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The Key to 5 in '10

The strive for five in 2010 will start and end with the Spurs calling card, defense.  This is my observation on moves by the team and a few random thoughts.

Star-divide

As we all know, the Spurs are having one of the most active off-seasons in recent memory, and that includes all other NBA teams.  This is not your typical Spurs off-season where we only make one or two under the radar moves, nope, not this time.  This year we came out fighting and throwing the first punch by landing Richard Jefferson.  We also acquired what we hope will be the steal of the draft in Mr. Windex himself, DeJuan Blair, aka Blair Force One.  We have a much improved George Hill and Malik Hairston.  We hope to have a healthy Manu and Ian for the season and also added a couple of solid veterans in Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratlif.  Finally, we have a couple of unknowns in Jack McClinton and Marcus Haislip.

So what does this mean for the Spurs?  Well, it means that they addressed all the team needs.  They got younger, more athletic, tougher inside with shot blockers and rebounders and see to have found a backup point guard in the summer league.  So are the Spurs the favorite to win it next year?   They are definitely one of the favorites without a doubt, but they have to make sure that they didn’t get too young too fast and that team chemistry did not get affected too much.

I’m sure the fact that they acquired a number of high character players will mitigate some of the "chemistry" concerns, but the Rodeo trip will also go a long ways this year to make sure the players gel both on and off the court.

The key for the Spurs will need to be their team defense.  Please, stop calling RJ the second coming of Bowen, that’s an insult to the man.  If you need proof, please take a look at this:

Lebron James 55 Points vs. Milwaukee Bucks 2/20/09 (via nikkog23)

Richard Jefferson is a very capable defender who will hopefully adopt the team defense concept.  All the team needs out of him, and every other wing player is to challenge shots, funnel their players towards the bigs and to get their defensive rotations correct.  I miss those days of seeing opposing teams swing the ball around and struggle to find an open shot.  I miss those good old days when a player would drive to the hole only to have their shot contested or blocked, the days when the Spurs would stay in games even after shooting 35% and always having a chance to win at the end.  I think back to last season and I shudder at some of the defensive play.  While the Spurs had some decent games, I don’t remember too many where they would suffocate with their defensive play and have it turn out into a blow out by the end of the 3rd quarter. I REALLY MISS THAT!  Even Duncan had some lapses last year where he wouldn’t come out of the paint to challenge shots.  While some of that can be attributed to his health, I did notice some complacency to only trying most of the time, not all the time.

Here’s to hoping that the new guys bring the energy and the hunger on the defensive side of the ball that made the Spurs into one of the top two or three defensive teams in the league year after year.  Duncan finally has a rebounder and shot blocker who will help take some of that burden off of him.  Ratliff and McDyess will allow him to roam around a bit and not always have to guard the toughest matchup when it comes to the post.  I’m sure this will not only make him more active on offense but will help keep him healthier during the season.

I have no doubt that the team has addressed their glaring needs and improved the team in every facet, but from this fan’s perspective, the old adage of "Defense wins Championships" is what will take for the Spurs to win their fifth NBA title.

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments

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5 in 10 baby.

Lets do this and once again lay claim as the best franchise of the new millenium.

by alamobro on Jul 26, 2009 10:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I couldn’t agree more – team defense will make or break this season’s Spurs squad. And, we don’t need RJ to be an all-world defender, just above average. As long as Dice and RJ are better on that end than Bonner and Findog, I don’t see the problem, but it remains to be seen how well the new guys will work together with the remainder of last year’s roster. They seem to be complimentary pieces on the offensive end, but how well will it work when trying to deny the opponents?

PS – we don’t need anymore predictive thread titles around here. I changed it, only to save the mojo(which I do believe in). Notice that Parker got hurt after a lot of recent “champs in 2010” threads and comments.

I used to be a c+x kind of guy, but nowadays I just go nuts with my z. - LatinD
Retire Bowen's #12!

by Tim C. on Jul 26, 2009 11:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Thanks, rikiddo, from another superstitious fan. I like 5 in 10 as a motto, and I’m as optimistic as the next Spurs fan. However, I’m also a believer in reverse mojo – don’t want to start the season on the wrong foot (or ankle).

My people call it "sarcasm." - Lauri

by CapHill on Jul 27, 2009 4:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

As PtR’s self-proclaimed “resident cheerleader,” I move that the slogan “5 in 10” become the official mantra of the Silver and Black this season! :D

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by spursfan4ever on Jul 26, 2009 11:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

…..unless optimism is a mojo-killer, of course (don’t worry rikiddo—I’m bridling my enthusiasm lol)

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by spursfan4ever on Jul 27, 2009 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree so much that I put it in my sig about a month ago!

