SBNation.com User Blog: Tim C.

PtR Yahoo NBA Fantasy League

Tim C. — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:36:22 -0000

Hello there, Pounders. How u? Long time no talk. I've left lurker mode for a few moments to see how many of you are interested in joining an NBA fantasy league I set up for PtR. We have 9 spots(maybe 10) left, and these leagues have been pretty fun in the past, as long as people actively participate in them.

If you're interested, leave a comment here with an email address I can send an invite to, or you can DM me your email address on twitter(@timc_ptr). Depending on demand, we may have to have someone set up another league, but this one is first-come, first-served, so let me know ASAP if you'd like to join.

2012-13 Conference Rankings, Part II: The West

Tim C. — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 23:18:54 -0000

Evil is coming.
photo via blogimages.thescore.com

Hello again, Pounders. Well, we've just made it through another week of offseason doldrums, and here is the second half of my conference rankings post, as promised. This is definitely the more difficult conference to pick a favorite, and the playoff race could be much more crowded than in the East. So where do the Spurs stand after their hated rivals made major waves in the offseason? Hit the jump to find out.

The Triumvirate of Terror

Terror, that is, for any team that has to face these three. Unless they're playing each other or Miami, these first three teams should be heavily favored in each game they play. The 2013 Western Conference Finals are highly likely to be played between two of these three teams.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (65-17)

Yeah, I know. I don't like it any more than the rest of you, but come on. This team was already an outside threat for the title last season, and they just had the second-best offseason of any team this century. They actually improved their frontcourt depth, while adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Speaking of the two big additions, I've never been more scared of any other pick-and-roll duo in my life (Nash/Pau Gasol might be 2nd on that list). On top of that, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks give them additional outside threats that can stretch any defense to its breaking point when on the floor with any combination of Dwight, Pau, Nash, or Kobe. The only thing that might hold them back is Mike Brown, but all he really has to do is sit back and allow Nash to run the offense, while he concentrates on making sure his defensive schemes are implemented correctly. And unlike Bynum, Howard is an excellent PnR defender... yikes. I might hold out some hope that it will take a while for this team to jell, causing them to struggle at first. But the pieces just fit together too well to ignore, and I'm afraid we're dealing with a juggernaut here.

2. San Antonio Spurs (62-20)

The league's top offensive team in 2011-12 might actually improve further this season, with the continued development of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and one of Cory Joseph or Patty Mills. If Nando De Colo sees a decent number of minutes, he could rev up the offense even more with his ballhandling, shooting and court vision. But, as we all know, offensive performance is not the Spurs' problem. Getting important stops is the Spurs' problem. And with those purple and gold freaks' added firepower, that deficiency is going to stand out more than ever. Without a significant upgrade to the frontcourt defense (the 4 spot, to be more precise), I just can't see the Spurs being able to defend the rim and keep up with the perimeter threats of the other triumvirate members. But they'll be able to put on a show at the other end, and that should earn them plenty of easy regular-season wins, just as it has the last two seasons. And if former Spurs exec Danny Ferry can be coaxed into handing over Josh Smith, that last piece of the puzzle will be in place, and the Spurs should be able to hang with the other contenders, even in the postseason.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (61-21)

The power struggle among the top 3 teams could easily end with last year's conference champs (the refs?) on top, but I see them having to deal with something that hasn't happened to them in the last 3 seasons. Injury trouble. Unlike the Spurs, this group is ill-equipped to handle an injury to one of their stars, and it would cost them some games if it happens. I could also see them getting a little complacent after their trip to the finals. They won't have that problem in the postseason, but a young team like the Thunderclusters might struggle to maintain their focus over the course of a full-length NBA season. The Lakers and Spurs possess veteran leadership that should keep them from having those lapses, but I can't really say the same for OKC (they even had one last season that allowed the Spurs to take the top seed). Hence, in the regular season, I think they'll end up the worst of the 3. But I still fear them in the playoffs.

Second-Tier Challengers

4. Denver Nuggets (56-26)

This team has a very unbalanced roster. That could be their downfall, or it could be the thing that makes them a frightening matchup. You could make an argument that their three best players are Andre Igoudala, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler. Trouble is, all three of those guys are a natural fit at the same postion (SF), and that's without mentioning Corey Brewer, Jordan Hamilton and Quincy Miller. Even with George Karl announcing his plan to play Iggy at SG, I'd expect this team to field a lot of unconventional small lineups to take advantage of their wing talent and force their opponents to match. That strategy could backfire against the likes of the Spurs and Thunder, but should be highly effective against most other opponents. I don't see them in championship contention, but these guys could definitely play the role of spoiler (I'm looking at you, Lakers).

5. Los Angeles Clippers (53-29)

Feel free to disagree with me, but I think Lamar Odom is going to recover from that horrible season in Dallas now that he's back in LA as a super sub. And playing with Chris Paul might help, too. Jamal Crawford, Eric Bledsoe and a healthy Chauncey Billups enable them to field more of those speedy 2-and-3-guard lineups that give their opponents fits. Adding Grant Hill, even though he's going to be 40 soon, should shore up their depth behind Caron Butler, but their frontcourt may be even worse defensively than the Spurs. If Blake Griffin develops a jumper and/or defensive skills, this team could vault into contention, but until then, I'll pencil them in as a team that's just about as good as they were last year.

6. Dallas Mavericks (52-30)

For a while there, it looked like the Mavs would strike out and end up in the lottery. They lost their two best guards in Jason Kidd and The Nutpuncher, and whiffed on Deron Williams. Then they pulled Chris Kaman and Elton Brand off the scrap heap, traded for Darren Collison and signed OJ Mayo. I also love their drafting of Bernard James, and think he will be a great fit in their frontcourt. Donnie Nelson was patient, and had several contingency plans in place. Even though the Mavs aren't exactly our favorite outside team around here, you have to admire the way their front office pulled themselves out of the grave this summer. Dirk Nowitzki and company won't be missing the playoffs any time soon, and getting rid of Terry might actually make them more likeable.

7. Utah Jazz (51-31)

Both Marvin and Mo Williams seem like marginal improvements over last year for Utah, but they're going to need more than marginal improvement to make the playoffs again, provided the teams chasing them are healthy. I think they'll get that improvement from within - Derrick Favors is turning into a monster in the paint, while Alec Burks and even Gordon Hayward could make some big strides this season for the JazzHands. With their newfound depth and a solid defensive lineup, these guys aren't going to give up their playoff position that easily. What might be more difficult is deciding whether to keep Paul Millsap and/or Al Jefferson after this season.

8. Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)

For the last couple of years, the Grizz have been a team that throws efficiency to the wind in favor of playing keep-away. They force more turnovers and get more offensive rebounds than most other teams, and they also play tough, hard-nosed defense. It's a style much closer to the Eastern Conference playoff teams than most of their Western counterparts. I actually love the way they play. It's not pretty, but it gets the job done pretty damned well. With that said, I think they'll miss their 6th man, OJ Mayo. He was one of the few guys they had that could make it rain from the perimeter, and Jerryd Bayless is not good enough to replace his production. That forces the Grizz to rely even more on their post tandem of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, making them more one-dimensional. This should still be a playoff team, but given the improvement of other teams in the West, it may come down to the wire.

--------------non-playoff teams below--------------

9. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)

Remember when KAAAAHN used to hoard point guards? Then when he hoarded forwards? His new thing is hoarding pale guys. But at least this time he's getting skilled players who play different positions. I love the moves to get Budinger, Kirilenko, and Shved (who I think is going to take the league by surprise). I'd love the Brandon Roy signing, too, if I thought his knees would last longer than half a season (please prove me wrong, B-Roy). Mix in the new guys with Rubio, Love, Pekovic, and an improved Derrick Williams, and it might be difficult to keep this team out of the postseason. But with so much talent on the teams in front of them, that may be exactly what happens.

10. Golden State Warriors (42-40)

Anyone want a darkhorse team? I got yer dark horse right here. There's a lot of good players on this roster, and they really balanced the team out pretty well through trades. Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry are obviously the stars, but Carl Landry, Festus Ezeli and Jarrett Jack were excellent pickups as well. Trading Dorrell Wright away opens up a starting spot for Harrison Barnes, and if the last half of Klay Thompson's rookie season is any indicator, this team's starting backcourt is pretty well set for the foreseeable future. For the first time in a while, this team might just be on the right track. Good thing we sabotaged them by sending them RJ, or this team could give us fits.

Maybe Next Year

11. Portland Trail Blazers (35-47)

So these guys have given the Spurs fits over the last few years, but this new Portland squad is radically different. During the Roy/Oden years, the Blazers leaned on their defense and Nate McMillan's slow-it-down style. New coach Terry Stotts traditionally fields teams in the upper half of the NBA in both pace and offensive efficiency, and he's been given appropriate tools to do the same thing in Portland. Mainstays LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, and Wes Matthews all possess the athleticism to play a fast-paced style, but the biggest change comes in the form of the guy bringing the ball up the court on offense. Rookie point guard Damian Lillard was the NCAA's leading scorer last season, using his combination of speed, athleticism and shooting ability to destroy most opponents assigned to guard him. Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, and Victor Claver can all shoot the lights out as well, and they just picked up Euroleague's leading rebounder, Joel Freeland, to back up (or start over?) rookie Meyers Leonard at Center. This team is going to score... a lot. Which only serves to increase the contrast between the two conferences.

12. Sacramento Kings (33-49)

What a mess the Sacramento Kings are. In 3 years, this franchise could be playing their home games in any number of places from Seattle to Virginia Beach (not kidding, they're going to make a proposal to the Maloofs). On top of that, it's quite obvious the ~~assholes in charge~~ owners don't care about putting a winning product on the floor. They've had the league's lowest payroll for several years running, and they've gone through several coaches without addressing the real problem: bad management. However, you can only draft in the top 5 every year for so long before you start having actual talent on your team. Thomas Robinson has actual talent. DeMarcus Cousins is a monster in the paint. Even though Aaron Brooks is a little overrated, at least they finally have a guy who is clearly a point guard, instead of the clusterf2k of combo guards they've employed in the past. Simply by virtue of finally clearing up who plays which position, this team's fortunes should be a little better than they have been. Just not enough to sniff the playoffs.

Tankapalooza

13. Phoenix Suns (29-53)

What happens when you take away a player who won 2 MVP awards and caused your team to overachieve for about 7 straight years, given the talent he was working with? Well, it ain't pretty. Luis Scola, Goran Dragic, and Martin Gortat are all solid players, but the guy who orchestrated all of those better-than expected seasons is gone. In his place is rookie Kendall Marshall, who led the NCAA in assist percentage last season, but can hardly replace Nash. Big free-agent acquisition Michael Beasley is the ultimate tweener, whose statistical contributions are wiped out by his inability to defend either forward position. Put simply, this team is going to be baaaad. Which is a shame, because I'll miss all the tense battles that used to happen between the Spurs and Suns.

14. Houston Rockets

Sacramento's clusterf2k hasn't got anything on these guys. Houston currently has 19 players under contract, 13 of whom have been known to play forward. Gee, I wonder if Daryl Morey might be seeking trades. The rumored deal sending Patrick Patterson to the Spurs never materialized, but Pop and RC are smart enough to wait until Morey gets more desperate to talk trade with him. Signing Jeremy Lin to replace Kyle Lowry is a lateral move at best, but they did find a solid pair of centers in Omer Asik and Donatas Motiejunas. Other than those guys, there's not a whole lot of defense on this roster. Kevin Martin is still the most one-dimensional "star" in the league, and sending Scola away was just plain dumb. However, they did have solid draft position (3 top 18 picks), and they picked up a future pick guaranteed to be in the lottery from Toronto (though they might not actually get to use that one for a while). Dork Elvis now gets to rebuild from scratch and hope that he's not stuck in Mediocreville any more.

15. New Orleans Hornets

Dell Demps is following the Sam Presti Blueprint For Success (TM) very closely. He already got a #1 pick, but he's still tanking to create a young core. Trading away the only true point guard to let a rookie SG play the position? Smart. Sending away Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, and Carl Landry while bringing in much more limited frontcourt players? A stroke of tanking genius. Not only did he make sure the team is terrible again this year, he cleared a ton of cap space for next summer to go along with that almost-guaranteed lottery pick. As long as that is what Demps was trying to do this summer, he has definitely succeeded.

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As always, feel free to dissent in the comments section. ~~A cruise missile will be with you shortly.~~ We will gladly accept your criticism.

2012-13 Conference Rankings, Part I: The East

Tim C. — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:58:18 -0000

Hey there, Pounders. Fun fact: The offseason can be pretty boring around here. But have no fear, there's "only" about a month left ~~kill me now~~ until training camp. Since the Dwightmare is finally over in Orlando, I finally feel like it's time to post my annual conference rankings. We'll start with the Eastern Conference since it's ~~much worse~~ easier to rank than the West. The reigning champs are here, but every other team seems to have big flaws. Keep in mind, these ratings do not reflect playoff success, only how I think these teams will do in the regular season.

So, here's how I think the Eastern Conference stacks up.

The Undisputed Favorite

1. Miami Heat (63-19)

So, let me get this straight... After winning a championship, Miami gained Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and all the teams that were close to them in the East lost key players? Gee, I wonder who the favorite to win the East could be. Seriously, it's hard to imagine anyone beating this team, especially any of their Eastern competition.

The Need-Some-Luck Teams

All of the following teams are capable of winning 50 or more games, but they're going to need some luck to knock off the champs.

