Road side tent ministry of Bertans

[wildbill2u]

I'd like to see Bertans played at PF across from Kwahi. His threat to shoot 3s would really pull another big out of the paint and let Kwahi operate down low or drive. Aldrige usually doesn't play far enough away from the paint to do that.

And he is showing more and more that he can handle the ball to drive past an opponent on the P&R. Or just iso drive past with a good shot fake.

He'll be solid in the rotation for at least 15 minutes by the playoffs. Book that.

[GSH]

I'd like to see Bertans played at PF across from Kwahi. His threat to shoot 3s would really pull another big out of the paint and let Kwahi operate down low or drive. Aldrige usually doesn't play far enough away from the paint to do that.

And he is showing more and more that he can handle the ball to drive past an opponent on the P&R. Or just iso drive past with a good shot fake.

He'll be solid in the rotation for at least 15 minutes by the playoffs. Book that.

Being able to shoot the 3 AND drive to the rim is a big deal. The second part is what has kept Danny from being a big difference-maker on the offensive end. I wouldn't bet on Pop giving him extended minutes, though.

[NASpurs]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...opovichs-plans

SPURS ROOKIE DAVIS BERTANS HAS FORCED HIS WAY INTO GREGG POPOVICH'S PLANS


Mike Monroe Featured Columnist

February 9, 2017SAN ANTONIO — Salt, meet wound.

The 2011 draft-night deal that sent guard George Hill to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to two-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard also included a barely known mid-second-round pick. At home in Latvia, Davis Bertans stayed up until 7 in the morning to hear that the Pacers made him the 12th selection of the second round and traded his rights to the Spurs.

"I was definitely happy it was the Spurs," Bertans said. "It didn't matter how many years it was going to take for me to come here. I knew they counted on me coming here, and I was going to wait for my time."

Five years later, Bertans has forced his way into the San Antonio Spurs rotation. This is where Pacers fans should stop reading.

The 24-year-old forward is one of the most confident first-year players head coach Gregg Popovich has seen in 20 seasons on the Spurs bench.

"His confidence and the way he comes into a game—he might come in at the end of the game; he might come in the middle and not expect to be playing—and he doesn't miss a beat," Popovich said. "He comes in and plays like he's been playing all night, so that's kind of cool."

The 6'10" forward from Valmiera, Latvia, has worked his way into Popovich's game-to-game plans with a combination of three-point accuracy (39 percent, even after his Memphis oh-fer), athleticism (he's a fan favorite during pregame layup drills) and quicker-than-expected adjustment to the Spurs' defensive scheme.

Bertans has appeared in 43 of 51 games, averaging 4.2 points in 11.6 minutes per outing. He's started three times, two of which came since Pau Gasol left the Spurs lineup on Jan. 19 with a fractured bone in his left hand. Since Jan. 23, he has averaged 8.4 points in 19.0 minutes across San Antonio's past eight games.

But Bertans will have to improve defensively to carve out a role in this season's playoffs. He acknowledges that the intricacies of Popovich's defensive scheme occasionally leave him out of position.

"It is difficult," he said. "At the same time, it's simple: You know what Coach wants from you, and you just try to stay focused and try to read the game as best you can. Of course, you are always going to make mistakes, and Coach always points them out right away."

Popovich understands the adjustment players from Europe have to make after competing in leagues without defensive three-second rules.

"Obviously, his skill is shooting," Popovich said. "He's already a pretty innately skilled passer. But defensively, he will have to learn team rotations, individual 'D,' learn the league, guys in the league. So, his is just more an experience situation more than anything. But he is a good ballplayer. He understands the game."

Bertans' confidence has been tested plenty of times before.

The wait was longer than either Bertans or the Spurs expected. He spent 2011 with Union Olimpija in Slovenia, where he played alongside future Spurs teammate Danny Green. (Green played there during the 2011 NBA lockout.)

"He was my pick-and-pop guy," said Green, unsurprised by Bertans' confidence as a shooter. "He changed the game for us a lot. He helped us in the pick-and-roll. In Europe, you have no three-seconds [violation], so you need shooters."

After Olimpija, Bertans signed with Serbian power Partizan Belgrade in January 2012. During the Serbian League Finals in June 2013, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, an injury that has scuttled many NBA dreams.

The Spurs arranged for Bertans to come to San Antonio to have the knee repaired by their orthopedic specialist, Dr. David Schmidt. After returning to Europe and working hard at physical therapy, he returned to the court nine months later and helped Partizan win the 2013-14 Serbian League championship.

In July 2014, Bertans signed with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia of the Spanish ACB League for the 2014-15 season. Near the end of a solid first season in Spain, he again tore the ACL in his right knee.

