San Antonio Spurs...will they ever contend again for a title?
 

i'm a Spurs fan, and my cousin's brother in-law is a Blazers fan, who loves the NBA, but he hates the Spurs lol

we got into a good debate recently and he said the Spurs will never win another NBA title, let alone make it to a conference finals in the next 10 years.

i beg to differ, partly because i'm a Spurs fan, but also because i think Pop is a great coach who is building a good team up with a new crop of young guns. i mentioned in our conversation that the Spurs had built their core around Murray, Keldon Johnson, and Derrick White, and then BOOM....White got dealt away hahahaha. Pop isn't the kind of coach and the Spurs aren't the kind of team to have guys blow up all of a sudden and tear up the league (Duncan the exception), but they are a slow burn of building over the years.

Kawhi didn't really take off until the 2014 NBA Finals for example. and now, their main guy, is Dejounte Murray. but you've also got Keldon Johnson, Devin Vessell, and even Lonnie Walker has been on a roll lately. it gets me excited to see what Joshua Primo can do a few years from now, once Pop really develops him.

i think the Spurs are a Karl Anthony-Town from being a contender again, but that remains to be seen if they can find another big man. in my fantasy world, we would trade our three 1st round picks to get that kid from Gonzaga, although he's not really a true 4-5 big man like Duncan was.

but anyway, back to the original question, are the Spurs in a good position over the next decade, to start contending again?

[IMG]https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/23/70/04/21987620/9/1200x0.jpg[/IMG]

This post reminds me just how spoiled of a Spurs fan I have been. We truly got 20 years of incredible basketball.

If you're on IG, check me out as that's where I post my Spurs cards!

Great post,
Chris

[QUOTE=doctorres112;18030265]This post reminds me just how spoiled of a Spurs fan I have been. We truly got 20 years of incredible basketball.

If you're on IG, check me out as that's where I post my Spurs cards!

Great post,
Chris[/QUOTE]

i grew up a Spurs fan when we had David Robinson, and then everybody else. be it Willie Anderson or Terry Cummings, and then later Sean Elliott.

we were never really expected win the finals because although we had a good team, a playoff team, we just weren't elite to beat the Houston's or Chicago's of the NBA at that time.

but once Duncan showed up, and then they added guys like Mario Ellie, Chuck Person, and Jaren Jackson, these vets helped put us over the top.

i think our team is built in reverse now, with the guards and fowards being solid, just now missing that true old-school center to complete the job. LaMarcus Aldridge didn't pan out with us because he wasn't the big man we really wanted/needed.

i read one article the other day that said the Spurs should trade for Zion, and package Keldon Johnson in the deal.....HELL NAW!!!

Ever? Yes they will contend again. Next 10 years? Put me at no. I don't see anything on the current roster that screams conference finals. Murray is a good start. Pop is going to retire soon I assume which means a dip during any transition time. Your best bet is too bad in the next few years and get some lottery luck to draft a transcendent player. So outside chance if you keep trending for higher draft picks and get your foundations in year 4-6 and have them gel and contend in year 9 or 10.

The Spurs will not make a Conference Finals in the next 10 years.

I agree with that wholeheartedly.

People try to talk about the Spurs "system" when saying Tim Duncan won because of that.

Tim Duncan was the system. It doesn't work without him. The Spurs should have completely tanked and had Becky take charge very similar to how Philly did it with Brett Brown. Knowing that the coach is learning the ropes also.

We have some nice pieces. But you need a top 10 player that's a difference maker.

The Spurs were lucky to find the genie in the bottle twice with Robinson and Duncan. They were generational talents that were no brainers drafting at number one. Well, they did purposely tank the year before they drafted Duncan. Those type of players don't come around too often.

You can build any team and/or system around players like Robinson or Duncan. It's all about talent. Right now, the Spurs aren't bad enough to draft a generational talent (and it doesn't seem like any generational talents will be available right now). The Spurs only chance is via trade, but no one is going to just give up that type of talent. Unfortunately, the Spurs are stuck in the middle of the pack right now.

