SB Nation User Blog: Manuwar

inspiration

Manuwar — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:13:12 -0000

inspiration

and we thought the Spurs were old

oxygen

Manuwar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:58:00 -0000

Typically when I think of Spurs closing moments I think of Manu and Tim through out the last 6 years or so. I've always felt like things started and ended with these two and the Spurs have been one of the best, if not the best, in close games. They're still here so what's the big deal with this year? Why can't we close out games? Well I shortchanged a certain someone and I think we miss him dearly.

When we think of clutch we usually, or at least I do, think of the last 2 or three possessions but that's not quite fair. I think clutchness really begins in the 4th quarter around the 8 minute mark in a close game. Basically where players start to think about what they do instead of just doing.

Last night was a microcosm of our season. George Hill missed two wide open threes in the right corner and Manu one in the left. Each were huge misses as we only lost by three and each were within the six final minutes of the game.

In the final minute of the game up 1 George Hill was assigned to Derron Williams. Williams drove hard, did that fake cross over with one hand, stopped and popped a 17 footer. George was back peddling and never really had a chance of contesting the shot. Hill is our best perimeter defender but he isn't close to elite yet. This sucks because when we need a stop we can't get one.

And now for nostalgia. Bruce would have hit at least ONE of those threes, right? And I bet the farm he pulls his ancient art of war magic to some how some way make sure Williams doesn't make the game winner there. Am I suggesting we bring him back? No...but the Bruce of old is what this team is missing. Timely back-breaking threes, clutch D and someone who will hold his teammates accountable for defensive lapses. Going into timeouts it was not uncommon to see Bruce irate with someone for botching an assignment; this years team doesn't seem to care as much.

Here's to Bruce, we've never missed you more.

Worry wart

Manuwar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:22:08 -0000

Over a leisurely game of chess, where my ass was handed to me, JRW asked me if I was excited for the start of the season. You see how he is? In a Ronnie Lott like fashion he punches me in the mouth, breaks my back, runs me over and then, as if over a cup of tea, asks me if I'm excited for the season. He's cold-blooded. Well, I think I'm more apprehensive than anything else. This regular season we have little to gain and everything to lose.

I guess you could argue that this regular season is actually uber-important because of all the new pieces and Manu's return to form but to that I say this:

Our big additions, besides Blair, are veterans and they shouldn't take long to get acclimated. RJ plays the wing which is the easiest position to learn in ANY system and despite Drew Gooden's best efforts to make the Spurs playbook seem like rocket science I assure you it is not. And, both Mcdyess and Ratliff have been playing so long I'd be surprised if there is anything that makes either of them go, "Oh shit whaa? I'm supposed to rotate where? This is complicated!"

Blair on the other hand does seem lost at times with the sets but he's probably not going to make leaps and bounds his first season. He will be a great rebounder (duh?) and have his usual rookie mistakes, no biggie it's part of the learning curve. The important thing here is that his positives outweigh the negatives and I don't have much doubt that the former will prevail.

Now for Manu hinges the most importance of this regular season. Yeah Manu needs to get that explosive step back but this should only take a month or so. For the other five months of the NBA marathon each game presents countless snare traps to a championship-less season. A turn of the ankle, a tear of the achilles, another boxscore snub by JRW leaving Manu shivering in the corner, staring off into emptiness, left with no confidence thinking, "what did I do wrong?" You get the idea.

I'm happy that the start of the NBA season is just about here but I'm held captive by the fear of misfortune. Like I said, little to gain and everything to lose.

Team evaluations: Better, same or worse?

Manuwar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:15:52 -0000

Speak to any given NBA fan and he will most likely tell you that his team has gotten better since last year; either through trades, the draft, free agency or simply getting healthy. But every team can not be getting better can they? Is the leagues talent exponentially evolving thus making it possible that every team improves season after season? This can't be, but every time I turn around another team is inking a player who should help their team. And younger teams who are standing pat have to be getting better just by a natural progression, right? Join me in taking brief a team by team evaluation and feel free to add your ~~disagreements~~ comments about who got better, who stayed the same, and who got worse.

Who got better?

