SB Nation User Blog: Aaronstampler

Um... not good. (Arg-USA blog)

Aaronstampler — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:39:48 -0000

It's 21-4 U.S. with a little more than a couple minutes to go in the quarter. They're on a 18-0 run as we speak with LeBron FTs pending. Manu already has two fouls and looks to have tweaked his ankle. Argentina cannot go two consecutive possessions without a turnover and their point guard, Prigioni, looks hopelessly outmatched.

Oh wait, the quarter is over now and it's 30-12, and that's with Nocioni hitting a running one-handed three at the buzzer. Everything that can go wrong for Argentina has. The U.S. already made like five threes and even when they missed one, it was an airball that went straight to Bosh for an and-1. Meanwhile on offense Argentina is missing all their shots, even lay-ups and putbacks.

In other words, just go back to bed.

Hopefully Manu isn't hurt too bad.

Another Argentina Laugher...

Aaronstampler — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:22:36 -0000

Phew... Argentina 80, Greece 78

Manoli stayed in bed, refused to watch the game because he said he would get irrationally upset with me and start yelling and cursing at me. Good thing he didn't see the end, a game can't end much more dramatically.

Really, I think he would've been proud. I'm the biggest Manu homer in the world, but let's be real... if this game is played ten times, Greece would've won seven. They got their offense a lot easier than Argentina did, got a lot of inside baskets, lay-ups, offensive rebounds, FT attempts. They had way more assists and just generally looked like they were executing some kind of viable team offense. I really got the impression that Greece played a C- game for them while Argentina played maybe a B. They can play a bit better, but not much, at least as far as their offensive game plan was.

Argentina just took and made a high percentage of their threes and got like 42 of their 80 points that way. They had and-1s on their first three baskets, for three FT attempts, then didn't get to the line again for the middle 36 minutes of the game. Manu took 17 shots, but 13 of those were from three. You could tell he had no legs at all and was exhausted. Their bench is so terrible that he played the entire second half without a rest.

Nocioni and Scola both started well, but faded. Chapu had an excuse because he tweaked his knee, but Scola finishing with only 11 is disappointing. It didn't look like Greece was doing anything special on defense against him, he simply didn't get many touches. He had no jumper at all, unlike the last game against Russia where he couldn't miss from 18' and in.

I never thought I'd type these words, but Delfino saved their bacon. Just when the team looked like it ran out of scoring ideas after three quarters, Carlos scored their first 15 points in the 4th, on three bombs, a crazy drive, and two fadeaway jumpers. After Prigioni found Scola all alone for a lay-up, thanks to a good Manu pick of his guy, Ginobili scored the last seven points on a three (his sixth make), two FTs, and a nice driving lay-up that somehow wasn't blocked even though the release point couldn't have been higher than seven feet.

Really, the hidden star of this game was Prigioni. He had six steals, harassed Spanoulis into a bunch of turnovers and Vassilis only had like 9 points, most of them very early. Defensively Argentina wasn't all that great, FG% wise, and they gave up too many offensive rebounds and inside baskets, but they were saved by all the turnovers they forced.

With Nocioni's injury, it's pretty clear that even if he does play against the U.S., he'll be limited. I don't think Manu's conditioning is at the level where he can handle playing his seventh game in 14 or 15 days, whatever it will be. I think it was a major coaching blunder playing him vs. Russia, because he could've used the rest. Now he's going to have Kobe checking him their next game, although as I've always said, whoever guards Manu doesn't really matter because he gets that top of the key screen regardless, it's the second man and third that matter. USA could simply just double him every time and get the ball out of his hands.

Basically I imagine the game plan will be similar to how they played Greece: Shoot an assload of threes and pray for a miracle. On defense they'll pack the lane in tight and force the U.S. to shoot outside and they'll probably foul a lot as well. If they outshoot the U.S. by 20% from outside and keep their turnovers under 15, they have a tiny chance.

Because they have Manu, I'll give them a puncher's chance, but realistically speaking, they're probably hoping Spain beats Lithuania so they can maybe get a bronze.

Argies looking shockingly uncrappy.

