Corporate Knowledge: February 16, 2012

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Since the beginning of the Gregg Popovich era, the San Antonio Spurs have valued experience and system above all else. They refer to this as “Corporate Knowledge.” At 48 Minutes of Hell we too value experience, information, and insight on all things Spurs and look forward to providing you with links and quick-hitting analysis for your daily dose of Corporate Knowledge.

  • ESPN’s Maurice Brooks lists Tony Parker at no. 7 on his MVP rankings. In a year of point guards, Parker is the third point guard listed among the top 10 MVP candidates, behind Chris Paul and Derrick Rose. This feels about right when considering the hierarchy of point guards right now.Parker is carrying a large burden right now as the team’s sole consistent creator until Manu Ginobili gets his legs back under him. Even on nights his statistical output is not up to his usual standards, his dribble penetration and leadership releases the pressure on the rest of the roster, allowing them to make plays against broken defenses.Parker is finally doing things many of his critics had called for, and yet, it’s gone largely unrecognized. Like Tim Duncan before him, albeit on a lesser scale, Parker is becoming consistent enough—dare I say-to be taken for granted.
  • Over at Grantland, in his fantastic rookie rankings, Sebastian Pruiti takes some time to focus on Kawhi Leonard’s post defense.Pruiti points out that Leonard has spent most of his minutes on the wings, with relatively few as a small ball power forward. While the post defensive statistics and rebound rates that Pruiti lists suggests Leonard would be an interesting weapon in this capacity, it is a lineup Popovich has been reluctant to use.

    Asked earlier in the season about Leonard’s versatility on the defensive end, Popovich stated his preference for getting him accustomed to his natural position first. While the rookies and young player have a physical advantage in this condensed season, the lack of practices and training camp hurts them the most. It makes sense to not overwhelm or try too many things with players like Leonard. But there is definitely more to tap into here.

  • Coach Dwayne Casey’s assessment of Tony Parker, via Doug Smith of the Toronto Star:

“He’s so slithery and so quick,” Casey said. “Now he’s gotten a little strength with it so he makes it tough for you to really get into him and guard him in those situations. And now he’s developed a jump shot so you have to honour that; he’s got the whole package.”

  • It’s a little late, but we had issues yesterday so hopefully this late catch is forgiven. Over at Hoop Speak, Zach Harper of DDL fame unleashed his poetic soul for his weekly power rankings. Here is his ode to the Spurs:I long for the days when you would just hold me.
    I find you as stylish and fancy as Manu Ginobili.
    The days without you could not have been darker.
    Please forgive me with the speed of one Tony Parker.
    I can’t go on without you; life’s just not fair.
    I’m down on my knees like my name is DeJuan Blair.
    The past is the past; we should no longer be bitter.
    We gel well together like the hair of Tiago Splitter.
    If you take me back now, our love will be rich.
    My sarcasm is meant to be playful, like Gregg Popovich.
  • Why it’s okay for Spurs fans to give into Linsanity (warning, this link is a bit of shameless self-promotion).

 

  • Len

    Leonard is a straightt up gamer. I hope he respects Pop because I’d hate to see the Spurs lose him down the road.

  • Kakashihatake105

    What do you all think of trading one of our guards(Neal, Green) for a big and then signing AI. I think that Allen Iverson would be willing to play ball this season and do what Pop tells him because all the reports say that he needs the money. I think that this would help the team and if it doesn’t work out then TJ Ford is coming back and they will still be better off with another big. I’m thinking someone like Kaman or one of the T-Wolves bigs.

  • Len

    I would lie down in traffic at one of the entrances to the AT&T on gameday if RC signed AI.

    AI has never, ever been a Spurs type player. He has been a me first guy his entire life and is the reason that he is broke at age 36 after earning approximately $150 Million dollars in basketball. Do you really thing AI would get along with Manu? Do you really want AI in the ear of Neal and Leonard? Do you really think AI would be coach-able or do what he’s told to do at practice?

    I would answer a resounding ‘No’ to all those questions.

  • JR

    I would rather try to woo Matt Geiger away from his management position at Target than ask Allen Iverson to come anywhere near the Spurs facilities.

  • DorieStreet

    Dude was fantastic in his day but his day was done some time ago. He cannot help the Spurs - or any other team in the league - on the court.

  • TDzilla!

    Practice? I don’t need no practice. LOL! Pop would be throwing a wine bottle at AI if he gets into the Spurs.

  • ACE

    TONY PARKER IS DESERVE TO BE ON THE N#. 2 MVP CANDIDATE……….TOP 5 MVP……..1. KEVIN D. 2. TONY PARKER 3. CP3 4. LBJ 5. OTHERS……………..!!! TONY PARKER FOR MVP….. HE DESERVE IT THAN ANYBODY RIGHT NOW…….!!!

  • tre

    No AI would not be a good fit.

    We do need some more depth down low to keep Timmy’s minutes low until the playoffs.
    We were hoping that Splitter would be that guy. I think he has shown good improvements from last year, but we still need him to up his game to a higher level. Another solid big man would help me sleep better at night.

