RonRon wrote:

StarksEwing1 wrote:The Spurs didnt intentionally take to get Duncan. That season they had a tremdous amount of injuries to tehir best player like robinson. The injuries turned out to be a blessing in disguise. But other than Duncan they were able to get guys like parker ginobli who were both late round draft picks

From what I remember they could have played Robinson more but chose to sit him out, therefore was tanking and losing purposely for the chance of the #1 pick in Duncan

Knixkik wrote:

tkf wrote:DON'T MEAN to sound like a jerk here Briggs, but this is nothing new, I have been screaming this over the past few years.. while fans got caught up in starphuching, I always wanted diversity, depth, and flexibility. I believe in putting 5 good and diverse players on the floor at any given time...

The spurs should be the model teams follow..

Agree with the general concept, but i find it funny how people act like it's that easy. Teams are always trying to replicate the Spurs model, but having your star player injured during a year which Tim Duncan is going into the draft, and winning the lottery is not necessarily a model easy to follow. Let's not pretend this team exists without that incredibly odd scenario. The Spurs are a great franchise who has figured out how to build successfully around one of the greatest players in the game and got a lot of luck as well. They are what happens when great management and planning and a lot of luck meet. I agree that we need to find Kawhi Leonard's and Tiago Splitters in the mid to late first round, and identify great diamond in the rough role players in Danny Green and Boris Diaw. Also, we need to have a real system, which it's obviously Phil brings to NY. The Spurs model isn't much unlike the Miami model, the star players just got their different, and the Spurs are far ahead of Miami in terms of developing a system and role players who compliment in that system. But the finals has taught us you need a combination of both great players and complimentary players, and it doesn't matter how you get them. The Spurs have done that to perfection.

The offensive models are completely different --- just watch the games. What you see on 1 end is completely opposite of the Lebron/Wade clear-out ball on the other end.

LivingLegend wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:I thought this for a while. I know Miami won the championship 2 years in a row and have been in the last 4 but the counter was like Dallas and San Antonio--teams with a diversity of players and skills smart players and the ability to go 10-11 players and use all 15 during the season. They simply are pounding them inside they are making Miami work hard for minimal points and can hurt Miami from all 5 spots and they dont change in the 2nd unit.
Actually that is why Dallas played SA so well this year--why the west was so tough. They are using 4 guys 6-9 or taller to play C+PF Splitter Duncan Bonner and Diaw and also have shifted Leonard to PF a few times at 6-7 230. They have multiple shooters in each line up. They all look for the best pass and shot- they were able to get younger with Mills Green Leonard Splitter Bellineli Joseph--no one has to play more than 30 minutes. Think about exercising what easier jogging 27 minutes or 43? 27 is cake right---43 and you are seating. So your body is wearing down over the bigger minutes and these guys have stayed fresh. Its similar to when we push Amare while he can play 38 hes better for 25.

I think Phil Jackson can see this I think he already has--thats why he wants Melo to stay. I think any team--the model is build your team deep diversified have guys who can pass dribble shoot and staple of quality big men that can finish it off. Miami's other players have failed miserably and this years mantra will be while thye have some goods--they really need to fully retool.

Briggs - isn't your last paragraph (Phil wants Melo to stay) counter-intuitive to the notion of putting together a deep talented team?

If we are going to sink a HUGE piece of the CAP into Melo -- it restricts our ability to add a "deep" talented team around him. On top of that - Melo is the opposite type player that fits in the Spur model/mold. These guys all pass willfully and early, they all cut (Melo rarely if ever cuts/moves) and they all play defense 100% of the time on the court (something Melo just does in the low block and when the mood suits him).

I agree with TKF -- what you are proposing is basically a team basketball (b-ball 101) but to me Melo doesn't fit that mold -- despite being a GREAT scorer.

Wow you mean TKF is to just a troll like I've been lead to believe?

I agree. Melo is not that kind of player. And by keeping him you ensure that you make the playoffs but don't get out of the 1st-2nd rd because it is all about Melo all the time. Young guys do not get a chance to grow. There aren't enough shots to go around when you play alongside melo

Robinson was out and they were smart.

Even so that was 17 years ago! What they did to keep that team rebuilt without a single lotto pick is awesome!

Diaw was huge last nite! Waiver. Danny Green? They cut him 2 twice before! Splitter? Not huge minutes in this series but he is a big part of the team. Kwahi is a 15th pick. Parlayed 28th pick George hill in to this budding star player!

Yes, preperation and opportunity is what creates luck. Did they know they'd not have Robinson a year or two before he got Hurt? Doubt it, did the GM trade their draft pick thinking they'd be a contender that year? Knicks used to do that crap all the time to get Ewing some help.
Don't trade the pick. Not saying never, and not saying "Build thru the draft" but SAS got lucky because they they did not trade the pick.