Aaronstampler — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:24:59 -0000

Don't look now kiddies, but Equipo de Emanuel David Ginobili have been absolutely playing kickass balencesto for the last oh 83 minutes of international competition. It might have been easy - even tempting - to dismiss the team after their bummer loss to Lithuania, a team with 0 current NBA players no less, but they've rebounded to beat the snot out of the Kangaroos and the Croats.

All of a sudden the guys are whipping the ball around on passes and playing great team defense again. Croatia came into the game shooting lights out from three and Argentina never really game them any open looks from there. It was almost a Spurs-type defensive performance, minus the dirty fouls from Bowen (Yeah, I went there. Whatcha gonna do about it?). Even their fat, unathletic backup centers, Ramon Gonzalez and Leonardo Gutierrez, gave them some decent minutes off the bench. Their point guard Pablo Prigioni, who I was so down on after the first game, had his second straight decent game, running the team capably, playing very good defense, not forcing up any bad shots and basically giving it to Manu and getting the hell out of the way. Chapu was a monster all game and they got the required scoring from Scola in the first half (before he fell victim to the usual foul trouble) and Delfino in the second.

Really, Argentina's situation is very similar to that of the Spurs. They won in '04 not just because they had the three stars in Gino, Scola and Nocioni, but also because they were deep. Besides Fab and Delfino (who really wasn't a big player for them back then) they also had Pepe Sanchez running point masterfully so Manu didn't have to be the primary ball handler. As good as Sanchez played in '04, he was even better in the '06 World Championships, where he was probably the team's most consistent performer. He was knocking down like every open three in that tournament, and that one weakness - his shooting - had always been the reason it didn't work out for him in the NBA. Behind Sanchez they had Alejandro Montecchia, who wasn't much of a point, but he was a deadly spot up shooter, and he had 11 big points against the U.S. in the semi-finals. Also, they had Walter Hermann as the backup forward, an energy guy who could score inside and out, like Nocioni, plus Ruben Wolkywski, who was basically the Argentine Bill Laimbeer, a big banger inside who had a surprisingly smooth stroke from 20 feet.

It was a nine man team and that helped them a lot in not getting fatigued throughout the games and the tournament. Now, though, all four of those role players are gone, either because they're not happy with the coaching or other personal reasons. The problem is that for whatever reason Argentina has been unable to develop a next generation of players of quality to take their place. You would think a whole gaggle of teenagers would've been inspired by the performances of the '02 and '04 squads, but apparently they've all been watching Lionel Messi and Juan Pablo Riquelme. Not only has Argentina been unable to find the next Manu, they can't even find the next Hermann. That's sad.

Now look at the Spurs. Same deal. We've got the big three, and two of them are as good as ever. But the bench got real old real fast and the management has been either unwilling or unable to find their replacements. Just this offseason they've started to try a little bit (George Hill's game is eerily similar to Prigioni's) but probably not enough to make a difference. It's hard to fancy Argentina's chances against deep versatile teams like Spain or the U.S., no matter how well they've played these last two games, and I'm not sure what the Spurs will do against the Lakers, Rockets or Hornets next year after the way they've improved their rosters.

One thing is for certain: In a perfect world China would beat Germany in their next game and that way Greece can take a dive and lose to China in their last group game. That would let China finish 3-2 for 3rd place in Group A and Greece finish 2-3 for 4th place. That would mean in the second round China would get 4-1 Argentina and Greece would get 5-0 Lithuania (again, I repeat, a team of 0 NBAers).

This would be ideal for everyone and certainly for my household. As it stands now I fear Greece will finish 3-2 for 3rd place and will almost certainly face Argentina in the 2nd round, putting me in the uncomfortable position of rooting against Manolis when my home country isn't even involved. I'd rather that not happen.

Anywho, today's game was only Part I of Stampler's awesome Thursday sportapalooza, as you're no doubt aware that my Iggles are playing their second preseason game against Carolina tonight, on Fox! Be there or be ... somewhere else?

ARGENTINA-LITHUANIA LIVE BLOG!!!!

Aaronstampler — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:10:24 -0000

Manu!

Fab!

Scola!

Chapu!

Uh... Delfino?

And... seven other guys I've never heard of!