2. Indiana Pacers (55-27)

So, the Heat were given a pretty solid test in the Eastern semifinals by this team and its young core. And while they lost an important member of that young core in Darren Collison, they return every other important piece of that team. Continued improvements from the likes of Paul George and Roy Hibbert, not to mention former Spur George Hill, could have them challenging the Heat again. Danny Granger could be a hell of a trade chip for midseason improvement as well.

3. Boston Celtics (51-31)

So, they lost Ray Allen. Even though they've replaced him with Jason Terry and Courtney Lee, neither of those guys is going to produce at Ray's level from the past few years, and Avery Bradley's going to be seeing a lot of guard minutes, anyhow. Jeff Green might help a little, but both he and the C's new wings are going to have to adjust to the system they find themselves in. This team will likely struggle a bit in the early season, but underestimating them would be a colossal mistake.

4. New York Knicks (50-32)

It's a little difficult to put the Knicks this high, given their inherent dysfunction. But as old and washed up as Jason Kidd is, he commands respect and should fill the gaping leadership void, bringing order to the team. Ronnie Brewer is a quality backup, and a great defensive player that should fit into Mike Woodson's system rather nicely. I feel as if this team will win enough regular season games (especially early in the season, given the roster turnover among most of the other Eastern playoff teams) to give their fans hope before it all comes crashing down again.

5. Chicago Bulls (48-34)

With Derrick Rose out until the All-Star Break or longer, and the loss of some key bench players, the only team that won enough games to tie the Spurs in the standings the last two seasons seems to be on shaky footing. But they've been overachieving for a reason: great coaching. Thibodeau gets the most from his guys in every single contest and deserves all the credit he's received. With that in mind, I see this team staying in playoff position until Rose gets back. Once he gets going, they could create chaos in the playoffs as the lower seed nobody wants to face.

6-T. Brooklyn Nets (46-36)

The NBA's newest big-market science experiment is now officially flying under the radar, due to the Lakers offseason haul. But make no mistake - this is one of the most intriguing teams in the league. Their starting perimeter trio should be among the tops in the league, and advanced stats love these guys. But there's a lot of "ifs". If Brook Lopez can defend at a decent level... If Joe Johnson will defer to Deron... If Crash is enough of an offensive threat... And most of all, if this team develops decent chemistry... then Miami might start "hearing the footsteps" behind them.

6-T. Philadelphia 76ers (46-36)

Well, one thing's for sure... Philly has a new #1 option, and a new defensive anchor. Whether or not they are the same person will go a long way toward deciding their unltimate fate. Allegedly, Andrew Bynum is travelling to Germany to have the same knee procedure his ex-teammate Kobe received last summer, so it's not clear whether he'll be ready to play in time for training camp. But more so than their new center, this team's fortunes will depend largely on Evan Turner. If he starts to reach his potential, then he will be the first option, and this team will be good enough to put a scare into the top contenders. With Turner and Bynum on board, all this team needs is some outside shooting (J-Rich should help) and something resembling last year's defensive efficiency to really get something cooking.

The Bubble Teams

8. Toronto Raptors (41-41)

I know what you're thinking. "The Toronto Raptors in the playoffs? You must be crazy." And who knows, maybe I am crazy... but I think this is actually a playoff team. Last year, their defense turned a corner, thanks in large part to their power forward play. This should only improve with the arrival of Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas. Excellent on both ends of the floor, Valanciunas could be the frontcourt anchor this team has needed for a while. Add a second good point guard in Kyle Lowry, and you've got a recipe for success. Don't be surprised if Andrea Bargnani or Jose Calderon get traded for help at other positions, but this team looks good enough to get a postseason invitation in the weaker of the conferences.

-----------------------non-playoff teams below this line-------------------------

9. Atlanta Hawks (39-43)

Yes, I know this Atlanta squad has constantly finished as the 4th or 5th seed in the East the last several years. But, they're going to miss Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams (stop laughing, I'm serious) more than a lot of folks seem to think. Williams was the kind of guy who's good at a lot of things, but not excellent at any of them - a glue guy, if you will. And Johnson, of course, was the big-money "star" of the team that commanded the respect of every defense they faced. As for the new faces? Devin Harris is washed up, and Lou Williams is a good scorer but can't manage to do much of anything else. I also think Josh Smith gets traded before the deadline. If any of Danny Ferry's draft picks exceed expectations, this group could beat out Toronto for the right to get decimated in the first round of the playoffs. Otherwise, I don't see them making it.

10. Milwaukee Bucks (37-45)

This squad is hard to get a read on. In theory, the Brandon Jennings-Monta Ellis guard combo is impossible to stop, and they have plenty of promising young talent up front (Henson, Udoh, Sanders). However, with Ersan Ilyasova, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Samuel Dalembert coming back, it's hard to imagine them being able to give the young guys the proper minutes to develop. I believe the Bucks will be playing the trade market between now and training camp to try and round out their roster, and it's hard to make a judgment about their potential just yet. As things stand, I see them being good enough to threaten for a playoff spot, but not good enough to actually make it. Just like the last couple of years, Milwaukee's in The Daryl Morey Zone.

The Maybe-Next-Year Teams

11. Detroit Pistons (31-51)

*Shields self from DBB-thrown projectiles* OK, so the Andre Drummond-Greg Monroe frontcourt looks like a match-made-in-basketball-heaven on paper. But, Drummond's biggest criticism has been his desire and work ethic. After falling much further down the draft board than most expected, will he be driven to prove his doubters and the teams that passed on him wrong? Or will the critics be proven right, now that Drummond is guaranteed to receive several million dollars from an NBA team? Even if Drummond is motivated, he and Monroe are both basically one-way players (Drummond w/defense, Monroe w/offense), and they're both centers. On top of that, the depth chart at the 1-3 positions isn't exactly screaming "playoffs". This team may indeed have a bright future, but that future seems to still be at least a year or two away.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers (30-52)

Kyrie Irving is already a great player. Now he just needs some great sidekicks to get something going, but Cleveland's draft selections (other than Kyrie, obviously) the last couple of years have been some real head-scratchers. They seem to pick based on potential, rather than going for players that are proven to produce. And while that strategy might pay off down the road if those guys can reach their potential, right now I can't justify Tristan Thompson over Valanciunas, or Dion Waiters over Harrison Barnes (or Thomas Robinson, even though he and Thompson play the same position).

The Hopeless (For Now)

13. Washington Wizards (26-58)

I want to put these guys in the category up above, I really do. They have a nice brew of talented players at forward and center, plus a very good point guard to tie it all together. On top of that, they drafted a guy who a lot of experts think of as the best wing player in the 2012 draft class (I disagree - see the next team's blurb) in Bradley Beal. So what's wrong? I don't think they mesh, and their coaching staff doesn't exactly scream "quick reversal of fortune". I can't really explain it any better than that, and I hope they prove me wrong, because it's way past time for DC to have a decent team again.

