[IMGl]http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/nba/sml/trans/sas.gif[/IMGl]<font size="3">Spurs bring in key additions, upgrades to get back to the Finals</font> By Michael A. De Leon After an early exit in last season?s playoffs, the Spurs aimed to bring in a reliable shooter, something they didn?t have against the Lakers. Also high on their list of priorities was re-signing Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen. Ginobili got a significant amount of attention from other teams during his time as a restricted free agent, especially from the Denver Nuggets. But Ginobili opted to re-up with the Spurs, who came calling with a 7-year, $52 million dollar contract. Next on the list was to bring back defensive specialist Bruce Bowen. Bowen didn?t receive the attention Ginobili got, but his plan was to sign back with the Spurs the whole time. Bruce played the classy card by opting out and re-signing for less than what his current contract was paying him, in exchange for more of a long-term deal. With the starting five solidified, Spurs brass went shopping for some outside shooting help, which has often killed them in the postseason. Just before agreeing to a contract with the Portland Trailblazers, Brent Barry got a call from the Spurs. What you may not know is that while Barry was on top of the Spurs' list of free agents, the Spurs were at the top of Barry?s list, too. San Antonio was the choice destination, but up until his phone rang that day, it did not appear he would get his wish. So when he did, Barry changed his travel plans immediately. Other movement and signings this offseason have included drafting point guard Beno Udrih of Slovenia, to fill the gap left by the departure of Jason Hart to the Charlotte Bobcats in the expansion draft. Udrih has drawn comparisons to Tony Parker, and everyone is hoping he can have the type of immediate impact Parker had his rookie year. Udrih is expected to play about 15 minutes per game as he gets used to the NBA game and develops as a reliable backup to Parker. Later in the draft, the Spurs picked up guard Romain Sato from Xavier. Sato was a great steal, especially in the second round, and unlike past Spurs second-round selections, he was signed to a contract shortly after the draft. Sato brings reliable three-point shooting, a tremendous amount of athleticism, and took a great leadership role at Xavier. Other additions and signings include power forward Tony Massenburg, small forward Linton Johnson III, and Robert Horry, who re-signed after the team declined his second-year option. The Spurs have since added other players, but only time will tell if they make it past training camp. POSITION-BY-POSITION ANALYSIS Point Guard Tony Parker has taken strides every season to being the reliable floor leader Gregg Popovich wants him to be. He has steadily improved since his rookie season, but has yet to be consistent throughout the season and into the playoffs. He is an exciting young player to watch and if last season's stats say anything about what he will do this season, fans have reason to cheer. Although his points per game went south in comparison to the 2002-2003 campaign, he averaged a career-high 5.5 assists per game and his turnovers went down as well. This could be the year he becomes a premier NBA point guard. Popovich and General Manager R.C. Buford are high on the rookie Udrih at backup, and although he has no NBA experience, they trust him enough to put him in the driver's seat at least 15 minutes per game. If Udrih struggles, Brent Barry and Manu Ginobili will be forced to play some backup point. Shooting Guard Ginobili is the starter, no doubt about it. After being inserted in the starting lineup last season, he was pulled back to the bench in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu in an effort to boost Turkoglu?s confidence. Ginobili is another exciting player and a fan favorite. He is fearless and although he is turnover prone, when he is on his game, he turns even his coach into a fan. Ginobili is streaky when it comes to shooting on the perimeter but he is usually solid from anywhere else on the floor. He nearly doubled his points per game from his rookie year and even increased his rebounds and assists. Is this the year he becomes the all-start everyone knows he can be? Ginobili?s backup, Brent Barry, will be a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. And there won?t be much of a dropoff at shooting guard when Manu heads to the bench. Barry is the anti-Hedo- a very consistent shooter, especially from beyond the three-point-line and at the charity stripe, the spots that trouble the Spurs the most. Barry also racks up a bunch of assists, turning in a career-best 5.8 per game last season. Second-year G/F Devin Brown will also see some time backing up Ginobili and Bruce Bowen. Brown is athletic and does well pulling down boards for his size. Small Forward Small forward has not been one of the Spurs strongest positions offensively since Sean Elliott, but the Spurs don?t mind having a defensive stopper like Bruce Bowen on their roster, especially when he has a knack for getting under the skin of the opposing teams best player night in and night out. Bowen also loves shooting from the corners, but he is yet to be a consistent threat. Although he wasn?t able to showcase his skills last season with the Chicago Bulls, Linton Johnson III has a style similar to Bowen?s and word is that the Spurs may try to work with him