Atlanta Hawks: They have their core of, Joe Johnson, Al Hortford, Josh Smith and Mike Bibby returning and add Jamal Crawford. Hortford and Smith should continue to develop and getting Crawford for players who barely contributed last season will be a big addition. If Marvin Williams leaves it could have a big impact but lets just say he stays for now which means the ATL improves.

Boston Celtics: Their stars are getting older but not too old. Adding Rasheed gives them perhaps the best bigs rotation in the league. LA fans will dispute this though....Griffin, Camby, Kaman. ;) See what I did there?

Chicago Bulls: Yeah they lost Ben Gordon but they will be getting Luol Deng back, who missed about half the season including all of their epic playoff series against the Celtics, and they have another season to gel with their midseason additions of Brad Miller and John Salmons. But the main reason I think they will be better this year is because of the development of Derrick Rose. He is the real deal and we've only just seen the tip of the iceberg with him.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Shaq improves them - not by much, but he improves them. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker give them much needed length at their wing position.

Dallas Mavericks: Their off season moves are so Mavericks like: no consideration for defense, rebounding, or basketball IQ but in their own Cubanesque way they did manage to improve.

Golden State Warriors: In summer league play we got to see what common Warriors fans have been raving about for a while now in Anthony Randolph. I'll reserve the comparisons but he's a smooth criminal that can score from anywhere inside the three point line with a variety of moves. They also drafted Steph Curry (stud) and should have a suspension free Monta Ellis all season long. Go Dubs.

Indiana Pacers: Their offseason moves and draft didn't turn any heads but I still like what they've done. Dahntay Jones should fit in well along side Danny Granger and while drafting Tyler Hansbrough at 13 over all might be a reach, I still think he's an NBA ready big who will contribute off the bench immediately. Also let's not forget Dunleavy only played in 18 games last season and will be ready to go.

Los Angeles Clippers: They drafted a stud. I think they're genius for getting Zack Randolph as far away from Blake Griffin as possible. The last thing their savior needs is to be bumping around with Z-bo and his posse.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Durrant, Green, Westbrook, Harden; they're steddily improving. Nothing jaw dropping or reckless, just one right move after another. Presti doing his thang.

Portland Trail Blazers: Like the Spurs they went out and addressed their needs. In Portland's case it was the point guard position. But even with out the new signing of Andre Miller I would have said they're getting better. They're just so young and improving each season since Brandon Roy's arrival.

San Antonio Spurs: They're the big winners this offseason. No need to go into great detail. Lets just say that any possible way they could have gotten better they did. Trades, check. Draft, check. Free agency, check. Oh, and did I mention Manu Ginobili will be back?

Toronto Raptors: Turkoglu will have a greater impact on his team than any other player who moved this offseason. Will there be better teams than the Raptors? Sure. But no team will have improved more because of one new player.

Who stayed the same?

Charlotte Bobcats: I like the moves they made in the middle of last season and I like Okafor more than most people--I think he unjustifiably gets left out of the conversation when discussing stud C/PF's--but they are what they are to me. Larry Brown might be able to work some magic over the course of a few more years but for now I see no movement.

Los Angeles Lakers: Despite recent reports I'm assuming they will resign Odom because I don't want to jinx anything. There is a give and take with the Artest-Ariza swap so lets just call it a push. The crappy thing about them coming back as the same is that they're the champs--they didn't need to improve.

Memphis Grizzlies: I love their draft: Thabeet, Carroll, Young. I am a huge DeMarre Carroll fan and it pains me to see him land on a team with Zack Randolph. I don't want to pile on Randolph but he has a unique Iverson like quality to him. That is, he manages efficient stats and still makes everyone around him worse. So, their draft plus development of Gasol, Mayo, Conley only equalizes the Randolph trade.

Miami Heat: Unless they land Odom they are who they thought they were. One man show - same as they ever were :)

New Orleans Hornets: They had a disappointing season last year by some experts accounts but I think last year was just about what we should have guessed from them. Two seasons ago when they took the Spurs to 7 games in the playoffs I think, much like the Nuggets of this year, it was a perfect storm for them. Expect them to be a mid to bottom seeded playoff team.