14. Charlotte Bobcats (23-59)

On draft night, a lot of folks were quick to pan the Cats' decision to draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over Thomas Robinson and the aforementioned Beal. Given the Michael Jordan's history as a basketball executive, you can hardly blame anyone for questioning the pick. But MJ seems to have given GM Rich Cho real authority over the decision-making process in Charlotte, and I like what they've done this offseason, especially the pick. MKG has a skillset that would remind most everyone here of a guy named Kawhi Leonard, but with a tenacity and ferocity that would make Stephen Jackson proud. In other words, I like the kid. However, it's going to take at least a couple more years of being terrible and making good decisions before this team can truly turn things around.

15. Orlando Magic (20-62)

I can't really say much about the Dwight trade from the Orlando perspective, other than they accomplished what they wanted to: fielding a terrible team. I would compare this to the year after LeBron left Cleveland, only Dwight didn't have as good a supporting cast as LBJ did. This team is going to be very, very bad. Which is what they wanted. This will be the first year of a long rebuild, and I can't see Orlando getting out of the cellar.

______________________

So, there you have it. That's my opinion of the 2012-13 Eastern Conference. Feel free to share your ~~criticisms~~ opinions in the comments section, and I'll rank the West next week.

Ibaka To Sign 4 Year Extension With OKC Thunder

Tim C. — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 15:53:30 -0000

Ibaka To Sign 4 Year Extension With OKC Thunder

It seems as though Harden is the odd man out in OKC, unless Clay Bennett is will to pay plenty of tax penalties starting in 2014. But Sir Chewbacca will continue to be a thorn in our side.

Dwight Howard To The Lakers

Tim C. — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:41:44 -0000

Dwight Howard To The Lakers

Not official yet, but looks like it will be in the morning.

ST: Marcus Denmon May Sign With Chalon(French League)

Tim C. — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:53:55 -0000

ST: Marcus Denmon May Sign With Chalon(French League)

Bruno over at SpursTalk is the man when it comes to these international signings.

Stein: Andray Blatche Has Cleared Waivers

Tim C. — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:11:55 -0000

Stein: Andray Blatche Has Cleared Waivers

Look, I realize he's not exactly known for his IQ, but the Spurs should offer this guy a minimum deal. It would be an extremely low-risk move, with potential for a big payoff.

OJ Mayo Signs With Dallas

Tim C. — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 03:47:09 -0000

OJ Mayo Signs With Dallas

Pretty sure Mayo himself is a legit source, right?

Givony: Mavs Trade Mahinmi For Dahntay Jones/Darren Collison

Tim C. — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:34:03 -0000

Givony: Mavs Trade Mahinmi For Dahntay Jones/Darren Collison

WTF Indiana? I don't get this at all.

And also this:

@WojYahooNBA
Indiana is pursuing a trade with Charlotte for restricted free agent point guard DJ Augustine, sources tell Y! Sports.

Project Spurs: Spurs Interested In Brazilian C Hettsheimer

Tim C. — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:14:04 -0000

Project Spurs: Spurs Interested In Brazilian C Hettsheimer

Good stuff from our friends over at PS. Hettsheimer most recently played for Zaragosa, a middle-of-the-pack team in Spain's top league, the ACB. I didn't watch any of their games since they had no Spurs-related players, but he puts up decent numbers in a tough league. This could be the "physical center" Lorbek referred to, and the "foreign big man" Blair referred to in recent comments.

Spurs To Sign Danny Green To 3-year, $12 Million Deal

Tim C. — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:21:09 -0000

Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports got the scoop. More to come later.

Poll

What do you think of the reported deal?

Love it. Danny Green needs to be brought back.

388 votes

Hate it. We don't need Danny Green.

5 votes

Indifferent.

27 votes

I like it, but the Spurs paid too much.

140 votes

560 votes | Poll has closed

Mike Prada: Spurs Assistant Don Newman Hired As Wizards Assistant Coach

Tim C. — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:48:40 -0000

Mike Prada: Spurs Assistant Don Newman Hired As Wizards Assistant Coach

And the brain drain continues. This one seems a bit strange, unless he's the head assistant in Washington.

The Foreign Market, Part 2: Spurs' International Prospects

Tim C. — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:52:13 -0000

Could these two play together in a different uniform soon?

As has been the case for quite a few years running, the Spurs have a large cache of international players they hold the rights to. And, as has also been the case for several years, the Spurs do not have cap space to work with in free agent signings, so they may have to turn to the foreign markets to bring in additional help this offseason.

With free agency starting tomorrow, let's go over some of the options.

Draft Rights Held

Let's start with players the Spurs already have the rights to, and we'll go from there.

* indicates a 2012 free agent

Erazem Lorbek*

Excellent scoring power forward, recently earned ACB Finals MVP honors. Can shoot the 3, midrange, baseline jumpers, and score in the post. Good passer. Rebounding and defense leave something to be desired. Allegedly, he's going to be receiving a big offer from reigning Euroleague champs CSKA Moscow, which makes it tougher for the Spurs to get him. The Spurs also face a decision on whether to try to keep Diaw, which would likely make Lorbek's signing impossible.

Chance of joining the Spurs: 60%

Nando De Colo*

Great ball handler and passer at the combo guard position(unlikely to play point in NBA). May be mistaken for a poor man's Ginobili on offense. Shooting should improve in Spurs' offense, but defense leaves a lot to be desired. Reports out of Spain have consistently said he's very likely to be a Spur next season, but with so many guards already in the fold, I'm not so sure.

Chance of joining the Spurs: 60%

Viktor Sanikidze*

Skinny combo forward with a knack for rebounding. Averaged a double-double in Italian league last season. Bears a slight resemblance to Tim Roth. Limited range, may not possess enough size/strength to defend NBA post players.

Chance of joining the Spurs: 30%

Adam Hanga

Quick, athletic shooting guard with good size. Best when playing above the rim. Excels at disrupting passing lanes. Poor shooter in first ACB season, but looked much better over final month. Dark-horse candidate to be bought out and join the team this summer.

Chance of joining the Spurs: 15%

Ryan Richards*

Total Enigma. Quick, athletic 7-footer with ball-handling and shooting skills. Hasn't played against elite competition, and switched teams several times in the last year. If he's still more willing to play in Austin than in Europe, his chances of being in training camp this fall will skyrocket.

Chance of joing the Spurs: 15%

Davis Bertans

Tall, skinny combo forward(would have to play the 3 in NBA). Excellent shooter. Needs on basically everything except spot-up shooting skills. Is very young, and needs more time to develop. At 19, has plenty of time, and Spurs appear committed to his development.

Chance of joining the Spurs: 5%

**********

I'm not listing any others because I don't think the rest of the guys whose rights the Spurs hold have a realistic shot of ever making the team.

Buyout Candidates

So there are plenty of good players curently overseas, some of whom signed during the lockout. Here's 3 of the top players they might have interest in.

