Friday, January 29th, 2010...8:53 am
Game Preview: Spurs vs. Grizzlies
In a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the spotlight might not glow very bright George Hill, but for a night at least, it’s yours-even if it is only on Fox Sports Southwest.
An outstanding backup point guard? Sure. A quality shooting guard? Check. But the lead guard for the entire night? He’s done it before but it will be interesting to see how far he has come given the majority of the minutes at point guard.
Hill is certainly a different type of point guard. He lacks Tony Parker’s scoring chops and creative ball handling, leading to fewer shot attempts and forays to the basket. This often leads fans to confuse Hill as a pass-first, pure point guard.
In previous descriptions of Hill’s game, I’ve mentioned that Hill has lacked that elusiveness that the game’s best creators have. Changes of directions and speeds. A lot of his drives are in straight lines, taking advantage of driving lanes presented to him as opposed to creating them himself. For this reason, I wonder if Keith Bogans doesn’t cede his starting spot to Manu Ginobili or Roger Mason to take some of the playmaking pressure off Hill.
I will say that slowly, Hill has added more creativity to his game and given a chance to run the offense more, it will be interesting to see how the game plays out.
Joining him in the starting lineup will presumably be Antonio McDyess, whose 17 points against Atlanta gives hope that the Spurs will have a viable big frontline down the stretch of games. That will be needed tonight against the Grizzlies and their new (never thought I’d write this) All-Star forward Zach Randolph.
Essentially trading Pau Gasol for Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol is still among the questionable trades in the recent NBA history, but Randolph’s surprising play this season has at least given Grizzlies general manager a leg to stand on.
Hopefully Hill can hold down the fort until Tony Parker can do the same.
52 Comments
January 29th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Memphis is a quality team, with a formidable starting 5. Great win if we can get it.
I love the idea of Hill starting. Although he is not nearly as creative as Parker, he also gives up the ball a lot sooner (for the reasons mentioned in the article), so even though he’s not a pass first point guard, it seems to me that there is more ball movement when he is in the game. Translation? More touches for Jefferson.
TP’s injury can be the perfect opportunity for Jefferson to step up and get more involved in the offense.
If the Spurs are able to function without Parker (say go .600), it would be HUGE to be able to bring Parker off the bench to lead our second team. More rest for his feet, gets to look for his shot all he wants and Jefferson gets more involved in the starting offense.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:42 am
I don’t know anyone who has thought of G Hill as a pass first, pure point guard.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Am I confused?
January 29th, 2010 at 9:45 am
My line of thought is in agreement with Beat Counselor. I expect more ball movement and more equal shot and assist distribution, which is when this team has always been at their best. I also expect more half court play which, if the unforced turnovers are elimated, will help on the defensive end. If that means RJ creating for himself, more postups for TD, Blair and perhaps Ian, good.
I would think that Pop will still bring Manu off the bench. It’s important to keep his minutes at no more than 30 and utilize his energy and playmaking ability off the bench, where he would play more with Blair.
As for Randolph being an All-Star, who would’ve thunk it?
January 29th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Between he and Josh Smith, did the NBA have some sort of tutoring session for talented yet clueless forwards?
January 29th, 2010 at 9:56 am
“Essentially trading Pau Gasol for Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol is still among the questionable trades in the recent NBA history”
Are you serious? How can you call that a questionable trade? The Grizzlies traded an All Star for an All Star and a soon-to-be All Star. Zach Randolph is the anti-Pau. He is tough, clutch, hard working, and stands up for his teammates. There is not one Grizzlies fan who would trade ZBo for Pau straight up now.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Leave GHill at SG and start Manu at PG. Manu has twice as many assists per game as GHill and leads the team in steals. The Spurs are going to need Manu’s playmaking and perimeter defense with Mayo and Gay roaming the court. I’m hoping that McDyess/Ratliff/Mahimni can bring some length and offset Gasol and Randolph. Those guys killed us last time. Go Spurs!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@Grizz Fan
You can’t tell me you weren’t pissed when the trade went down. At the time it was the worst skill for skill trade ever. Luckily your team was able to draft nicely (Gasol Jr) and get extremely lucky with Randolph, who has been an unusually selfish player since his days in Portland. But the bigger picture is that Pau went to a contender for pennies from a basement team. It was a shift of power, making the Lakers the best team in the league. They almost won the title Pau’s first year, won it his second, and are the favorites to win again.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Let’s remember that it took Tony several years and a Jason Kidd signing threat in order for him to transform into the All-Star he is today. Hill is improving immensely thanks to his own hard work and the “My Favorite Player” designation from the head coach. Tonight will be a good mid-term test for Hill. I’m sure he’ll pass easy enough.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:31 am
A good portion of the time that Hill is at the point, all he really does is bring the ball past half-court and then hand it to Manu to actually orchestrate the play. So, to that extent, it’s somewhat misleading to put too much stock in the whole point guard deal. On another note, in our last game with Memphis the Spurs (mainly DeJuan) were doing quite nicely neutralizing Randolph. He was frustrated and ineffective. It was when Pop went to small ball that he went off. Let’s hope Pop learned from that game.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:40 am
if the spurs lose… they will (gulp) have the same record as the Grizz. yyyikes.
