Do the Spurs draft well or their coaches develop these unknown stars?

James Anderson their highest draft pick since Tim Duncan

 

Then they leave the Spurs, and don't amount to much. A small exception here is George Hill. But the point is that the Spurs' role players are fungible. Every piece fits around their Big 3. The supporting cast is fungible, and gets replaced routinely. Pop is the best coach in the NBA by far. We'll see how good he is when Duncan and Ginobili retire.

 

I believe they transform these ok players into great role players. Just look at what happens to these players when they leave the spurs. Not so great afterwards. They see what a player is great it and use it, i.e. Bruce Bowen, premier defender. Manu, spark off the bench. Leanord, new bruce bowen. etc... etc.. Great system, great coaches using ok players and turning them great!!

 

Thats just ridiculous J.R. Its no secret that S.A's FO is ahead of every other by a mile. Unlike some that completely dismiss analytics and some that completely rely on it *cough Rockets* ough*, they have a nice balance. They use their basketball accumen first and foremost and use analytics as a powerful tool. I think they have a clear vision of exactly what they need (with how consistent and disciplined Pop's system is..), and it makes it that much easier to pick and choose players.

 

David Robinson was on with Jay Mohr this morning and was asked a question as to how have the spurs been consistently great for the last 2 decades.

He said there was two big things:

1 - the spurs do an amazing job when it comes to scouting - they were ahead of the curve when it came to international scouting and have had a great team when it comes to realizing potential in players.

2 - a) Pop does a really great job at defining roles for each player on the team and gets them into buying their role, their spots, their assignments and not go beyond that role -- this leads into part b) Robinson said they look specifically for character guys that are willing to lessen their personal talents and buy into this concept of the sum being greater than the individual parts. Without guys who are willing to defer to the team concept - the system would not work.

Of course a lot of that starts from their ultimate franchise player (hell the franchise itself) Tim Duncan being the perfect example of both #1 and #2

 

Playing with 3 potential HOFers (year after year after year after year) makes it easy for those role players. Most of them are vets and/or just team guys that want to accept a role and fit in.

Most other teams are still trying to build so they get players trying to prove something and/or young players that dont know what it takes to win yet. Having Pop making sure everyone stays in line also helps.

They have about 2 more years then its back to the pack forever!

 

It was the same with Jerry Sloan. He'd pick up trash and turn them into great role-players. Then they'd leave and be trash again. He was another coach who knew how to get maximum utility out of his players. I think he had a little more trouble than Pop did with players who didn't fit in. I don't know if he wasn't quite as good at it as Pop, had a harder personality, or that was just the luck of the draw.

 

Hit it on the head. Number 2 is the key. They get guys that work in the system and they don't deviate from it. It's everything together that works so great and that's what the best teams have and why they win championships.

Look back at even our Rockets championships, everyone had their specific role and they played it to a T.

 

Except Hayes who was brought in under JVG.

Patterson/Parsons/Daniels under McHale.
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The Rockets have done a pretty good job with player development. Let's stop with the bashing of our team every now and then.

 

One thing no one mentions is Spurs do ROTATE THEIR PLAYERS. Thus, bench plays more, bench is more involved, no isos means more opportunities for role players.

its not that spurs draft very well, they use players they have and don't whine about what they are not able to do.

PERIOD.

 

Everything matters, but talent evaluation is the heart and soul of it. The other day this month Kelvin Pelton mentioned in his ESPN chat that people underrates the scouting of Spurs. Danny Green is actually rated higher in advanced stats coming out of college than Wesley Johnson.

I've been researching NBA draft for a while, and I noticed how Spurs and OKC follow similar strategy in draft. They combine traditional scouting with advanced stats very well.

Blair was a beast in college with one of the top PER's in the country, and Spurs picked him very late in the draft due to health concerns. Kawhi is one of the favorites from Hollinger's drat rater.

 

Charles Barkley said anyone play in the NBA has talent. Truth there.

How to utilize that talent to full potential in a team structure = Spurs.

How to not utilize talents = most teams, including Rockets.

 

#2 is extremely important. I think team mentality is a very underrated "talent" for a player.

I've always wondered, if the Spurs didn't have Duncan, could they still cultivate such team culture?

 

Um...Pops

 

Kind of like how Lin sucks on the Rockets because he isnt utilized properly while Beverly is amazing cause he makes up for Hardens lack of d

 

Combination, they draft great players, but they not be developed as much in a different org.

Patty Mills represent!

 

I know they didn't draft patty, but they found him again, and polished him up

 

But Pop also threw away Rodman. The Bulls picked him up, and ......

 

TrolLin.