Who's with me!

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!

What the Hell?

Aaronstampler — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:20:53 -0000

Here's some terrible news to wake up to, boys and girls.

Pallacanestro Biella, ecco James Gist

Imminente l'annuncio dell'accordo con l'ala americana

La nuova Angelico è nata e fa già sognare i suoi tifosi. Con l’ingaggio di James Gist, ala grande di 206 cm, classe 1986 proveniente dall’Università di Maryland e protagonista delle ultime summer league, dopo essere stato scelto al secondo giro dai San Antonio Spurs col numero 57 all’ultimo Draft Nba, il mercato può considerarsi chiuso in entrata, mentre in uscita si aspetta di conoscere la destinazione in prestito del giovane Carlo Ona Embo (Spagna?).

Così il gm Daniele Baiesi ha incassato un altro si da una seconda scelta Nba dopo aver convinto anche Trent Plaisted, chiamato a sua volta dai Supersonics al numero 46. Due rookie di grande spessore che giocheranno in squadra con Reece Gaines, il quale nel 2003 fu addirittura prima scelta al numero 15 (proprio davanti a Troy Bell...) degli Orlando Magic. Se poi si conta anche il percorso inverso fatto da Biella a Chicago da Thabo Sefolosha, scelta numero 13 nel 2006 (stipendio attuale 1.931.160 dollari...) si può affermare che il nome di Pallacanestro Biella cominci a “dire qualcosa” negli ambienti del basket professionistico americano.

La nomea di squadra che fa maturare i talenti è stata decisiva nell’ottenere la benedizione delle due franchigie Nba che detengono i diritti di Plaisted e Gist, entrambi destinati ad essere attentamente valutati per “fare la squadra” all’inizio della prossima stagione Nba. Non a caso, fa parte dell’accordo, è prevista la venuta di tecnici americani per seguire il lavoro fatto da entrambi a Biella in diverse fasi della prossima serie A.

Un bel colpo sotto il profilo diplomatico che ha visto il presidente Atripaldi stringere accordi di collaborazione soprattutto con gli ex campioni del mondo dei San Antonio Spurs. Relazioni e reputazione che influiranno anche sulle decisioni del prossimo Draft 2009 quando Jonas Jerebko sarà eleggibile. Le previsioni di oggi lo danno attorno alla scelta numero 46, al secondo giro, ma davanti a lui c’è una stagione da ala titolare per convincere gli osservatori delle sue potenzialità. L’Angelico ci spera, perchè nel mezzo ci sarebbe un campionato molto ben giocato...

Gabriele Pinna

Basically, these days, if you find the name of an NBA player you like in an article with a bunch of foreign words you don't understand, it pretty much means he's not going to be playing in the NBA next season. Our Carl Landry/Paul Millsap/Brandon Bass wannabe is apparently going to the Italian League this year. What's worse is that it seems he's doing so with the Spurs full blessing.

I can't decide if I'm more stupefied or more angry. It's like 51/49 at this point. I have no idea what our front office is doing. I could rant and rave and try to turn the air blue, but you know what? I've got too much shit to do and I'm just too tired. I think I'll just watch a tape of the Argentina-Ivory Coast Olympic soccer game instead (Lionel Messi played!).

I'm sure when Matthew finds out about this he'll thrill you all with wonderfully creative profanity and several applications of the word "fuck" that you didn't even know was possible.

We All Missed God's Birthday?

Aaronstampler — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:52:11 -0000

No one had anything to say? Nobody? Shame on all of us.

Anyway, I know CarinaGino20 posted about the Argentina Iran game, so I found the youtube highlights of it, including the two sick Manu dunks. He very much looks like he's got his hops and quicks back.

Argentina vs Iran (via chacobasket)

That's the good news. The bad news is they beat frickin' Iran by a whopping 10 points and got their asses kicked before that by Lithuania. They look pretty awful right now and even making the knockout stages (basically finishing in the top four out of a group of six including them, Iran, Lithuania, Russia, Croatia and Australia) might be a challenge. They'll beat Iran for sure, and probably the Kangaroos, but the three eastern Euro squads will all be tough.

