Oh for christ’s sake. I just finished 2 hours of blogging torture watching summer league game 4 and now I have to respond to this. Stampler, you will pay. I’m going to crack open a beer and commence to straightening you out.

Anyway, the Spurs are going to stay under the cap. You know it, we know it, everyone knows it. To wish otherwise is akin to wishing for a bigger winky – grow up already, because it’s just not going to happen. For the team to field a fourth (or fifth, or God help us, sixth) guy who can actually play, he’ll have to be young. Young players come cheap because they’re not who they will be yet, known commodities, and with them you’re just basically hoping and guessing. Veteran players who’ve proven themselves in the NBA are expensive. If you find yourself a cheap veteran player, like the Spurs have filled out their rosters with all these years, then guess what? It means, with the odd exception here or there, the guy sucks.

I never had pie-in-the-sky dreams for someone such as Maggette.

For years now the big three have had to compensate for the lack of athleticism of their teammates, a task that has grown more difficult with their owned diminishing physical ability.

I’d like to single out the above three statements/paragraphs. I think they capture the essence of our respective points.

1. The Spurs will stay under the cap. Any fourth or fifth player will be cheap. That means veterans who can contribute with experience. Or gamble on a young player. I agree with this wholeheartedly. We WON’T do anything else. We won’t bring in a player at more than the mid-level exception. It just won’t happen.

2. Yeah, it is pie-in-the-sky but we can dream and it only has to happen just one year. The Spurs, because of their stinginess seem to always be in the mix for getting a deal on a player. That’s mostly a good thing.

3. This is the one I disagree with you on because of the implication of your statement that the front office has chosen experienced unathletic players over the opposite. I think the rather remarkable job the front office has done is that they haven’t just stuck with an M.O. They have changed it. That was the point I should have gotten across more clearly. The Spurs HAVE tried to get more athletic in the past. It’s just that they have done it in the context of your first point. The only year we didn’t was last year. So, if you want to say that the front office screwed the pooch THIS year. That’s cool. But this was the first year they did. The year before they exchanged Elson for Nestorovic. They brought in a YOUNG Jackie Butler. They kept James White around. Hedo, Stephen Jackson, Speedy, Rasho (when they signed him was young, not athletic), Beno, etc. They haven’t solely relied on youth OR age. Athleticism or expericence. Hell, they played Tony at 19 and drafted and played Malik. They gave Darius a shot, he failed. This was a year in which their mix didn’t work. That’s all. And by didn’t work we still got to the WCF. Hell, they brought in Bruce in the first place. They don’t get enough credit for that.

Going into next year I expect us to again have three studs and a bunch of suck. Well, a bunch of gambles really. Pop will gamble that the big 3 stay healthy. That Ian gets better. That George Hill can take The JV’s minutes. That Gist can be our young Dennis Rodman crashing the offensive glass nand providing energy. That KT, if he signes, can give us 15-20 minutes a game in the playoffs and that FinDog, if he signs, can knock down some shots. Until point #1 above changes, that’s what we get.

Is what I was going to post in the aftermath of the Camby deal and the pending Azubuike signing. Furthermore, the Camby deal likely means the Nuggets have the cash to resigh JR Smith now, so there goes another name bandied about here.

I really think Mahinmi can be a big, big help sooner rather than later, he just looks extremely athletic and comfortable in the paint, and both of those areas should improve, particularly the latter with more experience. My hope would be that he would be part of the regular rotation by new years, with Gist being the energy/rebound/hustle guy.

I know its only been three summer league games, but George Hill just doesnt seem like he will ever live up to 1st round status, meanwhile Donte Green is tearing it up so far and wouldve addressed many of the teams needs.

Not exactly sure what I was getting at, but your point about the drop off b/t the 3rd best and 4th best is quite glaring….to the FO credit they have tried to address this in the past; theyve called on Maggette in the past, had the JR trade fall through, Jackson left for more money in Atlanta etc etc.

The FO has done remarkably well filling out this roster based on your 5 parameters, but now is not the time to play it safe if theyre to capitalize on the Big 3s remaining peak years.

And, is it Gist or “Jist” ?

...in that the Spurs this last year decided to roll with their veteran team one more time, and it blew up in their faces. If you talked to Pop or RC privately, I’m sure they’d tell you they F*d up. But as ATS mentioned, all the championships were won with a different formula:

In 1999, they needed grit, defense, and shooting, so they bring in Mario Elie, Jerome Kersey, Jaren Jackson, and win that way.

In 2003, they need youth and athleticism, so they go with crazy-ass Stephen Jackson, 20-year old Frenchie, and wildly unpredictable Manu.

In 2005, the team was pretty much set, but bringing in Bones and Nazr were critical to the championship. They played Beno plenty, but he absolutely killed them in two games against Detroit, and rightfully lost the coaches’ trust. We criticize them for playing Van Exel, but imagine if Pop had just stuck with Beno and he had cratered again again in the playoffs. We’d be killing Pop for that, too; in the end, as fans, we criticize based on results, even if the strategy was sound.

In 2007, again, the team was set, and won a championship with basically the same team that lost to Dallas the year before. It was not unreasonable to think they could wring one more good year out of the vets before retooling. It just didn’t work out, and like we’ve been saying, “didn’t work out” means “losing in the conference finals.”

Pop basically came right out and said that George Hill was going to be their backup on day 1. The fact that they signed Mason, but didn’t retain Bones, and haven’t yet resigned Finley, or Horry, or even KT, speaks volumes about where their priorities are this year. With Timmy, Manu, and Tony, the team will be good regardless, so I’d love to see them play the youngsters a ton to get them ready.