also, George Hill is my favorite player in the game. can’t wait for him to see some limelight tonight.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I dont know what the author is talking about. Please list Hill’s record as a starter. It speaks for itslelf. Also get a clue about scoring, TP is better at finishing (maybe because he is quicker), but Tony cant shoot FTs or a 3pointer. Tony shoots 27% behind the arc, and Hill is in the upper 30s. Tony also turns the ball over more and Jefferson isnt nearly as effective with TP running the show. Dont even get me started on the Defense.
Classic line that makes me wonder what the author is talking about. Hill isnt a pass first PG, but he doesnt take as many shots as TP. hmmmm?
Glad you get paid for this.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
1st off, I like George Hill and I hope he does well tonite and the rest of the year. That being said, the meme “George Hill is Pop’s favorite player” needs to stop. Now.
In the original item, during pre-season the reporter asked Pop something about how the team was coming together and what the fans could look forward to. I’m sure there are 1 or 2 folks here that can tell you first hand how much Pop “enjoys” answering these types of questions. Anyway, Pop answered (paraphrase) “George Hill is my favorite player because he is the only one young enough to laugh at my jokes”. This was just reported as: Hill is Pop’s favorite player.
It is a joke Pop played on the reporter (and some fans due to the truncated quote) because:
a) Pop meant that most of the other players have been around long enough to hear his jokes many times over.
b)Pop’s well known rep to dislike/bear down on youngsters
Now, let’s go beat the Grizz, and watch G-Hill get a triple double!
January 29th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
@ VP of Common Sense-read the comment from Trade TP. You now know who I was referring to when I said someone who thinks of George Hill as a pass-first, pure point guard.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
@ ThatBigGuy (sounds funny ha)
Nobody was mad about trading Pau. It was whom traded him for, but management kept saying how the trade was for the players but the cap relief, which eventually led to Z bo. Obviously we wouldve preferred to trade to the East but Im sure they would have if they could have. Btw, the lakers drafted Marc, who we insisted would be included in the trade
January 29th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
The idea that the Spurs would be better off getting rid of TP and inserting Hill into the starting PG spot is questionable (to put it lightly). Do you honestly think Hill can be a starting PG on an NBA championship team? Given his cieling as a player, my money is on Hill being a quality, dependable role player for a championship caliber team.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Im confused, and maybe it was because I was a point guard. But you either work one of two ways, look to create for your teammates, or create for yourself.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
We obviously know that TP cant be the centerpiece for a ring. We know that he’s not a good creator, and he doesnt defend well. He cant shoot from the outside. The longer we wait, the slower he gets, the less he will give for us in return. Was last playoffs so far away?
January 29th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Trade TP - You’re assuming Hill is a PG, which from what I’ve seen, is definitely not a certainty. I would also argue that in fact, George Hill is not a creator at all. Most of his scores come off penetration (either corner 3’s or driving lanes created by others’ - what Jesse meant by straight line drives) and defense.
I think that if George Hill was the starting PG for the Spurs, you would be slightly better defensively, but drastically worse offensively. You would be taking away a key playmaker and leaving only two (Duncan & Ginobili).
January 29th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@ Trade TP - how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks can you say that Tony isn’t a good creator? He’s known throughout the league as being one of the best creators and finishers in the lane. He has a reliable 18-20 foot jump shot, and he rarely takes 3’s… it doesn’t make sense to take a 3 when you can just as easily drive and create havoc in the lane. How quickly we forget the 2007 NBA Finals where he was the MVP for an NBA champion.
