| Pre-Draft Summit: San Antonio Spurs Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Spurs Forum - June 20, 2008 - 9:06 am
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The San Antonio Spurs:
2007-08 Record: 56-26
Difference From 2006-07: Two Fewer Wins
Playoff Result: Lost In Five To L.A. (WCF)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Unrestricted Free Agents: Brent Barry (P), Michael Finley, Robert Horry, DerMarr Johnson, Damon Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas, Jacque Vaughn (P)
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
Mr.Bottomtooth: The main reason for our early exit was Manu Ginobili. He was off the whole series – with only one good game – and if he put up stats even slightly below his averages, we might have seen a Spurs/Celtics Finals.
HarlemHeat37: Ginobili's injury couldn't be avoided, so there's nothing the Spurs could have actually done to avoid elimination. The Lakers were just a better team this year, mostly due to youth and freshness.
the southern dandy: The Ginobili injury was no one's fault, but I think if Gregg Popovich had played Kurt Thomas over Robert Horry during the bulk of the Lakers’ series we could have advanced. Also, the Spurs didn't play Brent Barry over Michael Finley until they were already in a massive hole.
ss1986v2: Not a whole lot. The problem was Manu not hitting his shots, and there’s not a lot you can do about that. I would have liked to see a bit less of Horry as well.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: More Barry and Thomas in the series, with less Ginobili and Horry. They hurt us more than they helped, while Barry became a hidden gem midway through the series and Thomas would have helped with our rebounding woes.
SD2042: I guess being more consistent offensively. With Manu playing injured, and key bench players like Horry and Finley being inconsistent in the series. The Spurs chances to advance to the Finals were void at that point.
Blame Rasho: Barry should have gotten more playing time, and Popovich should have known when to stop playing Horry and Finley.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Mr.Bottomtooth: The biggest strength was our post defense. Tim Duncan and Thomas did a great job in the paint.
the southern dandy: Team play and chemistry, Three-point shooting, defensive commitment and execution were also major contributors to their success.
ss1986v2: The defense, as usual. We could still put the clamps on at times, and it was the offense that let us down.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: Our guard’s ability to penetrate. It's when Manu and Tony Parker settle for jumpshots that our offense sputters
SD2042: The defense and our ability to make opponents work for their shots.
Blame Rasho: The Big Three. When they are healthy, and on the same page, it is very hard for anyone to beat San Antonio
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Mr.Bottomtooth: I would say Ime Udoka was the surprise of the season. He went from twelfth man at the start of the season to a key player in the rotation by February.
HarlemHeat37: There wasn't anybody that "surprised" me this season. If I had to pick somebody that would be "surprising" to fans of other teams, it would probably be Udoka.
the southern dandy: The only player who really fits this description is Udoka. He went from being a shaky new guy to a rotation player in the playoffs.
ss1986v2: Udoka. He was nothing spectacular, but progressed well as the season advanced.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: Nobody, really. I'd choose Ime if I had to throw out a name.
SD2042: Ime, although it took time for him to crack into the rotation.
Blame Rasho: Udoka. He had an up-and-down season, but showed that he is a quality rotation player.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Mr.Bottomtooth: This is an easy one: Finley. His shot was constantly off, didn't provide the defense or rebounding as he usually did and was more of a threat to the Spurs than the Lakers in the Conference Finals.
HarlemHeat37: I'd like to pick Horry, but Finley was terrible too.
the southern dandy: Finley was perhaps worse than everyone imagined, but the decline was expected. Horry failing to contribute anything at all was probably a bigger surprise.
ss1986v2: Horry or Finley, whichever you like. Finley was wilding inconsistent and Horry was barely on the team this season.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: Several had ineffective seasons, but I'd say that Finley was the most 'surprising'.
SD2042: Finley and Horry. Unfortunately, they are getting older and it's affecting the way they play the game.
Blame Rasho: Finley was unbelievably disappointing and ineffective the entire season.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Mr.Bottomtooth: I'm pretty confident in the front office. They won't surprise anyone with a big trade, but they'll do what needs to be done in order for the Spurs to get back on top.
HarlemHeat37: I’m very confident. The Spurs have a successful championship core and only need a few younger role players. I expect them to bring in some younger pieces through free agency and the draft. We don't need any big-time players, just compliments to Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.
the southern dandy: I think that this front office is more flawed than people make it out to be. I worry that we'll draft and stash again. I believe they can help us stay afloat, but not really separate us from the crowd.
ss1986v2: I’m somewhere between cautious optimism and cautious doubt. We have lost a lot in the front office over the last few years, and I’m worried about Pop and R.C. Buford making the best moves possible for both the long and short term.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: Not very. We have not had a quality player drafted since Parker in 2001 and Finley has been our biggest signing in recent memory. We have not done much to mold the team for future success after The Big Three, in my opinion.
SD2042: Considering the team’s history, I can say confident. However, they need to switch from drafting foreign to drafting domestic because of the needed upgrades.
Blame Rasho: I have faith in our front office. They have managed to keep this team a contender for many years. They can't hit a homerun every offseason, but it is important to realize that it is harder to win when everyone is gunning for you.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Mr.Bottomtooth: The biggest needs for the Spurs, in order, are a swingman to replace Finley and Bruce Bowen, a big man to develop in the D-League for when Thomas and Fabricio Oberto head downhill and a backup point guard who is able to hold his own while Parker gets his rest.
HarlemHeat37: An athletic swingman or backup point. The swingman is important, because Finley most likely won't be with the team next season and Barry is getting old. The Spurs need to add a new dimension to the team, which means adding a swingman that can slash to the basket and make the occasional three.
the southern dandy: An athletic swingman, who can contribute immediately, or at the very least isn't a huge project.
ss1986v2: Depth at the wings. We are old as dirt there, and everywhere else really.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: A defensive-minded big that is capable of scoring and a starter shooting guard.
SD2042: A shooting guard, power forward and center.
Blame Rasho: Youth. We are older than dirt. There is a fine line between being experienced and being old. We showed that we were old against the Lakers. We should look for that mystical small forward, but we also need another big man to help Duncan with rebounding.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
Mr.Bottomtooth: With the first pick, I would like the Spurs to select Bill Walker. With the second round picks they have, I'd like to see them get Sonny Weems and Goran Dragic.
HarlemHeat37: I'd like to get Brandon Rush or Nicolas Batum, but I don't see either guy falling to the Spurs. It would probably take a trade for the Spurs to move up and pick up either guy.
the southern dandy: Rush would be ideal. Realistically though Chris Douglas-Roberts, Courtney Lee or even Walker would be great. In the second round, I'd like Weems and perhaps Sean Singletary.
ss1986v2: In an ideal world, Rush or Batum. Realistically, Lee. He has a very complete game, is a great character guy and would have time to ease into a larger role.
johnnyjohnnyjohnny: Anybody who doesn't play for TAU.
SD2042: Rush, Douglas-Roberts or Lee with the 26th pick. As long as it's one of the three, I won't be disappointed.
Blame Rasho: Realistically, we would have to trade up for either Batum or Rush, but I really like both.
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’re a fan of one of the many teams that we have yet to feature, surf over to our forums and weigh in on what is happening within the organization. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
