Richard Jefferson is exactly the type of player that the Spurs lacked last year. He's athletic, a slasher, a competent defender, and hits close to 40% of his threes. Last season he averaged 19.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg with 2.4 apg and only 2 turnovers. He played for the miserable Bucks so one would have to assume that he was not going all out. He has great size at 6'7", 225 pounds. He is the missing piece to the Spurs' puzzle.
Yet ESPN analysts claim that the Spurs still do not have enough. Ridiculous. Check out our '07 championship winning roster. We played seven over 20 mpg in the playoffs. Parker (37.5), Duncan (36.8), Bowen (34.4), Ginobili (30.1), Finley (26.9), Oberto (20.8), and Horry (20). Now, compare that lineup to the Spurs' '09 lineup. Parker, Duncan, Ginobili, Jefferson, Mason Jr., Hill, Finley, Big Guy X. Now answer this question; if that '07 lineup can go all the way why can't this '09 lineup? Remember, in '07 Finley, Oberto, and Horry were all shadows of the players they once were. This '09 squad is arguably the best roster the Spurs have ever had. I'm ecstatic. All we are lacking is Big Guy X. Let's just assume the Spurs pick Gooden back up. Imagine this lineup to close out a game. Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, Gooden and Duncan. Wow, that's an offensive explosion. Or, what if the opposition goes small? Not a good idea. Parker, Mason, Ginobili, Jefferson, and Duncan. We would have five weapons on the floor. If you are the opposition, who do you help off of? What team has five competent defenders that they can put on the floor? No one can stay in front of Tony. Duncan will kill single coverage. Mason, Jefferson, and Ginobili will be deadly from the outside. My head is spinning. Spurs fans, we can wave goodbye to all those, "The Spurs have gone 8 minutes without scoring a single field goal" nights. There will be two prolific scorers on the floor at all times. The hell with Big Guy X. We could play 4 on 5 and win with Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Jefferson. No box and one, just box.
And it sounds like the Spurs are not done trading yet. I hope they do not touch the big four, Mason, or Hill. Please let them use Bonner and Finley as trading chips for a big guy. All we need is a big competent body next to Tim and we have to be considered favorites. What a day! (I used an exclamation point, which I generally do not believe in, just to show how exciting this is.)
