I have always had a ton of respect for David Robinson and the Spurs. Last year I defended them against people who said their title was "tainted" and I felt they would win the title last year. Let me tell you, losing Derek Anderson wasn't the reason the Spurs lost. 1.) The Lakers were hot, and 2.)The Spurs, for whatever reason, didn't have any mental toughness in that series. I haven't a clue why. I think Avery Johnson is far more important to the Spurs then people dream. That is the engine that runs the offense. He's a good shooter, passer, he's smart, he's tough, and he has a ton of heart. Why San Antonio seems to want to force him out the door I will never know. Get a good PG, groom him behind Avery, and then let Avery retire a Spur. The Spurs need an extra big man, and they need a mor athletic SF. Shandon Anderson would work. So would Eddie Robinson. A healthy Derek Anderson helps, and mental toughness would put them over the top. The Spurs aren't through, the Spurs can easily beat the Lakers, and David Robinson still has it. If the Spurs address all of this they will be one of the Top 2 teams in the NBA again. ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura
To further the conversation on the Spurs, the reports are now saying that they are looking at Bruce Bowen (Heat), and Shandon Anderson (Rockets)...now do i have to say that they are once again looking for a role player to play a starting 3, and that NO ONE wants these players? Man people are so caught up in superstars, you can only have so many superstars. If the Spurs could get Bruce Bowen that would be a GREAT pick up! He would slip in there well, and he would be able to play defense against the most athletic wing players in the league. Role players are the heart of a successful team because they do the little things, and fill the roles. Something people tend to forget. One man's "garbage" is another man's treasure. ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited July 02, 2001).]
RocksMillenium: The problem with Bowen is that he can't score. You need guys that don't demand the ball; but they also need to be able to hit their shots when required. Bowen hasn't proven that he can do that. He's a great defensive stopper, but you don't want him as a starter. ------------------ Clutchcity.net... source for all your Rockets, Astros, political, music, humor, and Gordita news.
I have posted this time and time again, but it looks like it deserves another post. I don't think it's so much about the money with Hakeem. It might be about pride, and who else is getting paid more etc. It may be about wanting to go to a team that he can play the most important part to in his final year(s). I don't know what it is, but I don't think it's just about the money. Afterall, Hakeem turned down, a huge money endorsement deal with Nike for certain moral reasons when he was in his prime. People who are just about Money and nothing else don't do that. ------------------
The misconception about Bruce Bowens is that he isn't a good shooter. Bowens is a VERY good shooter from the perimter. He is a 33.6% 3pt shooter, connecting on 103 3pt shots. He scored 7.6 points per game on a team with FOUR (later FIVE) double digit scorers. Put him on San Antonio, where he will be able to slash with Derek Anderson, his scoring probably goes up to about 10 or 12 points a game, perfect for a role player. He's also a decent rebounder, grabbing 3 per game. ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited July 02, 2001).]
i find it funny (in both senses of the word) that people think the spurs are big on morals... 1) samaki was a weed blower 2) antonio can be found - REGULARLY - at either of two strip clubs. 3) derrick anderson is currently engaged in a feud w/an nfl player over the guy f@cking "his b****es". 4) vernon maxwell was a multiple spur (nuff said) that's just off the top of my head....
THANK YOU VERSE!! Now to expand on this Bowen and Anderson thang, and truly let you see why this is a waste of time. You don't NEED these players to make you better, because they are role players not starters. If you have these players on your team they help, and if you want to add them to back up someone...cool, but to rely on them as STARTERS is where the problem arises. Role player means just that, a player that plays a role, and in this case we have 2 defensive stoppers (this will be easy). Let's say that you sign one of them or both of them...HELL they're the same player anyway, and you start them at the 3. Here in the West you have 2 & 3's that score quick and often. Now let's say you are playing the Lakers (because this is the test where you see if it was a good pick up), and the line ups are as follows: C Shaq PF Ho Grant SF Rick Fox SG Kobe PG Fisher (i know he's hurt but bare with me) C Big Dave PF Duncan SF Bowen SG DA PG AD Now you want to keep your scorer out of foul trouble so you put Bowen on Kobe, because you NEED DA's points. The Lakers may counter with Fox playing DA to ensure the same for Kobe. Let's say over the course of the game that Bowen holds Kobe most of the game, and on the flip side Fox holds DA. This is what the final score may look like: C Shaq = 29pts. PF Ho Grant = 9pts. SF Fox = 17pts. SG Kobe = 38pts. PG Fisher = 13pts. Plus bench = 12pts. Score = 118pts. C Big Dave = 17pts. PF Duncan = 35pts. SF Bowen = 15pts. (Double his avg.) SG DA = 20pts. PG AD = 14pts. Plus bench = 10pts. Score = 111pts. Ok...the question is it a lack of DEFENSE or a lack of OFFENSE? And you know that Bowen will not score more then 15 pts. a game! The only way he will pan out is if you keep a offensive player like the ROLE player Ferry who doesn't play defensive. I'm waiting on Spurever and Mr. Spur to comment on this...and you too Lil' Stevie!! ------------------ Take the blue pill, and wake up from the computer dream world. I'm a fan of basketball, and knowing the truth for some means finally facing it...I'm TRUTH.