What are you people smoking? Is it because he’s French? This anti-Tony sentiment boggles my mind.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Brandon, the 2007 finals are light years in the past. The league and Tony have changed. People have said (and I absolutely agree) that last year was Tony’s high water mark year. He was as good as he will get. Once he loses his speed, and he will in 2-3 years, he will not be the same player. In the meantime, the rest of league (since 2007) has gotten much better. In addition, Tony seems to be pulling a Manu in the fact that he refuses to take any time off during the summer. If anyone doesn’t believe this plantar fascitis (spelling?) wasn’t caused by his playing and subsequent injury over the summer, then you need to have your head examined.
The Spurs have learned their lesson the hard way that international players are a very sharp two edged sword. They can be great impact players in the NBA, but have divided loyalties that end up hurting not their respective national teams as much as their NBA teams who pay their salary. I, for one, would have no problem trading Tony as long as the trade is right. As currently configured, the Spurs could use less of a scoring PG and more of a distributing PG. I believe this team has the firepower to be very effective without Tony in the lineup. If Hill and Pop can get Jefferson, Blair, etc. more involved, that will make up for Tony being out. We will soon see if this hypothesis is true since Parker will be out for the next few games if not more. If it is true, Tony may very find himself at the end of a number of trade rumors.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@ Tyler
True, Hill is not a playmaking creative PG, but the Spurs offense (at least the half-court one we all remember and love) doesn’t necessarily need a PG of this ilk because our system thrives on multiple passes to find the open man. Hill is just more likely to make that first pass (to initiate those other passes )instead of going for a difficult layup or a 17 foot jumper like TP.
@ Brandon
TP is a good creator for himself. He’s not a good creator for his teammates. Although it should be said that he is good at breaking down the defense.
————————————————————-
As for getting rid of TP, I’m not advocating that (at least not in this thread). By moving him to the bench, I don’t necessarily mean that his playing time should be drastically reduced. I just mean that it makes sense for him to be on the floor when there are less scoring options out there with him. He would work best with knockdown perimeter players and a big that can spread the floor (Mason, Finley and Bonner).
God, where’s the defense? Bowen and Horry were godsends.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
One other point - There are some posters on this blog that think we need TP to be a true, pass first PG to succeed (have you seen the banners by chance?). I think this is bogus, simply because we already have that player in Tim Duncan. He might not play the position of PG, but he fulfills all the duties - he’s a creator/facilitator at times, scorer at others. He also many times gets guys in the right sets, ordering people to go here or there. He, not any other PG we throw out there tonight, makes our offense go.
Having said that, the idea that we somehow need to get rid of TP because he’s not a pass-first PG doesn’t stand up in my mind. We don’t need TP to be a true PG, we need him to do the things he’s best at, the things that helped the Spurs win those banners.
Now, whether he’ll be able to do continue to do those things is another debate. Injuries have definitely robbed him of some of his unique qualities this year.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Beat Counselor - you beat me to it. And I agree - the Spurs don’t necessarily need a pass-first PG.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Wow…just wow…
How many times do we have to have this conversation?
Tony Parker has Plantar Fasciitis, in case you hadn’t heard. He is playing with an injury. He is not 100%.
However do you remember when everyone was out last year, we had no Manu & no Tim, TP picked the team up on his shoulders and tore people apart.
Remember the 50 vs Minnesota? Remember the constant 20 & 10’s? Remember the endless procession of high speed collisions as he threw himself into impossible layups and circus like contortions right in the teeth of the Defence?
He is an All-Star PG. He has been the MVP of the finals and instrumental in bringing in a bundle of Hardware to Spurs central.
I love me some George Hill. Absolutely cannot get enough of his potential ans skill set. The idea though that he is better than TP right now is ridiculous.
To all those carrying on about international players, i suppose the guys who played for the USA at the international level and through world championship & Olympic campaigns don’t exist?
I suppose it’s a double edged sword that Lebron or Chris Bosh play for their country as well
No way should we be trading for Brook Lopez or Camello Anthony, they might play for their country…that would be a travesty…
The Poster above wrote
“People have said (and I absolutely agree) that last year was Tony’s high water mark year. He was as good as he will get. Once he loses his speed, and he will in 2-3 years, he will not be the same player.”
People will say the most amazing things, however that kind of conjecture is for sportscentre. And once he looses his speed in…two to three years…??
Once someone blows out both knees, or once someone breaks his arm, or once someone blah blah blah….
TP is an elite Point Guard, when he is fit and healthy he is as dangerous a scoring option as any other PG in the game outside of Chris Paul, he can get his and do it within the spurs system.
