With the addition of swift and derek anderson it seems like we have improved from last season's team. But do we have a team strong enough and smart enough to beat the spurs for a ring? Is our back court of Derek anderson and sura capable of holding off ginobli and parker? Can someone break down the teams and compare?
I remember last season losing to the spurs while tim duncan was still out. i realize i'm not the most senior poster on here, but i think we can beat them any day if we're playing right. i think it'll come down to attitude. still, it seems like they are better talent-wise, but we can beat them. it'll just depend on the day. i do hate their redneck-ass loudmouth fans passionately though so i hope we do
This is a good question which I am sure will come up alot over this upcoming season as we establish ourselves as a legit contender. My answer though is "no." We may be the 2nd best team in the West, but the gap between #2 and the Spurs is even greater than #2 and #8. They not only have superior talent but they have had that nucleus together for so long that their chemistry and cohesiveness is on a completely different level than anyone else in the league. It will take time until we can compete with San Antonio. Talent wise, we have significantly lessened the gap. We can overtake them if Yao Ming plays year round like he did in the Dallas series, but let's be honest, I'm not holding my breath. FWIW, Derek Anderson has long been one of my favorite players in the league and I wanted to trade Mobley for him when he was on the block with the Clippers. He's a legitimate, full-size, versatile shooting guard and that's something we desperately needed. I would not trade Wesley though as some have advocated. We can consider ourselves lucky if Derek Anderson plays more than 60 games. He is made of glass and that is a concern.
Duncan didn't play and we were completely manhandled by the time the 4th quarter rolled around. It took a McGrady miracle and an injury to Ginobili to get our 2 wins against them last year. The talent gap is closing but they are so superior to us in every aspect of the game: intensity, chemistry, rotations, precision, etc. Personnel wise we have done all we can do. What we need is time and patience.
The key to stopping the Spurs is Flopu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Contain them and the only other Spur that can create his own shot is Duncan. The whole Western conference teams' personnnel should be geared into containing those 2, and have enough big bodies to throw at Duncan.
Heck with the Spurs, we have some unfinished business with the Mavs. Those 40 points still stick in my craw. I want the Rockets to open a new can of whoopass every time we play them- regular season & playoffs. Let's take care of 1st things 1st. I have a sneaking suspecion that the Spurs will still be there after we take care of the Mavs.
I think we'll still have a tough time beating the spurs. Because we don't have a good enough defender to contain Tony Parker. Derek Anderson might be able to contain Ginobilli. We definitely can handle Tim Duncan now. We have a huge advantage in Yao & TMac. Tony Parker could give us problem if he repeatedly drives inside. Hopefully Swift and Yao can take care of him inside.
cannot agree more, step by step.. we need to go the 2nd round at first before taking on the spurs... But i do think we have a legit shot at #4 seed in the west
That's the key to beating the Spurs. Make Tony Parker a non-factor. That's how the Fakers won 4 straight against them in the 2004 playoffs(the Derek Fisher miracle shot helped). It's also how the Pistons nearly won the Finals this past season. Let Duncan and Manu get theirs. Just make sure Parker isn't scoring anywhere but at home with Eva. Another factor to consider is that the Spurs' supporting cast is getting up there in years. Horry and Bowen are in their mid-30's now and likely on their last legs. Of course, you could argue the same for Deke and Jon Barry, so maybe that's a wash.
Their backcourt is much better than ours. Our frontcourt is better. The key for us to beat them is for Yao to become unstoppable. When that happens, we are better than them, simple as that. Nobody can stop Tony Parker, he stops himself. When he feels the pressure of a huge game or gets intimidated, he will settle for outside jumpers (which he usually misses) and then will stop shooting. The Pistons fouled him hard a couple of times and he disappeared for long stretches. If Parker becomes tough-minded and/or develops a consistent outside shot, watch out!
That's a sound plan: follow what past teams have done that led to success. Our problem stopping Manu and Parker is simple: speed. We don't have anyone that's fast enough to stay with these guys and keep them from penetrating. That's why JVG basically has our defenders stand shoulder to shoulder to keep them out of the paint. Our best shot would be to put T-Mac on Manu and MJ on Parker. We should be better equipped to stop them now that we have DA and Swift, but they are champs because they stick to their game plan and they don't get rattled by pressure.
I disagree that we have less talent than the Spurs do. What I do agree on, however, is that we don't have that special chemistry- yet. The Spurs are a great 'Team', where everyone knows their roles. Thinking about it that way makes me realize that the West is actually weaker than the East when you compare individual teams talent-wise. The Heat are definately better, and the Pistons and Pacers are right up there with the Spurs and us. Of course, this is all Talent-wise. The Rockets were never the best in that category when we were winning championships.
I haven't heard many people mention it, but Wesley played a lot of the 1 in Charlotte. I think he could slow down the Parkers of the world defensively. Not saying he should start at the 1, or even play there at all... just defensively. We've addressed our lack of height in the backcourt. We have so many options now with our guards. I can't wait for the season to start.
I doubt this will be a problem but I'll say it anyway: Will Juwon and Derek be cool after the playoff game shot?