In the next few years? Probably not.
But honestly 10 years is such a long time that I wouldn’t count any franchise out of making a Conference Finals within a decade. Things change quickly and it often takes just one player - probably no one expected the Suns to be Finals contenders today if you asked Suns fans just 3 years ago. Milwaukee wasn’t very relevant for a long time and then suddenly you get a player like Giannis.

They just need to find a generational talent who was born in TX that will screw any team just to get back home...

In all seriousness though, there is a path. So yes. And it's not as tough as a 10 year wait. Just look how easy it is to move players around. Westbrook and Harden count for like 7 jersey changes in the last few years. And stars can put you in contention quick. Currently they have pieces that compete. Games may end up in late collapses or some just look tragic but you see the potential. A lot like having a CP3 in OKC or Ja with Memphis. ie a veteran who can teach or a exceptional talent to complement.

What would also help accelerate it is a top pick. I swear they have the all-sports record of non top-10 picks. Last one was literally 1997...

[QUOTE=drobfan8;18030372]The Spurs will not make a Conference Finals in the next 10 years.

I agree with that wholeheartedly.

People try to talk about the Spurs "system" when saying Tim Duncan won because of that.

Tim Duncan was the system. It doesn't work without him. The Spurs should have completely tanked and had Becky take charge very similar to how Philly did it with Brett Brown. Knowing that the coach is learning the ropes also.

We have some nice pieces. But you need a top 10 player that's a difference maker.[/QUOTE]

i thought the Spurs with Kawhi were very good, until that whole mess with Kawhi and his uncle and the Spurs doctors started, then it went downhill very fast, which nobody anticipated.

the trade that brought DeMar DeRozan was probably the best move they could have made (outside of sending Kawhi to the Lakers and having to play against him).

but right now, i think the Spurs finally got over the shock of that trade, it did take some time, and they've built a solid rotation of guards/fowards with Murray, Keldon, and Vassell. Lonnie Walker is developing nicely right now, but they are lacking that true big man to bring it all together.

with 3 first round picks, i wonder if the Spurs package them up to move up, or if they use all three on three players they'd want to bring in.

i just see a diamond in the rough in San Antonio with their young core of players. no NBA Finals anytime soon, but you also see how quickly teams like Atlanta, Boston, Phoenix, and Milwaukee can build up too.

I look at the Spurs similar to the Pistons. Pistons got their talent and foundation through trades for "cast offs" and " throw aways". Spurs got theirs running via draft. Obviously tanking the right year and getting Duncan is the big differentiator. Wouldn't be as much, if Darko hit, but I digress. My point is the other two of the big three, Manu and Parker, weren't highly thought of either. Low draft picks that hit big. My opinion, in today's climate those type of hidden gems in the foreign market are much tougher now.

So just like the Pistons, they had a lot of things go their way to get the dynasty in place. Also, like the Pistons, I don't see that as repeatable. As stated, every franchise needs to get that foundational HOFer. Small market teams need to do that via draft. This means being bad enough for the ping pong balls are in your favor AND you need to hit the right guy in the right year. Not every year has a Duncan (also less repeatable since studs don't make it to senior year and are much less of a known quantity).

[QUOTE=Scottish Punk;18030594]I look at the Spurs similar to the Pistons. Pistons got their talent and foundation through trades for "cast offs" and " throw aways". Spurs got theirs running via draft. Obviously tanking the right year and getting Duncan is the big differentiator. Wouldn't be as much, if Darko hit, but I digress. My point is the other two of the big three, Manu and Parker, weren't highly thought of either. Low draft picks that hit big. [B]My opinion, in today's climate those type of hidden gems in the foreign market are much tougher now. [/B]
[/QUOTE]

it's funny because in a lot of ways, the Spurs constantly searching for those diamond in the roughs in the foreign market is a lot of their undoing as well, since everybody now searches for the next Ginobili or Parker.

at the same time, the Spurs seem to be intent that whoever they draft is on a 3 year developmental plan, and it seems to work with some of their guys.

but i also agree and see exactly what you're saying, they need that big man and finding him in FA is going to be very difficult and/or they'll need some luck to find another gem in the middle or late in the draft.

I'm Spurs fan since 1987. We don't have a generational talent top 10 talent in the league. We will never win into we get that Guy in the building.I don't care who the coach is and Pop has been getting exposed over the last few years.