Why in the hell do we always think the grass is so much greener.
All the ifs that people use to push together an argument.
If this happens then that happens if Dejaun and George play to their full potential, if Dejauns Knees hold up, if RJ becomes the messiah, if Tims Hands turn into dinner plates and his retractable wings allow him to rest his weary hips…
Right now we have an All Star PG who most teams would kill for. He is covered in accolades from the highest levels of the game.
He is a proven product who half a year ago carried this franchise on his European back while all around him people fell over.
Enjoy it.
January 29th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I mentioned this in a previous thread regarding the international players, I’ll repeat myself here because I am at work and therefore have all the time in the world to talk…..
There is a much bigger picture at stake with regard to international play.
Guys like Tony & Manu are incredibly important in growing the game in their spheres of influence, they truly bring more people to a sport that outside of the states often struggles for relevance against global sports such as Football, Rugby, Cycling, Cricket etc etc etc.
They are products of national systems that are made up of real people striving and giving of themselves in a very altruistic manner, who work for the game, not just a league but the game of basketball. They owe their basketball ability not just to genetics but also to the organisations that spotted their talent and nurtured it for teams in the NBA like the Spurs to harvest.
Consider how important it was for Manu Ginobli to win an Olympic Gold medal. In soccer mad Argentina he and his countrymen dragged Basketball into the spotlight and made it a major player.
Then consider all those international players, growing stronger and more numerous, giving rise to more young kids playing the game, giving the NBA a more and more relevant talent pool to choose from.
Thats the true double edged sword. It is no coincidence that the level of foreign talent in the league has been on the rise in direct relation to how well international teams have faired on the world stage vs the USA.
I can tell you right now, as crazy as it sounds, but Luc Longly playing with the Bulls and winning titles there, hell just getting drafted by Minnesota, made healines and waves in Australia, and really helped to make basketball a relevant national sport.
There is a direct line from guys like Longley to guys like Andrew Bogut, from Andrew Gaze to Patty Mills etc etc.
The problem is and always has been guaranteed contracts. The NBA is almost unique in this regard. It’s an incredible thing and it’s not the fault of the players. You can’t blame Tony or Manu or Carmello Anthony or Jason Kidd for playing internationally.
These individuals all have an enormous respect for and pride in their countries and the people that helped them come into their full potential as basketballers. They play for that. I’m guessing you would too.
January 29th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Tp is not done, those who think he is must be Mavs fans…. I love Hill. great player and everything, real nice defensive energy…
but yes, I guess what we gonna do is manu handling alot more the ball…
one thing I notice when manu handle the ball alot : blair gets in fire… he’s a bit short, but let’s see some rolls
January 29th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I’m with Gary and I can’t imagine Pop wont do it any other way. I’m guessing George brings it up in the half court and Manu initiates the offence most of the time.
January 29th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
“People will say the most amazing things, however that kind of conjecture is for sportscentre. And once he looses his speed in…two to three years…??”
Bush, you certainly had a lot to say, but let me clear this up for you. When I said that Tony will probably slow down in 2-3 years, I didn’t pull a number out of my nose. To those who are a student of the game, it is common knowledge that guards generally slow down when they hit 30. In 2-3 years guess how old Tony will be. Here is a link to Tony’s career numbers. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/stats?playerId=1015
You can clearly see that his 2008-09 scoring and assists were by far the highest of his career. Please look at this and make a convincing argument that his numbers can improve on last year’s. When you do this, keep in mind that this team has added a great deal of firepower in the offseason and no longer has a great need for Tony to get 25 ppg.
In case you’ve been sleeping for the past 6 months, it’s clear that the offseason additions have fundamentally changed this team. It is no longer necessary as in the previous years for the “Big 3″ to each average 20-25 ppg in order for the Spurs to win and yet this is virtually all Tony can bring to the table. He is not a great shooter, he doesn’t generally set others up, and God knows his defense is subpar for his speed.
I have never said we should ABSOLUTELY trade Tony. I agree that he is a good PG injured and all, but some changes must happen in order for this team to compete on a championship level and moving Tony for a great deal shouldn’t be completely ruled simply because of Tony’s accomplishment in recent years.
January 29th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Hill was 11-1 as a starter last year as a rookie.
TP was non-existent last year in the playoffs. Sure he scored, but his TOs at crucial times, along with letting subs like JJ Barea TAKE OVER A SERIES were daggers.
