Game Blog: Spurs vs. Grizzlies - Summer League Game 5

[jiggy_55]

Starts now...

[timvp]

Starting now. Last game.

[timvp]

Neal four-point play to start the game.

[timvp]

Neal four-point play, then three-pointer and then another three-pointer.

10-0 Spurs :wow

[chazley]

Neal off to a hot start.

Been pretty disappointed with the SL, not seeing DB and Temple play. Neal/Gee have been nice surprises though.

[Solid D]

Can I get a witness?!!!! :wow

[chazley]

This Grizzlies SL team has a ton of talent. Should be a good test for Gee/Neal

[timvp]

Man, the Spurs playing with a ton of energy. Really want to finish undefeated, it seems.

[ace3g]

4-4 for Neal already!!!

[timvp]

Holy F.

[ace3g]

Wilkerson with a nice dunk 15-0

[DesignatedT]

wilkerson wow. what a slam

[ace3g]

I guess Neal read your post Timvp about getting off to a good start

[DesignatedT]

Gary Neal :wow

[DesignatedT]

Neal is pretty damn bad defensively. Dude can stroke it though.

[ace3g]

Neal misses his first shot but got a nice steal off of Thabeet on the prior play

[ace3g]

Neal reminds me of Udoka, when you see him running the court and his movements look like Udoka

[ace3g]

another 3 for Neal

[ace3g]

http://www.nba.com/summerleague/games/20100718/SASMEM/gameinfo.html

box score

[timvp]

Hmmm ... Spurs need a shooter. And there's a guy who is 5-for-6 on threes on their summer league team. Makes sense.

[DesignatedT]

wow neal can really shoot the ball.

[kbrury]

Hmmm ... Spurs need a shooter. And there's a guy who is 5-for-6 on threes on their summer league team. Makes sense.

Is he doing this with Young on him?

[timvp]

Is he doing this with Young on him?

The first three three-pointers.

[ace3g]

Gee misses a corner 3

[ace3g]

dawson with a top of the key jumper

29-11

[Stump]

Great 1st quarter

[ace3g]

good defense there by Gee to disrupt that inbounds play

[Russ]

Coach Bud -- Now, Gary, take it easy. We need to slip you through . . .

Neal -- Oh yeah, baby, watch this . . .:flag:

[Solid D]

Neal = Flip Murray scoring with slightly better D

[Solid D]

Thabeet has got to be loving this 10 foul deal. :)

[HarlemHeat37]

Neal = Flip Murray scoring with slightly better D

That's a good comparison so far..

I would be shocked if he doesn't get guaranteed money to go to Training Camp..I don't know if the Spurs will give it to him(personally, I think they will), but somebody will..


Thabeet has got to be loving this 10 foul deal. :)

:lol

[ace3g]

that was a bad shot by Dawson near the 3 point line at the top of the key but he made it

[ace3g]

Neal is back in

[timvp]

Gee not exactly ending SL with a bang.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

Neal gets it done yet again

[ace3g]

does Jerrells realize once he is in the lane he doesn't always have to go for a layup or floater, he can pass out to the perimeter?

[ace3g]

another nice shot by Neal 37-17

[timvp]

Wilkerson showing more and more perimeter skills.

[ace3g]

Jerrells waits till 5 sec on the clock to run the offense?

[quentin_compson]

That was a nice move by Jerrells.

[ace3g]

Wilkerson makes both FT

40-21

[ace3g]

Neal playing Vasquez very well denying the ball and gets him on the push off for the offensive foul

[timvp]

Eric Snow sounds blitzed.

[quentin_compson]

Yeah, Neal with the charge.

[timvp]

Neal is a crafty lil' playa.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

WOAHHHHHHHH

Neal!!!!

[DesignatedT]

Neal again.

[ace3g]

nice shot by Neal, running off a few screens, looks like Ray Allen and RIP out there

[quentin_compson]

Boy, Thabeet doesn't even shine against SL competition. :lol

[Cane]

Wow Neal just bailed the Spurs on that possession with the last second corner 3. Sigh him up!

[ace3g]

Jeff McDonald JMcDonald_SAEN

This Gary Neal thing is unreal. He's got 23 points at half. 8-of-12 from the field. 6-of-9 from 3. Summer Spurs lead 47-25.

[DesignatedT]

Thabeet sucks.

[timvp]

There will likely be a lot of competition for Neal. European teams will be going after him and now I bet a few NBA teams are thinking about guaranteeing him money.

He makes sense for the Spurs as insurance behind Anderson and whichever shooter they bring in. Having two years of D-League eligibility makes him more valuable.

