How the San Antonio Spurs Won the NBA Offseason

Ladies and gentleman. I present to you the most well run organization in pro sports.

San Antonio is no big market. Yet since Gregg Popovich has taken over, the Spurs just win championships or contend every year. They never go under.

The fans thought after they demolished the Miami Heat in 2014 that their time was coming to an end. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker were all getting old.

Kawhi Leonard is one of the few bright spots. I’d say he’s the most valuable player on the team now and reminds me of a young Scottie Pippen. He can defend and he can win games.

But one guy can not win it all for a team. The Los Angeles Clippers who took them out in seven games this year in the quarter finals were just flat out better as a squad.

So what did the Spurs do?

They won the offseason and became an even bigger contender next year.

David West took a one million a year contract in an attempt to win it all. He will be behind top five NBA player of all time Tim Duncan holding it down.

But who else did they get?

Lamarcus Aldridge. This guy just single handily changed the Spurs franchise around and will have them as big time contenders for years with Kawhi Leonard.

Wow. Not only is he damn good, is there a better big man player besides Anthony Davis hat can light it up outside the paint like Aldridge can?

He will fit Popovich’s system so well it’s not even funny. He can pass, he can shoot. He can even play inside and dominate.

He also came to San Antonio to just win.

Oklahoma City is a wild card and always a contender if Kevin Durant is healthy. Billy Donovan is a wild card as new head coach of the Thunder as well. I’m not quite sure I’d place money on them winning it all. Especially when they didn’t make the playoffs this year even with Durant on the sidelines.

Then you have Golden State who play the same style of game San Antonio does. I like to think the Spurs have heir number though in the games I’ve seen both teams play each other in. The Spurs would aim to shut the back court of Curry and Thompson down which leads Golden State ineffective. They could absolutely do it. I simply don’t see Golden State repeating again for those reasons. They will be a good team however.

And then there’s queen Lebron James and the rat pack in Cleveland. Whoever wins in the west will have a field day with that team. Like stated before, watching James lose in the NBA finals is a great past time for many. He simply won’t do it this year.

I’d like to throw in the Pelicans as a wild card. Anthony Davis may become the best player in the league soon.

So with these teams considered, I think the Spurs have a great shot at winning it all. Duncan thereafter will ride into the sunset with his six rings that put many players to shame and also the media who has never appreciated him. Yet they appreciate the losing culture on every Lebron James team.

To each his own.

Carmelo Anthony Ain’t A Winner

So all ESPN and local sports stations are talking about is how Carmelo Anthony re-signed with the New York Knicks and how he wants to stay in New York.

People can’t get it twisted. This guy is not a winner. He has never won anything, much less been on a team that has been dominant. At least recently. I can’t recall when this guy was a contender to win a ring.

Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant are two players who have taken over big games. The only time I’ve seen Carmelo in a “big” (he’s never come close to the championship finals) game he shot 30 times and his team lost. He doesn’t have the ability to take over games and be dominant.

Phil Jackson should have passed on him and gone another way. Having this guy as the face of the New York Knicks franchise deems them to be losers for the next while. The truth hurts.

GM Jim Benning Has Done a “Good” Job

The keyword is in the quotes, good.

Not great, not bad, good.

Every time I read hockey forums people are quick to bash general manager Jim Benning of the Vancouver Canucks for his moves. Such as how he gave away 2nd/3rd pairing Jason Garrison for scraps. And not to forget he essentially got rid of Ryan Kesler for Nick Bonino and Derek Dorsett.

First off, Kesler for Bonino in a few years will look like a solid trade. When I watched the Anaheim Ducks play over the last year Bonino was a solid second/third liner who played a hard game and racked up more points than Ryan Kesler did. Kesler has been hurt and horrible ever since the cup run in 2011.

Hearing how Kesler wanted to leave Vancouver for a cup and handcuffed them into only accepting a trade to either Anaheim or Chicago speaks volumes. The fact Benning got a decent return for him is incredible. He was a waste of money. Good riddance to him. He won’t win a cup in Anaheim either with Bruce Boudreau as the man in charge. That guy is the worst playoff coach in the league next to Dan Bylsma and Alain Vigneault. They should be called the three stooges come playoff time.

After ranting about Kesler, Benning made a solid hire for his vacant coaching position. Willie Desjardins has a solid track record and has won everywhere outside of the NHL. He also plays a high tempo game, unlike coach Tortorella. He also wants to be here and did not accept an offer from Pittsburgh, again, unlike Tortorella who lived in freaking Point Roberts, Washington and as a result constantly canceled practices.

Then we have the Ryan Miller pickup for 6 million a year and Radim Vrbata for five. Those are a bit steep, but decent acquisitions. Eddie Lack is not ready to be the man in charge. In a few years he may be. Ryan Miller only failed in St. Louis and apparently the goalie coach was horrible while he was there (he got fired after the season ended).

Radim Vrbata has a decent track record on the Coyotes and the contract length is not long at all. If he sucks after his first year, well, there’s only a year left. And if he turns out good after his first year, the contract is a success.

And I really liked the Canucks selection at 6th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft of Jake Virtanen from Abbotsford. Just a good BC boy who looks tough as nails, is big, and can skate. If he pans out we will have a very solid tandem in the future with him and Horvat. Two good Canadian kids who aren’t afraid to throw their bodies around. A change from Mike Gillis drafting 5 foot tall figure skaters.

I’m excited about this season as a loyal Canucks fan and think these moves have been solid. The key was to getting rid of John Tortorella (one of the worst coaches I’ve ever seen in the NHL, not just his Canucks season but also his time on the Rangers) and Ryan “never will win a ring” Kesler. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks are neck and neck with Anaheim next season. Yeah I wouldn’t put my hopes up with the Canucks competing against the tough LA Kings but don’t be surprised if Anaheim looks silly picking up Kesler and getting rid of Bonino. Again, Kesler has not looked good for years.

Exhale Canucks fans.