At least you are starting to grow up Mo... If the Spurs can get within 7 points of the Lakers, they have a chance. BTW, Fox won't score 17 points on Bowen, maybe on Ferry but not Bowen. I also doubt that Bowen will score 15 on Fox, who is also a good defender. I don't understand what you want me to comment on, your post is confusing... IMO, the Spurs need 2 things to compete with the Lakers if they resign Dave and DA: 1.Heart, and a lot of it. They need to play there hearts out. 2.More athleticism and defense out of the SF spot. Shandon or preferably Eddie Robinson could fill that need. ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center
Man this isn't even rational anymore. If you think the Spurs, assuming they bring pretty much everybody back, is a lottery team and will be a horrible team I don't know what to say. San Antonio will be fine next year. ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura
By the way, if you're going to add up everybody's averages and say: "The Lakers would beat the Spurs 118 to 111", that is just insane onto itself. The Lakers didn't average 118 ppg last year, how are they going to average it against the Spurs? There is far more to basketball then adding up stats and saying "Well look at this, they're going to lose 124 to 104! Look at the top scorers for each team!" ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited July 03, 2001).]
You can't add heart, you have to have it. The Spurs don't. They will do no better than the fifth seed next year. ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea...
rocksmill, if you'll read his entire post, you'll notice his tongue was planted firmly in his cheek on that statement. the fact of the matter is that the spurs will be a worse team next year. the spurs have NEVER been major players in free agency...so don't expect it now. the only chance they have for improving their team - as has always been the case - has been through the draft (which they just blew, IMO, this year). **************************************************************** if the spurs were smart (which they aren't) and had all the cap room Mr.Spur spews about (which is misleading), and had big, brass basket-balls (which they don't) , here's what they should do, IMO: 1) let dave go. let dave go. let dave go. 2) let go of avery. 3) keep ferry (he's cheap & effective) 4) resign DA 5) should have drafted a 1/2 like gilbert arenas, instead of parker. 6) pursue chris webber. their lineup would be: PG: Antonio Daniels, Gilbert Arenas, Porter SG: Derrick Anderson, (fill in w/Arenas, Porter, Kerr) SF: (pursue E-Robb), Danny Ferry PF: Chris Webber, Malik Rose C: Tim Duncan, Shawnelle Scott the following year, all they'd have to pursue, via draft or free agency, would be more backup post players. that'd be a hell of a lineup. athletic, long runners with 2 dominant high/lo post players. but you'll never see that. and it's not because the spurs always consider "character". it's because the spurs aren't an attractive team to go to, and don't have forward thinking management or coaching. they are a military team in every since of the word. slow, deliberate, conservative, methodical, occasionally successful, mostly frustrating....
FranchiseDream---You're exactly right,with Dream it is about pride,respect and just due. That pride IMO is what separates him from players like DRob in that Dream always gives everything he has and could carry his team on his back, win or lose. His pride doesn't allow him to give in as DRob is prone to do. Who knows--maybe that's part of why DRob IS willing to take less, if he knows deep down he's not giving his all all the time. My point is that if Dream were asked to take an amount lower than his worth and a figure HIGHER than his worth the following year(ala Barkley) to bring in a player(s) the team really wanted, I'm not sure he'd agree. At the same time,yes, it would be insulting to make less or the same as Cato who has a weeeeeee bit less pride in his play than Dream. A note on the shoe deal---that was quite commendable that he felt so strongly about NIKE and others overpricing their shoes and insisting that his company(Spaulding) charge a more reasonable price. While Dream's cause was noble, society's response was pathetic! We didn't want noble. After all, the more expensive the shoe, the more we can impress our friends. I would never accuse Dream of caring ONLY about the money. ------------------
what use do the spurs have for shandn andersn??? Shandn Andersn is GAR-BAGE. for practically any team. he'll be out of the league in 4 years. he is a 2/3 who suffers from delusions of grandeur, can't shoot and is best off in the post. this, when you have dave and tim already??? this makes no sense. yet, this is what the spurs are looking at. who's driving the ship? ahab??? Greg Pockmarkovich??? oh, yea. you're right. it's not the spurs i hate so much as classic, arrogant-yet-allegedly-classy spurs fans like Mr. Spur that turn my stomach.
Lottery? Um, ok... Anyways,I'd like to see them take on GP myself. And yes, they do have the cap space. DA would have to leave, but Payton is certainly reducing his options by the day. A 3way deal should get it done. :hat ------------------
I think that is one of the dumbest things I have ever read. The Spurs a lottery team?? Give me a break..... ------------------ I stole your money and I did your daughter at Texas A&M University
Ummm....many players go regularily to strip clubs. Charles Barkley was seen at strip clubs all the time. The one strip club in Atlanta is naming NBA players that went to the strip club, included are Jerry Stackhouse, Shandon Anderson, and Dennis Rodman. On the Last Word with Jim Rome a week ago, Paul Pierce, Pat Croce, and Snoop Dogg were on the show. Paul and Pat all admitted that just about all NBA players go to strip clubs on road trips with regularity. So judging moral by strip clubs isn't necessarily a good judgement tool. ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center
I could never agree more. Oh wait you forgot impudent, immature, childish, false, infantile, and sophmoric, just off the top of my head... ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center
Yes I agree with you. I wish that Dream would take less money, and that would be commendable. The numbers I heard for Hakeem's salary aren't that realistic. Your also right about the shoe deal. The crazy thing is that I have had pairs of expensive basketball shoes, that didn't last me as long as Hakeem's spaldings. [This message has been edited by Franchisedream (edited July 04, 2001).]
Well,well,well it seems now that DRob is not so willing to take that big a pay cut for the Spurs after all. According to his agent Dave understands the team's situation but feels he has sacrificed salary for them for a long enough time and now wants fair market value since this will probably be his last year. And he's willing to play elsewhere if necessary though he would prefer not to. Is this posturing? Is he serious? Can they pay him and Anderson if they give both what they want? What money is left over for the 3 spot if they do? Do they sign and trade Dave? Would that be better longterm for the team and the chances to keep Duncan from opting out and leaving? ------------------
