Are we following the path of the Spurs?

Not only that Popovich arrived and taught that team how to play defense.

Are you implying we have to tank?

 

I think this is a fair comparison that will be better seen when Yao comes back.

You guys dissecting this are kind of pulling it off track. The comparison is to the 04-08ish Spurs, not the 2010 Spurs.

Also, Yao and DAVID ANDERSEN are international players. Maybe if we pull Llull in at some point he'll count too.

 

In the back of my mind, I've had the feeling that the Rockets are acquiring good young talent, then attempting to consolidate those players to get back star players a la Boston. Rockets have a lot of great young players on rookie/reasonable contracts in Brooks, Budinger, Lowry, Hill then also have the expiring contracts in Battier + Jeffries plus the draft picks from NY. The additional fact that the Rockets were interested in trading for Amare during the deadline makes me think that the Rockets are proceeding with a plan somewhat like Boston's.

 

Pop is a weasel, but he won a bunch of championships and no one remembers what he did.

 

Would say:

Duncan >>Yao : this is clear, but closer than most of you think. Yao is the most dominant center offensively right now and as good as Duncan is, imo greatest PF of all time, against inferior opponents Yao can be just as dominant.

Parker >>> Brooks: honestly don't think brooks is near this level yet. Is completely not clutch, not dominant in finishing, low shooting % compared to parker, cannot pass, weak defense. He has 3 point shooting, but that's about the only thing he is better than Parker at.

Ginobili >= martin: This in my opinion is the closest. Kmart offensively can be one of the best in the league. Think ray allen shooting + with the ability to get 10 free throws a game... Manu was great, very efficient as well and unstoppable off the bench, but martin definitely has the abilities, given the situation, to get there.

Bruce Bowen < Battier: intangibles.