By this time, most of you should know that Michael Finley has signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Seriously, how ridiculously good is the SA roster right now? There is absolutely no holes in their rotation from PG down to the C. They have retained their champonship roster from last year, but now they will be able to bring in Michael Finley AND Nick Van Exel off the bench!! Those two can still light it up with the best, and would probablly more effective now as bench players in their age. Seriously, this is almost unfair to all other teams.
Well they do have a weakness (lack of an athletic bigman), even still theyre clearly the best team in the league. Nothing but solid-great signings by the Spurs this offseason. As opposed to the Butler and Atkins for Kwame type deals.
As long as they have Big Shot Bob, I feel sorry for anybody else playing them in the playoffs. The guy is seemingly unguardable. I think Finley will flourish in his role off the bench if he does come off the bench. I would think he's a projected starter at the 3? Is Bowen actually better than him?
Ya, it's too bad they suck to watch. Seriously, one of the reasons they're so good is Pop's coaching style. Somehow he's managed to turn all his players into dirty players. Whether its Manu's flops or Bowens cheapshots, this team is dirty. They may be the best team next year, we'll see, but they're boring and dirty, so right now I'd rather watch any other team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Ya, it's too bad they suck to watch. Seriously, one of the reasons they're so good is Pop's coaching style. Somehow he's managed to turn all his players into dirty players. Whether its Manu's flops or Bowens cheapshots, this team is dirty. They may be the best team next year, we'll see, but they're boring and dirty, so right now I'd rather watch any other team.</div> Obviously not a spurs fan. lol sorry had to say it. They dont have the flashiest offence, the highest flyers, the best shotblockers or the best tactics, but they get the job done, and as long as they win championships, u cant really bag them for being dirty or boring. its a traditional style they play. Centered around 1 big guy (duncan) and using him as the main part of the offence. Manu may flop a little but his game style is a little cooky and bowen just plays good, hard D theres no way cheap shots are a good thing but u have 6 fouls, use 4 of em, it may stop 8 points so it is a good thing. So theyre Game, though boring and sometimes 'dirty' it wins games and ultimately championships....
RC Buford and Gregg Popovic know what they're doing. That's a clinic of how to build a championship contender.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> By this time, most of you should know that Michael Finley has signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Seriously, how ridiculously good is the SA roster right now? There is absolutely no holes in their rotation from PG down to the C. They have retained their champonship roster from last year, but now they will be able to bring in Michael Finley AND Nick Van Exel off the bench!! Those two can still light it up with the best, and would probablly more effective now as bench players in their age. Seriously, this is almost unfair to all other teams.</div> Wrong, their center spot is actually pretty weak with Nazr and Nesterovic. Teams can easily exploit that position but the only thing is the opposing center will need to cheat off Spurs' center to double team Duncan. Still, I wouldn't say they're unbeatable, Rockets (yes I'm biased), Miami, and Detroit match up pretty well with them.
I dont like nesterovic but Nazr is pretty good for them at center. As for there roster its just insane therre looking way to good right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Wrong, their center spot is actually pretty weak with Nazr and Nesterovic.</div> I could name at least 15 teams with weaker 5 spots that the San Antonio Spurs. Rasho and Nazr aren't too bad.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I could name at least 15 teams with weaker 5 spots that the San Antonio Spurs. Rasho and Nazr aren't too bad.</div> It's definitely the weakest of their five positions. Its decent, but against other championship contenders, I don't think it would hold up that well. Still, Spurs are a really solid team right now, worthy of the title for next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">It's definitely the weakest of their five positions. Its decent, but against other championship contenders, I don't think it would hold up that well. Still, Spurs are a really solid team right now, worthy of the title for next year.</div> What players that are centers are actually good enough to take advantage of that anyway? Nazr is infact quite effective and when he got minutes was a 10 and 9 player in San Antonio last year. More than good enough. Only Shaq and Ben Wallace have or could make the Spurs center position look weak.
forgetting yao there? with the addition of swift not all the focus goes on yao on the inside they have to pay attention to him now. swift > rasho swift < nazr on occasion but nazr if he leaves yao then yaos is gonna dominate the boards.
I will definately give the Rockets the Center edge, but you dont go position by position and declare matchup winners. Thats why the Spurs win Championships and other teams don't. They play team defense geared toward funneling the players to specific locations where the help defense is. So saying that you have us at this position, but we have you here, is exactly the mentality that other teams have. You will never see a Spurs player saying "I had my man, he got beat" (talking about a teammate). The organization has gotten them to buy into the idea that they are all insignificant as individuals and unbeatable as a group. As long as the rest of the League has that position by position mentality, we will continue to win rings. Are there "better" Centers around the League than the Spurs, certainly. But we don't need our Centers to score, they just need to know where the defense is funneling players and be there to contest every shot and grab rebounds, thats it. Any offense they provide is a bonus as we rarely call plays for our center, the points they do score are usually a result of Duncan receiving all the attention. Putting a team together is not all about getting the 12 "best" players you can, it is about putting a cohesive unit on the floor that works together and puts personal ego's and agendas aside. The Spurs players are selfless and compliment each other on the floor. They aren't playing for a big payday or the next big shoe deal, but simply to hold up a trophy at the end of the season. Picking up Finley and Van Exel appears to be great moves, but if they don't buy into this mentality they won't be here long. The thing I admire about the Spurs most is they do not let the inmates run the asylum like most NBA organizations, make no mistake it is Pop's way or the highway no matter who you are.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">forgetting yao there? with the addition of swift not all the focus goes on yao on the inside they have to pay attention to him now. swift > rasho swift < nazr on occasion but nazr if he leaves yao then yaos is gonna dominate the boards.</div> Ben Wallace and Shaq give far more problems due to their consistancy and how active they are. Why exactly are you comparing Swift to two centers for? last time I checked he was a power forward and sadly for him will be matched up against the best power forward the world has ever seen.
Heat, Pistons, Mavericks, Rockets, Pacers, Suns are not better then Spurs at this point but at the same time i wouldnt feel sorry for them those teams definitely have a chance it aint like the Spurs will go undefeated in the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Ben Wallace and Shaq give far more problems due to their consistancy and how active they are. Why exactly are you comparing Swift to two centers for? last time I checked he was a power forward and sadly for him will be matched up against the best power forward the world has ever seen.</div> the best power forward the world has ever seen isnt tim duncan i can name at least 3 better PFs kevin garnett (this guy will not get as injured as duncan does, is more effienct and consistent, better rebounding and pts, assists , and steals. Duncan just had the fortune of being drafted by a team thats smart and a team that had david robinson to mentor him) Karl Malone (even tho i dont like him his name speaks for itself) Elvin hayes his defense <----- and his jumper is what made him great as i recall duncan also has good defense and that backboard jumper and dont get me wrong i like the guy
sorry but i think this team is one "tim duncan injury" away from ruining their chances... also, they myt get too complacent.. but if they remain healthy, they myt as well already take the championship anyday so we wont get to see a very boring championship series.. again, i ask for ur apologies... i just wish it wud be sumthing lyk phoenix/denver/houston vs heat/pacers/NETS.. sumthing dat wud be fun too watch.. no dull moments... coz last champ series, only d last 2 games were of sum luster..
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">sorry but i think this team is one "tim duncan injury" away from ruining their chances...</div> Can't you say that for every team if they lose their superstar?
u cant say that for detroit(no explanation), miami(wade out shaq has it covered and if shaq is out shaq and walker got it), indiana(look how they did w/o ron artest), and nj(unless the superstar is vince and not kidd)
