http://streamable.com/lre4t

2008and1 said:

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Another blown double digit lead.

Second half Spurs suck right now.

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3rd qtr was pretty bad but they came back and played an excellent 4th and put the game away. Much better than the last 2 games.

2008and1 said:

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http://streamable.com/lre4t

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Manu's face after that kills me.

Crazy highlights from this game against OKC

Ag Natural said:

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Yeah people have very short memories. Last year was an anomaly because the bench was destroying the league. I don't think anyone everaged more than 30 minutes a game. This team might actually be built better for the playoffs.

Honestly, every spoiled Spurs fan should make it a point to watch one random NBA game every couple of weeks. Not Cleveland or GSW. Watch a Nuggets vs. Hornets game. It's freaking brutal to watch most teams.

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Or just watch Shaqin a Fool

2008and1 said:

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http://streamable.com/lre4t

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Dude is unbelievable.

Another ugly win. Kyle Anderson was horrible tonight. Very impressed with Dlee on the offfensive boards and his production on offense

Pendragon12 said:

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2008and1 said:

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http://streamable.com/lre4t

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Manu's face after that kills me.

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And the guy on the OKC bench who spikes the towel.

Coach Pop 1,128 wins Most in NBA history for a coach with one team!

No Kawhi and Pau tonight vs a tough Memphis team. I love getting a chance to watch the depth of this team

Edit: I stand corrected. What a horrible game to watch.

Aldridge needs to start earning his paycheck. He's softer than a pillow.

That was an ugly shooting display last night. Went 4-25 in the 4th. Yikes thats bad.

What happened last night

Chipotlemonger said:

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What happened last night

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Grit.

Also Grind.

Really worried about LMA in this offense.

He's a great talent and we need to find out how to get it all out of him b/c when/if Kawhi is out LMA has to step up, no question.

I definitely don't want to read too much into last night's game with both Kawhi and Gasol out, but LMA played amazingly soft when the whole show was his.

The Spurs are a good team, top 3 or 4 in the NBA, but I'm not seeing enough dominance from the LMA and Gasol experiment to say they have a chance of winning it all. I really hoped the Spurs would be much more dominant in the paint. If the Spurs lose early or look outclassed in the playoffs, I think the Spurs should really consider how far they can go with LMA as the #2. You don't want to miss Kawhi's prime and Murray might be worth building around too.

The Aldridge worries are unfounded. He's been a rock down low this season and he's mobile enough to be on the floor against the Rockets and Warriors. It does seem like he's been more inconstant than we are used to with his mid-range game. But there have been nights where he's lit up the opposition so to say he's just not good enough is not the case. Who in the league has been better? LMA has been a borderline all star.

Looking at matchups. GSW, the Clips and Cavs couldn't be more different and I can't really tell who the Spurs match up best with. Then throw the Rockets in the mix and that team is a giant x-factor with their 3pt blitzkrieg.

The good thing is Leonard has taken on the burden of being the clear leader of this team so LMA doesn't have to. He obviously more comfy just doing the dirty work down low and hitting an occasional jumper.

The worries are only unfounded if the Spurs win big with LMA. The question isn't if he is a good player. The question is he a good enough #2 player to give the Spurs a shot at a title. That's a legitimate question at this juncture, IMO. The Spurs would likely be a top 3-4 team with or without LMA as long as they have Kawhi, but with LMA are they a real contender?

You don't want to be stuck with an aging, expensive and soft big while Leonard plays at an MVP level and a window is missed.

That's why this playoff season is so important. I think the Spurs need to make the WCF and at least challenge the Warriors to validate sticking with LMA.

GatorAg03 said:

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The worries are only unfounded if the Spurs win big with LMA. The question isn't if he is a good player. The question is he a good enough #2 player to give the Spurs a shot at a title. That's a legitimate question at this juncture, IMO. The Spurs would likely be a top 3-4 team with or without LMA as long as they have Kawhi, but with LMA are they a real contender?

You don't want to be stuck with an aging, expensive and soft big while Leonard plays at an MVP level and a window is missed.

That's why this playoff season is so important. I think the Spurs need to make the WCF and at least challenge the Warriors to validate sticking with LMA.

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I don't think it's all up to him. He's an elite big who can play both ends. That's better than 98% of the league's bigs. He gets paid about the same at Tristan Thompson and he'll be getting less than Al Horford and Paul Milsap after Milsap signs a new deal this summer. Quite honestly, I'd take Aldridge over all those guys.

The better question to ask is who else will step up while Kawhi and LMA anchor this team? Its got to be a collective effort because I don't see a clear 3rd star right now. The good thing is you have some older guys who have been stars in the past (Gasol, Parker, Lee and Ginobili) and you have some young energetic guys who could have moments (Simmons, Murray, Mills and Bertans).