[ElNono]

Can the Spurs offer more than rookie scale for Neil though?

[ElNono]

He wasn't drafted by us, right?

[timvp]

Can the Spurs offer more than rookie scale for Neil though?

There's no rookie scale for an undrafted player. They could hypothetically offer him the rest of the MLE, although the most I could imagine the Spurs offering would be a guaranteed minimum contract.

If the Spurs are to offer him a contract, it'd probably be a training camp invite with $25-100K guaranteed.

[ElNono]

There's no rookie scale for an undrafted player. They could hypothetically offer him the rest of the MLE, although the most I could imagine the Spurs offering would be a guaranteed minimum contract.

If the Spurs are to offer him a contract, it'd probably be a training camp invite with $25-100K guaranteed.

Thanks. I would think they would want to entice him not to leave for Europe though. I mean, they're looking for shooters, right?

[timvp]

Neal looking tired, especially on the defensive end.

[ace3g]

dang, Gee almost had that alley oop

[quentin_compson]

Not Gee's day, it seems.

[timvp]

Watkins with a nice pass.

[ElNono]

Every time I see Eric Snow, I recall when he was the cheerleader in the Cavs bench when we swept them. lol with all the tough words and nothing to show for it.

[Solid D]

Whoever wants to sign Neal had better get in line, after today.

Let's face it. He's a scorer that will put it up any time, any place. He's gonna be cold some games, hot some games. The Spurs are looking for guys that can shoot and Neal looks like a guy that can be a shooter and a scorer.

On another note, this Spurs Summer League team looks like experienced men playing against young players in most of the games.

[ElNono]

Where's Lomers? :hungry:

[Solid D]

Where's Lomers? :hungry:

This game is just a little bit too fast for Josh Lomers, I'm afraid. He also looks a bit out of shape.

[ElNono]

Nice Alley oops...

[quentin_compson]

Lol, Lionel Hollins talking about unhealthy media hype after his franchise just gave Rudy Gay 82 mio. :lol

[ElNono]

The defense is over the top good.

[quentin_compson]

The defense is over the top good.

Yeah, nice to see them keeping it up even though they are leading by 20.

[Solid D]

Cuffee looks like a nice High School player.

[ElNono]

Cuffee looks like a nice High School player.

Yeah.. he would play well alongside the couple of Grizz shooting nothing but airballs from the 3 point line.

[timvp]

Scruffee sucks.

[timvp]

Cuffee is awesome!

[ElNono]

Cue the 'Spurs should just field the Summerleague team in the regular season'...

[ElNono]

Cuffee is awesome!

lol, I was gonna say

[ElNono]

I fully expect a 'Trade Tony now. We can get by with Squeaky and Jerrells' thread...

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Love this team, missing so many players but still playing hard.

[timvp]

lol @ Maverick/Packer fan

[Solid D]

Eric Snow has always had a condescending side to him when he's playin' with someone. Some dissin' and smirkin' goin' on.

[ElNono]

So, we now let them get back into the game before roll Neil/Gee back out?
Same as all the other games?

[ElNono]

lol no Spurs for MVP candidates... lol Caracter

[Solid D]

This Spurs SL team has fewer break-downs on team defense than last year's NBA Regular Season Spurs team.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

lol no Spurs for MVP candidates... lol Caracter

I mentioned in the Summer League Notebook thread...

it's not simply no MVP candidates (fair enough), not a single Spurs player has featured on the NBA's 'rookie ladder' of top performers, anywhere at any point.

And we're unbeaten!

[timvp]

Gee better hope the FO caught an early flight back to SA.

[ElNono]

Gee better hope the FO caught an early flight back to SA.

You were saying? :lol

[quentin_compson]

Gee making a shot ...

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

lol @ Maverick/Packer fan

:lol I know right, I was saying to myself just shut up.. please

[ace3g]

Gary Neal!!!

[ElNono]

Alonzo playing some D

[Solid D]

Gee better hope the FO caught an early flight back to SA.

Yeah, DeMarre Carroll just did a "Blue Bayou" on Gee. Alonzo looking like a matador and then nobody there to help baseline except lil' Squeeky.

At least Alonzo finally hit a shot.

Jerrells hits a needed shot and Neal getting back in the flow.

[timvp]

Vazquez is slooooooow.

[Solid D]

Nice steal and flush 'Zo.

[ace3g]

Wilkerson with the runner

[ElNono]

Now they're bored...

[biziofromdowntown]

And after this game? nothin untill orlando's SL?

[biziofromdowntown]

wow, MEM 0% beyond the arc

[timvp]

And after this game? nothin untill orlando's SL?

Nothing until training camp. Orlando SL was before Vegas SL.