    We got shooters…

  • STIJL

    I think it could be conceivable that Leonard may grow another inch (2″?) and gain another 10 pounds of muscle that would place him in the category of solid PF. Imagine after gaining experience, physical and mental growth and knowledge what his potential may be? Another Josh Smith type of player? A long running tandem of Splitter and Leonard in the post?

    It’s possible and all so compelling. Stay tuned Spur fan…

  • Kakashihatake105

    Tony Parker is number three on my list behind LBJ and CP3.

  • DaveMan

    I think a solid lock down defender is the most under rated aspect in basketball. Look at the Grizzlies last year in the playoffs they had Battier and Allen and look how tough they were. I thought they were better without Rudy Gay. Orlando has Dwight guarding the rim and a bunch of scrubs around him and they are a pretty good team. Kind of reminds me of Robinson in SA before Timmy. Only Robinson used to get way more criticized for being soft and not being able to win the big game. Anyways the future looks bright for Leonard he’s only 20 playing with a great coach and hall of famers all around him and Bowen as a role model. I already think he has a much better offensive game then Bowen except the 3 from the corner. A little of topic call me crazy but is this Timmy’s last year of his contract? I can imagine him sticking around next year for a lot less money or more if he wants it. Its Timmy he can do what he wants. But if he signs for a lot less then his 22 mil he’s getting right now don’t the Spurs now have some capp room to bring in a FA?

  • Bry

    Yes, and yes

  • DorieStreet

    Trade deadline for this season is March 15th. The Spurs have 11 games between now and then (5 in February, 6 in March up to the 14th). The team plays the Clippers and Nuggets twice, plus the Bulls, Knicks and Magic, all squads with good front courts. How the Spurs fare through March 9th -the next 9 games - will determine if front office seeks a deal to boster the front court.

  • Tim in Surrey

    Hmm. While I agree with you that it’s possible that AI might be a difficult fit, I really think you’ve got it completely backwards: His financial situation is dire because he’s UNselfish. Whatever you think about AI, he has always supported his family, friends, and community-often to a fault. As for basketball, if he had played here ten years ago, I think he and Pop might’ve been fine. John Thompson always disputed the image of him as selfish and pointed out that throughout his entire prime, in high school, college, and the pros, he never had teammates on offense who were even remotely close to his level. So I don’t know that he was always so selfish. And he was focused on winning, again despite his image.

    I still find it astonishing that Iverson managed to get that Philadelphia team all the way to the finals. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a team with so little talent except for one player make it so far. Even the Trailblazers’ 1977 champions had TWO of the best players in the league, in their prime (Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas, although the rest of that team was a bunch of untalented but high-basketball-IQ guys who went on to be coaches or GMs). Who did Iverson have on his team, other than Mutombo for part of the season? You can call him selfish, but when their second-leading scorer is Theo flippin’ Ratliff it means there’s really nobody to pass to. And they traded him at the deadline (for Mutombo)!

    So… I know that stylistically he rubs people the wrong way, but i think we should cut AI some slack. The man could play. That said, please notice the use of the past tense. The real reason we shouldn’t bother with him is because he’s not any good anymore.

  • Tim in Surrey

    I think it’s pretty clear that he won’t. It does happen, but when it has (e.g. David Robinson, who grew about another inch when he was Kawhi’s age) you could tell by the frame and bone structure. For instance, I could see Anthony Davis growing another inch. But Kawhi’s frame is mature. He won’t be getting any taller. Stronger, yes, and the experience, mental growth, and knowledge you mentioned? Absolutely.

  • Tim in Surrey

    Perhaps. But I seem to remember Memphis losing to a team (OKC) that didn’t have a lockdown perimeter player. It’s not ALWAYS necessary-but it sure is a nice luxury. My NCAA alma mater, Vanderbilt, has arguably the best perimeter defender in college, Jeffery Taylor. And the coach always talks about how great it is to have a guy who can guard John Wall and Patrick Patterson (which he did!) in the same game. It makes the job easier.

    I think it’s only now, since we’ve been without such a versatile perimeter stopper for a couple of years, that we’re truly understanding how fortunate we were to have Bruce Bowen. And I think we’re beginning to understand just how fortunate we were to have David and Tim as even more valuable interior defenders.

  • Deeds130

    I’ve always liked AI as a guy, and he was fun to watch. But he was so incredibly inefficient. The East was unbelievably bad when the 76ers won it. Incredibly bad. The Bucks were better the sixers tho. Philly’s success was a credit to Larry Brown, as much as anyone.

    AI’s ego was inexcusable in Memphis. And that was after his legacy was defined, as follows: Chauncy Billups was clearly the better point guard and basketball player, as proven when they switched jobs & DET fell off a cliff while DEN had all the success of a Billups team. What happened before that when AI switched jobs with Andre Miller? PHI kept place, and looked better, while DEN didn’t improve at all.

    This guy should NEVER be considered one of the greats. He wasn’t. He was an inefficient volume scorer, who captured the public’s interest becuase of his size, speed, confidence, and charismatic interviews. His greatest accomplishment was a cultural one, bringing hip-hop culture further into the mainstream. As a player… very overrated.