5 in 10
I want my Manu o;—-)

by jollyrogerwilco on Jul 27, 2009 12:27 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cheerleader? BANNED

Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders

by LatinD on Jul 27, 2009 1:07 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

GOL

ah the beauty of an unexpected BANNED

"You'll take my life but I'll take yours too. You'll fire you musket but I'll run you through. So when your waiting for the next attack. You'd better stand there's no turning back"- "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden

by KA1Z3R on Jul 27, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Your new avatar is almost freaking me out.

5 in 10
I want my Manu o;—-)

by jollyrogerwilco on Jul 27, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

why?

It’s Eddie from Iron Maiden. He’s their mascot.

Amazing tribute to Eddie with just about every piece of Eddie artwork. this is a must-watch.

"You'll take my life but I'll take yours too. You'll fire you musket but I'll run you through. So when your waiting for the next attack. You'd better stand there's no turning back"- "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden

by KA1Z3R on Jul 27, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

at 2:32 in the vid

you see my avatar pic.

P.S. the song Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (song in the vid) is my fave Iron Maiden song

"You'll take my life but I'll take yours too. You'll fire you musket but I'll run you through. So when your waiting for the next attack. You'd better stand there's no turning back"- "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden

by KA1Z3R on Jul 27, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lol, maybe I should change that to “yell leader”—Aggies don’t know what cheerleaders are anyway! ;)

"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton

by spursfan4ever on Jul 27, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just wondering. Do you guys expect a medium / slowish start for the Spurs this year while all the new pieces get acclimated to the system, followed by a post all-star / rodeo trip push to end the season strong? Or is there reason to expect a fast start with Duncan & Manu healthy?

by lazNirv on Jul 27, 2009 12:28 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I expect a fast start. A little bit of struggle during mid season, and a very strong finish.

I predict 62 wins

by spursfan87 on Jul 27, 2009 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

wow, thats pretty gutsy. Spurs haven’t won 60+ wins since 05-06 season. I love the optimism. I’ll agree because there a lot of teams have gotten worse while the Spurs have gotten better.

"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich

by bj1der on Jul 27, 2009 12:50 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The most important components of this team have played together before, so I expect that if healthy, they’ll come out of the gate looking like the #3 seed from last year, but if everything gels they will make an absolutely ridiculous push toward the end of the season. Like maybe a 15-20 game winning streak will be in there somewhere. I don’t see us challenging for the #1 seed, due to the initial difficulties with finding the best way to use everyone, but there would be good reason for the Lakers to fear us in the playoffs.

I used to be a c+x kind of guy, but nowadays I just go nuts with my z. - LatinD
Retire Bowen's #12!

by Tim C. on Jul 27, 2009 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Im gonna say the spurs will navigate the season to a 57 win total, all the while CLOSELY monitoring Timmy and Manus minutes. This will be a VERY different 57 win regular season.It should be good for the third seed.

57 wins is pretty good when you consider that TImmy will probably be held out of every back to back on the schedule ( thats gotta be about 14 games) and then maybe some more games. I bet hell play no more than 33 minutes per game, if that.

I bet Manu wont see more than 28 minutes per game.

The only similarity between this years and last years squad will be the win total.

UNLIKE last season though, the spurs will be a steamrolling juggernaut by the final ten games of the season, ( as opposed to limping into the playoffs and barely pulling close games out of our @$$)

by alamobro on Jul 27, 2009 1:34 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I like this idea.

Wonder if Pop does.

5 in 10
I want my Manu o;—-)

by jollyrogerwilco on Jul 27, 2009 2:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good thoughts, xman. I agree that we don’t need RJ to equal Bruce in his prime. We just need him to be an above average defender (which I think he’s capable of, especially ath-u-letically). Last year, Bonner (despite his effort) wasn’t usually capable of defending his position, and Findog (for all of his brilliant shooting) was awful on the defensive end, especially for all the minutes he played. And if we’re being honest, Bruce’s defensive prowess was not the same. At least this year, we have the big bodies to return to the suffocating defense of the past. But it’ll be a learning process for all of the new blood. I think the rodeo trip will be where we see everything come together.

My people call it "sarcasm." - Lauri

by CapHill on Jul 27, 2009 5:13 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In all seriousness, if the Spurs stay healthy (and that’s a big if), I look for them to win 62-65 games. They’ve gotten much better than last year’s 54 win team. The Lakers are still up there, but the other teams haven’t improved, and I look for Houston and Denver to take a step back.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Spurs sitting at something like 40-8 at the all star break, a few games behind a Lakers team that may be on pace challenge 70 wins, with those two teams miles ahead of the rest of the West, who will be bunched with similar records in the 3-10 positions.

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. --Andy Dufresne

by tomasito on Jul 28, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

62 to 65 would be great , it would give us an outstanding chance to earn the # 1 seed…

But with the way I bet POp will be monitoring everyones minutes, i cant really see 60 plus wins happening unless everything goes absolutley perfect…

by alamobro on Jul 28, 2009 6:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

We could have won 6 more games if Manu played half the games he missed. Add in Jefferson, Dice, and Blair and it definitely could happen.

by BlaseE on Jul 28, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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