In the playoffs, it's probably got to be the older guys step up but it will be interesting to see Pop gives the young guys a shot. Based on pure ability and basketball IQ I think Bertans could be a factor.

That's the problem. He is supposed to be our #2 player and one of the best in the league and instead we are saying at least he is a better value than Tristan Thompson and Paul Millsap.

The Spurs sacrificed some depth and flexibility to pay LMA's contract. He is supposed to be the 2nd best player on one of the top teams in the league. He is supposed to be an Irving/Durant type difference maker. Besides a couple playoff games and a week or two here and there he hasn't shown that consistency as a Spur.

I'm not ready to end the LMA era just yet, but he needs to turn the corner quickly. I know it's just a regular season game, but seeing him get blocked numerous times by an old Vince Carter in a game where you should be the best player on the court is just disappointing. He needs to show some toughness and desire and dominate the paint. He just vanishes when his mid range game is off, like his 4 for 19 performance last night.

GatorAg03 said:

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That's the problem. He is supposed to be our #2 player and one of the best in the league and instead we are saying at least he is a better value than Tristan Thompson and Paul Millsap.

The Spurs sacrificed some depth and flexibility to pay LMA's contract. He is supposed to be the 2nd best player on one of the top teams in the league. He is supposed to be an Irving/Durant type difference maker. Besides a couple playoff games and a week or two here and there he hasn't shown that consistency as a Spur.

I'm not ready to end the LMA era just yet, but he needs to turn the corner quickly. I know it's just a regular season game, but seeing him get blocked numerous times by an old Vince Carter in a game where you should be the best player on the court is just disappointing. He needs to show some toughness and desire and dominate the paint. He just vanishes when his mid range game is off, like his 4 for 19 performance last night.

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How exactly should the Spurs have replaced Duncan other than paying LMA?

I'm not knocking the move at all. I think it was a great signing and necessary to give Duncan, Manu and Parker one last shot and to set up for continued success with LMA in support of Kawhi. Obviously the Spurs are still one of the best teams in basketball so it wasn't a bad move. I just don't know if it's enough to win a title.

I don't think anyone can honestly say that LMA has been as good as advertised thus far and he doesn't seem to be getting much better now that he knows the system which is concerning. That's why these playoffs are so critical to see if the Spurs with LMA as the #2 player are even close.

If after two years we are still a long way from competing for a title then they may need to look at trading him while he still has some value and build towards a run a couple years down the road after building around Leonard and maybe Murray/Bertrans if they develop.

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He is supposed to be an Irving/Durant type difference maker

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These would be clear #1 guys on any other team if they didn't also share the floor with Steph or LBJ, 2 of the top 5 players in the league. I would say LA needs to be more like a Kevin Love/Klay Thompson/Draymond Green type of second option. Because, face it, no one is getting a second scoring option as good as Kyrie or Durant.

I would think a better, and fairer, comparison would be any other team in the NBA than the last 2 defending champs. Yes, I realize we have to beat one or both of those teams to win a championship, but these are also 2 incredibly stacked teams at the moment. Especially the Warriors. To expect anyone to be a second scoring option like KEVIN DURANT is a ridiculous expectation.

Also, LA is no Timmy and never has been or will be. He can't make up for the lack of star ability at PG or when our 3s aren't falling and we can't space the floor properly. He needs stronger PG play or a stronger 3 point shooter on the starting lineup.

Fair or not, that's the competition the Spurs face. I don't understand your point. If you are fine with LMA not being as good as our chief competitions #2 players and admit he is on par with their 3rd best players then it sounds like a championship is likely not happening.

My point was that if that is indeed what this years playoffs indicate then why not consider a trade of a 32 y/o LMA and start building around the young guys as the Cavs and Warriors age or break apart?

GatorAg03 said:

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Fair or not, that's the competition the Spurs face. I don't understand your point. If you are fine with LMA not being as good as our chief competitions #2 players and admit he is on par with their 3rd best players then it sounds like a championship is likely not happening.

My point was that if that is indeed what this years playoffs indicate then why not consider a trade of a 32 y/o LMA and start building around the young guys as the Cavs and Warriors age or break apart?

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When are the Warriors going to age or fall apart?

Holt isn't going to take on a huge salary and pay the tax just to close the gap on the Warriors a bit. What moves can the Spurs make to give them a realistic shot at beating the Warriors In a 7 game series? Who can they get for Aldridge that substantially improves the team? Not to be defeatist about it, but making a trade just to shake things up doesn't sound like much of a plan.

