Aldridge: De Colo to play right away

[TD 21]

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/feature...t-2/index.html

Who knows if he's actually heard this specifically or is just hypothesizing; which is probably what he's doing. He's probably thinking, "it's the Spurs, he's a foreign player and they're paying him a good amount considering where he was selected, so they must think he's going to contribute immediately". . . or maybe he actually has heard something.

Unlike Monroe last off season, who was merely attempting to put two and two together (and not surprisingly, failing) when he claimed that the Spurs planned to start Splitter, this one's different. Because as has been discussed ad nauseam, there is no obvious opening for De Colo; not even if Neal get's dealt. Though that may be what he's getting at, that Neal is expected to be dealt and De Colo would have a shot at being the primary backup point guard. But he says it matter of fact.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

It only really makes sense if Pop is going to run out the long rotation again.

[Seventyniner]

It only really makes sense if Pop is going to run out the long rotation again.

Even then, there are too many guards. I count seven: Parker, Ginobili, Green, Mills, De Colo, Neal, Joseph. The only way De Colo plays is if Joseph spends the whole year (barring injuries) with the Toros and Neal gets traded. I don't think the Spurs would've re-signed Mills if they didn't intend for him to be at the very least one of the top 5 guards on the team.

[racm]

De Colo will be taking Mills' towel-waving duties for now.

[Andthentherewas21]

Even then, there are too many guards. I count seven: Parker, Ginobili, Green, Mills, De Colo, Neal, Joseph. The only way De Colo plays is if Joseph spends the whole year (barring injuries) with the Toros and Neal gets traded. I don't think the Spurs would've re-signed Mills if they didn't intend for him to be at the very least one of the top 5 guards on the team.

1. Joseph isn't seeing the court unless Parker or Mills get injured for an extended period of time. No matter how good he looked in Summer League you have to remember IT WAS SUMMER LEAGUE. In the time he got on the court with the Spurs last season he was an average NBA PG in his best moments, and a career D-Leaguer in his worst. Whereas Mills has showcased in the Olympics (against NBA talent), with Portland, and last season with the Spurs, that if nothing else he can score at the NBA level.

2. Parker, Manu, and Green are all safe (they wouldn't have re-signed Green otherwise)

3. Neal is a known quantity. He's straight offense, almost no defense. The D is where De Colo could overtake Neal, but not sure if that is enough to crack anything more than James Anderson type of minutes.

[racm]

FWIW, Neal is an expiring contract.

[Solid D]

I'm not buying what David Aldridge is selling. Rookies get to play right away if they 1) prove something to Pop and 2) stay relatively injury free in training camp. I'm also not buying the notion that San Antonio is a middle-tier team in 2012-13. Under the radar is normal but Aldridge should know better.

[Cane]

If he brings some defense, De Colo will play. While the Spurs do have a lot of guards, there aren't many around his height especially with Anderson's lack of development. If De Colo can pan out, he will offer backcourt depth when it comes to size and ball handling versatility that's been missing in the Spurs roster. It'll also be interesting to see Tony Parker's leadership and impact on the French Spurs

Hopefully he's at least a better Garrett Temple

[ducks]

neal is OUT OF HERE

[DPG21920]

I'm not buying what David Aldridge is selling. Rookies get to play right away if they 1) prove something to Pop and 2) stay relatively injury free in training camp. I'm also not buying the notion that San Antonio is a middle-tier team in 2012-13. Under the radar is normal but Aldridge should know better.

Solid - per the article, the ranking of the teams was for their off season moves alone. He does not expect NO to have a better year than the Spurs for example.

[ABC]

I'm not buying what David Aldridge is selling. Rookies get to play right away if they 1) prove something to Pop and 2) stay relatively injury free in training camp. I'm also not buying the notion that San Antonio is a middle-tier team in 2012-13. Under the radar is normal but Aldridge should know better.

I was confused at first too. Turns out he's talking about 3 tiers in terms off-season moves. I'd say middle-tier for the Spurs is reasonable if we're ranking their off-season (if it is, in fact, over).

[Solid D]

Should have read it closer. Watching the Olympics. Haha.

[keywester]

If he brings some defense, De Colo will play. While the Spurs do have a lot of guards, there aren't many around his height especially with Anderson's lack of development. If De Colo can pan out, he will offer backcourt depth when it comes to size and ball handling versatility that's been missing in the Spurs roster. It'll also be interesting to see Tony Parker's leadership and impact on the French Spurs

Hopefully he's at least a better Garrett Temple

Is De Colo TO prone on the big stage?

Olympic Turn-Over Leaders

Athlete GP MPG TO TOPG

BEN ROMDHANE M 5 33:44 21 4.2
JASIKEVICIUS S 5 22:17 20 4.0
SHVED A 5 22:33 18 3.6
KNIOUA N 4 17:05 13 3.3
DE COLO N 5 22:41 15 3.0
L. DENG 5 34:41 14 2.8
AMINU AF 5 28:41 14 2.8
OBASOHAN D 5 30:14 14 2.8
T. PARKER 5 28:29 13 2.6
KALNIETIS M 5 21:16 13 2.6

[T Park]

I think De Colo is a damn good back up point in the making and exactly what the team needs. A combo guard who can handle the ball well. Doesnt hurt that he can score and shoot as well.

If they could get one decent big man this team would be seriously a contender.

[G-Dawgg]

Well if its true that many of the the French national team's offensive sets when run by Parker are much like the Spurs plays, then De Colo will already be familiar with the plays. If this is true I could easily see him being able to contribute right away. Or even run the offense at times if necessary.