Andrei Kirilenko

AK47 was the best player in Euroleague this season, leading CSKA Moscow to the title. At this point of his career, he's more of a 4 than a 3, but he's a very good 4. He might cross the pond again, but it'll probably take more cash than the Spurs can offer.

Bo McCalebb

This New Orleans native is also a national hero in Macedonia, after leading that country to a strong showing at Eurobasket last year. He's an incredible shooter, scorer and ball-handler, and would be a great fit with the Spurs' second unit.

Malik Hairston (free agent)

Malik is the best former Spur currently playing in Europe, and led Milan in scoring* this season. The team had a poor showing in Euroleague, and may look to shake things up again in the offseason. Hairston is a good buyout candidate, but he doesn't really address a need for the Spurs, and he may be signing an extension soon.

* = not counting Danilo Gallinari's lockout stint with the team

There's tons of other guys I could list here, but I'll hold off writing about them until I see them in summer league or being signed by the team.

Poll

How many foreign players will the Spurs sign this offseason?

None

43 votes

One

157 votes

Two

215 votes

More than two(explain in comments)

32 votes

447 votes | Poll has closed

Maggette to Detroit, Ben Gordon to Charlotte

Tim C. — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:19:57 -0000

Maggette to Detroit, Ben Gordon to Charlotte

LOL Bobcats, basically. They take on more salary at a position their current top scorer plays.

The Foreign Market, Part I: European Draft Prospects

Tim C. — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 03:03:54 -0000

This is Leon. He must break you.

via www.eurohopes.com

So, here we are in yet another offseason that came too soon. I can't speak for the rest of you, but the mourning period has finally ended for me, and I'm ready to talk offseason moves. As the guy who got the job of PtR's European basketball "expert" (a term used loosely, I assure you), it's my duty to guide the conversation about the Spurs' international prospects this offseason. In a later post, we'll talk about the team's options for free agent signings from overseas. But, with the draft coming up in two days, let's talk about some of the guys the Spurs might be looking at.

The Spurs currently possess only the 59th pick in this year's draft. With a pick that low, they typically will spend it on a draft-and-stash type of player. However, the Spurs are rumored to be interested in trading up this season, so I've included all the draft-eligible international prospects I could find in a list of likely candidates. Well, at least the ones with a more than a snowball's chance in Phoenix of being drafted. I'll be honest, I don't know much about most of these guys, but that's half the fun.

With that in mind, I'm drawing every name on this list from Draft Express's top 100 prospects list. I've seen a few of these guys play, but I'm relying on stats, highlights and reviews from both DX and some of the European guys at Spurstalk for the rest of my info. Without further adieu, here are your 2012 international draft prospects:

Evan Fournier - Poiters (France)

This 6'7" French wing is one of the best scorers at the position in the French LNB. Currently projected as a late first-round pick, he's a good slasher with the ability to create for himself and others. At 19 years old, he has plenty of time to add range to his shot, the only glaring hole in his offensive game.

Tornike Shengelia - Charleroi (France)

Another Georgian combo forward with good size who seems to duplicate Sanikidze's skill set, with the exception of being less prolific on the boards. Currently predicted to be picked in the mid-second round.

Kostas Papanikolau - Olympiacos (Greece)

I like this guy. He's a real jack-of-all-trades type, and at 6'8" he has good size for his natural position of SF. If you can imagine Danny Green 2 inches taller, that's basically who Papanikolau is. If the Spurs weren't already set for the foreseeable future at the wing, I'd be in favor of picking this guy up.

Furkan Aldemir - Galatasaray (Turkey)

Here's a post player and rebounder at the PF position, who's only 20 years old. He did well in limited minutes with Euroleague newcomer Galatasaray this past season, and he has the potential to be a very good role player in the NBA one day. Right now, he's projected to be drafted in the mid-second round, well ahead of the Spurs' pick.

Leon Radosevic - Milano (Italy)

DX has been projecting the Spurs to draft this guy for quite some time. I think they may be wrong, but maybe they've heard something. The 6'9" big man plays for Milan (Malik Hairston's team) and has struggled to find minutes behind Ioannis Bourousis (remember him?) and Mason Rocca. As a 22-year old, he is automatically eligible for the draft, but if he doesn't get drafted he'll simply become a free agent as far as the NBA is concerned, which is why if he's still on the board with the second-to-last pick in the entire draft, I think the Spurs will look at a younger player. (more details below)

Ognjen Kuzmic - Unicaja (Spain)

This 7'1" Bosnian spent most of last season in Spain's second-tier league, but recently signed with perennial Euroleague squad Unicaja, where he'll have the chance to prove himself at a high level of competition. He put up good numbers across the board at lower levels and could be a good risk, even though he reportedly doesn't want to be drafted.

Kostas Sloukas - Olympiacos

This 6'3" point man is a ridiculously good shooter. He also boasts a great turnover-assist ratio, even though he's not known for his court vision. He just signed a new 3-year deal, and Greek players are somewhat notorious for not wanting to leave Greece, but I could see someone taking a chance on him.

Izzet Turkyilmaz - Banvit (Turkey)

Here's a 7'1" Turkish big man with ballhandling and shooting skills who has trouble getting minutes for a Eurocup team. Think of him as a less athletic Ryan Richards. Pass.

Dusan Cantekin - Mega Vizura (Serbia)

Here's the biggest draft-eligible prospect around. At 7'4", he's been putting up good numbers on a bad team. His sheer size makes him intriguing, but it's questionable whether he'd be able to keep up with today's NBA athletes.

Tomas Satoransky - Sevilla (Spain)

A smart combo guard with great size (6'7"), Satoransky recently impressed at the Adidas Eurocamp. But after a lackluster ACB season, it's questionable whether he's really an NBA prospect. He doesn't really stand out in any one area of the game, but his ability to dominate opponents with superior size still makes him interesting.

Paul Lacombe - ASVEL (France)

This Frenchman has prototypical shooting guard size at 6'6" and seems inconsistent at best. But if any NBA team knows his game, it's the Spurs, since he happens to play for the team owned by one Tony Parker.

Ilkan Karaman - Karsiyaka (Turkey)

A 6'9" small forward who excels at rebounding, Karaman is pretty enigmatic at this point. Playing in the lower leagues of Europe will do that for you. He's a good shooter from inside the arc, but only shoots about 30% from the European 3-point line.

Darko Planinic - Siroki (Bosnia)

A 6'11" center with a great shooting percentage (68%) and so-so rebounding, Planinic might be worth a look. I know next to nothing about the Adriatic league, but I think this guy could be a dark horse pick for the Spurs, and he's auto-eligible for the draft this year.

Andrew Albicy - Gravelines (France)

This auto-eligible French point man is pretty good at scoring, distributing and getting steals. So, what's the problem, you ask? He's 5'10" - not exactly NBA size. Still, his speed could cause mismatches on the perimeter.