TPs MVP performance can be highly debatable (should have went to Duncan).
You trade now, while you have him at his peak so that we can get something in return.
In addition if TP were an ELITE PG he would make the all star team.
Rose, Williams, Nash, Rondo, Paul, Billups, Kidd, Westbrook, Harris, are all PGs (no particular order) that are better than TP.
January 29th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
24 teams would trade their PG for Tony straight up without thinking twice. But the Spurs would be better off without him? Sheesh.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Fair enough Hobs you make a solid point on the slowdown. I’d hazard a guess that Tony could evolve further than he has but to my mind 3 years of his current ability is nothing to scoff at.
Sorry for wall of text times two also. Just you know..i was at work..
January 29th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Bush, I get wordy too. It’s cool. If Tony hadn’t gotten injured in the offseason, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I just wish this team would gell, but doubt if it will happen at this point without a shakeup.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
So what if Tony’s speed slips a bit in the coming few years (which it most certainly will)?… had MJs speed slipped some when he was winning his 2nd consecutive string of 3 titles? Is Kobe a step or two slower than when he first entered the league? Of course. Tony Parker is a proven winner -he will adapt his game just as those other two have. And that is by posting up smaller guards and taking advantage!!
SO, I’d look for Pop to fan the flames of Tony’s new fire when the Spurs next travel to Washington to face the Wizards -and TP gets his first chance to butter his new bread while staring down Earl the-lil-pearl Boykins. VIVA LA FRANCE!
January 29th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
*VIVE
January 29th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Hallelujah Bushka…. keep posting
January 29th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
the grizzlies trade for zach randolph and even more importantly marc gasol proved to be a great move.
you can’t shrug at the grizzlies anymore and they are fun to watch. except against the spurs of course.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
TradeTP - A.K.A.: BigTomTitansFan ; SacFool;
Relax, “big tom”… you’re gonna have another stroke.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Jason kidd comes to mind when you talk about parker losing his speed. early on in Kidd’s career he couldn’t hit the three but he didn’t need to he had the 18 ft jumper and he forced teams into bad situations and hit open players. As he aged his game evolved and now he’s a little slower he shoots more threes and plays no D. Oh and he leads his team in 3 point percentage. I don’t blame you young cat’s for not seeing this it was probably before your time. I think as parker slows down his game will evolve he will pass a little more and start shooting the three a little more.
January 30th, 2010 at 12:33 am
You’re right Bigtee34, people thought Kidd was done when the Mavs traded for him, now he’s the facilitator on one of the better teams in the league.
That’s one thing people don’t seem to realize, when a great player gets older and “slows down”, they are still an average or better player. Kidd, for example, isn’t what he used to be, but he’s still a good point guard.
Same thing with Timmy. When his contract runs out in a few years people seem to think he’ll retire because he’ll be too old? Come on now, he’ll be 35? How old is Shaq and he’s still playing, plus he’s out of shape.
If you know how to play the game, you can continue playing even after your athleticism has faded away.
Btw I’d trade Tony, or Manu, or anyone outside of Timmy if the right trade comes along. It hurts to lose players, but sometimes it has to be done.
January 30th, 2010 at 1:55 am
Trade TP thinks he knows it all. That comment I’m a Point Guard tells me that. Reading what he had to say tells me he is clueless. Being an AllStar is a popularity contest and not always a good measuring stick. Tony carried the team last year and after a season of driving hard to the basket your body gets worn down. I know lets let Trade TP play the point for the Spurs. I for one could use a good laugh.
January 30th, 2010 at 4:58 am
Being an all star is a popularity contest, but being a reserve is a coaches choice.
Please list the teams that would swap PG for PG. HILARIOUS.
not as good- Great point. It would save some cap room to get a decent big man. Glad your response is “he knows it all” and then offer zero ideas of your own.
I dont think I have to post any more. Last nights game said it all.
