Is San Antonio in need of a rim protector? Yes or No

 Well Duncan did average 2blks per game last season.  I just think they need to find another center so Duncan and Aldridge don’t play as much at the 5.  Right now their bigs are Duncan, Aldridge, West, Bonner and Marjanovic.  With the way the Spurs rest Duncan that means Aldridge would probably be playing more 5 than he did the last couple years in Portland.  

 Well Duncan did average 2blks per game last season.  I just think they need to find another center so Duncan and Aldridge don’t play as much at the 5.  Right now their bigs are Duncan, Aldridge, West, Bonner and Marjanovic.  With the way the Spurs rest Duncan that means Aldridge would probably be playing more 5 than he did the last couple years in Portland.  

 Duncan is still an elite shotblocker, but he won’t have huge regular season minutes.  One interesting part of the Spurs is that starters Green and Leonard can get combined 2 or 3 blocks a game, so that helps.

Splitter and Baynes were not bad, but more of size and position and not leaping for blocks.  Aldridge might get similar numbers to Splitter, West could be as good as Baynes.

Big Boban adds something extra, not an athlete but a giant paint-filler in front of the basket for a few minutes behind the stars.

The Spurs look like they will be fine without a star swatter.  With Duncan, Aldridge, Diaw and West there are few minutes in the paint available.  Bonner spreads the floor, Boban fouls and scores inside, they have good depth in the paint.  Leonard will also play some power forward at times.

K Anderson, he might be able to get a block per game if he has to play big minutes.  More defense is Ginobili, Parker and McCallum adding some steals.

Teams will need to look for a weakness on the Spurs, a young and athletic player to block shots might be one area they lack in, but with their team defense and veteran play few will be able to exploit it.  If someone does appear that would help the Spurs, they could probably waive Williams or Simmons to clear a roster spot.

 Duncan is still an elite shotblocker, but he won’t have huge regular season minutes.  One interesting part of the Spurs is that starters Green and Leonard can get combined 2 or 3 blocks a game, so that helps.

Splitter and Baynes were not bad, but more of size and position and not leaping for blocks.  Aldridge might get similar numbers to Splitter, West could be as good as Baynes.

Big Boban adds something extra, not an athlete but a giant paint-filler in front of the basket for a few minutes behind the stars.

The Spurs look like they will be fine without a star swatter.  With Duncan, Aldridge, Diaw and West there are few minutes in the paint available.  Bonner spreads the floor, Boban fouls and scores inside, they have good depth in the paint.  Leonard will also play some power forward at times.

K Anderson, he might be able to get a block per game if he has to play big minutes.  More defense is Ginobili, Parker and McCallum adding some steals.

Teams will need to look for a weakness on the Spurs, a young and athletic player to block shots might be one area they lack in, but with their team defense and veteran play few will be able to exploit it.  If someone does appear that would help the Spurs, they could probably waive Williams or Simmons to clear a roster spot.

San Antonio may not have a natural weakside shot blocker type but Duncan is definitely still an elite rim protector. He, along with Aldridge, have elite size and Duncan’s defensive positioning and IQ are just as valuable. I also don’t see post defense being a weakness.

I do think the loss of Tiago Splitter will hurt the team in their pick and roll defense. From what I’ve watched of Splitter, he is really good at hedging hard and recovering quick and finishing plays with a box out/defensive board. He has defensive quickness in terms of the pick and roll and in his rotations. Duncan, in pick and roll situations, is mostly used in the Thibs-style defense of hanging back and trying to force the ball handler down the sides or into no man’s land in the midrange. Aldridge isn’t as good defensively as Duncan and their skills on that end are somewhat redundant. Diaw can guard stretch 4’s/tweeners and usually has some trouble with rotation’s and team defense.

Obviously, I expect this team to be a serious contender but I think Splitter’s defensive value (his offensive contributions as well, such as the ability to get 10-10-2blks without a play being called for him, his offensive rebounding, etc., although this topic was started specifically about SA’s defense) has been a bit underappreciated/undervalued and I think it may take some time for the Spurs to figure out their defense without him. Their defensive geometry is one of the storylines I’m most looking forward to this season.