New York Knicks: They make too many moves to ever develop any kind of chemistry. They ship players out with talent and get players back with talent and there's never a difference from one year to the next because they don't develop continuity and most of their guys play for themselves. Maybe Gallinari shows us why he was drafted 6th overall 2 seasons ago and maybe coach D'Antoni gets his run and gun going to perfection but probably they will make 9 midseason trades/pickups and end up just the same as before.

Orlando Magic: Even though they got Vince Carter and Brandon Bass I was tempted to say they got worse. Thats how much I like Turkoglu as a player. But all things considered (A fully healthy Jameer, resigning Gortat, loss of Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie) they will be right back in the thick of things out East, not worse for the wear but definitely not better.

Philadelphia 76ers: They'll be getting Elton Brand who missed fifty plus games last season but they are going to be in a world of hurt by losing Andre Miller. Do I think Andre Miller is as valuable of a player as Elton Brand? Typically I'd say no but they have no one close to Andre Miller to replace him and they are the type of team that really needs a good point guard.

Utah Jazz: It looks like they might be in for a roster shake up but as things stand now they will be the same as they were. A perpetually good but not great team.

Who got worse?

Denver Nuggets: They'll still make the playoffs but they won't be the same edgy, scrappy, defensive team we saw in the second half of last season. Guys like J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin will rest on their laurels and take a small slide backwards and they also lost Dahntay Jones who played some mean defense for them. Last year was a perfect storm for them that they won't be able to replicate.

Detroit Pistons: This one comes with an asterisk because I really like their two big signings of Gordon and Villanueva, but from one year to the next loosing McDyess and 'Sheed is more of a hit than the newbies will be able to replace; especially in the defense and rebounding department. I like the way they're rebuilding though.

Houston Rockets: My heart goes out to Yao and all the Houston Rockets faithful.

Milwaukee Bucks: Redd and Bogut will be back after each missing close to 50 games last season and I like their drafting of Jodie Meeks, but the loss of Jefferson and Villanueva will be too much. Take a step back, young bucks.

Minnesota Timberwolves: They're playing for the the future that goes beyond next season. Trading away Miller and Foye wasn't necessarily a bad move but it won't help them in the short term.

New Jersey Nets: They're another team playing for the future. I feel like they should have gotten a little more for Vince Carter but certainly could have done worse than Courtney Lee. Still though, they will be taking a step back next season even if Harris improves yet again.

Phoenix Suns: Even though Steve Nash might still be the best in the game at setting up his teammates with easy shots (look for Jason Richardson to have a big statistical year) the Suns didn't get enough in return for Shaq to even duplicate their mediocre season last year. They'll play little or no defense and miss out on the playoffs for the second straight season. Kerr not doing his thang.

Sacramento Kings: The loss of Salmons and Miller is too much for them to improve next season. The bad thing about the Kings though is their future doesn't look incredibly promising either. Martin is good but not great, Casspi, Evans, Thompson, and Hawes don't strike me as franchise players either. So right now they suck, and in their future compared to young teams like OKC, Minnesota, Golden State, Portland etc. they will still suck.

Former champion Forrest shot to death

Manuwar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:29:52 -0000

Former champion Forrest shot to death

This shit needs to stop.

Puzzle Pieces

Manuwar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:16:12 -0000

Well, Fuck as David aptly put it. I have never liked Rasheed Wallace and even I was starting to come around to the idea of him joining the Spurs. Oh well let's move on and see what we shall do now.

The reason I started to over look Rasheeds anti-Spurs attitude in favor of his play was because he would have filled what I believe is our biggest void: a long defending big. Notice I didn't mention anything about him stretching the floor. I recognize his ability to make long shots but it's not a necessity for our team. A lot of people make are quick to point out that we need to replace Robert Horry but as time goes on we only remember him for "The Robert Horry Game". He wasn't a regular starter and the number one reason for our past championships was Defense, not acquiring a PF/C who could make a three. Having another long big man who can defend along side Timmy is the utmost important priority, or at least it should be.

