Spurs last gasp?

by bfan on May 23, 2008 9:41 AM PDT

I know, I know, I feel like we say this every year. But I was just looking at the ages of the Spurs' players, and it's not looking good for them. Here's how old some of their players will be when next season rolls around:

Tim Duncan - 32

Manu - 31

Kurt Thomas - 36

Bruce Bowen - 37

Horry - 38

Oberto - 33

Jacque Vaughn - 33

Ime - 31

Stoudamire - 35

Brent Barry - 37

I knew Bowen was old, but 37? That's ancient! Thomas, Bowen, Horry, and Barry really stick out to me here. The Spurs got key contributions from these guys down the stretch this year, which helped propel them to the top half of the Western Conference. How much longer can these guys contribute?

The Spurs are renowned for their ability to reload with roll players every year, but I just don't see how it can happen when they have over $50 million tied up in Duncan, Parker, Ginobli, Bowen, Udoka, Bonner, Barry, and Vaughn. They'll be nestled right up to the salary cap with only the mid-level to use, and trade assets are sparse with most of their small contracts expiring this year and the likely retirement of Horry and Thomas. They might add Tiago Splitter in the offseason, but I don't know how much help he'll be.

Couple all of this with the fact that some other veteran teams will be vying for experienced vets to fill out their roster in the offseason (Boston, Miami, Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans), and the Spurs may not find the same bang for their buck that they usually do in the offseason.

Could we be looking at the Spurs' last hoorah as a title contender? Or even further, there has been some recent discussion on who we'll have to knock out of the top 8 in the West to reach the playoffs, but nobody has mentioned the Spurs. We witnessed them struggle more than ever through the first few months of the season--well into January--and with most of the teams in the West getting better, is it possible that early-season slump lasts even longer and causes them to miss the playoffs? It will certainly be interesting to see who jumps out in front in the West next year, and who gets left behind.

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Don't count the Spurs out

until they are out.

But it COULD be the last hurrah for ‘em this year.

by EngineerScotty on May 23, 2008 9:51 AM PDT reply actions

Tiago Splitter has improved a lot this year in ACB

and he will improve more next year. I wonder where he can improve better, in ACB or NBA. IMO, he should stay one more year in ACB, he could be near to Marc Gasol numbers, then go to the NBA with confidence.

It never rains for everibody´s pleasure.

by amlmart1 on May 23, 2008 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

2 things:

1. Most of those old guys are role players. Manu, Parker, and Duncan could still have a few years left. I’m not insinuating that it’s easy to find quality role players, but when you have a solid core, that’s gotta be easier to do.

2. I love that numerous “experts” are saying that because the Spurs lost game 1 when they were ahead by 20 points midway through the 3rd quarter they are done. We’re talking about the defending champion Spurs, the team who was getting cooked by the upstart Hornets and losing two games to none to only to win, the team that a day before game one was stuck on a plane for 11 hours (or something like that), the team with Popovich as their head coach. No way are they done. If I’m them, I’m thinking we let one slip away, no doubt. So they’ll make some adjustments (just like they did in the last two series’) and try to take game two. Even if they go down 2-0, they know they can overcome that.

Blake brings it up on the right, swings it to Webster on the elbow, he moves around the key and passes to the low left block for Aldridge, Aldridge jukes baseline, turns back in and finds Roy cutting down the seam, ROY THROWS IT UP AT THE RIM FOR ODEN WHO THROWS IT DOWN FOR THE TWO HANDED MONSTER JAM!!! BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!!! -Wheeler '08-'09

i can't wait

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on May 23, 2008 10:20 AM PDT reply actions

I agree with you

which of course will mean the spurs lose.

I watched the first part of this game and saw AMAZING team work, no look passes, precise pinpoint moves much like a well rehearsed dance. It shouted out to me how far away the blazers really are to being a championship team. Talent alone doesn’t cut it.

No team in the NBA knows each other like the spurs do. Only one team in the NBA has a POSSIBLE better coach. If the Spurs make it past the lakers, they’re the champions. If they don’t, i’ll be surprised. They wore out in the fourth, but how many times will you see the spurs lose a 20 point game? It just doesn’t happen and I doubt it’ll happen again.

