San Antonio Spurs
2008-09 Record: 54-28
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Tony Parker
SG- Manu Ginobili
SF- Richard Jefferson
PF- Antonio McDyess
C- Tim Duncan
Key Reserves: Michael Finley, George Hill, DeJuan Blair, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason
Biggest Strength: Front court
Duncan is Duncan, we all know about the hall of famer. But they acquired Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff. They drafted a beast in DeJuan Blair how had 16 points and 19 boards in his first preseason game in just 22 minutes. Please read that stat line again 19 boards in 22 minutes. He was a flat out steal. Then you toss in Bonner who spreads the floor as last year’s 8th best three-point shooter.
Their front court is tough, deep and versatile.
Biggest Weakness: If you find one let me know
Just take a look at their roster. Where do you see a real weakness? They have experience, shooting, penetrators, post scorers, shot blockers, rebounders. Just about everything.
The only two areas they aren’t great is athleticism and age. And I’d argue age is more strength then weakness. If they stay healthy they are good enough to win another championship.
Key Player: Manu
Is he back? Is he really healthy and can stay that way? If so they are in position to make another run. Manu is the versatile wing player and 4th quarter offensive killer. It’s really that simple.
Biggest Question: Is this their last best shot?
You can’t really call the Spurs a dynasty, winning 4 titles in a decade gets you pretty close. After last year, it seemed that Duncan’s knees might finally let him down and Manu might be losing a step. But – instead of throwing in the towel, they made some great moves in the off-season, acquiring Richard Jefferson from the Bucks for nothing in particular, signing Antonio McDyess and drafting DeJuan Blair. Suddenly their bench is younger and decent and they have another 20 point scorer to lighten the load off Manu and Duncan. They went from trendy pick to take a big step back, to seriously title contenders, maybe for the last time.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: David Robinson, 1993-94
29.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.7 spg, 3.3 bpg
A center with 5 assists and 2 steals a game? While leading the league in scoring? Not too bad, Mr. Robinson. This season was the 9th highest PER in the history of the game – Only Wilt, MJ and LeBron had better seasons.
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 1st place, Southwest division / 2nd place, Western conference / 3rd place, NBA
In my experience, when people start predicting the fall of good players (Duncan, Manu), they are almost always a couple years too early. I think that will be the case here as well. I’m not a Spurs fan, but I love the make-up of this current squad. Elite PG, elite big man, high-scoring wing, big-time toughness inside, 3 point-shooters and a wildcard in Ginobili (who is one of my least favorite players for bringing the soccer flopping, fake injury thing over to the NBA). I haven’t chosen my Western Conference champ yet, but the Spurs might end up at the top of that list.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 1st place, Southwest division / 2nd place, Western conference / 5th place, NBA
This is a championship team with championship experience. They have the talent overall. They know what it takes to win and their coach knows how to get them there. I have one key: Richard Jefferson. He isn’t the key player because his impact won’t be as great as a healthy Manu. But where he needs to thrive is on the defensive end. He needs to replace Bowen defensively. Thinking big picture the Spurs will have face some combination of Kobe/Artest/Odom, Melo, Brandon Roy, Josh Howard. Jefferson will get some shot attempts but frankly he’s never really been an great or efficient scorer. With the Spurs he needs to make open shots (threes) and lock up. If he does, this team will be a tough out in the playoffs for any anyone.
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Guys – Being a Pitt ‘09 grad and obviously a huge D-Blair fan, I feel incredibly fortunate that he was drafted so late to the Spurs. I feel that Blair has a shot to take over McDyess’ spot by the end of the year. Now I know I am biased as hell, so I was wondering what you thought about this. I know the line-up will be smaller with him at the PF, but if Blair can play anything like he did against big men in college (Thabeet who?) then I think he could play a decent PF next to Duncan.
Blair’s line in the Spurs last pre-season game?
Yea – He killed the summer league too. He can do some serious damage.
To me if he can improve his already good defense, I see Blair as a more offensive minded/capable Ben Wallace…The mind boggles at what feel to the 2nd round in this years draft. I think at least 5 guys from this years 2nd round will become quality role playing starters for years to come and Blair may become a Big Ben like defensive all-star given a best-case scenario.
HEY!!! Vlade Divac was the first flopper!!!!!
Also, Blair won’t start this year unless Dice has been injured late in the season and Blair has then proven himself consistent. We still don’t know if his defense will be liability at an NBA level.
Greatest strength(s):
-A Class Organization From Top to Bottom:
1)Greg Popovich (632-302) 0.677
one of the toughest, funniest son-of-a gun coaches
2)R.C Buford (one of the best GMs in the NBA)
-every side of their trade appears to benefit the Spurs
-the BEST international scouting (abundant supply of talent)
-21st in NBA payroll $64,565,568 (Hoopshype.com)
-still capable of luring many free agents
3)Peter Holt, the owner
-DEFENSE
Imagine if Duncan, Ginobili, Parker each played in separate teams? They would be picked apart! Heck, they made Glenn Robinson look great defensively!! LOL
-Age (Wisdom)– they have been there, done that! Experience is a major factor!! It’s the big picture they are after (that’s the postseason in the Finals!!)
-Great composure
-Fundamental Big 3 (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
-Unselfish, team basketball
-AT&T Center (tough place to get a victory!!)
-Great, revamped frontcourt
-Great demeanor
When was the last time you heard about Duncan going over the speed limit on the river boat?
Greatest weakness(es):
-”No Country For Old Men” (Age)
-Texas Drought (Offense): can get stagnant overall when offense suffers greatly
-Free throw suspects (Parker, Duncan)
-Have been a bit shaky on the road lately (could that be the age factor?)
-A Nielsen ratings’ nightmare!!
Greatest strength(s):
-A Class Organization From Top to Bottom:
1)Greg Popovich (632-302) 0.677
one of the toughest, funniest son-of-a gun coaches
2)R.C Buford (one of the best GMs in the NBA)
-every side of their trade appears to benefit the Spurs
-the BEST international scouting (abundant supply of talent)
-21st in NBA payroll $64,565,568 (Hoopshype.com)
-still capable of luring many free agents
3)Peter Holt, the owner
-DEFENSE
Imagine if Duncan, Ginobili, Parker each played in separate teams? They would be picked apart! Heck, they made Glenn Robinson look great defensively!! LOL
-Age (Wisdom)– they have been there, done that! Experience is a major factor!! It’s the big picture they are after (that’s the postseason in the Finals!!)
-Great composure
-Fundamental Big 3 (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili)
-Unselfish, team basketball
-AT&T Center (tough place to get a victory!!)
-Great, revamped frontcourt
-Great demeanor
When was the last time you heard about Duncan going over the speed limit on the river boat?
Greatest weakness(es):
-”No Country For Old Men” (Age)
-Texas Drought (Offense): can get stagnant overall when offense suffers greatly
-Free throw suspects (Parker, Duncan)
-Have been a bit shaky on the road lately (could that be the age factor?)
-A Nielsen ratings’ nightmare!!
With that said, the Spurs will be 1st in the Southwest and 2nd in the West.
(On a side note, the Sixers will split the season with the Spurs with each team winning on their home floors. The Sixers and the Spurs have had great battles over the last couple of seasons in some close games, including that heart breaker from Tony Parker last season.)
Vlade was the first flopper, but Manu does the whole fake injury thing too