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A must read ESPN Spurs preview

by bren on Oct 2, 2008 4:57 PM CDT

A really in depth look at the Spurs 07-08 performance and their 08-09 preview.

He pretty much sums up 07-08 like we all noticed, they got off to a hot start, were somewhat propelled by the "Rodeo Trip" but not as much in the past, and in both the regular and post season they squandered second half leads and were generally inefficient with the ball. However, his use of statistics shows the Spurs are still a top defensive team.

Onto the preview:

He cites our biggest strength as Interior scoring and our biggest weakness.....drumroll.....

Biggest Weakness: Age

Taken individually, it doesn't seem so horrible that Ginobili and Udoka are 31, or that Mason is 29, for instance. It's when you start piling up the cumulative impact of all their ages that it really sinks in. Bowen is 37, Finley and Thomas are 35, Fabricio Oberto and Jacque Vaughnare 33 and Duncan is 32. Yeesh.

In particular, the age of the wing players has to be a concern. San Antonio's top four wing players are 31 and older, and while they've taken exceptional care of their bodies, history tells us that the only direction they can surprise us in is down.

Up front, they at least have size and smarts to fall back on, but the age of the top three is a worry too. Ian Mahinmi, a 2005 first-rounder, is the one flicker of youth in that group; he comes off a strong D-League season and will try to win a role as the fourth big man. Unfortunately, San Antonio's frontcourt succession plans got a little messed up when 2007 first-rounder Tiago Splitter decided to stay in Europe; he would have provided an inexpensive, quality young center, but couldn't take the pay cut dictated by the league's rookie salary scale.

He predicts a 47-35 season, 3rd in the division, 5th in the conference.....ouch.

But he echoes what we've all been saying, no scoring outside of the big three and age increasingly playing a factor, particularly on the wings, which makes the Draft and subsequent Free Agency all the more perplexing. Im fine if they didnt find anything particularly appealing in the market and want to save up to make a run at Bosh, Gordon, Wade etc. But to waste a first round draft pick on a third string PG is really a head scratcher.

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well...

at least the economy is good….

…

"I like to use my pump fake to make them come hard, that's when I use my penetration." -Manu Ginobili

by Justin Biehle on Oct 2, 2008 7:48 PM CDT reply actions

Can't wait until the Spurs get all of their players under 25!!!

Imagine a Spurs world without all of the oldies, don’t get me wrong I love the Duncan era and wish they still have one more title in them, but a Spurs world led by young, high flying, trash talking (not so much), slamduncaning, internationilizing players. For example:

C Tiago Splitter
PF Ian Mahinmi
SF Adam Morisson
SG (Kobesque without the the attitude)
PG Tony Parker

Ya?

by GuamND on Oct 3, 2008 2:28 AM CDT reply actions

Is Adam Morrison available?

hes not a starter in any stretch of the imagination, but couldnt hurt

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 3, 2008 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Not too bad a team.

Not too bad a team. I’m with you. Love the Duncan era too, have a TD21 road jersey, seen the Spurs play ( and they won 87-73 ) with TD having a big game. Not too bad a team. My first post on here too.

by CanadianBlazerfan on Oct 11, 2008 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

agreed on blowing second half leads down the stretch. that and inefficiency on offense definitely scream of the age factor. however, i would say that these problems can be corrected with just a little more help than we had last year (if mason, hill, mahinmi or someone else steps up – particularly on the offensive end).

it is hard hard hard to win championships folks. though we find a lot of fault with last season, taking your title defense all the way to the final 4 teams is very good in comparison to all major sports (college and pro).

we can realistically say that our repeat might well have rested on the health of manu’s ankle. if he can come back healthy and right, there is no good reason to doubt the spurs as a serious title contender.

by bones on Oct 3, 2008 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

Shaun Livingston

Signed with Miami for 2 years, I wonder if the Spurs every considered him. Granted, he had a pretty catastrophic knee injury, but he showed some real promise with the Clips and at this point, Im sure he could be a decent backup.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 6, 2008 2:02 PM CDT reply actions

i think he would have been worth a flyer myself but he is still another 6 months at least from fully fit and you’d have to think even then he lacks a couple of things that we desperately need i.e ability to shoot an open jumpshot.

by Bushka on Oct 6, 2008 11:03 PM CDT reply actions