in order for him to develop as a defensive specialist like Bowen. His road to the NBA is very similar to the player he is backing up, he was undrafted and he has played overseas and with the NBA Developmental League. Johnson is an energy player and a hard worker, and last time I checked, those are two characteristics Popovich values. Power Forward Tim Duncan will look to get his MVP award back this year, but playing in the Athens Olympics this summer, don?t expect Duncan to start off with a bang, he will be his usual self, but an exhausting summer schedule will take it?s toll and durability could be a problem later in the season. Duncan?s points and rebounds decreased last season, but he also reached an all-time low in turnovers. The Spurs will have a variety of options when Duncan heads to the bench, but his primary backup will be Robert Horry. Horry was known mostly for his outside shooting before he came to San Antonio last season, but he showed us that he can play inside and be a presence on the boards. It has been rumored Malik Rose is back in the good graces of Popovich and he has given Spurs coaches reason to be excited about what he will do this season. Whether he return to the player he was during the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 campaigns is yet to be known, but reportedly he has been working hard this summer towards getting in shape and changing his focus back to the defensive side of the game. Center Rasho Nesterovic is no David Robinson, and he won?t make Spurs fans forget about the Admiral any time soon, but Rasho is making strides toward improving his defensive game. Rasho averaged over seven rebounds per game and two blocks per game, both career highs. He does well especially with offensive rebounding and shooting his always been the best part of his game. Look for him to improve even more now that Shaq is out of the west. Nesterovic?s primary backup will most likely be Massenburg. The 18-year NBA vet, who started out with the Spurs, enjoyed his best season with the Grizzlies while they were in Vancouver. That season Massenburg averaged over 11 points and 6 rebounds a game while only averaging 26 minutes a game. Massenburg is a banger on the inside and he may help Sean Marks, who will be the third center, and may spend most of his time on the injured list. Predictions The Spurs did exactly what they needed to during the offseason, bringing back key pieces and adding key players. They were only 0.4 seconds away from what I would expect to be a finals appearance last season and the addition of Barry and Ginobili making it back to the starting five will push them even closer. The Spurs will up their win total from last season to about 60 wins this season and I expect them to finish the regular season first in the Southwest Division and first in the Western Conference. They?ll be back in the finals against Indiana or Detroit unless they have major injury troubles.
Pretty good preview. It could've used some stats (last years or predictions) but it's a good read anyways. I disagree with some things, although. I don't think Ginobili will be a full-time starter. Ginobili has proven he's effective off the bench, we can't say that Brent Barry can do as much off the bench as Manu.
thanks, but Manu will have to be a starter this season, the trouble last season was that there was considerable dropodd when Manu went to the bench, especially with Hedo having major confidence problems, but with Brent Barry backing him up, and Devin Brown also being a key reserve, I think he'll start throughout the whole season. BTW, I love your sig, I am a big Stephe Jackson fan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mad0214:</div><div class="quote_post">damn, I guess it really must've sucked, no replies</div> Sadly It is hard getting more Spurs fans to post consistantly here, been that way from the start. Hopfully that changes this season. Good preview, should certainly be interesting how Brent Barry fits into the Spurs system. Wirh Shaq now in the east, the Spurs should be able to make the finals. The big fella was the one guy Duncan and co had problems with in the playoffs over the years. Wolves will be a threat but in a 7 game series, I can't see them edging out San Antonio.
I am a huge spurs fan and I see every spurs game I can see. I would love it if more people would post here. I don't really do it because I will get no response from posts because no one posts here. I enjoyed the preview, you seemed like you worked on it pretty hard.
I have a feeling Barry will start. As a Seattle fan, Brent is at his best when he starts on the floor and can pick up and control the tempo of a game right from the opening tip. He gets people involved in the game early. Manu on the other hand seems to be a real sparkplug off the bench. Not that he isn't good enough to start, because he definately is, but I think the best scenario would be Bones starting and controlling the game early, and then Ginobili coming in for either Barry or Parker and providing that punch that he has done so effectively for San Antonio in recent times. Just a matter of opinion, though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a feeling Barry will start. </div> He just has to. The team will function better with Manu as 6th man, but regardless of which way they go, all three guards will get their 30 minutes a night.
nice post. barry will start most likely cause he provides that spark, like devin brown did last year in the playoffs
