A Return to Spurs-like Defense

[jaws3]

With the additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, as well as several young frontcourt players, my hope is that we will see a return to Spurs-like defense, where we limit high percentage shots and suffocate opposing teams again.

Two years ago, with Manu's injury, I felt that we lacked the offensive firepower to defend our title. Last year, we scored more points in the playoffs despite our lack of depth, but it was the WORST Spurs defensive team that I can remember in the Duncan/Popovich era.

We gave up tons of dunks and layups. 3 point shots went uncontested. We were worst in the league at creating turnovers, and we gave up second chance points too many times at critical junctures in the game. At times, I thought I was watching the Warriors or Suns, instead of the silver and black!

We will only be NBA champions again if we return to playing Spurs defense. Our depth is much better, but outscoring everybody is not our identity.

[dark21horse]

The problem with playing Spurs-Like defense is that we are missing a key component.....a Bruce Bowen-type defensive specialist. This doen't mean it can't be done, but it's hard to replace a Bruce Bowen defensive mentality.

[Amente]

Playing Bonner didn't and doesn't help either.

[SpursfanfromNC]

I'm still hoping that the Spurs can somehow bring Bruce back so he can be apart of this championship ride. If the rumors are true regarding Ratliff then the Spurs would have have to move someone (Bonner) to create a roster spot for BB.

[CrackWhore]

I doubt the Spurs bring Bruce back. He's not the defender he once was and he can't score. Waste of a roster spot IMO.

[TexasNate]

Ratliff would bring an aging center with shot blocking abilities, which is very Spurs-like defense, lol...and as much as I like Bowen I don't think he's got the lateral quickness to guard that first step anymore. I'd like to have him back but that wouldn't give the Spurs suffocating defense. They'd need a guy that can do what Bowen used to be able to do.

[Bryhn]

EXCELLENT POINT!!!!!

The defense has been horrible, and I have never been completely happy since Sean left. For quite some time, we have been lacking a player that can gaurd the 3/4 athletic players and the 4/5's that can gaurd the rim.

Jefferson and hopefully Haislip or even Blair should be an improvement guarding 3/4's over Bonner, Finley, and Thomas.

Ian and Ratliff should add they type of shot blocking presence we have lacked for a while, and Haislip will add a shot blocking presence from the wing that we have really never had.

Granted all accept RJ have yet to prove they can do it or in Ratliff's case stay healthy, but I feel good about it.

[TimmyDthaWay2B]

Originally Posted by Bryhn

EXCELLENT POINT!!!!!

The defense has been horrible, and I have never been completely happy since Sean left. For quite some time, we have been lacking a player that can gaurd the 3/4 athletic players and the 4/5's that can gaurd the rim.

Jefferson and hopefully Haislip or even Blair should be an improvement guarding 3/4's over Bonner, Finley, and Thomas.

Ian and Ratliff should add they type of shot blocking presence we have lacked for a while, and Haislip will add a shot blocking presence from the wing that we have really never had.

Granted all accept RJ have yet to prove they can do it or in Ratliff's case stay healthy, but I feel good about it.

I assume you are talking about Sean Elliot??? How could u not be happy? We won 3 titles after Sean left!

[choppsboy]

Originally Posted by Bryhn

The defense has been horrible, and I have never been completely happy since Sean left.

Originally Posted by TimmyDthaWay2B

I assume you are talking about Sean Elliot??? How could u not be happy? We won 3 titles after Sean left!

+1

[spurscrazed]

The DEFENSE has to be not only good but GREAT in order for the Spurs to win it all. You know lakers won it all in 09 because of playing great offense and somehow good defense, but that doesn't mean that it is the norm. If the C's were healthy and even the Spurs and even the Rockets stayed healthy they would have eliminated that lakers team IMO.

This coming year it is going to have to be the defensive team will win it all.

This just solidates what the Spurs FO have done so far. And that is becoming more defensive.

Please don't underestimate that RICH JEFFERSON CAN and WILL play good D.d I am pretty sure he will impress some here. I am so excited we got Rich on our team.

Spurs D is going to be top in the league again.

[ProjectGSX]

Just limiting the minutes of Bonner and Finley will improve our defense. Its all upside from here.

[Bryhn]

I assume you are talking about Sean Elliot??? How could u not be happy? We won 3 titles after Sean left!

I didn't mean unhappy overall, simply from a defensive standpoint. Trust me, Spurs after Sean has been great.. Don't read too much into it.

[spurs fan removed]

their 'd' will be upgraded from last year. they won't have the lockdown guy but they will crash the boards like never before and with jefferson they upgrade over fin's d. plus with hill getting more minutes and mcdyss and ratliff our inside presence will be much improved.

