Spurs sign Van Exel

[Kings113]

The vets on these championship contender teams are mainly for the post-season, perfect example has been Horry.

Though didn't work out for Houston last summer, I think there was some talk about them because of T-Mac/Yao, but I'm not sure

 

[AriesMar27]

tmac and yao got robbed.....

but the spurs arent scarry because they could beat the kings before the yadded nick and possibly finley....

 

[HndsmCelt]

Well the addition of Nick the quick will give depth, but it's hard to say how much given his age and the signs of decline he has already shown. On the other hand it does make the Spurs a little easier for me to hate.

 

[Bricklayer]

...so, if they're currently overseas, how do they make the Spurs more "youthfull" this season?

It doesn't, and it was an odd argument. Fact is that the Spurs players who are here NOW aren't old -- the only age concern in the starting lineup is Bowen. Otherwise everybody is sub-30, and its only some limited minute benchers who have any grey hairs.

 

[striker]

NVE adds a better backup than Beno, a clutch player that could easily have a couple of games where he made important contributions in a tough playoff series and he'll give Parker 10 or 15 minutes rest off the bench. By the end of last season, with Udrih faltering, Parker was developing some tendinitis in his knee that was hampering him. Hopefully NVE will prevent that this year.

One last key addition, Spurs hired Chip Engelland the guy that was Kerr and Grant hills shooting coach specificly to improve Parker;s outside shooting. If he's successful ....

 

[SpursFan]

It doesn't, and it was an odd argument. Fact is that the Spurs players who are here NOW aren't old -- the only age concern in the starting lineup is Bowen. Otherwise everybody is sub-30, and its only some limited minute benchers who have any grey hairs.

The thing is though, Jordan was in his mid 30's and winning a second threepeat.

33-35 is not what 33-35 was in 1970.

 

[PixelPusher]

It doesn't, and it was an odd argument. Fact is that the Spurs players who are here NOW aren't old -- the only age concern in the starting lineup is Bowen. Otherwise everybody is sub-30, and its only some limited minute benchers who have any grey hairs.

One of those "grey haired, limited minute benchers" still gives me (and a lot of other Kings fans) waking nightmares.

 

[Bricklayer]

The thing is though, Jordan was in his mid 30's and winning a second threepeat.

33-35 is not what 33-35 was in 1970.

Jordan however was Jordan. Pretty much a unique entity (and one that was actually noticeably weakening in his final championship year) that was SO much better than everybody else in his prime that he could still be good enouogh even after age was starting to rob him. Otherwise I'm not sure I can think of a championship mainstay who led his team to a title after his early 30's, modern era or early years. Kareem of course, but there is a good argument there that as he aged it was Magic who increasingly took over as the main man in L.A.. Similar dynamic to Shaq in Miami now -- he is NOT the same player, nor is he capable of winning it himself anymore. If he gets one now, Wade is going to be doing much of the heavy lifting. Hakeem was remarkable for having his best years post-30, but after the short burst, he slowly faded away as he approached 35 as well. Zeke and Magic both retired by 32, Bird's back was ruined by then...Jordan is pretty much a one man exception.

Now a guy like Bowen could still get dragged along to a title into his dotage because he's just a very specialized roleplayer -- Duncan's age, and to a lesser degree Manu's are probably the major bellweathers for the Spurs run now. But even Bruce, and really especially Bruce because he is such a specialist, cannot afford to lose a step or an edge to that defense or he may quickly find himself out of the league. He does nothing else at an NBA level, and certainly would not be worthy of starting on a championship team if the defense even slipped down to just good rather than great.

 

[cfechter]

They're getting older?

Do you know how much young talent with tons of upside we have overseas?

We have a 6'11 19 year old we drafted this summer who is being compared to Amare.

We have a 6'9 20 year old we traded for in the second round two summers ago who is being compared to AK47.

We have a 24 year old we drafted in 2002 that is 6'11 with a 40 inch vert.

We still have the rights to Scola.

Our core is in tack until 2010.

Spursfan, really, I like the Spurs. Solid team, solid organization, etc.

However, you really can't claim these guys all have a ton of upside. Chances are, none of them are going to have a big impact in the NBA.

