Tim’s last year.
Needless to say, the second option is sinisterly resemblant to this year warplan and that’s why I am for the first option.
We need to find a way to add a good big, possibly with range, and something on the perimeter (a stopper or a shooter).
Bargnani and Calderon from Toronto, if we can find a package they like.
Lee, Jared Jeffries and picks from NY, packing basically all the expirings we have.
Troy Murphy and Luther Head from Indiana.
Gortat and Bass from Orlando, since the two combined for 13 MPG in the last 5, if SVG likes McDyess.
Gerald Wallace and Nazr from Charlotte, if their owner really wants to sell and cut costs.
There are a number of deals potentially available, it remains to be seen if such deals would allow San Antonio to make a big step forward or not.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Yes it is that time of the season and since I’m in such a bad mood after watching loses in winnable games, I’ve decided to play Monday Morning Quarterback.
In the offseason the Spurs traded for Richard Jefferson in a salary dump move by the Bucks and used their MLE on Antonio Mcdyess.
What if the Spurs had gone a different route? And I’m not throwing Stephen Jackson into the mix b/c his turmoil relationship with the Warriors didnt become known until very late in the offseason.
What I’m wondering is, what if the Spurs had gambled on Zach Randolph who was also traded this past offseason in a salary dump and made an attempt to sign Trevor Ariza with our MLE. Our offer that we sent to the Bucks would have def trumped what the Clippers ended up getting for Randolph due to the immediate money saved by waiving Oberto and Bowen. The main question in this scenario is would Ariza have signed with us instead of the Rockets if we both put forth the exact same offer?
Even if we didn’t land Ariza, other options that changed teams over the summer include Rasual Butler, Anthony Parker, Matt Barnes, etc.
What does everyone think?
January 26th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
On paper, this team is astronomically better than last year’s roster which won its division hurt and got the 2 seed with 54 wins.
To get 54 wins, we need to finish 29-10 in our last 39 games.
Highlights of our last 30 Games:
-8 Game Rodeo Road Trip
-2 games against ATL, CLE, and ORL each
-@ BOS
-2 @ LAL’s and 1 home LAL
-too many good west opponents to really list
-15 of the games are against teams that have beaten us once this season already
-9 more back to backs
-15 Home vs 24 Away including the next 3 at home
This could get ugly or impressive very fast. After the last three games, I’m leaning towards ugly and it’s killing me.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@Clay I definitely think Randolph and Ariza would have made this team a juggernaught. Ariza would have brought the defense (a cheaper and younger version of Tayshaun Prince) and Randolph would have brought the post presence and scoring.
I like where your thinking is on Randolph because I believe we need another post presence to help Tim inside. People have been ranting against small ball, but then suggesting trades for wing players. Doesn’t make sense to me. This season appears to be a lost cause so I suggest we begin to look for young talent to build on. I think we should go after Al Jefferson and maybe a decent point guard who can fascilitate more than score, but that’s just me.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Amidst the gnashing of teeth… the trails of tears, the praying for rain, the truth strikes me like a Nolan Ryan fastball. This team, the Spurs system, is built for a title run next year… the second year of a cast, not this first one. Too many changes - additions, subtractions, personalities - learning curves and chemistry experiments… the talent is here, but we have to “know” where each other is going to be in sets and broken plays, where someone is going to go without thinking about it. We need the struggle, the test that only comes from the fire - from the challenge of disappoinment to a winner’s pride. We need this adversity.
I’m not saying it is impossible the time, the ‘gel’ if you want to call it that, won’t come before the playoffs - but we might be better served with a mediocre season that causes TD to stand up in the locker room and get angry… yes ANGRY… at himself and the team. The catalyst that would carry this group to put everything aside but redemption next season. Selflessness, commitment and time is what the best Spurs teams are made of. A few of those that have epiomized these attributes have been the Admiral, Sean Elliott, Bowen, Duncan, Manu and TP.
We need the test, we need health, we need righteous anger.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
@Hobson13, yeah a Timmy and Zach Randolph combo would be devastating on the offensive end and while Randolph isn’t a great defender he is a better than average rebounder.
And then on the perimeter, a rotation of Tony, Manu, Hill, Mason and either Trevor Ariza/Anthony Parker would work out extremely well in my opinion.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
I mentioned a Baron for TP trade a few days ago here and I think it makes some sense. The problem is all the years still owed to Baron. I do think he’s more of a Spurs type defender than people think. I also believe with Hill backing him up, the Spurs could be preventive with regards to injuries and too many minutes.
On the negative side, he shoots a very low percentage and although a better passer and defender than TP, he is older - with three years left on his deal after this season. Would the Clippers have to be willing to take back RJ and his two years?
I also think it’s the only way to get Camby. You may have add some players here or there, but there is a very doable deal there. But is it wise?
