Succesfull teams, trades, and management

by raft on Feb 4, 2008 10:17 PM CST

I first emailed this to matthew, but then I discovered the diaries section, hidden to me for the 3+ years reading this and previous incarnations of this blog:

My mind keeps rolling this days, and now has settle with Turkoglu making his first triple-double... is the luck turning now that every thing the Spurs touched is turning to gold (or , let's say, bronce / silver / copper, something), but in another team and trading and drafting miss-management is starting to hit the team:

This season has seen the rise of Beno, Hedo (didn't know he was "Hidayet" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidayet_T%C3%BCrko%C4%9Flu) , Luis. I believe fearing Nazr sometime last season and now is serving the Bobcats, and Rasho is also gone, but does not harm. Meanwhile Finley, Bonner, Horry still wear black and silver.
The Spurs got Ron Mercer (for Hedo). Matt Bonner , Eric Wiliams and a 2nd round pick in 2009 came for Rasho, only the first remains with the Spurs (Williams and the pick went for Ely who was let-free). Scola was given together with Butler for our-friend Spanoulis and a new 2nd round 2009 pick. Beno went with cash for a 2008 2nd round pick. Nazr just went.
Apart from that, James White is dunking for Fenerbache http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGxJBRjem24 , thank god , with Damon we are bringing young blood to the team and securing "the oldest of the NBA" title. And the search for a center to replace Robinson looks like it stopped at Oberto, but a substitute or a higher quality replacement is desirable. Mahinmi (but at Austin) was the latest bet, but didn't play yet.

I know you can't have it all and it's more complicated than this, but from the outside it looks like successfull teams have successfull management and always look to be trading for better, it's been a while since the Spurs stop doing so.

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Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

Not to take a shot at you, I understand the concerne, but can we all calm the fuck down.

How many teams have won as many titles as us in the last 10 years? Any? And yes, we got lucky with the duncan draft, but they plucked ginobili and Tony. And they get the roll players they need. And it's not like we don't have any young players to add soon. Tiago and Ian could or should be very good players.

Can't we just all calm down and realize that we're an older team and it's good that we're taking it easy now instead of running everyone 40 mins a night and burning out in December like certain boston teams I won't mention...

Let's never forget, the only series that was even competitive the last 3 years was the mavs series, and we only lost that for 2 reasons:

Some tough reffing (Dirk had a game where he scored 27 on 3 made shots. I won't bitch too hard, but that didn't help).
Timmy wasn't 100%. Nobody was really, they tried to hard for the 1 seed.

(I refuse to honestly throw manu under the bus as he made the 3 that gave us the lead in the first place).

Let's calm down and remember we went 16-4 last year in the playoffs after a regular season that saw Matthew Powell quit on the team and almost become a pistons fan.

I tease the Powell. The point is, we may not be world beaters at the moment, but lets not act like Isaiah Thomas is running the team.

by Krukow on Feb 5, 2008 12:47 AM CST reply actions

Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

I didn't read raft's post as panic-induced at all, but rather as a comment on the apparent disparity between the quality of the talent let go and the quality of the talent gained.

Let's never forget, the only series that was even competitive the last 3 years was the mavs series, and we only lost that for 2 reasons:

1. Some tough reffing (Dirk had a game where he scored 27 on 3 made shots. I won't bitch too hard, but that didn't help).
2. Timmy wasn't 100%. Nobody was really, they tried to hard for the 1 seed.

I assume you meant the last 2 years and not the last 3, since the Detroit series went 7 games and I would argue the Seattle series was competitive as well.

Also, the Sacto series was competitive in '06. We lost two games to them, and though one of them came on a last second shot, one of the wins came in OT.

And to claim the PHX series last year wasn't competitive is foolish arrogance at best. We lost two games and, uh, you may remember they were missing some folks in one of our wins.

by sungo on Feb 6, 2008 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

I was drunk and forgot about the detroit series.

I think you overestimate the Kings series. There was never really a time anyone thought we'd lose (if not for that last second shot, it could have been a sweep). Then again, brent did bounce the ball of the backboard, scoreboard, roof, shot clock, and Ron Artest's head when he made the game winner, so maybe you're right.

The PHX series wasn't that close. Stampler covered this in his game 6 write-up.

Also, I was drunk.

by Krukow on Feb 6, 2008 6:36 PM CST up reply actions

The Spurs are 2 games out ....

...of 1st place in the division. Not that a division title guarantees anything, but still the team grade for the squad is C- right now, and they are still in the thick of things. It's not quite time to panic yet.

"I will slap you into a jelly!!!!"

by DennardC on Feb 5, 2008 6:44 PM CST reply actions

Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

I know it looks like a reaction to recent Spurs performances, but I had this subject in my mind for some time now (http://poundingtherock.com/comments/2007/10/29/19034/460/5#5).
The thing that bothers me is that, having the oldest team, and being that a recurring subject, there's a widening gap between the moment the draft prospects will contribute (if they ever do) and the moment when the rooster + additions (older, e.g. Finley, Damon) arrivals could no longer do that.
Which was the last young player to be developed in the Spurs who was useful there? Tony comes to mind, the last rookie being 30 y.o. Oberto.

by raft on Feb 5, 2008 8:47 PM CST reply actions

Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

winning or not, spurs will have to do a better job at trades and drafting at some point. its been like a giant crap shoot that hit with manu and tony and has missed with nearly everyone else.

it is certainly tough to consistently draft at the bottom of round 1 (or lower), but sooner or later the spurs success rate will have to be better in this area.

the good news is that we still have a couple of more years with tim, gino and little TP together before we really need someone else to step in a superstar type guy.

by bones on Feb 6, 2008 8:30 AM CST reply actions

Cap Flexibility

The Spurs will have Cap Flexibility soon, especially after the old dudes retire, so I expect them to get some youth in here, at least I hope they do. I am really tired of seeing Robert Horry, I can not overstate that.

"I will slap you into a jelly!!!!"

by DennardC on Feb 6, 2008 6:01 PM CST reply actions

Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

it was either powell or stamp that said this first, but i think raft's concern with our ability to develop any young talent is for real.

white and washington are the last two cases of young guys that could have done something, but were let go when they didn't do what pop said, when pop said.

if anyone can find the original post on this, they should read it. there are some good points raised about the spurs' nbdl farming system, too.

pop has never had to develop young guys, and, frankly, i don't think he has any interest in that. until the spurs get someone in management like a sam presti -- our guy gone -- the team might never get that ability again.

you ain't a beauty but hey you're all right.

by kalone on Feb 7, 2008 1:45 PM CST reply actions

Re: Succesfull teams, trades, and management

kalone,

I've been meaning to write and tell you that I absolutely love, love, love your Springsteen sign off. Thunder Road is definitely one of the best tunes written by the Boss.

I am happy. I am proud. - Manu Ginobili

by bellasa on Feb 7, 2008 4:42 PM CST reply actions