[ElNono]

It's human victory cigar time...

[biziofromdowntown]

Nothing until training camp. Orlando SL was before Vegas SL.

uuuups, u r right...damn a long stop! So, can i ask when we'll know the invitations to the TC?

[timvp]

Gary Neal interview coming.

[Solid D]

It's human victory cigar time...

Poor Lomers.

[ElNono]

Best Spurs Summerleague team in a long time?

[timvp]

5-0. Props to this team. Fun to watch. Brought the D and shared the ball on O :tu

[Anonymous Cowherd]

Spurs unbeaten in the Summer League and have the best overall record! :)

but come on, that shouldn't be worth mentioning, what with DeJuan Blair and Garrett Temple (would that be the best 2 players on the roster? why yes it would) out and James Anderson not taken with us......

[timvp]

Neal sounds like Walt Frazier without the extravagance.

[biziofromdowntown]

5-0. Props to this team. Fun to watch. Brought the D and shared the ball on O :tu

yeap, but i'd like to knew how the REAL SL players do..no Temple,Gist,Blair with his new mid range shot... i'm still curious...

[ElNono]

And did it all with hard work when they could have folded after the injuries... :tu

[Solid D]

From this SL team, I'd like to see Temple, Jerrells, Gee, Neal, Wilkerson and Gist at the Spurs Training Camp in October.

[Bruno]

Props to the SL team. They weren't the most talented one but they played hard. Even if victories in SL mean almost nothing, it's nice to see players playing the right way ending undefeated.

[Bruno]

So Neal > Roger Mason ?

[Stump]

Summer League Champions! Yeah!! :lobt2:




But seriously, good work guys.

[Texas_Ranger]

Great job by these guys. Props to Neal.

[biziofromdowntown]

So Neal > Roger Mason ?

damn, Neal deserves a couple inches more...

[dbestpro]

Is there room for Neal to make the Spurs?

[ElNono]

I guess Neal is the new James Gist bitch!

[Solid D]

Neal sounds like Walt Frazier without the extravagance.

Good call.

http://www.justformen.com/images/assets/com_resthome.jpg

"He moves and grooves! Keep your mustache or beard in championship shape. With Just For Men."

[Obstructed_View]

From this SL team, I'd like to see Temple, Jerrells, Gee, Neal, Wilkerson and Gist at the Spurs Training Camp in October.

Yep, that's exactly the same group I'd pick.

[Vic Petro]

The Neal Bandwagon is running an inch off the ground with so many people hopping on. If he can knock down shots like that I don't care how tall he is.

[Solid D]

Neal can make some decent money in Europe. I'm not sure the Spurs can offer him anything very attractive other than a shot at the NBA. He was Triviso's, and the Italian League's, leading scorer last year so this guy is a grade above your average D-Leaguer.

[Mel_13]

Neal can make some decent money in Europe. I'm not sure the Spurs can offer him anything very attractive other than a shot at the NBA. He was Triviso's, and the Italian League's, leading scorer last year so this guy is a grade above your average D-Leaguer.

Based on this quote from a Dec, 2009 DX article, it seems unlikely that Neal would go to an NBA training camp without a substantial financial guarantee:

“He's game for anything,” his agent David Bauman told us via email. “He'd love to be in NBA, but he won't do it if it means a big financial loss.”

"The key for Gary is he sees basketball as his profession. If he can make a good living in the NBA, he would love to go. But he won't be like many of these players today who will claw and fight in the summer league, turn down good money overseas, just to try to make a roster in October."

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Gary-Neal-544/

[slick'81]

wow undefeated after all the shit that was talked about this sl team way to go spurs!!!

[DPG21920]

Ian vs Cousins right now.

[Blackjack]

JMcDonald_SAEN

Bud on Gary Neal: "I'm sure a lot of people are talking about him." Neal hopes to parlay strong summer into training camp invitation. #spurs
3 minutes ago via web

[DPG21920]

Ian with a nice score and then a very nice block.

[Russ]

Hopefully Neal won't go the way of Raja Bell and Udonis Haslem -- guys who I thought were Spurs but went on to contribute elsewhere.

[DPG21920]

Ian having a very good game so far. Thoroughly outplaying Cousins right now.

[slick'81]

Ian having a very good game so far. Thoroughly outplaying Cousins right now.


lol and so it begins :downspin:

[Blackjack]

Jebus help me, with Jones and Ian on this team ... I'm openly rooting for the Mavs -- I hate that they got Jones and Ian ended up there . . .

[urunobili]

Ian tearing it up... :wakeup

[Obstructed_View]

Ian having a very good game so far. Thoroughly outplaying Cousins right now.