I really believe the Spurs have a long term plan and their goals for this season with RJ, Blair and McDyess - plus their patience is being tested.
Being spurned by Kidd all those years ago, in what was a great offer and situation for him, made them believe that getting free agents here would be difficult. So they went the trade route with RJ and it just hasn’t worked. The FO is at a crossroads and any moves from here on out will have a major effect on the future of this team. I hope they choose wisely.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
All the spurs need is a center. That’s all they have ever needed for the past 7 years since Robinson retired. Mohammad, Elson, Oberto, Rasho, Horry and whatever other center did good for spurs. Just need that and everything is good.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Quick fact: ian mahinmi’s PER is better than tony parker’s and manu ginobili’s. it’s only because he only played one game though against the nets. anyways, i believe that after the trade deadline, if i. mahinmi isn’t traded, then he might get a pickup on minutes. He hasnt played good minutes because the spurs dont want ian to seem vulnerable against really good teams, even though he might not be vulnerable, but it can be a possibility.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I don’t think a trade would help. Look at how much trouble all the new people have had picking up the system. Bringing in someone new at this point would only make this problem worse.
Also, why the hell aren’t Ratliff and Mahinmi playing? They can’t be any worse than the crap that’s out there right now. The Spurs have become a disgrace. At least teams like the Timberwolves and Nets have excuses for being horrible. The Spurs have no such excuses. No more of this “it’s early/the new players need time/wait for the Rodeo trip” garbage.
January 26th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Hey Pop, I hear Nick van Excel is available to come out of retirement.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I think we should stay the course. We got a solid group, just kinda figuring out what the hell their doin. I mean, they seem confused to me. They aint executing well at all. We start games good but then blow it in the 3rd or 4th. We need to get some fire under or butts and play like we mean it. I think things are still gonna play out ok. But Pop, play some bigs. You really resting them that much for playoffs. We hope you have a master plan.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Have to try and work out good trades. If the deal is there, take it and hope for results this year.
IMO, the Spurs need to win the SW division. They need some home court and hopefully can use the first round to get everything in order. Yeah, they had it last year vs. Dallas but if they are healthy, we can win the first round.
Pop is a good enough coach to win 4 out of 7. A few years back, Phoenix rocked SA during the season but the Spurs pulled off 4 wins when it mattered.
Get Parker some rest. Forget the road trip if it doesn’t turn out pretty but the Spurs need him, and the rest of the team, at full (-ish) capacity. Duncan is staying healthy due to resting games, do the same with Parker.
Ginobili is not scoring as well as he should, less than 40% from a 45% career.
Spurs need a shooter. Every championship Spurs team has one go-to-guy draining 3’s. Mason, Bonner, Ginobili, anyone, make the shot.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yjjl7xu
this fixes our problems, move theo instead of ian, but w/e. its all good now.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
I think it all boils down to something McDyess said earlier in the season, which was that the spurs system is the hardest he has ever tried to learn, and pop has cut the playbook in half this year. We have no clue how difficult the game is yet we scorn failure, we question their effort and bad mouth their coaching. I stand behind my team thru the good and bad. Always have always will.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
It looks like everyone is finally starting to come around regarding RJ. Now, please go back to the offseason posts, when i was telling you guys how bad he really was only to be flamed over and over. Sorry, but what good is a blog message board if you can’t say “i told you so?”
What to do now? You can’t really move RJ, unless you want to take a worse contract for a longer period. Because moving RJ you would need to package something of value with him, since he is not worth ANYWHERE in the range of his contract. If you want to move RJ, you would probably have to move a quality player with him just to get another team to take the bite.
The Spurs are already over the luxury tax cap, and so there is not much the FO will be willing to do. Other than to call it a season and attempt to cut salary.
What the Spurs need for the future is an athletic big man. Anthony Wrandolph comes to mind. If the Spurs could find a way to score him, you guys would be in much better shape. The Warriors were looking to get rid of him a while ago, and now that he has a severe ankle sprain, you may be able to package some things together for him.
If the Spurs were able to get Wrandolph and keep the pieces they have, then there is a chance. But with the current team, there is absolutely NO CHANCE that they could take on the Lakers or the Nuggets in a 7 game series. Absolutely ZERO chance.
What i find so ridiculously puzzling is the Spurs front office. It was so obvious that RJ was a huge mistake. Why did they trade for him? What were they thinking? A usually GREAT front office makes a horrible mistake. I guess no one is perfect.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
ok check it out:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yfv39mg
tony and dice to toronto, finley and bonner to new orleans, rj to cleveland = WE GET BOSH, PAUL, AND LEBRON!!!