[StNick2261]

I think Hill has shown he can be the next Bowen-type defender. What we need are our bigs to scare people from attacking the baskets. Bonner wouldn't scare me and I suck at basketball. Also... rebounding should be greatly improved and should limit opposing team's second chance points.

[JWest]

Shot blocking, rebounding and a big man to really help/spell Tim (not since DROB IMO) have all been less than stellar the past few years. All the new pieces acquired add something to Pop's defensive schemes. Let's face it, the Spurs aren't going to become some kind of "run and gun" team. This is Pop we are talking about. Defense is much better and has the potential to be very dominating Bruce Bowen or not.

They have really busted the bank for the first time I can ever really remember,(That's is so HUGE and so un-Spur like I'm still in shock, we are in the luxury tax in a huge way...no precedent for it ever) Added new and young players, new experienced vets and more loe post bigs that I can recall. Summer league went well. No they don't have a Bruce Bowen or BB type player but not even the Lakers/Celtics do as far as I'm concerned. Bruce was always the exception and few NBA players exist to become "defensive specialists" nor do it that well.

It's time for training camp and preseason and for Pop to pull this team together and get it on the same page. RC and Holt did great, the purse strings were destroyed. Blair, Ian, Ratcliff, RJ, a healthy Manu, Tony (the most underrated PG in the NBA) and the bedrock that Tim brings and all the other usual suspects. Unless you got KB/LBJ for the vet minimum, this was a superb off season.

Only injuries and health could prevent what I think will be one of the most interesting and dynamic Spurs teams to watch since 2003.

Nope. I can't anticipate any fears or anxieties about this team in the slightest. It's time to kick some ass and we have announced to the NBA to 'get ready'. Dismiss the Spurs with "Too old", "lost a step", boring usual hyperbole at your own risk.

[Seventyniner]

You actually can't blame the second chance points. IIRC, the 2008-2009 Spurs had one of the best defensive rebounding rates of the whole decade.

You're right about the defense being bad, though.

[maldoror]

Originally Posted by Bryhn

EXCELLENT POINT!!!!!

The defense has been horrible, and I have never been completely happy since Sean left.

That's not correct. The Spurs have had great defensive teams post Sean, in particular most of the years they won championships.

[grizzly_bexar]

Originally Posted by ProjectGSX

Just limiting the minutes of Bonner and Finley will improve our defense. Its all upside from here.

Exactly. Pop's not exactly working with the best raw material there for defense. It's like trying to make a nuclear warhead, only substituting toe cheese for the enriched uranium.

[Uwe Blab]

Let's see, how do I put this? Having a lock-down guy is a bit overrated in my opinion. Yes, Bruce hounded the other teams best guard relentlessly. Yes, he made the game difficult for them. But in the end, the guy, especially Kobe, would still end up with 20+ or 30+ points. Great offense always trumps great defense, individually at least. It was mostly the Spurs great team defense that won titles.

And why was this possible? Because that same guard who Bruce was defending, had the luxury of coming back on defense and sitting at the arc "guarding" Bruce. So that player did not have to expend any energy on the defensive.

With the team we have now, no one has that luxury any more. Now they have to try and get free from a Manu or Jefferson (underrated defensively), have to out-quick Tony, or muscle down low with Tim, Blair or McD. Then they still have to guard them. I'd say, on paper, its the most balanced team we have had in awhile.

[dark21horse]

Originally Posted by Uwe Blab

Let's see, how do I put this? Having a lock-down guy is a bit overrated in my opinion. Yes, Bruce hounded the other teams best guard relentlessly. Yes, he made the game difficult for them. But in the end, the guy, especially Kobe, would still end up with 20+ or 30+ points. Great offense always trumps great defense, individually at least. It was mostly the Spurs great team defense that won titles.

And why was this possible? Because that same guard who Bruce was defending, had the luxury of coming back on defense and sitting at the arc "guarding" Bruce. So that player did not have to expend any energy on the defensive.

With the team we have now, no one has that luxury any more. Now they have to try and get free from a Manu or Jefferson (underrated defensively), have to out-quick Tony, or muscle down low with Tim, Blair or McD. Then they still have to guard them. I'd say, on paper, its the most balanced team we have had in awhile.

I can't agree. I don't know why you would downplay what Bruce brought to the Spurs. Apparently, Pop liked him and Bruce was a key member of 3 of the Spurs championship teams. If he sucked or was over-rated, Pop would not have had him starting for as long as he did.