Next years likely front runners are all equipped with long bodies. Cavs, Lakers, Celtics and Magic each have long front lines and so if we intend on competing with them in a Spurs like fashion, that is shut 'em down, then we need to get long as well. With that in mind it directly puts me out of favor with the popular Antonio McDyess and the not as popular Big Baby Davis. Our direction needs to head towards Zaza, Rasho and even The Birdman (though he would be my last choice), over talents like Marvin Williams or Drew Gooden.

The scoring will be there next year. No one in the world can stop Tony and with a healthy Manu, primed RJ and the GOAT buckets will be aplenty. We need to identify our threats (Cavs, Lakers, Celtics, Magic) and target whom ever helps us in stopping those teams best. We shouldn't adapt a Suns like attitude and think "Well let's just out score our opponents." So far this off season we've addressed our past scoring woes in getting RJ, and addressed our rebounding problems by drafting Blair. Let's round out the puzzle and get a long big who can A: bang with Shaq, Z, Gasol, Bynum, Rasheed, Garnett and Howard. And B: Alter the shots of penetrating guards. Defense, defense, defense!

Hanging on for Hope

Manuwar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:24:00 -0000

Our unofficial motto for Spurs teams the past couple of years has been "Three studs and a bunch of suck", harsh but mostly accurate. Our acquisition of Richard Jefferson (stud) accompanied by FSM dropping Chairman of the Boards Dujuan Blair in our laps set us in fine position to make a title run this up coming season. To be completely honest I didn't think it very important what big we were going to sign, just let him be serviceable. As far as I was concerned if we could win it with 3 studs and a bunch of suck in years past then 4 legit studs plus Mason, Hill and Blair should be enough. Then the dreadful news came. Artest to the Lakers is momentous. I don't think I'm in the minority to say Artest is an upgrade over Ariza but let's break it down anyhow.

Ariza's best qualities are a result of his physical make up. He is long, quick enough to bother small guards, and very explosive vertically. You might point out that Ariza also has great upside but I see this as a moot point as far as the Lakers are concerned. Kobe is turning 31 and he is their window in a similar way Duncan/Manu are our window. Ariza's length and foot speed allow him to cheat passing lanes with out completely compromising defensive position; he had two game clinching steals in the playoffs this past year doing just that. Offensively he's limited. He is a great finisher around the basket but he lacks the ability to create for himself, and his shot is very sporadic. His offense comes off of fast breaks (he can run like a gazelle) or being set up by someone else. Last season he saw many open looks due to clubs double teaming Kobe and Gasol. His game is more aesthetic than Shawn Marions but they are basically the same thing: long, quick, gambling defenders and besides the offense generated by steals they are completely dependent on having a star set them up for buckets.

Just as Ariza's best qualities are a due to his physicality, Artest's are much do to his psychology; at least on defense. It takes someone with great mental toughness to score against dudes like Artest. Like our beloved Bruce Bowen, Artest doesn't have any reservations about using every part of his body to slow down his opponent (elbows, knees, feet, shoulders etc). When he's your opponent you might call him dirty but let that man on your side and quickly you will be signing him praises using words like clever, gritty, hustling, physical, tough, and competitive to describe their game. It is players like this that give a team a mental edge over their opponents. It's a familiar edge to Spurs fans, I think it was in a Denver paper that wrote "San Antonio grinds you into mental submission..." after the 2007 series with the Nuggets. Artest now gives the Lakers this edge over other teams. If there is a down side to Artests' game it is his wild offense. If he's forced to create he might try a one-footed-under-handed-leaner for three. But the Lakers have offense to spare if they resign Odom and when comparing Artests' offense to Ariza's you'd be hard pressed to make a better case for Ariza anyway.

Artest to the Lakers addresses the two (defense and toughness) question marks they might have had coming into next season. Can they be beaten? Well if they do resign Odom then it's going to be tough but I'm hanging on for hope.

Yao done for season and beyond?

Manuwar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:02:37 -0000

Yao done for season and beyond?

This really blows. I hate seeing huge injuries to character guys.

Sacred Cows Silly Course

Manuwar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:59:43 -0000

I wrote this last night but didn't want to publish it because I had already posted something else. I could have been a "profit" haha. Here it is anyway.

I read something over at 48MOH warning about having too many sacred cows. Many of us around PTR might need to soon realize trading fan favorites is part of the business or some feelings could be hurt this off season.