Surprisingly, the second injury seemed less daunting.

"After the first time that it happened, right away, I thought my career was over," Bertans said. "And that moment was not just about the NBA; it was about my whole career, the whole thing, even in Europe. We all know so many guys before who had the same injury never came back the same. Usually, there was something missing."

Bertans returned to San Antonio for a second successful surgery. He was more patient with his second rehabilitation regimen, understanding every aspect of the process, because he already had endured it.
"The second time was so much easier," he said. "I knew I needed those nine months."

Bertans finally signed a two-year, $1.45 million bargain deal with the Spurs last July. Already playing regularly for a team with the NBA's second-best record, he has the look of a future starter for a San Antonio franchise that always thinks years ahead.

"I don't have any doubt," Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said of Bertans' potential as a future Spurs starter. "Obviously, these guys see him every day so they will know, but from all the film work and the times we've played them, you can see, from Game 1 to now, the confidence that he has and the confidence that they put in him by playing him more.

"You look at him and think he is Matt Bonner, but he is not Matt Bonner. They have a of a young player. I'm a big fan of his, and the last time we played them, Tony Parker sat and Dejounte Murray kicked our ass. So, those are two young players who have the luxury of being around Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame coach, and they're just going to soak it all up, and it's just going to be to their advantage."

Never one to tip his hand about future moves, Popovich makes it clear he, too, sees Bertans as an important piece of his team's future.

"He is somebody who has a really bright future," Popovich said. "He just needs minutes and experience. He plays an all-around game. He blocks shots. He works hard defensively. But his skill as a shooter is pretty unique. He's got great range, and he can put it down on the floor, and he can pass the basketball."

Whether or not that future will include a significant role in this year's playoffs will depend on how Bertans responds in the final 31 games of the regular season. There's plenty of reason to be confident.

[dabom]

Bertans is OG.

BillMc

[Blake]

Kid will be an all-star someday.

Lol knee jerking

[Blake]

But I do love Bertans game

[DAF86]

Lol knee jerking

Nope, it's not knee jerking. It's knowing how good this kid is, from watching him in Europe and International ball.

[Blake]

Nope, it's not knee jerking. It's knowing how good this kid is, from watching him in Europe and International ball.

Whatever you want to call it. Bertans is a nice player with great upside, but no, he'll never be an all star

[DAF86]

Whatever you want to call it. Bertans is a nice player with great upside, but no, he'll never be an all star

How the can you possibly know that now? If someone told you a while back that Kyle Korver was going to be an all-star, what would have you said?

Bertans is going to be an all-star, book it.

[DAF86]

btw, neat prediction about Kawhi, tbh.

Leonard's ceiling is slightly higher than Sean the Lakers.

I'll give him a 4 coaches vote all star ceiling.

[dabom]

btw, neat prediction about Kawhi, tbh.

[SAGirl]

btw, neat prediction about Kawhi, tbh.

stgarting
to think Blake is not a Spur fan after all.. He only shows up to criticize and troll in general... there is plenty of that from some here, but they usually have a couple of favorite players at least... He just shows up to generally troll.

[SAGirl]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...opovichs-plans

SPURS ROOKIE DAVIS BERTANS HAS FORCED HIS WAY INTO GREGG POPOVICH'S PLANS


Mike Monroe Featured Columnist

February 9, 2017SAN ANTONIO — Salt, meet wound.

The 2011 draft-night deal that sent guard George Hill to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to two-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard also included a barely known mid-second-round pick. At home in Latvia, Davis Bertans stayed up until 7 in the morning to hear that the Pacers made him the 12th selection of the second round and traded his rights to the Spurs.

"I was definitely happy it was the Spurs," Bertans said. "It didn't matter how many years it was going to take for me to come here. I knew they counted on me coming here, and I was going to wait for my time."

Five years later, Bertans has forced his way into the San Antonio Spurs rotation. This is where Pacers fans should stop reading.

The 24-year-old forward is one of the most confident first-year players head coach Gregg Popovich has seen in 20 seasons on the Spurs bench.

"His confidence and the way he comes into a game—he might come in at the end of the game; he might come in the middle and not expect to be playing—and he doesn't miss a beat," Popovich said. "He comes in and plays like he's been playing all night, so that's kind of cool."

The 6'10" forward from Valmiera, Latvia, has worked his way into Popovich's game-to-game plans with a combination of three-point accuracy (39 percent, even after his Memphis oh-fer), athleticism (he's a fan favorite during pregame layup drills) and quicker-than-expected adjustment to the Spurs' defensive scheme.