Their first game will be at 4:45 eastern on August 9th, so I think that means it's the morning after opening ceremonies, right?

The Spurs Just Got Older and Less Attractive In One Fell Swoop

Aaronstampler — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:23:35 -0000

No surprise, we re-signed KT. I had a girlfriend once, Katie, who went by KT and she was considerably more attractive than Kurt Thomas. Especially when she was 18, 19 and on a lot of crank. A couple of years later (by the time I could seal the deal, unfortunately) she got off the drugs and gained 50 lbs, she wasn't as hot, but still hotter than Kurt Thomas.

Oh, here's the link, for the non-believers.

I'm worried Pop will banish Ian to the bench again now. That would stink and make me angry, but probably not nearly as angry as Powell, who has promised to be a fiery volcano of hate this season. Personally, I'm really excited about this.

The Spurs Just Got Younger And Cleaner In One Fell Swoop

Aaronstampler — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:43:16 -0000

AusTechSpur officially broke the story on the Summer League #6 thread, so I want to give him credit, but during an interview an otherwise annoyed and preoccupied R.C. Buford confirmed to the sideline reporter that Robert Horry officially will not be back with the Spurs.

If this bit of news produced and immediate rock hard erection for you, as it did for me, then please go find that special little someone in your life (or failing that, maybe an adult magazine or website of your choice) and flog your dolphin for all its worth.

Happy days are here again...

Quit Picking On My Buddy, You Dicks.

Aaronstampler — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:40:39 -0000

The following started out as a simple reply to a reply that PtR member Spurchief posited to AusTechSpur (Wayne) on Matthew’s last post. Follow all that? Good. As is my nature, my answer grew longer and longer, so I decided to make an entry out of it, partly to defend Matthew a bit (not that he needs defending for anything but his personal life) and partly because I’ve grown weary of seeing the same post headlining our sweet blog for a week.

Spurchief wrote to Wayne:

..but you have normally weighed in with rational viewpoints and this one is no exception. I don’t think this position is much different than Powell’s but he is much more indignant about the lack of moves by the FO than you (or I are). I choose to believe that the lack of progress by the FO is not the result of intent, but a lack of opportunities to improve given the parameters of:

1. Don’t exceed the cap
2. Find a guy who fits, chemistry-wise
3. Ability to defend is important
4. Defer to the Big 3 offensively
5. The team has to be contenders every year

Who in the last 3 years of free agency has fit that bill? And as for the draft, while I agree that RC’s rep is overblown in this regard (although a great season by Ian may change that), most rookies don’t make an impact and SA needed immediate impact (see #5 above).”

I never had pie-in-the-sky dreams for someone such as Maggette. All I wanted was Azuibuike and I think he would've fit in perfectly fine with conditions 1 thru 5 on your post. Anyway, it appears that's not happening now , and when the Clippers front office is more forward thinking than ours is (getting Camby for nothing? I mean, WTF?), it may indeed be a sign of the apocalypse.

So far all we know is that the Spurs drafted three young guys and signed another relatively young one in Roger Mason.

Now we have to play the waiting game. We'll have to be patient to find out if A) Pop and the FO drafted guys worth drafting in Hill, Gist and Hairston, B) if they have the guts to put a couple of second rounders (or maybe even an undrafted guy such as Powell or Tolliver) on the regular season roster and C) if Pop has the patience to ever play them (as well as Mahinmi) when the games count, instead of "proven" i.e. old and slow, veterans.

Past track record and all available evidence suggest that the answer to all three questions will be a big, huge, sloppy, NO.

I'm not sure if I'm on the same page with Matty, Wayne or the majority of PtR with their offseason wish-lists or battle plans. Obviously, some opinions matter more to me than others, but I haven't taken the time to research what everyone here thinks we should do and don't plan on doing so.

I think that Matthew's point in this post was that for some time now there has been a massive talent gap between the third best player on the roster and the fourth best and as our entire roster, especially the role players, continue to age, the gap continues to widen, which is not good, as I hope everyone would agree. The best chance for the Spurs to win a title in '08 and beyond is for the gap to narrow. Our fourth best player has to be able to hold Tony Parker's jockstrap, figuratively speaking (although if he literally wanted to do so, it would certainly create an interesting new angle on the team's locker room dynamic that would, I am certain, make the Spurs all of a sudden more "interesting" to ESPN and bloggers worldwide).