The elephant in the room nobody wants to bring up.Only true honest Spurs fans that don't look at Pop as the reason the Spurs won. They know it was Tim Duncan with the mentor-ship of David Robinson and Avery Johnson.Pop messed up the Kawhi Leonard trade and set the organization back with his ego not wanting to trade to the Lakers or Boston.Go back and look what the Lakers and Boston offer for the Kawhi Leonard.

[QUOTE=biggieruth;18031131]The elephant in the room nobody wants to bring up.Only true honest Spurs fans that don't look at Pop as the reason the Spurs won. They know it was Tim Duncan with the mentor-ship of David Robinson and Avery Johnson.Pop messed up the Kawhi Leonard trade and set the organization back with his ego not wanting to trade to the Lakers or Boston.Go back and look what the Lakers and Boston offer for the Kawhi Leonard.[/QUOTE]

the Lakers would have brought back some nice pieces, but did you really want to see Kawhi and Lebron on the same team? you kidding me? that's like the Packers sending Rodgers to the 49ers...no way in hell they do that.

same with SA.

as for Boston, i heard Jaylen Brown was rumored to be part of a trade deal, but nothing that i ever heard transpired.

the Kawhi thing was an absolute mess, and it happened so fast, the Spurs i think were screwed into "we'll just take the best deal we can get", which was DeRozan as the centerpiece of the trade.

[QUOTE=biggieruth;18031131]The elephant in the room nobody wants to bring up.Only true honest Spurs fans that don't look at Pop as the reason the Spurs won. They know it was Tim Duncan with the mentor-ship of David Robinson and Avery Johnson.Pop messed up the Kawhi Leonard trade and set the organization back with his ego not wanting to trade to the Lakers or Boston.Go back and look what the Lakers and Boston offer for the Kawhi Leonard.[/QUOTE]

This is 100% correct.

Whilst Pop is a terrific coach, his ego and his own personal goals are reasons why he called out Kawhi through the media, and hasn't tanked (chasing coaching wins) and he's admitted the pay is really good.

The Spurs should have tanked out years ago. They have a nice middle of the road team.

What's their ceiling right now? 7th each season.

People mentioning Phoenix and Milwaukee. Lol. Chris Paul is what, a top 5 ish PG of all time. Where are the Spurs gonna get one of those? PHO also got a number 1 pick recently to add to Booker.

Mil did well grabbing Giannis. But like Tim Duncan, he is the system. You can't teach talented players to have the hunger and desire like Giannis. They don't grow on trees.

saw the Spurs-Grizzlies game last night, and we put up a good fight. we were within 1 several times, and then the Grizz would go on a 10-0 run and go up 11.

i like our young squad, but man, our defense is TERRIBLE....just flat out TERRIBLE.

The Grizz scored 42 in the 1st quarter. Against Miami on Sunday, the Heat scored 33, 38, and 34 in the final 3 quarters. Washington had 71 at halftime.

Pop's championship teams were built on defense, but not this young group of kids.

and other than Dejounte, Keldon is probably my favorite player, but he really disappears for long stretches in games.

this team really brings back memories of the Spurs teams i grew up on as a kid, except we won a lot more games than we lost. we really need a big man on this team, a legit game changing big man.

btw, speaking of Keldon Johnson....we've got a Keldon Johnson bobblehead night coming up! sweet!!!

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FL-jsw3XsAgpKSP.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=oplum29;18034670]saw the Spurs-Grizzlies game last night, and we put up a good fight. we were within 1 several times, and then the Grizz would go on a 10-0 run and go up 11.

i like our young squad, but man, our defense is TERRIBLE....just flat out TERRIBLE.

The Grizz scored 42 in the 1st quarter. Against Miami on Sunday, the Heat scored 33, 38, and 34 in the final 3 quarters. Washington had 71 at halftime.

Pop's championship teams were built on defense, but not this young group of kids.

and other than Dejounte, Keldon is probably my favorite player, but he really disappears for long stretches in games.

this team really brings back memories of the Spurs teams i grew up on as a kid, except we won a lot more games than we lost. we really need a big man on this team, a legit game changing big man.[/QUOTE]

Well they got rid of their best perimeter defender in DW. Plus they don't seem too mature when it comes to assignments anyways... And we've seen that roller coaster of being right there in games and 2 minutes later..likely a trick shot...half court heave...or highlight...they are down double digits lol

But they never stop clawing... And they pull some of them out. Almost pulled it out in Chicago, in Miami down your best 3 and hung in there last night despite Ja. Sucks if you're team tank because the ball bounces their way sometimes but entertaining as a fan to see these guys develop and take the game seriously.