Boston won their title largely based on their big three plus unexpected contributions from bit players, like Dickensian Street Urchin Leon Powe. I could see either Mahinmi or Gist coming up with that kind of a big 15 pt-15 rebound game off the bench in the playoffs, but it’s hard to imagine, say Fab or KT doing the same. They’d probably max out at something like 10 pts and 8 rebounds.

So, sorry Stampler, perhaps I’ll have to relinquish my status as your favorite poster. I think Pop (aka AMoL, for Autobot Matrix of Leadership) does try new things, learn lessons from it, and employ those lessons in the future. We dislike Tinyball, but you’d have to admit that’s a pretty big departure from Twin Towers. He’d never gone with Hack-a-Shaq, then out of nowhere he lays it on the Suns. He and the front office do try new things. That’s where I really disagreed with Powell and disagree with you.

“There’s a wasted life in the difference between striving for perfection and accepting nothing less.”

Would that be the difference between Mike D’Antoni and Gregg Popovich?

I guess – since Stampler quoted me – that I might need to clarify my point. I did not intend to attack Matthew’s post. In fact, I think in principle, the viewpoints are somewhat the same: this offseason, in light of the available parties, has been a disappointment. Matthew expressed – I think – it was because the FO did not want any of the younger, athletic players out there. My point was that, given the 5 constraints I listed, they couldn’t have gotten any of those guys anyway. In some ways it’s irrevelant – we have who we have for 08-09 – but I have to believe that the FO looked to upgrade and did not find the right players / deals, because of price and long-term contracts. For example, I believe we could have gotten in the James Posey sweepstakes (sad, isn’t it, that James Posey gets a sweepstakes?) but he wanted a long deal and he’s not an upgrade offensively. Azuibake ended up getting about the same as Mason, so we could not fit both of them into the MLE and Mason was unrestricted, making him more of a sure thing. This is the NBA we love: a world where Keyon Dooling is insulted by the Magic’s bi-annual exception of 2.4 million/year for 2 years. Keyon Dooling? Really? We got who we could get.

Regardless, if I seemed like I was attacking Matthew’s position, I apologize. After being on several other boards to talk about the only sports team about which I am passionate, I appreciate the healthy and friendly discussion that occurs on this board.

Ditto – taken as intended.

A few observations,

Those of who think Pop would say he “F’d up going with the veterans this season are nuts.

Pop is retired on active duty. He has his championships and his desire is gone.

His foolish behavior last season high fiving opponents and smacking them on the ass right after the Spurs experienced another gut wrenching loss should be a tip off.

Pop is now playing the elder venerable elder statesman role. He totally caved in announcing that “there was no foul of Fisher”. He is completely full of himself right now and wants to ride out the remaining Timmeh years on a yacht, then drop a steaming pile of shit into the next coache’s lap.

At least with the Spurs frugal ways, the next coach will not have any straight jacket long term contracts holding them back.

Pop and organization have blundered badly in the past. Pop went into comfort mode for a while after winning the 99 championship bringing in friendly vets like Terry Porter and Danny Ferry. Guys that he wouldn’t have to coach too much. He could just roll out the balls. These friendly vets helped bring us crushing defeats during the Shaq-Kobe years.

After years of getting lambasted, pride began to kick back in. The team made some bold moves drafting Manu, Tony and Beno. They brought in Bowens to stop us from getting torched by Kobe. Anyone remember when Pop had old man river Porter “D’ing up Kobe? He started his “nobody drives the middle” montra. Pop gave himself 20 different ulcers trying to develop the young guys and it payed off with a tremendous championship run.

Now, we are back to 2001.

I just don’t feel Pop has any pride left. He doesn’t want to go through another real “coaching” experience reigning in combative older players and wild younger players. He is on a river walk cruise for the rest of his career.

OK. Let me break it down some…

For the 1999-2000 season, the Spurs brought in…drum roll please…..dddddddd..

Terry Porter and Samaki Walker…oh yeah!

When I said drafting Ginobes, I meant bringing him in. Drafting him was not bold. He was a late second round gamble.

As for the awesome draft record we had…..

2000
#54 Cory Hightower (Indian Hills Community College, Iowa) – Traded to Lakers
(If memory serves correct, he played some time at Carver High School under coach Reeves)

The Spurs made some aggressive moves after the brutal years of the Laker’s dynasty when Mr Potato Head, Speedy Claxton (my all time favorite Spurs back up PG), and Stephen Jackson (mad skills) were brought in.

So I guess your dismissing Pop’s foolish behavior last season? That little treasure slip your minds? I was his biggest fan when he was actually coaching. You know, doing those little things like calling time outs, ripping his players for not protecting the middle of the court, making legitimate substitutions, helping young guys learn the game. I didn’t see that this season. I saw him sitting on the bench looking disinterested.

You ever see Red Auerbach do what Pop did last season? John Wooden? Bob Knight? Pat Riley? Coach K? Come on, you have to be blind not to notice the guy’s work has fallen way off. Good grief.

Pop is a basketball genius and he makes moves, when he wants to, that the rest of us can only dream of. But, when Sean Elliot is out coaching him from the announcer booth, then something is way wrong.

Just as an outsider note since I don’t really frequent this blog much:

You guys are talking about “not going over the cap” a lot, but the Spurs are already well over the salary cap. I think what you mean is the luxury tax threshold, which is about a 12M dollar difference.