Bertans has appeared in 43 of 51 games, averaging 4.2 points in 11.6 minutes per outing. He's started three times, two of which came since Pau Gasol left the Spurs lineup on Jan. 19 with a fractured bone in his left hand. Since Jan. 23, he has averaged 8.4 points in 19.0 minutes across San Antonio's past eight games.

But Bertans will have to improve defensively to carve out a role in this season's playoffs. He acknowledges that the intricacies of Popovich's defensive scheme occasionally leave him out of position.

"It is difficult," he said. "At the same time, it's simple: You know what Coach wants from you, and you just try to stay focused and try to read the game as best you can. Of course, you are always going to make mistakes, and Coach always points them out right away."

Popovich understands the adjustment players from Europe have to make after competing in leagues without defensive three-second rules.

"Obviously, his skill is shooting," Popovich said. "He's already a pretty innately skilled passer. But defensively, he will have to learn team rotations, individual 'D,' learn the league, guys in the league. So, his is just more an experience situation more than anything. But he is a good ballplayer. He understands the game."

Bertans' confidence has been tested plenty of times before.

The wait was longer than either Bertans or the Spurs expected. He spent 2011 with Union Olimpija in Slovenia, where he played alongside future Spurs teammate Danny Green. (Green played there during the 2011 NBA lockout.)

"He was my pick-and-pop guy," said Green, unsurprised by Bertans' confidence as a shooter. "He changed the game for us a lot. He helped us in the pick-and-roll. In Europe, you have no three-seconds [violation], so you need shooters."

After Olimpija, Bertans signed with Serbian power Partizan Belgrade in January 2012. During the Serbian League Finals in June 2013, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, an injury that has scuttled many NBA dreams.

The Spurs arranged for Bertans to come to San Antonio to have the knee repaired by their orthopedic specialist, Dr. David Schmidt. After returning to Europe and working hard at physical therapy, he returned to the court nine months later and helped Partizan win the 2013-14 Serbian League championship.

In July 2014, Bertans signed with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia of the Spanish ACB League for the 2014-15 season. Near the end of a solid first season in Spain, he again tore the ACL in his right knee.

Surprisingly, the second injury seemed less daunting.

"After the first time that it happened, right away, I thought my career was over," Bertans said. "And that moment was not just about the NBA; it was about my whole career, the whole thing, even in Europe. We all know so many guys before who had the same injury never came back the same. Usually, there was something missing."

Bertans returned to San Antonio for a second successful surgery. He was more patient with his second rehabilitation regimen, understanding every aspect of the process, because he already had endured it.
"The second time was so much easier," he said. "I knew I needed those nine months."

Bertans finally signed a two-year, $1.45 million bargain deal with the Spurs last July. Already playing regularly for a team with the NBA's second-best record, he has the look of a future starter for a San Antonio franchise that always thinks years ahead.

"I don't have any doubt," Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said of Bertans' potential as a future Spurs starter. "Obviously, these guys see him every day so they will know, but from all the film work and the times we've played them, you can see, from Game 1 to now, the confidence that he has and the confidence that they put in him by playing him more.

"You look at him and think he is Matt Bonner, but he is not Matt Bonner. They have a of a young player. I'm a big fan of his, and the last time we played them, Tony Parker sat and Dejounte Murray kicked our ass. So, those are two young players who have the luxury of being around Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame coach, and they're just going to soak it all up, and it's just going to be to their advantage."

Never one to tip his hand about future moves, Popovich makes it clear he, too, sees Bertans as an important piece of his team's future.

"He is somebody who has a really bright future," Popovich said. "He just needs minutes and experience. He plays an all-around game. He blocks shots. He works hard defensively. But his skill as a shooter is pretty unique. He's got great range, and he can put it down on the floor, and he can pass the basketball."

Whether or not that future will include a significant role in this year's playoffs will depend on how Bertans responds in the final 31 games of the regular season. There's plenty of reason to be confident.

As much as some criticize Bleacher Report (they indeed do too many poorly thought opinion pieces)... this article by Mike Moore is a good one, with quotes from player, coach and opposing coaches. His future does indeed look bright and his role in the postseason (while it remains to be seen) is a real possibility with his shooting.

The Pau injury was a blessing in disguise to him bc I doubt he would be playing this many minutes without that injury occurring.

[HarlemHeat37]

Love his confidence and toughness more than anything, tbh..

A trend I've noticed with the newer NBA Euros is the increase in aggression compared to the previous generations that were labeled "soft" IMO..I think it was Porzingis that actually discussed this, he felt he needed to show the fans immediately before they stereotyped him..

