Blazers Approximating The Spurs' DNA?

[¹²³]

Teams have spent a decade trying to emulate the Spurs, the most successful pro franchise of the past 10 years. The Trail Blazers have gotten it right.

This is no accident.

General manager Kevin Pritchard, more than any of the Gregg Popovich-R.C. Buford disciples hired by other teams, is succeeding in approximating the Spurs' DNA, right down to having some luck in the lottery when a dominant big man was there to be taken.

Greg Oden's offensive game never will match Tim Duncan's, but he is capable of defensive domination in the low block, perhaps more so than Duncan, a perennial All-Defensive first-teamer.

Pritchard understands he got lucky on lottery night in 2007, but the rest of his player personnel moves have been more shrewd than fortunate.

After a pro playing career that included stints with four NBA teams and ended in Europe, Pritchard served as a Spurs scout for two seasons — 2001-02 and 2003-03. During that short stretch, he learned that character and chemistry are traits as precious as size and athleticism.

“I believe if you're not paying attention to chemistry, you're not trying to build a team right,” Pritchard said. “I've been on teams that had awesome chemistry, and almost without fail, you overachieve. Without chemistry, almost without exception, you underachieve.”

Pritchard drafted a star with a game and work ethic modeled after Duncan's. Roy, Pritchard said, works harder on his game than any teammate. Having star players who lead by example was Lesson No. 1 from his days with the Spurs.

“I don't consider myself the sharpest knife in the tool shed,” Pritchard said, “but I feel like I learned from the best. I think R.C. and Pop have formed a model that's hard to duplicate and will be studied in pro sports classrooms from here to eternity, because what they've been able to do has been really special.”

“For us, it starts with Brandon and LaMarcus (Aldridge), both humble and hungry to do well. When your two best players are like that, the rest fall in line, just like it is in San Antonio, with Tim, Manu (Ginobili) and Tony (Parker).”

Link

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

“I believe if you're not paying attention to chemistry, you're not trying to build a team right,” Pritchard said. “I've been on teams that had awesome chemistry, and almost without fail, you overachieve. Without chemistry, almost without exception, you underachieve.”

It's stunning how opposite his philosophy is from that of his predecessor.

I liked this part:

That they are second in the West — while starting two rookies — is amazing and frightening. Elite teams trying to remain atop the West with 30-somethings can see the future, and the Willamette River runs through it.

 

[STOMP]

It's stunning how opposite his philosophy is from that of his predecessor.

Nash had a philosophy who knew?

STOMP

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Work Ethic, like running or jumping, is an NBA skill - and an important one.
It doesn't supercede the others, but when comparing two otherwise comparable
players, the harder working one will be better - and if the one works much harder
than the other he will be much, much better.

Let's call it the "Anti-Darius Factor"

I think there has been some confusion. When KP talks about character, I think he
mostly means work ethic.

A good way to make your team have chemistry is to have your best players be
hard workers, as pointed out in the article. However, Drexler wasn't known as
much of a practice player, and that team had great chemistry. So, while it's
a good way to build chemistry, it's not the only way.

 

[Dellzip]

Hey if it works, what the hell!

 

[¹²³]

But do you guys see this Spurs resamblance?

 

[drexlersdad]

But do you guys see this Spurs resamblance?

basically roy is duncan

stashing players overseas

defensive big man

hard workers

not really

 

[¹²³]

Here is an older, but interesting story about the same thing.

 

[crandc]

Another thing the Spurs, and Blazers, have proven good at is finding gold late in drafts, especially with international players. Spurs got Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, Blazers got Sergio, Rudy & Batum as late draft picks. Parker and Ginbolili have been major players on the team and it looks like our 3 guys will be as well.

 

[MARIS61]

Hope we never resemble S.A.'s "watching the paint dry" offense.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

Hope we never resemble S.A.'s "watching the paint dry" offense.

Yeah, who wants championships. Those are totally over-rated.

 

[Boob-No-More]

A good way to make your team have chemistry is to have your best players be
hard workers, as pointed out in the article. However, Drexler wasn't known as
much of a practice player, and that team had great chemistry. So, while it's
a good way to build chemistry, it's not the only way.

True, Clyde was the best player on those teams, but he wasn't the leader. When they added Buck Williams they got a hard working, no-nonse, leads by example player that helped pull everyone else together. That roster was also full of late picks and guys out of small schools that were career over achievers. Guys like Duck out of Eastern Illinois, Terry Porter out of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Jerome Kersey out of Longwood Community College were overlooked by most teams and we so happy to be in the NBA they worked their tails off to be the best they could be.

BNM

 

[MARIS61]

Yeah, who wants championships. Those are totally over-rated.

In sports they are meaningless to me if they are not obtained through an entertaining style of play.

For me anyway, Sports = Entertainment.

That's what I watch them for.

 

[Minstrel]

Greg Oden's offensive game never will match Tim Duncan's

Disagree with that. Duncan has generally scored in the low-twenties per game, on high efficiency. Oden definitely has the ability to match that, IMO.

 

[LittleAlex]

In sports they are meaningless to me if they are not obtained through an entertaining style of play.

For me anyway, Sports = Entertainment.

That's what I watch them for.

The Spurs only suck to watch because they aren't Portland. If I was a Spur's fan, I would absolutely delight in their defensive punishment of other teams. If Portland ends up playing that way, and have the same level of success, I will be entertained.

Dominance = Entertainment.

Fast Paced team that looses many games = suck.

 

[STOMP]

Disagree with that. Duncan has generally scored in the low-twenties per game, on high efficiency. Oden definitely has the ability to match that, IMO.

oh most definitely... that one raised the hackles as I read it

STOMP

 

[Ed O]

Don't chimps "approximate" the DNA of humans? A couple different links in the chain and there's no human.

The Spurs did a BUNCH of things right, and getting Duncan (and keeping him) is right at the top of the list.

The talk of chemistry is good and all, but I think it's superfluous compared to being able to make good decisions trading and during the draft... and getting lucky occasionally.

Ed O.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

In sports they are meaningless to me if they are not obtained through an entertaining style of play.

For me anyway, Sports = Entertainment.

That's what I watch them for.

Which could explain why you suggested Britney Spears be our next starting point guard over Steve Blake.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

True, Clyde was the best player on those teams, but he wasn't the leader. When they added Buck Williams they got a hard working, no-nonse, leads by example player that helped pull everyone else together. That roster was also full of late picks and guys out of small schools that were career over achievers. Guys like Duck out of Eastern Illinois, Terry Porter out of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Jerome Kersey out of Longwood Community College were overlooked by most teams and we so happy to be in the NBA they worked their tails off to be the best they could be.

BNM

It's OT, but you're right until Duck signed his 8-year/$16 mil contract.