And don't forget how the Spurs managed to land their three best players:

Sheer, dumb luck.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

IMO its a bad pick up, he wont fit in with the Spurs, he doesnt play D, he wont attack the rim , and wont move the ball around, i think he will be benched some time at the start of the season, after Pop sees him attempt a half court 3 pointer with a full shot clock...

 

[Ryan]

Nick was a kings killer because we didn't have anyone that could match up with him but it’s different now. I'll take a youthful Bonzi over an aging Van Exel any day. Good pick up though.

 

[SpursFan]

And don't forget how the Spurs managed to land their three best players:

Sheer, dumb luck.

Are you talking about Manu, Tony, and Tim?

Tim was a no brainer.

Mnau and Tony were sheer scouting talent.

R.C. and Sam Presti.

Those guys are the ones who go overseas and scout players, they were scouting Manu in 1998 and saw enough that they decided to draft him.

Tony was another Sam Presti pick. Pop didn't want to draft him, but Sam kept insisting on drafting this 19 year old that almost no one else wanted about.

Sheer luck... please.

 

[piksi]

Well the addition of Nick the quick will give depth, but it's hard to say how much given his age and the signs of decline he has already shown. On the other hand it does make the Spurs a little easier for me to hate.

his age will mater in 78-79 games of the season

However - the 3-4 games vs. Kings - it won't

 

[cfechter]

Spursfan, really, I like the Spurs. Solid team, solid organization, etc.

However, you really can't claim these guys all have a ton of upside. Chances are, none of them are going to have a big impact in the NBA.

And don't forget how the Spurs managed to land their three best players:

Sheer, dumb luck.

So you have one marginal star in Ginobili, another good player in parker but you're overlooking the fact that if David Robinson doesn't hurt his back in 1998, the spurs right now are a 40 win team.

I'll say it again:

Sheer, dumb luck.

 

[VF21]

So you have one marginal star in Ginobili, another good player in parker but you're overlooking the fact that if David Robinson doesn't hurt his back in 1998, the spurs right now are a 40 win team.

I'll say it again:

Sheer, dumb luck.

Okay, you've quoted yourself and said it again.

I think we get it.

P.S. Calling Manu Ginobili a "marginal star" is just silly. His performance in both the Olympics AND the NBA finals says otherwise... If you're trying to get a rise out of Spursfan, please sign onto a Spurs board to do it.

 

[tyrant]

there's nothing negative i can say about nick. he still has some left in him. i think he will be the best backup point guard the spurs ever had or will ever have. i think he gives them more shooting. i really want the kings to whip the spurs now because nick is also the one that killed our title hopes in 03 after webber got hurt. looks like we will be killing two birds with one stone this year.

 

[tyrant]

So you have one marginal star in Ginobili, another good player in parker but you're overlooking the fact that if David Robinson doesn't hurt his back in 1998, the spurs right now are a 40 win team.

I'll say it again:

Sheer, dumb luck.

i think ginobili is a little better than marginal, but he's nothing too special. not as good as dirk. what's rediculous is after the spurs beat detroit spurs fans had the nerve to compare him to kobe.

 

[striker]

i think ginobili is a little better than marginal, but he's nothing too special. not as good as dirk. what's rediculous is after the spurs beat detroit spurs fans had the nerve to compare him to kobe.

When you look at stats or when you look at play over entire games, entire seasons Ginobili won't have the impact that Kobe has. But when it comes to playoffs or tournaments what every team needs is the player that at the clutch moment, in the tight critical games can get the job done. At that point the ball in Manu's hands is just as good, in my opinion better, than Kobe's. And if you don't belief me 82games.com keeps a statistic and did an article on clutch play and players. Manu was statistically ranked number one in the league at making it happen. That's score, get the foul call, get the steal, assist or get the critical rebound. Nobody did it better.

 

[VF21]

i think ginobili is a little better than marginal, but he's nothing too special. not as good as dirk. what's rediculous is after the spurs beat detroit spurs fans had the nerve to compare him to kobe.

So? Spurs fans have the right to be happy about Manu's performance. If they want to compare him to Kobe, why not? It's THEIR point of view, which they are entitled to...

This doesn't need to keep being about you disagreeing with what Spurs fans have said about their team. You've already beaten that horse to death...