Tomislav Zubcic - Zagreb (Croatia)

A 6'11" PF who's a decent rebounder but poor shooter. How someone can shoot 42% from a power position and still be on the top 100 prospects list is beyond me.

Maik Zirbes - Trier (Germany)

This 6'10" Center is the second-best shooter in the German league, but isn't exactly athletic. Nor does he possess the size needed to make up for that athleticism disadvantage, though his 7'3" wingspan helps.

Josep Franch - DKV Joventut (Spain)

This Spanish PG won't be drawing any comparisons to countryman Ricky Rubio any time soon, but like the next prospect on the list, he stayed in the draft despite being projected to not be drafted at all. I saw him play against Barca in one of Lorbek's games earlier this year. Poor shooter, decent passer... color me not impressed.

Alen Omic - Zlatorog (Slovenia)

Here's my pick for the Spurs to draft at 59. This guy is 20 years old, a legit 7-footer who's not projected to be drafted at all, but declared for the draft and stayed in past the cutoff date anyway. This makes it sound like he has a promise, and since the Spurs are well-known for their European scouting, as well as their penchant for taking players that aren't projected to be drafted (Hanga, anyone?), I suspect the big Bosnian could be their target.

So that's it. Knowing the Spurs, they could go for some other Euro not even on this list. But if they pull the classic draft-and-stash strategy, there's a pretty good chance their pick comes from this list.

UPDATE: Danny Ferry Named GM Of Atlanta Hawks

Tim C. — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:10:53 -0000

UPDATE: Danny Ferry Named GM Of Atlanta Hawks

And the brain drain begins anew.

New Orleans trades Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to Washington for Rashard Lewis and the #46 pick.

Tim C. — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:32:09 -0000

New Orleans trades Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to Washington for Rashard Lewis and the #46 pick.

Jonathan Givony (the guy who runs Draft Express)

PtR Playoff Prediction Contest: Round 3 Scores

Tim C. — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 03:06:57 -0000

Does anyone care about this thing anymore?

Good luck in the finals!

Danny Ferry, Dennis Lindsey close in on outside GM jobs

Tim C. — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:25:54 -0000

Danny Ferry, Dennis Lindsey close in on outside GM jobs

Per Woj:

Spurs exec Dennis Lindsey and ex-Hornets GM Jeff Bower are 2 of 3 finalists to be Orlando GM, sources tell Y! They'll meet with owners soon.

And:

Danny Ferry is the frontrunner to replace Rod Thorn as 76ers GM, league sources told Y! Sports. Doug Collins is pushing Ferry's candidacy.

Ferry was in charge of the Autin Toros the last two years, which resulted in a D-League title. The man has talent. Lindsey has been with the Spurs several years, and I'm sure he must be good at his job to have kept it for so long. Both will be missed if they leave.

Playoff Prediction Contest: The Finals

Tim C. — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:35:19 -0000

So, the NBA Finals start tomorrow night at 8PM Spurs time. Please post your picks here for the final round of the PtR Playoff Prediction contest. Sorry for spacing out on you guys.

I'll post an update with the scores so far later.

So, the NBA Finals start tomorrow night at 8PM Spurs time. Please post your picks here for the final round of the PtR Playoff Prediction contest. Sorry for spacing out on you guys.

I'll post an update with the scores so far later.

Comments are now closed, as the Finals have begun.

When asked what teams off the Top 5 radar want to meet with him, former UConn center Andre Drummond...

Tim C. — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:32:58 -0000

When asked what teams off the Top 5 radar want to meet with him, former UConn center Andre Drummond said the Celtics and Spurs.

via Marc Spears' twitter.

So, uhhh, that's interesting.

On The Fall Of Empires: Three Dynasties OKC Killed

Tim C. — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:26:48 -0000

The three guys on the right have controlled the West for well over a decade, but now that's all over.
(via www.halloffamememorabilia.com)

As I was watching the Thunder finish driving the knife into our collective hearts last night, I began to think about how strange it was to see this young upstart team going to the Finals, and how their road to get there closed the door on a fascinating chapter of NBA history. Let's take a look at what they accomplished by storming through the Western Conference playoffs, and the fallen hoops empires they've left in their wake.

The three guys on the right have controlled the West for well over a decade, but now that's all over.
(via www.halloffamememorabilia.com)

For the last 13 years, there have been 3 teams that have consistently dominated the league, all of them from the Western Conference: The Lakers, Spurs, and Mavericks. Since 1999, those 3 teams represented the Western Conference in the NBA Finals every single year. That's 13 consecutive seasons that one of three was in the Finals, and they won 10 championships between them. The rivalries developed during this extended period of inter-dynastic war led to some of my favorite moments as a Spurs fan, and I'm sure Mavericks and Lakers fans can probably agree to having some great memories of the Age of Tim, Kobe, and Dirk. As those teams have grown longer in the tooth with each passing season, sports media have alternately declared each of them "done". But, the Western triumvurate just kept coming back, kept winning and kept all outside competitors at bay.

Until now.

It was a good ride, but even great things must come to an end. The old order has fallen away, and a new order is being established. This new order is the dominance of a single team over the rest of the Western Conference (if not the entire league). Whether new challengers will rise to threaten them is unclear, but none of the members of the old order are in much of a position to challenge them.

The Lakers are in luxury tax hell for the next couple of years, and won't get out unless they amnesty Kobe (which they won't do, because their savings would be outweighed by the loss of merchandise sales). They do have a great young player to build around in Andrew Bynum, but they're probably going to keep declining until Kobe's current contract comes off the books. There are also a lot of rumors going around about the franchise being in turmoil because of the transition to Jim Buss as the guy who makes the final decisions. The younger Buss, by most accounts, wants to aggressively cut salary, and doesn't particularly care for Kupchak. It Kupchak leaves, the Lakers could be bad for a while. But, if there's one franchise that doesn't stay down long (besides the Spurs), it's the Lakers. They'll be back, the only question is how long it will take.

The Spurs, as we all know, are currently the best of the 3, but with the oldest franchise player. Like the Lakers, the Spurs have a very talented young player to build around in Kawhi Leonard, but he's probably never going to be a first option on a championship team, so they'll need more great pieces to compete in this new era. Unlike the Lakers, the Spurs built their with an eye on the luxury tax, and will have some big contracts coming off the books in the summer of 2013. However, where the Spurs truly excel is in drafting great talent, and with no 2012 first-rounder, they're going to have to wait a while to get more good young pieces to go with Kawhi. To get an infusion of talent for next year, they would have to make a trade, and to truly set up a good core for the future, they would likely have to break up the Big 3. If there are two guys who have to make tough decisions over the next few months, they are Gregg Popovich and RC Buford. I don't envy them at the moment, but I do trust them to do what's best for the team.