[hemann82]

I De Colo doesn't play immediately I'm going to shit a Parkers-Performance-In-Meaningful-Games-In-The-Western-Conference-Finals-sized brick

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

For De Colo to play right away he would either have to: 1) be great, or 2) have "paid his dues". De Colo doesn't qualify for either so I don't think he's going to be getting any big minutes right away. I think he'll get nibbles here and there but I don't see him being part of the rotation right off the bat.

[Bruno]

De Colo has been just bad in these Olympics. It's disappointing after a good year in Spain and a good preparation with the NT. He will need to bounce back and plays a whole lot better to be successful in the NBA.

Whether the third string SG is Neal or De Colo, he should get significant minutes next year. The third string SG will be in the rotation if one of Ginobili, Green, Jackson or Leonard doesn't play. Ginobili and Jackson missing some games is likely giving their ages. I can even see Pop giving Manu the Duncan treatment and sit him for some b2b games. In some matchups, Pop could too go with Neal or De Colo over Green because they bring more offense.

[Kidd K]

Are there any good videos of him playing out there? Preferably a game, or stretch of a game, and not just a highlight reel.

[elemento]

Quite honestly i wasn't impressed by him in the Olympic Games. I watched all SA players in the tournament and he was the worst of them by far.

Plus, he played way more as a SG than a PG. Not so sure what position he will play in SA. I still think Pop will play Neal at the 1, even though 90% of ST will hate the idea. Nando will be the 3rd string SG behind Manu and Green

[Ice009]

Quite honestly i wasn't impressed by him in the Olympic Games. I watched all SA players in the tournament and he was the worst of them by far.

Plus, he played way more as a SG than a PG. Not so sure what position he will play in SA. I still think Pop will play Neal at the 1, even though 90% of ST will hate the idea. Nando will be the 3rd string SG behind Manu and Green

So what are the Spurs going to do with Mills then? Not play him at all? There is no way Patrick resigned to sit on the bench.

[therealtruth]

For De Colo to play right away he would either have to: 1) be great, or 2) have "paid his dues". De Colo doesn't qualify for either so I don't think he's going to be getting any big minutes right away. I think he'll get nibbles here and there but I don't see him being part of the rotation right off the bat.

Enough with paying dues. Best player wins. Let them fight it out in training camp.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

So what are the Spurs going to do with Mills then? Not play him at all? There is no way Patrick resigned to sit on the bench.

Surely Patty is the backup PG. Neal will become a specialist 3pt shooter, DeColo in for a year of learning and filling injury spots at the 1/2.

I would have thought the depth chart looks like this:

PG: TP Mills DeColo
SG: Green Ginobili Neal (in for special teams that need another shooter, and smallball, in which case Green/Ginobili shift to the 3 and Kawhi/Jax to the 4) DeColo
SF: Leonard Jax (Green/Ginobili for smallball)

PF: Diaw Blair/Bonner (depending on matchups)
C: Duncan Splitter

If only we could swap Blair, Bonner and Neal for Ilyasova, we'd have an almost perfectly balanced team...

[Ice009]

Yep, as of right now, Mills has to be starting as the backup PG.

Neal should be a backup SG/specialist scorer off the bench when you need some offense.

De Colo gets neither the back up PG or backup SG position. He has to earn it. If he earns either position over Mills or Neal then I have no problem with that, but right now, I'm not giving De Colo anything.

[Stabula]

I still think Pop will play Neal at the 1, even though 90% of ST will hate the idea. Nando will be the 3rd string SG behind Manu and Green

You have to be out of your mind. Neal sucks. His offense can be great at times and he can be a clutch three point shooter...sometimes. However his defense is a major liability. You have to remember that the NBA is very guard-centric right now and there are some bad ass 1s and 2s in the league right now. Neal can't guard them. He just can't. Lord bless his soul.

There's no doubt that Patty has proved himself in the Olympics and in the NBA to deserve a back up PG role. The guy has a really strong work ethic and I think he'll have the best season of his career in 2012-13. He can hit shots just as good as Neal can and despite his small size the guy is a downright nuisance on defense. He doesn't let up even if he's guarding border-line seven footers. It's his lateral quickness that allows him to be effective on defense where Neal is invisible.

As for de Colo I don't see him getting major minutes but I do think he'll get more minutes than people are expecting. I'm on the fence with his performance and we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out.

[racm]

You have to be out of your mind. Neal sucks. His offense can be great at times and he can be a clutch three point shooter...sometimes. However his defense is a major liability. You have to remember that the NBA is very guard-centric right now and there are some bad ass 1s and 2s in the league right now. Neal can't guard them. He just can't. Lord bless his soul.

There's no doubt that Patty has proved himself in the Olympics and in the NBA to deserve a back up PG role. The guy has a really strong work ethic and I think he'll have the best season of his career in 2012-13. He can hit shots just as good as Neal can and despite his small size the guy is a downright nuisance on defense. He doesn't let up even if he's guarding border-line seven footers. It's his lateral quickness that allows him to be effective on defense where Neal is invisible.

As for de Colo I don't see him getting major minutes but I do think he'll get more minutes than people are expecting. I'm on the fence with his performance and we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out.

If Mills developed his defensive skills more (not a hard task given Pop and the Spurs emphasizing smart play) he could be a smaller Kirk Hinrich.

[temujin]

The only serious question here is why De Colo gets 1.4 M and Mills 1.1.

[G-Dawgg]

De Colo will play for sure. We all know that Manu is gonna spend some part of the season on the injured list......