And who could you reasonably add that would be just as consistent of a scoring threat as Kevin Durant, one of the best scorers there is, for LA? Not to mention you would be giving up LA, so not only would you be replacing him with someone who is likely not going to be as good as Kyrie or Durant, but now you also have to find a solid, consistent 3rd option.

My point is there are no other teams but the Warriors and the Cavs that have 2 elite scorers as their second option. And there likely won't ever be more than two teams like that because there are only so many elite players in the NBA and can only go to so many teams. We need more consistent scoring outside of Kawhi, 100% agree. But I think with better PG play (or spacing via 3 point shooting), our offense runs better. Parker shouldn't be running the first unit. He should be on the second unit because our first unit, outside of our wings, is too slow. It's too early for Murray this year, but if he can take the next big step next year, we keep most of the guys we have this year, move Parker to 2nd unit, and I really like our chances. Lots of ifs, but I don't think they are unattainable.

The way you combat the "super teams" is with good defense, good scheme, and yeah, a little luck. I'm not saying LA is what we need at what we are currently paying him. But there is no surefire, realistic option in the league that we could get that could keep up with KD or Kyrie when it comes to scoring as a second option. And the price for stars has inflated. Significantly. So this time next year we may be ecstatic at what we have to pay LA vs other players of his caliber across the league. That does not mean we can be content with Kawhi + LA + flavor of the week. But it does mean that sometimes, in the bigger picture, maybe LA is the right choice based on what's available and needed at the time.

To expect the level of stardom that the Warriors and Cavs have accumulated on one team is an unsustainable, long term management strategy. And the Spurs have yet to mortgage the future for the present, at least in the last 20 years. Granted we didn't have to with Timmy, so maybe we'll change for the next 20 years.

Again, if there is a way ahead that looks competitive then by all means keep LMA. I'm not saying to trade him without a plan. At the end of this year he is halfway through his contract. My point was that if the Spurs fail to make the WCF or get blown out against the Warriors, then why bring back the same team and just try again. It might be time to start questioning if they can get it done in the next two years before LMA's contract ends, if they don't show something these playoffs.

I agree, they aren't going to break the bank, nor are they likely to attract another super star in the next year or two. But to just ride out the LMA contract and get nothing in return makes little sense if you are convinced you aren't close. Trading LMA with 1.5 or two years left could lead to a top 10 draft pick or a good young player. A better plan could be to cash in on LMA and to try to build from the draft and shrewd trades and develop players as the spurs have always done. Meanwhile you hope that you find the next young superstar to place next to Kawhi and you hope Murray and maybe Bertrans continue to develop in the next couple years.

Again, there is a long way to go and I still think LMA and the Spurs have potential to turn that corner, but I do think the window is going to close pretty quick (probably around next year this time) for the LMA era if he doesn't take the next step soon. The Spurs brought him in to be a top 20 player or so and he isn't at that level right now.

I'm just not seeing it. He has a bad game and now he needs to turn the corner? The guy was dominant for a month. He's better than any center or PF for any of the contenders outside of maybe Blake Griffen (when he's healthy). The Spurs are getting tremendous value in LMA.

Has he been the sure fire superstar we wanted? No and I think part of that is he posts a lot more now and that's not really his best attribute. I think he has been great on the boards and defensively. Yeah, if Kawhi is out they have no shot. That doesn't mean LMA stinks.

Aldridge has been playing prwtty soft and passive for the first 3 quarters lately. He still has another gear, but it's too hard to just "turn it on" in the fourth quarter like he and several others have been trying to do.

I'll be worried about Aldridge if he's still doing this in March.

Dedmon with 10 points and 8 boards in the first quarter against the Pistons.

Finished with 17/17. Like a boss.

I really like him in that starting lineup. If the Spurs have any hope in beating GSW, they are going to have to give Dedmon minutes.

Enzo The Baker said:

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I really like him in that starting lineup. If the Spurs have any hope in beating GSW, they are going to have to give Dedmon minutes.

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While I don't agree with your assessment of how to beat the GSW I do agree that Dedmon should get minutes and I think all the minute he is getting while Pau is out are very valuable.

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While I don't agree with your assessment of how to beat the GSW I do agree that Dedmon should get minutes

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That's fair. I just meant from the standpoint that he's a versatile defender with length that can cover a lot of ground. I think he would give the Warriors some problems. I also, I think the only hope we really have to beat the Warriors is by controlling the glass and getting more shot attempts because they are so damn efficient on offense. Giving Dedmon good rotation minutes would help in this area. A small sample size I know, but the Spurs were able to outrebound the Warriors in that first game by a margin of 20 (13 of those were offensive boards).