You trade when your players are playing good, not when they play bad. Its a business…
January 30th, 2010 at 6:48 am
Good come back. I did make the point I wanted to make. You referred to TP not being an elite player becuse of not making the AllStars, but you just agreed with me that it was a popularity contest. Anyone who watched last year knows TP carried the team. I know the best time to trade a player is when he is playing good but you would be trading one of your core players. I do not believe you could get equal value. TP is one of the better Point Guards in this league (not this year) you saying he’s not, is your opinion. About last nights game, the Spurs have played well without Duncan in the past. Does that mean we don’t need Duncan? I’m not saying Hill can’t be effective. I am saying you can’t win a championship with him running the point not at this time anyway. As far as TP not being able to play with Jefferson that is on Jefferson. The Spurs need to win now the window is closing so trading TP would be a mistake
January 30th, 2010 at 7:03 am
I’ve seen a concentrated effort on Tony’s part to get his teammates envolved in the offense…But his body of work suggest that he loves shooting more than passing or defense. If anyone understands flow in the game of basketball, you know that watching your pg handle the ball 95% of the time and shooting 50% of the shots, the other guys (outside of Tim) are out of Rhythm because they dontknow when they’re getting the ball…As a shooter if you know that ball is coming there’s a higher chace for success.
TP can get his shot whenever wants, The sad thing is he just chooses to get it everytime.
January 30th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Ok folks.
We’re talking about TP? The guy with three rings? The guy who was the best player on a 54W team last year?
“He doesn’t pass, he doesn’t play D, he doesn’t shoot, he doesn’t score free throws”.
Come on.
Those who sell TP right now were probably those who were selling Duncan last year because “he’s old, his knees are cooked, he lost a step”, and so on.
Come on (again).
Stating TP has trade value is an interesting point for any discussion about the Spurs these days. But that ends here. Right before saying silly stuff. Like,
“Kidd, Westbrook, Harris, are all PGs (no particular order) that are better than TP”.
Ah ah. Great deal of comparison. Harris and TP. And Nowitzki better than Larry Bird, I presume?
January 30th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Anyone who was smart enough to analyze the Dallas series last year and not just look at points scored would see EXACTLY why TP cant carry the team. If he was an elite PG then why all the chemistry problems? If he was an elite PG then why cant he defend or hit a three.
Im laughing, and so are my coworkers, at the guy who said Hill wont win us a ring this year but TP would. Classic.
It doesnt matter how many rings you have. If that were the case then isnt Robert Horry WAAAAAY better than Tim Duncan?
I dont care about how many rings player A has won in the past. All I care about is how to WIN a ring this year.
Hill brings what TP doesnt. And trading TP for a front court player is what WE NEED to win.
If we make it to play LA they will stomp us.
January 30th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Bottom line is TP is not 100%. George Hill may do ok during the season but is not ready to carry a team in the playoffs. As for you laughing in your office I will have the last laugh
January 31st, 2010 at 12:59 am
Trade Tp stop making a fool of yourself. When I’m counting the rings, I’m speaking of what the player’s status was in the team when winning the title.
Duncan won 4 while beeing the main guy for all four.
TP won 3 while being on the top3 of the team two times.
Horry won more, but was a role player all along (brilliant role player).
Once again, you’re using poor arguments. Remember that all Spurs titles where won with a PG that “couldn’t defend nor make a three”. Pop’s system works with that. You can go watch Warriors games if you want PGs bombing threes.
In fact, at work, you’d probably better, well… work
January 31st, 2010 at 6:30 am
Actually Steve Nash does a pretty good job bombing threes and passing the ball.
TP was/is a direct reflection of Duncans play. If he (tony) were so good, then why did a sub outplay him last year in the playoffs. Im sure you will have a hard time coming up with that one…. But keep trying.
Your excuses are lame.
Keep living in the past in reference to the titles. Pops system doesnt fit the current players that we have now. If it did, we wouldnt have this discussion.
January 31st, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Teams trade point guard for point guard regularly.
Most trades these days are generally on the one side financially motivated on the other a search for the necessary talent.
i.e Kidd for Harris
January 31st, 2010 at 1:07 pm
…and steve Nash sure can play D.
I’m not trying to convince anyone TP is better than he is.
TP was something close to alone last year. That might explain an early exit (oh, that was hard to find btw).
I don’t live in the past, I just respect the past.
Now you can blame everything you can on an injured TP. Ranking Harris higher (4 wins?) if you’re happy with it.
“Pops system doesnt fit the current players that we have now”
And it did fit with, say, 2003, 2005 and 2007 rosters? Which had Parker. Good point you have.
But “you were a PG”, you know it all.
January 31st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
In closing this argument, and I hate to belittle our guys to prove a point but, look through the Denver box score. The shot distribution was the same. Hill had four assists and and four turnovers. Jefferson and Ginobili were wildly inefficient. And our defense was shredded by another opposing point guard.
So, either point guard is not the only problem or George Hill is not the answer yet. And we sure could have used Parker in that dry spell down the stretch.
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