The Mavericks are in the least enviable position of the bunch. After finally breaking through to win a title in 2011, they decided to forego re-signing two of the most important role players that contributed to their run. However, with Lamar Odom gone, they will have somewhere around $18M in cap space this summer, enough to sign a franchise player like Deron Williams. But the reason they have so much cap space is that Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and a slew of bench players are coming off the books. Dallas has only 8 players under contract for next year, and that's only IF they decide to keep Vince Carter and Brandan Wright. The #17 pick in this year's draft is the only tool besides that cap space they have available, and they've got a lot to replace. Maybe they get lucky and find their next great young player, but it's hard to imagine the Mavs being in contention next season.

And maybe it's for the best that none of the three look like contenders for next season. The Thunder, the young upstarts that knocked all three off on their way to the Finals, are in great shape for next season. The staggering amount of young talent on their roster right now is not going to take a big hit in the offseason. They'll likely lose Nazr Mohammed, Derek Fisher and Royal Ivey this summer, but with only $62M commited for next season, they could easily add another good piece with the MLE. They've also got the rights to a young German center named Tibor Pleiss, who did a good job as a post scorer and rebounder in Euroleague (which is the only thing they're missing!) this season. If that weren't enough, Eric Maynor will be coming back from his injury to provide them with a solid backup at the point gaurd spot. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't going away next year, and the frightening thing is, they're nowhere near their peak. With Spurs-graduate Sam Presti at the controls, OKC will probably be the favorites to win the West for the next several years. I'm in awe at what he's already accomplished, and I don't think he's done yet.

We here at PtR will have a lot more to say about the Spurs offseason, and what they can do to improve, over the next few months. But let's take a moment to remember the greatest era of the Spurs, and the great rivals they had along the way.

Ludden: Spurs Facing Final Stand

Tim C. — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:12:21 -0000

Ludden: Spurs Facing Final Stand

This did not make me less sad.

Wednesday Loser Thread, For The Ultimate NBA Losers

Tim C. — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:39:05 -0000

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

I know this is probably the furthest thing from the mind of Spurs fans right now, but the 2012 NBA draft lottery is being held tonight. And if you think we're losers, you haven't seen some of tonight's "competitors" in the Anthony Davis Sweepstakes being losers on purpose. The epic tanking race to end the season was as entertaining as it was predictable, but tonight it all comes down to the whims of ~~David Stern~~ a swirling cauldron of ping pong balls.

So first, let's go over some of the picks that could change hands tonight. I marked these with a * in the poll:

As of right now, Portland owns the Nets' first-round pick, but the Nets will get it back if it becomes a top-3 pick.
Similarly, the Jazz will get Golden State's pick if it lands outside of the top 7. There's a decent chance another team moves up and makes this happen.
The Hornets own both their pick and that of the Timberwolves, marginally increasing their chance of moving up. As far as I know, Minnesota did not protect that pick at all(KAHHHHHHN!).

So, who do you want to win? My pick is New Orleans. Despite being a division rival, they have strong Spurs connections in Monty Williams and Dell Demps, plus they tried so hard to win every game this past season, when they could have just tanked. They deserve the happiness that can only come from Unibrowdom.

The lottery selection show begins at 7PM Spurs time on ESPN.

Also, there's another crummy Eastern Conference Finals game tonight in Miami(7:30pm Spurs time), also on ESPN. Not sure why anyone would feel the need to subject themselves to that kind of torture, but it's an option.

And now, some crazy Swedish music.

May the streak never end.

Poll

Who do you want to win the draft lottery? (See story for explanation of asterisks)

Charlotte Bobcats

42 votes

Washington Wizards

18 votes

Cleveland Cavaliers

41 votes

New Orleans Hornets/Spirit/Whatever*

41 votes

Sacramento Kings

9 votes

Brooklyn Nets*

19 votes

Golden State Warriors*

14 votes

Toronto Raptors

4 votes

Detroit Pistons

5 votes

Portland Trail Blazers

17 votes

Milwakee Bucks

1 votes

Phoenix Suns

10 votes

Houston Rockets

16 votes

237 votes | Poll has closed

PtR Playoff Prediction Contest: 2012 Conference Finals (UPDATED w/Round 2 Scores)

Tim C. — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:13:28 -0000

Hi there, Pounders. So, I know we're all excited that the Spurs are in the Western Conference Finals, and here's your chance to predict a trip to the finals without upsetting the mojo.

2nd Round Scores UPDATED

Here's the overall standings after the second round. silverandblack_davis won this round, and CapHill is your new overall leader. This restores my faith in PtR's regulars being able to win this thing.

********

Western Conference Finals

[1] San Antonio Spurs vs [2] Oklahoma City Thunder (Make picks before 7PM Spurs time on 5/27/12)

Eastern Conference Finals

TBD

Scoring

Point values are doubled again this round, so here's a brief rundown. You get 24 points for picking both the series winner and number of games correctly. 8 points are deducted for being one game off, and 4 points for each game after that. There is an additional 8 points deducted for picking the wrong team to win the series.

As an example, if the Spurs win the WCF in 6 games, here's how the scoring would work for each pick:

Spurs in 4: 12 points
Spurs in 5: 16 points
Spurs in 6: 24 points
Spurs in 7: 16 points
Thunder in 7: 4 points
Thunder in 6: 0 points
Thunder in 5: -4 points
Thunder in 4: -8 points

********

Please make your picks for the conference finals in the comments below. If you want to revise your picks, or add your pick for the other series later on, please reply to your original comment with the revision. Good luck everyone, and have fun!

Spurs' Keys To Winning The Western Conference Finals

Tim C. — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:52:28 -0000

So, as all of you know by now, the Spurs' opponent in the Western Conference Finals will be the Oklahoma City Thunder. And while the matchup has been relatively one sided in recent years(8-2 in favor of the Spurs), our frenemies from the wrong side of the Red River will likely prove to be an extremely formidable oppenent. This is going to be a much tougher series than the Spurs had in the previous two rounds, so let's talk about some of the things the Spurs need to do in order to get back to the NBA Finals.

Source note: All regular season and playoff stats used are from basketball-reference.com.

Obviously, the Spurs' greatest strength all season long has been their league-best offense, which was made even deadlier by the addition of Boris Diaw. So, I'll start with what I think the Spurs need to do offensively to punish the Thunder.

Offensive Key #1: Attack the rim constantly

The Thunder have a very good field-goal defense. They allowed the lowest field goal percentage in the West in the regular season, and have continued to do so in the playoffs (though the Spurs are extremely close to them in the playoffs). But the reason the Spurs DRtg is so much better in the playoffs than the Thunder is that OKC can't keep themselves from giving away free throws. They've allowed a higher free throw rate than any playoff team besides Denver. San Antonio has lots of perimeter slashers/cutters who can draw fouls, and the deadliest pick-and-roll attack in the league. The Spurs offense should create plenty of opportunities going towards the rim, and those should result in either a field goal, or free throw opportunities. This has the bonus effect of likely getting their starting bigs in foul trouble. Even though the bench bigs for OKC are servicable.