Anyway, the Spurs are going to stay under the cap. You know it, we know it, everyone knows it. To wish otherwise is akin to wishing for a bigger winky - grow up already, because it's just not going to happen. For the team to field a fourth (or fifth, or God help us, sixth) guy who can actually play he'll have to be young. Young players come cheap because they're not who they will be yet, known commodities, and with them you're just basically hoping and guessing. Veteran players who've proven themselves in the NBA are expensive. If you find yourself a cheap veteran player, like the Spurs have filled out their rosters with all these years, then guess what? It means, with the odd exception here or there, the guy sucks.

I don't think either Matthew or I are guilty of not having the proper respect and reverence for the past four titles. We're very thankful, believe me and personally, living in the Bay Area, I know it could be much, much worse. Here, people soil themselves just for making the playoffs and the Warriors have never been a legitimate contender in my two decades of following basketball.

I'm not going to cry or act like an asshole if the Spurs never win another one, but that doesn't mean I can't still root for them to win and criticize those responsible when I feel they're making mistakes. Pop's legacy is assured. For that matter so is Robert Horry's and Michael Finley's. Their lives will not be affected one way or another by me caring about their follies or foibles.

The point is, I have to care about their fuckups and call them on it. I have to. If I stop caring about it, then why be a fan in the first place? Why write about it? Blogging is no place for a "C'est la vie" attitude.

As Duncan and Manu continue to age, we need more help from the rest of the roster, not less. Barry had a good run as a Spur and Horry and Finley were serviceable. The time has come from new blood and the answer is youth, not experience. Our big three hid the weaknesses of the others by being young and in their prime. That luxury is gone forever and now a new formula is needed. Whoever will be the savior for the Spurs, if such a person exists, he will not be over 30 years old. For years now the big three have had to compensate for the lack of athleticism of their teammates, a task that has grown more difficult with their owned diminishing physical ability. I think they would welcome the chance and the opportunity for once to be the less athletic than their teammates and to instead compensate for their experience. You can teach people how to play team ball, you can't teach them how to run and jump.

While it appears that the Spurs have shown more commitment and willingness to give younger unknowns a chance this year, they haven't said they will do so definitively and the front office hasn't exactly established a track record of being honest with the press, especially the non-local press. Not that I blame them, as most of the non-local press are fucktards. Still, the only reason the Spurs now have all these roster openings this year for younger players is because not enough precautions were taken two years ago or last year during the off-season. The front office gambled with old, crappy players instead of mining for youth and exercising some patience, and two of the past three years, no matter how the losses transpired, the bottom line is they lost.

I'm not bitter about how 2008 ended the way I was about 2006. I'm convinced Pop blew that one with his Van Exel over Udrih foolishness, as well as his over reliance on Tinyball. 2008 was different, maybe less unavoidable, for a variety of circumstances. I just want to make sure that the front office has learned from past mistakes, that's all, and I think Matthew would tell you the same thing.

Looking For A New Friend With DirecTV

Aaronstampler — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:38:33 -0000

Hey, hello there, how ya doin'?

My name is Michael (or Aaron, if you prefer) and I'm lonely...

No wait, that's not how I wanted to start this. Here's the reality of the situation. I like the NFL. More specifically I like the Eagles and the Colts. I've watched their games on the Sunday ticket at some sports bar for the past decade at least. Anyway, now it seems I'm going to have a job actually covering the NFL for my local market (the Bay Area, the Niners, boooooooooooo) so I won't be able to watch my beloved Iggles or my less beloved but still well regarded Colts.

This is where you, Mr. or Ms. Awesome Person come in.

Are YOU planning on purchasing the Sunday Ticket on YOUR DirecTV package?

If you weren't, would you be interested in doing so if I footed most of the bill?

Basically I'm looking for somebody to record the games for me on Sundays and mail them over though DVD or VHS. Obviously compensation would be involved.

If you don't have DirecTV but live in the Philadelphia or Indianapolis area, we can also work something out.