…
gtfo people. we’re not going to be on the gift end of a major trade. hell, we probably won’t make a move at all, unless it’s for a big man (which no one would give up at this point). quit making stupid trade scenarios and live with the fact that we’re a mediocre team with the potential to be great. if you can believe in our management and players to get the job done, then you’ll sleep easier. if not, then feel free to pull your hair out.
i’m a bit tired of defending the approach the spurs have taken, but i agree that it definitely hasn’t borne fruit yet. i still think it’s not as bad as everyone (save tyler) makes it out to be, but we need to see these players hitting their shots and getting up into their man. we need to accept that our preseason expectations were a little overzealous, and that though at worst we’ll be a 1st round exit, we still have the personnel to contend for a ring (given health and cohesion, two big ifs).
January 26th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Anyone have more info on this Stoudemire rumor?
January 27th, 2010 at 1:27 am
Yes, I have.
Seems like he’s an head case egomaniac with surgically repaired knees and one hit away from becoming partially blind who couldn’t guard a pick and roll executed by Shaq as the ball handler and Big Z as the screener.
Oh, btw, he’s up for a new contract this next summer and he wants to be paid north of 18,000,000 USD for 5 years.
Only rumors anyway.
))
January 27th, 2010 at 2:41 am
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
Spurs get Amare
Suns get Richard Jefferson, Dejuan Blair, and Ian Manihimi
This deal works in my opinion on all levels! We would be selling high on Blair, bailed out of the RJ trade and get to try out Amare for the rest of the season. In the offseason we could either look to resign him or salary dump Mcdyess and then option #1 Chris Bosh, #2 Joe Johnson, roll the dice in the draft and then bring Splitter over.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:55 am
Amare Stoudemire would make Matt Bonner look like Gary Payton…
January 27th, 2010 at 6:03 am
Try this trade: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
The Spurs give up Tony and RMJ (who Pop doesn’t play anyhow) for Al Jefferson and Ramon Sessions. The Spurs get Duncan some help in the form of a 20/10 guy plus another young PG who may be more of a distributor than Tony. Spurs also get younger which makes this trade more of a long term deal instead of a win-it-all-now approach. The T-Wolves get an allstar pg (when he’s healthy) and some cap relief next year.
@Cory, that’s not too bad of a trade, but I wouldn’t want Amare long term. He has way too many health issues plus he doesn’t play any defense. Amare is only concerned about Amare. The best thing would be for him to walk and let us TRY to get a big name this summer. I don’t think Phoenix would go for this because RJ and Jason Richardson are virtually the same player. Even have the same damn initials except reversed!
January 27th, 2010 at 6:47 am
Mahinmi and Blair would thrive in the Suns system with all the easy set-ups by Nash. The bigger issue with Amare is that he has a player option, and although he’s saying one thing, there is no certainty that he would leave - so we’d be stuck with him for another season (unless they can trade him, he would be a valuable chip.)
He would only provide a big body and instant offense - he can be well hid with a sound team defense, but we don’t even have that going this year. I’ve rooted against so much over the years, I don’t know how I would deal with him being a Spur. It depends on who we would have to give up I suppose.
What if Troy Murphy is available? I’ve heard he is. T.J. Ford needs a change of scenery and is an expiring contract.
I believe the Spurs have to target those kind of teams as trade partners - the ones that want to shed salaries and have some interesting (and realistically available) pieces: Washington, New Jersey, Toronto, Philly, Golden State, the Knicks and Indiana.
Here’s one last idea: how about leasing out Manu for half a season with the classic wink-wink deal that would bring him back in the off-season. If the Spurs feel they are not going to go far it would make sense to ship him out and really try to persuade him to return.
It’s happened before so don’t scoff at the idea. It would be risky sure, but it might help bring in some fresh faces. I think Orlando, Boston or Miami (for salary purposes) could be targets and give up some young players in return. Just a thought.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Amare rumor: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-stoudemirespurs012610&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
January 27th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Trade Jefferson and Mahinmi for Amare. I think that is a good trade for both teams, so long as Amare signs an extension. (The Suns probably would want Mahinmi to do the same…)
It’s actually a little scary to picture Jefferson and Mahinmi running with Nash, they are perfect for that kind of system…
January 27th, 2010 at 7:30 am
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yjoaxjo
Trade Jefferson and Mahinmi for Amare. I think that is a good trade for both teams, so long as Amare signs an extension. (The Suns probably would want Mahinmi to do the same…)
It’s actually a little scary to picture Jefferson and Mahinmi running with Nash, they are perfect for that kind of system…
January 27th, 2010 at 10:31 am
All the Spurs need is a bid dude in the middle. THey don’t even have to be great. They just need to take up space.
They should trade for …wait a minute…THEY”VE GOT TWO BIGS! Ratliff and IAN.
GIVE EM SOME PLAYING TIME POP.
Imagine if they were a part of the rotation. WHO knows how they SPURS would look right now???
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