Offensive Key #2: Keep Ibaka and Collison on the perimeter

This one is very simple: Have either Bonner or Diaw in the game at all times, floating around the three point line on offense. Perkins or Mohammad will have to guard Duncan, Tiago, or Blair (who plays well against OKC) inside, forcing the other Thunder big man to guard Diaw or Bonner on the 3-point line. This is important, because Collison is one of the best pick-and-roll defenders in the league, and Ibaka is the best weakside "help" defender and shotblocker in the league. If you take those guys out of the paint, you compromise the Thunder's best defensive lineups. Once San Antonio starts eating them alive with this strategy, Brooks may be forced to go small. That opens up a whole new possibility...

Offensive Key #3: Ball and player movement in small-ball lineups

If Brooks decides to go small, with Durant at the 4, the Spurs will still have the advantage. The Spurs can field four offensive threats on the perimeter at all times, while Durant, Harden, and Westbrook are the only real three point threats the Thunder have. While those three are undeniably great offensive players, Derek Fisher and Thabo Sefolosha are... not. Fisher in particular can be exploited by faster (read: younger) players making quick, decisive cuts to the basket. Harden is also prone to defensive lapses. While the Thunder might be able to score quite a bit when they go small, the Spurs would have an even greater advantage as long as they keep up their usual great movement and spacing on offense. The more the Spurs move, the more OKC must try to recover, and the more out of postion the defense ends up. This concept works against almost any defense, and going with smaller, faster players makes it even harder for the defense to keep up.

_______________________________________

As we are well aware of, the Spurs' offense is less of a concern than their defense. While the team has improved over the course of the season in their own end, they are now facing what is undoubtedly their biggest challenge of the playoffs. The Thunder finished the season #2 in offensive efficiency, and in the postseason they're #1.

Defensive Key #1: Cover the 3-point line

The Thunder are an above-average 3-point shooting team, making just under 36% in both the regular season and postseason. They were slightly better than the Clippers, who lit us up from 3 in the conference semifinals, during the regular season, so this needs to be priority #1. I can live with OKC shooting a high percentage from deep as long as they don't get more than 10 opportunities per game. Durant, Harden, and Westbrook can all get hot from three point land, so those guys should never be given space to get off a shot behind the arc, lest they go S-Jax-in-Milwaukee on us. If Thabo beats us, so be it, but the Spurs can't let their main guys get hot from 3, or it will open up their entire offense.

Defensive Key #2: Cut off penetration

OK, so this one is obviously a huge priority given the players on OKC's roster. If the Thunder's "big 3" perimeter guys are regularly getting to the rim, the Spurs will lose. The good thing is, OKC uses a lot more isolation in their offense than the Spurs (or, most teams, even), so they usually don't have secondary options if you cut off the guard penetration. That means they'll be forced to take the most inefficient shot in basketball - the mid-range jumper - or reset the offense completely. These first two bullet points are really Fundamental Defense 101, but should be especially effective against the Thunder. If they're taking mid-range jumpers, they have a lot less chance of success than they will with open threes or shots at the rim. Stopping penetration is also a big factor in making sure the Spurs can meet the challenge presented by our final defensive key.

Defensive key #3: Avoid shooting fouls

While the Thunder defense is one of the worst in the league at preventing free throws for their opponent, they are THE best free-throw shooting team in the league. As in, they get to the line more than any other team besides the Nuggets, and they have the highest team free throw percentage in the league. This means that they got 1,406 points at the line during the regular season, or 21.3 points per game. That number has further balooned to 24.6 points per game from freebies in the postseason, despite the Thunder's latest opponent (Lakers) having been this year's the league best defense at preventing free throws. So, obviously, keeping the Thunder off the line is a very difficult task, but one that I think the Spurs are up to. Challenging shots without fouling is one of the things our guys know how to do, and I can only hope they will continue that in this series.

_______________________________________

So there you have it. Obviously, they are many other factors that go into winning or losing this series, but these are the things that concern me the most. If the Spurs can do all these things, they should continue their recent domination of the Thunder. If they can't, our dreams of the Finals will probably remain just that: dreams.

Here's to a good series, and hopefully a long-overdue fifth trip to the NBA Finals.

As expected, Orlando has fired coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith.

Tim C. — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:08:43 -0000

As expected, Orlando has fired coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith.

Per Woj's twitter.

Friday Superhack Loser Thread

Tim C. — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:50:59 -0000

Basketball.

That's right, no minimum number of words before the jump. Hax.

So there's NBA games tonight:

Celtics @ Sixers - 7PM Spurs time

Thunder @ Lakers - 9:30PM Spurs time

Talk about them here.

Poll

Who loses?

Sixers

9 votes

Celtics

17 votes

Lakers

69 votes

Thunder

41 votes

The sport of basketball

49 votes

185 votes | Poll has closed

Woj: As Heat, other super teams show cracks, Spurs still rolling in playoffs

Tim C. — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:36:06 -0000

Woj: As Heat, other super teams show cracks, Spurs still rolling in playoffs

Woj likes us.

Wednesday 5/16 Loser Thread

Tim C. — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:28:29 -0000

Good evening, fellow Pounders! We're all obviously happy that the Spurs won last night, but now it's time to talk about some other things. Like these things:

If you haven't already, please read this piece on Tim Duncan by Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard. It's AMAZINE.

In other news, Bruno of SpursTalk tells us that Nando De Colo's agent may have spilled the beans about part of the Spurs' offseason plan.

But wait, there's more!

There are also a couple of playoff games tonight, and even though they don't involve the Spurs, they indirectly affect the Spurs. Plus, it's fun to laugh at the misery of other teams.

Celtics @ 76ers: 6 PM Spurs time

Lakers @ Thunder: 8:30 PM Spurs time

And remember the rules: there are no rules.

Good evening, fellow Pounders! We're all obviously happy that the Spurs won last night, but now it's time to talk about some other things. Like these things:

If you haven't already, please read this piece on Tim Duncan by Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard. It's AMAZINE.

In other news, Bruno of SpursTalk tells us that Nando De Colo's agent may have spilled the beans about part of the Spurs' offseason plan.

But wait, there's more!

There are also a couple of playoff games tonight, and even though they don't involve the Spurs, they indirectly affect the Spurs. Plus, it's fun to laugh at the misery of other teams.

Celtics @ 76ers: 6 PM Spurs time

Lakers @ Thunder: 8:30 PM Spurs time

And remember the rules: there are no rules.

Oh look, the jump was pointless!

Poll

Who loses tonight?

Lakers

83 votes

Celtics

4 votes

Lakers AND Celtics

46 votes

Every person in this thread

47 votes

180 votes | Poll has closed