It seems like ever since I can remember, the Spurs have been GREAT. Most teams are good and either turn great and drop off the map, or go downhill directly. The Spurs on the other hand have been dominant and title favorites it seems every year. I know TD is the greatest PF of ALL-TIME, but even the Lakers with Kobe sucked and Cavs with LeBron sucked. I just can't see the Spurs not make the post season. I figure when TD is gone, there will be a huge gaping hole in the middle. Is this the time where the spurs drop off, or will they continue to find diamonds in the rough over and over again? Promising players for the Spurs: -Leonard -Splitter -DeColo I just dont know if the Spurs will ever suck
Wait till Duncan really really retires and Ginobody goes back to Argentina or elsewhere I can't wait for that
When Duncan and Ginobili retire they will have to rebuild. Splitter, Leonard, De Colo and even Dajuan Blair have all been great pick ups to add to an already stacked roster, but none of them are players you can build around - and they're not good enough to support a lone Tony Parker (who will then probably be 32 or more) in a serious playoff run (though I wouldn't dare completely discount the possibility of them scraping their way into the playoffs. Pop is too good and their system/organization is too good to ever completely count them out). The good news for the Spurs is that even if they retain Parker until he retires (for sentimental reasons), they'll likely have enough quality vets that they can trade for draft picks that they can seriously expedite the rebuilding process. Splitter is the kind of a guy a contending team would love to have any year. All of that said, you're right in that it does feel like forever since they've not been contenders. I remember when they went from god awful to good the year that David Robinson finally joined Sean Elliot and Willie Anderson. I think that was 88 or 89? With the notable exception of the one year in which Robinson went down with an injury and they tanked for Duncan, they've pretty much been good every years since.
I rate their depth highly. If you took Duncan and Ginobili out I still think they are a 6-8 seed team.
They're still a good regular season team, but they'll never win another championship with what they have now. Pop is just trying to win as many games as he can, which is honorable...that's his job, but they'll never be contenders with that old squad. They don't have the energy to go after the young elite teams in a 7 game series anymore.
San Antonio will go through a rough patch, not when the Big 3 retire, but when Popovich retires / goes away from the team. Pop is the most important part of that team.
In my opinion, Pop is like the coach version of LeBron James - he can take a scrub team and make them playoff worthy. Not Finals worthy - but playoffs, for sure.
I did not disagree... but I think Spurs management wants to compete in the playoffs Leonard, Splitter are nice players but nowhere near a young Duncan when the Admiral called it a day
Agree with you but he needs good players too. When you combine TD/TP/Manu + Pop + their superb front office (much of which Pop controls), you have a formula for long term excellence. I wrote the Spurs off 2-3 years ago and can't believe how they have maintained. The franchise will go in the dumpster quickly because Pop won't stay on after TD retires.
You think that, but last year that got to the WCF with an entirely new way to play basketball. The spurs CAN beat the Thunder. Don't think that they can't.
I think they can upset any team ... but I guess it's nearly impossible to upset the Thunder and the Heat. They are too gassed after one series.
You're basing this on what exactly? They were in the WCF last year up 2-0 which they blew and it had nothing to do lack of energy. If the Spurs aren't a contender then neither is LAC, OKC, or Miami.