48 Minutes of Hell Mailbag: New Year, New Questions
The hellish December of 2014 ended in fireworks, and the Spurs kicked off 2015 on a high note. So it’s a good time reassess things, I’d say. Let’s mailbag it, shall we?
From Joe Manganiello:
With the way Patty played last season, there’s a ton of anticipation for what he’ll do once he gets his legs back in 2015. And with the current injury bug in San Antonio, perhaps there will be enough PT to float to Mills immediately. But let’s suppose Tony Parker is mostly healthy over the final months of the regular season. With the way Cory Joseph is playing, how many minutes can Pop expect to give both Joseph and Mills on a night-by-night basis? Follow up question: Do we think Joseph and Mills can share court together in bench units?
I think you hit on it with your final question. Cory Joseph has played well enough to earn consistent playing time, even when Tony returns to the lineup. I think we’ll see it in a couple of different capacities, too. The Spurs will be able to play Parker fewer minutes, and when he is on the floor regularly, Joseph has shown the ability to play alongside Patty in those bench units. But with the depth on this team, it’s tough to slot someone in without affecting the rotation. My guess: Once everyone is healthy, Pop will develop a situational rotation between Belinelli and Joseph, depending on whether he needs shooting (Marco) or defense (definitely not Marco).
From Jeffery Simmons:
1) Looking to the future, is there any big name free agent coming up next year that you’d be willing to take if it costs the Spurs Danny Green?
2) Everybody seems to be stressing about the Spurs’ recent struggles, dropping the team to No. 7 in the West standings. Presently, OKC is still well behind the Spurs with a few more head-to-head meetings left on the schedule. Is there any other team in the West that you feel the Spurs would need HCA against to advance?
1) The obvious selection here would be Marc Gasol, but Danny is making the gap between the two players smaller by the game. In a vacuum, the younger Gasol brother is the player you want — a legit, All-World center who impacts nearly every facet of the game. But he’s going to be very difficult attain, both because of his price tag and because Memphis does have the homecourt advantage to re-sign him. That doesn’t mean Green will be cheap, though. He continues to drive up the price for his services, and these types of “3 and D” guys have become much more than simple role players. Also, considering what the Spurs’ roster looks like going forward, even if Duncan hangs ’em up, Green might be the better fit with Tiago still under contract. He’s become such a crucial part of San Antonio’s system. I’d bet they’re going to make him one of their top options right behind Kawhi and before any free agents. Remember, it’s a lot easier to keep players around than it is to convince players to come join in, and we’ve already seen the sort of impact Green can have on a game when he gets hot.
(Side note: While the center position is still likely the most valuable position on the floor, guards that can bend the defense’s game plan with their shooting AND individually alter the outcome of plays on the defensive end are super, super important. Green is not only an elite shooter, but he’s the best rim-defending guard in basketball right now. Well, this side of K.J. McDaniels.)
2) I don’t think the Spurs NEED home-court advantage, per se, but Oklahoma City is the one team you point to and think, “Man, I’m not sure I can pick San Antonio here.” There’s a long way to go, and given the two teams’ currently fluid positions in the standings, it’s far too soon to take a guess at how things will pan out. But, while starting a series on the road against basically any top Western Conference team would be really difficult (and that’s also considering the Spurs are right by that time), it’s the Thunder that presents the biggest problem. For sure.
From Brandon Bridger (@minipont):
Will the Spurs hit the gas by February?
Well, if there’s ever a time to do it, it’ll be between now and then, especially if Leonard and Parker are back in the near future. When the 76ers were in town early in the season, Brett Brown let the media in on a little state secret: The Spurs like to target late-January, early February as their time to make a run, as most teams’ players are starting to make All-Star weekend plans. And when I say “secret,” I’m obviously kidding a little. Maybe they don’t say it out loud, but anyone who pays attention to this team knows this is the time of year where the cylinders to fire.
From Andrew Cheetham (Australia):
1) With the way Danny Green has played so far this year, is there a possibility that Spurs will not be able to re-sign both Leonard and Green this off season? And is Spurs were to sign Leonard at the max or close to, what so you think Green market value would be?
2) If Spurs were to look at making a trade, which Spur do you think is traded? And who would the front office be targeting?
3) Do you think Spurs fans are spoiled? I mean we had a bad December for the first time in 20 years, without our two best players, and people are screaming the sky is falling. I mean, what is gonna happen when we are in a full rebuild after *gulp* Duncan and Ginobili are gone?
4) If Parker and Leonard come back fully healthy in the next week and Spurs remain healthy rest of the season, do you think Spurs are still the team to beat in the West and can we repeat as champions without homecourt advantage?
1) I think there’s a possibility, but I’d honestly be surprised. As I mentioned earlier, Green is most definitely driving up his value, but the Spurs have done a tremendous job piecing this roster together while maintaining a manageable payroll overall. And as the impending television deal projects to blow the roof off the salary cap, they should look really good going forward if they continue to spend wisely. Danny is looking like an eight-figure player these days, though, which isn’t making that situation any easier. If the Spurs do indeed bring everybody back, we’re talking about a Kawhi-Green-Parker trio possibly commanding over $45 million annually as a group, give or take a few dollars. Wow.
2) Spurs-related trade questions are always nearly impossible to answer. They’re so tightknit, and nobody is obviously disgruntled, so you can’t really identify a player San Antonio would be looking to trade. I can’t even see them shopping one of their three point guards, given how well Joseph has played in Parker’s absence. And in terms of a potential target, your guess is just as good as mine. My money’s on the trade deadline coming and going without a peep, unless someone wants Austin Daye…
3) Oh, god, yes. But who cares? Can’t be mad at ’em. That’s like being angry at an only child who’s been given nothing but good things for the first 18 years of life. For what it’s worth, I’ve felt like Spurs fans have been more patient this season (a little less so recently, but still), like the championship bought them a little time. Rightfully so, I might add. But, man, fans in San Antonio were rabid from the get-go last year after the crushing Finals loss. And again, who can blame them for that?
Thinking about the Spurs without Duncan or Ginobili in the lineup is weird. It’s difficult to picture a situation like that — one that’s been mostly unchanged for the majority of my life — going through a major overhaul. Sure, there are a lot of pieces in place now that will remain, but there’s no replacing those two guys. It’s going to be strange. But, on the bright side, I don’t think we’re talking about a total rebuild. I’ve been saying it for years: When those two leave, I believe the product on the floor will be much closer to a rebuild than a reload.
4) Parker and Leonard being healthy will go a long way in increasing the Spurs’ chances at a repeat, but it’s going to take more than that. They were playing at a ridiculously high level during the playoffs last season, and given how good the Western Conference is, they’re going to have to get back to that point — close to it, at least — to be called the favorites. If they are able to crank it back up to that notch, they can beat any team in the NBA, regardless of home court. But, that’s a big if.