San Antonio may not have a natural weakside shot blocker type but Duncan is definitely still an elite rim protector. He, along with Aldridge, have elite size and Duncan’s defensive positioning and IQ are just as valuable. I also don’t see post defense being a weakness.

I do think the loss of Tiago Splitter will hurt the team in their pick and roll defense. From what I’ve watched of Splitter, he is really good at hedging hard and recovering quick and finishing plays with a box out/defensive board. He has defensive quickness in terms of the pick and roll and in his rotations. Duncan, in pick and roll situations, is mostly used in the Thibs-style defense of hanging back and trying to force the ball handler down the sides or into no man’s land in the midrange. Aldridge isn’t as good defensively as Duncan and their skills on that end are somewhat redundant. Diaw can guard stretch 4’s/tweeners and usually has some trouble with rotation’s and team defense.

Obviously, I expect this team to be a serious contender but I think Splitter’s defensive value (his offensive contributions as well, such as the ability to get 10-10-2blks without a play being called for him, his offensive rebounding, etc., although this topic was started specifically about SA’s defense) has been a bit underappreciated/undervalued and I think it may take some time for the Spurs to figure out their defense without him. Their defensive geometry is one of the storylines I’m most looking forward to this season.

As LaMarcus Aldridge has said plenty he does not want to log major mins at center long term, This is a necessary move long term as he plays much better with a Robin Lopez type. Short term should be fine in the West, tho Dwight an Gasol are not easy matchups. 

As LaMarcus Aldridge has said plenty he does not want to log major mins at center long term, This is a necessary move long term as he plays much better with a Robin Lopez type. Short term should be fine in the West, tho Dwight an Gasol are not easy matchups. 

 I’m kind of interested to see how Aldridge fits in with the spurs and I’m not sure the transition of working him into the lineup will be as smooth as everyone seems to think it will be. In Portland, he was an very high usage player who was fed an extremely high amount of low post and mid-range isolations. As talented of a player as he is, he can often be somewhat of a ball stopper. 

The spurs offensive system is all about generating shots through penetration and ball movement. They really haven’t had a player who will command a high number of post touches since Duncan was in his prime. Aldridge is a very talented player and the spurs are an intelligent team with a great coach so I think it will work eventually. There may be an adjustment period though, and I think Aldridge is going to have to alter his game slightly and sacrifice some of his numbers.

Their lack of a true backup center could be a weakness, and although Aldridge wants to play strictly as a four, I think it’s inevitable hes going to have to play a decent amount of 5 with their current lineup. West and diaw don’t have the length to guard most centers and I’m sure Duncan won’t be playing over 28 mins per game. Again, its all part of the sacrifice Aldridge will need to make to be part of a championship level team.

 I’m kind of interested to see how Aldridge fits in with the spurs and I’m not sure the transition of working him into the lineup will be as smooth as everyone seems to think it will be. In Portland, he was an very high usage player who was fed an extremely high amount of low post and mid-range isolations. As talented of a player as he is, he can often be somewhat of a ball stopper. 

The spurs offensive system is all about generating shots through penetration and ball movement. They really haven’t had a player who will command a high number of post touches since Duncan was in his prime. Aldridge is a very talented player and the spurs are an intelligent team with a great coach so I think it will work eventually. There may be an adjustment period though, and I think Aldridge is going to have to alter his game slightly and sacrifice some of his numbers.

Their lack of a true backup center could be a weakness, and although Aldridge wants to play strictly as a four, I think it’s inevitable hes going to have to play a decent amount of 5 with their current lineup. West and diaw don’t have the length to guard most centers and I’m sure Duncan won’t be playing over 28 mins per game. Again, its all part of the sacrifice Aldridge will need to make to be part of a championship level team.

 Spurs have worked out brazilian center Rafael Hettsheimer recently, but he is in no way a shotblocker. Maybe Pops and Bufford think this is not an issue.

 Spurs have worked out brazilian center Rafael Hettsheimer recently, but he is in no way a shotblocker. Maybe Pops and Bufford think this is not an issue.

You dont need a great shotblocker to be a good defensive team. I look at the Spurs and as a team, they should be solid defensively. Perimeter defense they have Leonard and interior they have Duncan and Aldridge with length.

You dont need a great shotblocker to be a good defensive team. I look at the Spurs and as a team, they should be solid defensively. Perimeter defense they have Leonard and interior they have Duncan and Aldridge with length.