"I got the goose bumps." - Rudy translated by Alamart

by ratbastird on May 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm with you kids

Tired leg means crappy jump shots. I was getting mad as heck in that game though. I was watching with my Laker friend and I said to him, I said, “Not to knock on your defense, but the stars on the Spurs need to take some shots and stop making Ime take the big shots.” He agreed, then he punched me in the face.

Last night a Japanese lady bit me on the arm. I have a bruise to prove it.

I heard a cool thing on the radio, only one rotation guy on the Lakers is over 30 and it’s the opposite for the Spurs. Or something like that. I could look it up, but I forgot how to Google.

Two

by tominhawaii on May 23, 2008 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Did you tell your Pearl Harbor joke in public again Tom the bomb?

How many times do I have to tell you?

by Sabonis4Ever on May 23, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Hawaii sounds like a land without inhibition

When you want to punch someone in the face, you do it, and if you don’t like getting punched in the face, tough, cause you’re getting punched again. Those are the rules of Hawaii.

And if a Japanese lady doesn’t like the look you’re giving her, watch out buckaroo! You just got your junk bit. That’s Hawaii for you. Now take it like a man.

Kind of reminds me of the Triple Nickel. But I wouldn’t know what it’s like these days, I haven’t been allowed in that place for a while. I guess hitting someone with a chair is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Literally. Only, not a camel, just some dude with a faux-hawk.

BLZRS FRVR

by nightbluefruit on May 23, 2008 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions

I asked her some questions

I asked how to say, “I’m constipated” then, “I have diarrhea,” in Japanese. Then someone said, “What?” Then I said, “Hitomi said she’s constipated and has diarrhea.” That’s when she bit me.

Three

by tominhawaii on May 23, 2008 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions

31 and 31 isn't that old for two of your key players

Especially when you coast through the regular season.

I think Parker is 27.

Wouldn’t write them off just yet.

by leeroyjenkins on May 23, 2008 10:27 AM PDT reply actions

Their core is Duncan, Parker and Ginobilli.

At 31 and 32, Manu and Duncan are not exactly old and over the hill. Additionally, Duncan’s game is such that he shouldn’t be effected as much by slowing down a little.

Bowen has yet to show he’s over the hill and from watching Ime in the playoffs, the Spurs know they already have Bowen’s replacement.

In addition to Splitter, they have Ian Mahamimi, a 6-10 very athletic big.

I didn’t know Oberto was 33, but it doesn’t look like he’s washed up. Kurt Thomas should still have a year or two of productive play as a bench player. The rest of the guys really aren’t important. Finley probably sees the most minutes of the bunch. Drafting someone like Courtney Lee, Brandon Rush or some other SG could fill his spot.

I think the biggest issue is finding a backup PG to Parker. Even Popovich admitted that he probably inhibited Beno’s development. Add Udrih and Stephen Jackson back on this team and they would be the team to beat as long as Duncan and Parker were playing.

by timg56 on May 23, 2008 10:31 AM PDT reply actions

Another thing

Manu Ginobilli has improved every year that he has been in the NBA. Statistically this year has been his best year ever. I wouldn’t want to bet against him being even better next year than he was this year.

by trk on May 23, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Spurs window is 2-4 more years

The Spurs are younger than I thought. It will be at least 2 more years that the Spurs will be contenders barring major injuries to one of the core guys (Duncan, Manu and Parker). And they are like ly to be in the play-off for 4-5 more seasons. If you look at key “old guys” still in the playoffs, McDyess and Rasheed are the oldest at 34 and Ray allen is next at 33 (at the start of next season). Garnett and pierce will be 32. Excepting for major injury, the great players tend to last until 34-35 years of age for good productive seasons. That means all these old guys will still be a threat for the next couple of years. To knock them out of contention, a young team (such as L@kers, utah NO, or Blazers) will need to beat them in the playoffs for them to decide to rebuild. Once they are blown up, only then will they not be contenders. Because we can’t lay hope in that the GM’s for the spurs, celts and pistons will be stupid like Dallas and Phoenix in trading away young talent for even older talent.

by NWfan on May 23, 2008 11:03 AM PDT reply actions

Me too, I actually thought Duncan was like 34, 35

Who knew he was such a youngster.

by leeroyjenkins on May 23, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Nope, not yet

Its possible Timmay never wins another title. However, I can confidently say that they will be in contention for at least 2 more years, and quite possibly more like 4.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on May 23, 2008 11:20 AM PDT reply actions