[NASpurs]

As much as some criticize Bleacher Report (they indeed do too many poorly thought opinion pieces)... this article by Mike Moore is a good one, with quotes from player, coach and opposing coaches. His future does indeed look bright and his role in the postseason (while it remains to be seen) is a real possibility with his shooting.

The Pau injury was a blessing in disguise to him bc I doubt he would be playing this many minutes without that injury occurring.

That's not just any writer from Bleacher Report, that's Mike Monroe who used to cover the Spurs on the San Antonio Express News for as long as I can remember.

http://bleacherreport.com/users/7545664-mike-monroe

Mike Monroe has been writing about pro basketball for more than 32 years. He began his newspaper career in Colorado Springs in 1968. It concluded a week before Christmas, 2015, when he retired from the San Antonio Express-News after 12 years covering the Spurs and the NBA. In between were stops at the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph and three years with FoxSports.com, beginning in 2000. He has served as president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association and is one of two recipients of its Phil Jasner Lifetime Achievement Award.

[ECOV]

As much as some criticize Bleacher Report (they indeed do too many poorly thought opinion pieces)... this article by Mike Moore is a good one, with quotes from player, coach and opposing coaches. His future does indeed look bright and his role in the postseason (while it remains to be seen) is a real possibility with his shooting.

The Pau injury was a blessing in disguise to him bc I doubt he would be playing this many minutes without that injury occurring.

Very true, i believe things happen for reasons.

[DAF86]

Love his confidence and toughness more than anything, tbh..

A trend I've noticed with the newer NBA Euros is the increase in aggression compared to the previous generations that were labeled "soft" IMO..I think it was Porzingis that actually discussed this, he felt he needed to show the fans immediately before they stereotyped him..

And you know who started that, right? (despite not being an Euro) One of the most influencial players in league history, tbh.

[DAF86]

stgarting
to think Blake is not a Spur fan after all.. He only shows up to criticize and troll in general... there is plenty of that from some here, but they usually have a couple of favorite players at least... He just shows up to generally troll.

He's one of those insecure guys that tries not to been seem like a homer to be accepted by the "cool guys", tbh.

[UZER]

Love his confidence and toughness more than anything, tbh..

A trend I've noticed with the newer NBA Euros is the increase in aggression compared to the previous generations that were labeled "soft" IMO..I think it was Porzingis that actually discussed this, he felt he needed to show the fans immediately before they stereotyped him..

He's not a euro softy, which is why Bertans shoved Beasley. It was to stand up for his teammate as well as establish his presence in the NBA. But nooooo, Pop had to sit his ass for the next 10 games for getting ejected, (which was a ludicrous ejected too).

[UZER]

So next time he gets fouled hard, he will just whimper and walk away like Pop wants. Then Pop will question the teams toughness.

[HarlemHeat37]

He's not a euro softy, which is why Bertans shoved Beasley. It was to stand up for his teammate as well as establish his presence in the NBA. But nooooo, Pop had to sit his ass for the next 10 games for getting ejected, (which was a ludicrous ejected too).

Ya, I agree, but I wasn't even necessarily speaking about fighting and altercations..I was referring to style of play..

I wouldn't consider somebody like Vlade Divac to be soft, for example, but his style of play definitely was IMO(finesse, defensive flopping, jump shooting, etc)..

A lot of the Euros in the 2010s play an attacking, athletically physical style of basketball..guys like Marc Gasol(although his teens were spent in Memphis of all places), Dragic, Porzingis, Nurkic(although Jokic has buried him), Gobert, Giannis, etc..you still have the soft, finesse, Dirk-style Euros like Jokic, but there's definitely been a shift IMO..

You can no longer look at somebody like Bertans and expect him to be a stereotypical European big that just shoots 3s and doesn't attack the rim..

[Blake]

btw, neat prediction about Kawhi, tbh.

Oh noes I predicted his ceiling was All Star level.

Where's your prediction about Kawhi?

[Blake]

He's one of those insecure guys that tries not to been seem like a homer to be accepted by the "cool guys", tbh.

Bad prediction

[apalisoc_9]

Love his confidence in offense, but its funny watching hik on defense. He is like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time

Would be pissed though if he doesn't see minutes against Houston/Utah and other playoff matchups. He seems to react faster with his opportunities. Never hesistates. Either he shoots, or drives. Or passes..Plus, its nice that he's looking for his shots and itsnt shy on taking shots two feet away from the three point line.

[Blake]

stgarting
to think Blake is not a Spur fan after all.. He only shows up to criticize and troll in general... there is plenty of that from some here, but they usually have a couple of favorite players at least... He just shows up to generally troll.

I troll you therefore I'm not a Spur fan. Sound logic.