[QUOTE=drobfan8;18030372]The Spurs will not make a Conference Finals in the next 10 years.

I agree with that wholeheartedly.

People try to talk about the Spurs "system" when saying Tim Duncan won because of that.

Tim Duncan was the system. It doesn't work without him. The Spurs should have completely tanked and had Becky take charge very similar to how Philly did it with Brett Brown. Knowing that the coach is learning the ropes also.

We have some nice pieces. But you need a top 10 player that's a difference maker.[/QUOTE]

And this is why most sane Spur fans hate outsider takes like this.

I think they could contend in a couple of years. They run a good organization. I think they have an eye for undervalued talent. Murray seems like he could be at least 2nd best guy on a contender. I like a lot of the young role players they have now like Keldon, Walker and Vassell. Haven’t seen enough Primo but he may be a asset down the road. And I think they have enough legacy that they could convince a superstar or two to sign there for a few years to try to win a championship.

[QUOTE=spurs50fan;18035208]Well they got rid of their best perimeter defender in DW. Plus they don't seem too mature when it comes to assignments anyways... And we've seen that roller coaster of being right there in games and 2 minutes later..likely a trick shot...half court heave...or highlight...they are down double digits lol

But they never stop clawing... And they pull some of them out. Almost pulled it out in Chicago, in Miami down your best 3 and hung in there last night despite Ja. Sucks if you're team tank because the ball bounces their way sometimes but entertaining as a fan to see these guys develop and take the game seriously.[/QUOTE]

Spurs vs Kings the other day was another good game, down 19, we went up 4 i think in the 4th, then closed the game by going ice cold.

idk why Richardson is on the team. he came in, and right away, missed 3 shots. Spurs also shot 8 for 16 on free throws (50%), while the Kings shot 32 free throws...you can't have that.

but i'll give it to this team. Lonnie looks good. Dejounte needs to knock off the turnovers, and Keldon just flat out disappeared and didn't play the entire 4th quarter.

we've got the Hornets tonight, but it's not showing on tv. :(

[QUOTE=oplum29;18043343]Spurs vs Kings the other day was another good game, down 19, we went up 4 i think in the 4th, then closed the game by going ice cold.

idk why Richardson is on the team. he came in, and right away, missed 3 shots. Spurs also shot 8 for 16 on free throws (50%), while the Kings shot 32 free throws...you can't have that.

but i'll give it to this team. Lonnie looks good. Dejounte needs to knock off the turnovers, and Keldon just flat out disappeared and didn't play the entire 4th quarter.

we've got the Hornets tonight, but it's not showing on tv. :([/QUOTE]

Tank mode working. Just like the Kings...play hard enough for just long enough. :D

[QUOTE=rifleman69;18043668]Tank mode working. Just like the Kings...play hard enough for just long enough. :D[/QUOTE]

another tough loss tonight for the boys.

Keldon drops 28 in the first half...only 5 in the second. Dejounte with another double double, Vassell with 14, and Primo with 10. Lonnie who had been on a tear, finished with just 5.

Spurs drop to 24-40. i've been a Spurs fan my whole life, so i guess i was spoiled with David Robinson and then Duncan, we rarely if ever had losing seasons. now, it's a very common theme.

on the plus side, should be a ton of available tickets to the games i plan on attending! :)

This thread is pretty funny - "The Spurs have NBA players on their roster. Doesn't that mean they'll be in the NBA finals at some point in the next 10 years?" lol

[QUOTE=jameshues;18044914]This thread is pretty funny - "The Spurs have NBA players on their roster. Doesn't that mean they'll be in the NBA finals at some point in the next 10 years?" lol[/QUOTE]


Sure you could make the argument that any team could make the finals in the next 10 years. But do you really think the Kings will? The Spurs at least have an organizational history that says they won’t completely f things up