 Aldridge is very soft. While rookie Lillard got all the credit for that team suddenly turning into a good team, I think Robin Lopez was as big a reason or probably more of a reason than Lillard for the Blazers suddenly getting much better.

So what does Aldridge do when he becomes a free agent? He goes to a team where he’ll be stuck sucking at center at least part time, a team with nothing close to a Robin Lopez who can compliment Aldridge’s finesse/charmin soft game.

Now he’ll complain again about having to play center some, and he won’t take any responsibility if the frontcourt is weak defensively.

 Aldridge is very soft. While rookie Lillard got all the credit for that team suddenly turning into a good team, I think Robin Lopez was as big a reason or probably more of a reason than Lillard for the Blazers suddenly getting much better.

So what does Aldridge do when he becomes a free agent? He goes to a team where he’ll be stuck sucking at center at least part time, a team with nothing close to a Robin Lopez who can compliment Aldridge’s finesse/charmin soft game.

Now he’ll complain again about having to play center some, and he won’t take any responsibility if the frontcourt is weak defensively.

 What about the pg position issue?  The two main pg’s tony and manu are done, where spurs think they are going with this?

 What about the pg position issue?  The two main pg’s tony and manu are done, where spurs think they are going with this?

 Splitter was hurt for most of last year, and DPOY Kawhi was in and out of the lineup.  They were still well above average defensively.  They’ll be fine, but a fair amount of that assumption is they get a Diaw who tries.  I’d assume someone we don’t know or care about ends up really good, a la Danny Green.  

And Tony is done?  I think you’re confusing hurt with done.  He isn’t as good as he was, but he’s nowhere near done. Manu may be done, but as a backup who can pick his spots, it’s less of an issue.  Also, Patty Mills is really good and the offense often looks better with him out there.

 Splitter was hurt for most of last year, and DPOY Kawhi was in and out of the lineup.  They were still well above average defensively.  They’ll be fine, but a fair amount of that assumption is they get a Diaw who tries.  I’d assume someone we don’t know or care about ends up really good, a la Danny Green.  

And Tony is done?  I think you’re confusing hurt with done.  He isn’t as good as he was, but he’s nowhere near done. Manu may be done, but as a backup who can pick his spots, it’s less of an issue.  Also, Patty Mills is really good and the offense often looks better with him out there.

Here is the thing, the Spurs will be a better defensive team on the interior with a front line of Leonard, Aldridge, and Duncan than any of the other Western powers will when matched up against San Antonio because the Spurs have the ability to use the entirety of the court offensively. There may be people who are bothered by Aldridge’s step inside the arc range, I am not one of them, but you cannot leave him there alone and it also comes with the added benefit of other teams being inverted in their defensive shape. If you put a smaller man on him, he can burn them in the post. The same goes for Duncan.

Once Golden State got past New Orleans, Memphis, and Dwight Howard to get to the Finals, they were able to make the decision that Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson were not going to beat them. Even if they gave them a massive size and attention advantage, they weren’t going to beat them four times. Statistically, they did well, but they couldn’t beat them. LaMarcus Aldidge and Tim Duncan would, and no coach would challenge them to try to see what happens when Harrison Barnes guards LaMarcus Aldridge (and I write that with all due respect to Barnes).

Here is the thing, the Spurs will be a better defensive team on the interior with a front line of Leonard, Aldridge, and Duncan than any of the other Western powers will when matched up against San Antonio because the Spurs have the ability to use the entirety of the court offensively. There may be people who are bothered by Aldridge’s step inside the arc range, I am not one of them, but you cannot leave him there alone and it also comes with the added benefit of other teams being inverted in their defensive shape. If you put a smaller man on him, he can burn them in the post. The same goes for Duncan.

Once Golden State got past New Orleans, Memphis, and Dwight Howard to get to the Finals, they were able to make the decision that Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson were not going to beat them. Even if they gave them a massive size and attention advantage, they weren’t going to beat them four times. Statistically, they did well, but they couldn’t beat them. LaMarcus Aldidge and Tim Duncan would, and no coach would challenge them to try to see what happens when Harrison Barnes guards LaMarcus Aldridge (and I write that with all due respect to Barnes).