As Spurs fans we tend to place a lot of value into a players character. We dismiss rumors of trades or freeagent signings sometimes solely based on whether or not the player is a "Spurs guy". The front office shares this sentiment but only to a certain extent. Not very long ago Malik Rose and Avery Johnson embodied what the Spurs franchise is about. Hard working, humble, team first guys, but we let them go at appropriate times and no one is losing sleep over it now. Currently we are faced with an aged warrior who is just as responsible for our defensive success over the past 6 years as Timmy.

When Bruce came to San Antonio there wasn't much hoopla about him. I don't think that anyone could have predicted the amount of success he has achieved. He was brought in as a defensive specialist but no one knew he would develop as The premire perimitter defender for several years. On top of that, the once journeyman has become a wonderful role model and contributor in the San Antonio community. Suffice it to say Bruce is a Spur through and through...It pains me to say that we need to trade Bruce but his partially garunteed contract is too valuable and his legs are too old.

Tim is the only untouchable. This is not to suggest that I think we should trade Manu or Tony but if tomorrow the Cavs offered Lebron for Manu I'd be devestated and understanding at the same time. If the Cavs offered Lebron for Duncan and the Spurs accepted I would no longer be a Spurs fan. There isn't any praise I could throw on Duncan that hasn't been said before. He is, quite simply, the best thing that has ever happened to the Spurs. Duncan has done more for the Spurs than the Spurs have done for him. If anything playing in San Antonio has hurt Tims legacy. We've thrown around scenerios where Tim played in Boston or New York- could you imagine the hype? GOAT all over the place.

For everyone else in a Spurs uni we need to view their relationship with the franchise as employer and employee. Putting an untouchable tag on too many players limits a teams options to improve and in a small market another handicap is the last thing we need.

Trading Tiago: Manu is the Window

Manuwar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:30 -0000

Recently over at 48MOH Timmothy Varner touched on what kind of asset Tiago Splitter is to be for our Spurs. We won't be seeing him on the court until 2010-2011 season so many fans are clamoring to cash in on his value now via trade.

The fear in trading Splitter is that the return will be mediocre and when Tiago does arrive in the NBA he'll be comparable to Luis Scola; a big who is exactly what the Spurs are in need of. Splitter does not seem to be a type of guy who will just service as a band aid(YB) for our festering wound that is the Spurs other starting big man. Tiago is most likely the cure to every controllable aspect that went wrong the last 2 seasons. Many of us (me included) felt we would have gotten past the Lakers in '08 if Manu had normal functioning ankles and while there are less who speculated that with a healthy Manu we would have made it to the promise land this year, it is still safe to say we would have had at least a punchers chance to win it all. Add in Splitter to the equation and the '08 chip is ours even with a hobbled Manu and would have been front runners for another title this year.

So why dare trade Splitter? I think the dilemma isn't whether or not Splitter can and will fit in with our Big Three but that by the time he gets here it will be too late. I'm not so concerned with Duncan's body breaking down as much as I am Manu's. Tim's game is so efficient that he will be effective as his athleticism declines. Lets face it he's never been the most athletic guy anyway. Manu on the other hand relies heavily on a sort of game that puts his body through torture. He doesn't take a play off ever and the day he becomes a stand still spot up shooter is the day he is no longer The Sickness. I fully expect Manu to return next season and be close to what we're used to seeing: driving through, around and over defenders, step back jumpers, Pistol Pete-esq passes, and causing havoc on defense. He's been accurately described as a swiss army knife type player; a statistical freak. But After next season though what? We have to face the fact that he's on the decline.

It's time to start thinking of Manu as the window-not Tim. And if we consider things in those terms then trading Splitter seems like the best thing to do. Splitter gives teams instant cap relief as they won't have to pay him a cent till 2010-2011 and in these econnomic times cap relief is an easy sell. Couple that with the fact that Splitter is expected to transition to the NBA with great ease and we have a valuable trading piece on our hands. Trading Tiago for a mid to late first round pick in this years suspect draft is too risky but if we can get a Villanueva type player I say pull the trigger. How say you?