Don't do this to yourself.

Gotta go, game's back on.

[ElNono]

Actually Ian looks lost out there... he just had two fouls in about a minute... he's the king of +/- though at +28...

[ElNono]

lol, Cousins about to throw a punch...

[ElNono]

Mario Ellie coaching the Kings?

[Obstructed_View]

Actually Ian looks lost out there... he just had two fouls in about a minute... he's the king of +/- though at +28...

And this is why I'm glad he's gone. :lol

[BOHOLANO#21]

The Neal Bandwagon is running an inch off the ground with so many people hopping on. If he can knock down shots like that I don't care how tall he is.
I think Neal is just Tolliver 2.0....shooting the lights out on summer league.:lol

[Russ]

Actually Ian looks lost out there... he just had two fouls in about a minute... he's the king of +/- though at +28...

Cousins 1-12 for 6 points.

Mahinmi 1-5 for 5 points.

A dead heat on a merry-go-round.

[Obstructed_View]

Cousins 1-12 for 6 points.

Mahinmi 1-5 for 5 points.

A dead heat on a merry-go-round.


Yep. Way to read that box score.

[Darkwaters]

I've been saying, Neal looks like a guy that could surprise and might make the team.

Damn, we're going to be loaded at SG if we sign him.

[Bruno]

Gee made the all-tournament team:
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2010/07/18/wall-leads-all-tournament-team/

[Chieflion]

Talent-wise, the Spurs were perhaps the worst team on paper. With Blair and Temple out, I can't believe this squad finished 5-0. They played defense every trip down the court and as the saying goes, "offense stats with defense", and capitalized. The squad embraced team defense, which was why they won all their games. Congrats to Gee for making all-tournament team. It was obvious he used his strengths to impress and not do anything he can't do on a regular basis.

[Obstructed_View]

I've been saying, Neal looks like a guy that could surprise and might make the team.

Damn, we're going to be loaded at SG if we sign him.

If Neal makes the team he'll become the most hated player on the squad by December.

[ElNono]

If Neal makes the team he'll become the most hated player on the squad by December.

Not sure about that. Depends if his shot is still there then.
Remember when RMJ was 'Money mase' and everyone thought he was clutch as hell?

[ceperez]

Not sure about that. Depends if his shot is still there then.
Remember when RMJ was 'Money mase' and everyone thought he was clutch as hell?

Agree. You just never know for sure who is a clutch player until you test them.

BTW, did anyone else in Summer league have a better 3 point performance than Neal in this game?

[ElNono]

Agree. You just never know for sure who is a clutch player until you test them.
BTW, did anyone else in Summer league have a better 3 point performance than Neal in this game?

I think Neil earned a camp invite, and that's it. Having higher expectations at this point is frankly unwarranted. We all remember Gist having a heck of a summer league two seasons ago, then sinking down last year. This summer league, for as long as he played, he wasn't anything special either.

I think coach Bud deserved a lot of recognition for really putting together a very scrappy team that played defense all game long, even after some serious injuries to the arguably better players on the team. I hope he helps Pop translate some of that to the NBA squad.

EDIT: I also remember Tolliver hitting everything in Sumer League and then being unable to hit the side of a barn in the NBA. so YMMV.

[Obstructed_View]

I think Neil earned a camp invite, and that's it. Having higher expectations at this point is frankly unwarranted. We all remember Gist having a heck of a summer league two seasons ago, then sinking down last year. This summer league, for as long as he played, he wasn't anything special either.

I think coach Bud deserved a lot of recognition for really putting together a very scrappy team that played defense all game long, even after some serious injuries to the arguably better players on the team. I hope he helps Pop translate some of that to the NBA squad.

EDIT: I also remember Tolliver hitting everything in Sumer League and then being unable to hit the side of a barn in the NBA. so YMMV.

Agreed on all points. In addition, Tolliver made the team over Hairston because of that shooting streak.

[Obstructed_View]

Just watched the game on NBA TV. A couple of thoughts:


Anyone else think Wilkerson likely played his way out of a camp invite? I don't think a dunk over Thabeet is enough to do it. He can always hope that Gist is out for a while or gets reinjured.


...and the "GEE HAS TO MAKE THIS TEAM!!1!" rhetoric dies in the wake of "ZOMG NEAL HAST O MAKE THIS TEAM11!!!1" rhetoric


Jerrells is still an intriguing prospect for a backup point position. If someone can cure him of his little ballhog streaks he could be an NBA player.


If Eric Dawson and Patrick Watkins had shown up in shape...


Speaking of Watkins, was it last year or the year before that we were excited about him as a prospect? I don't think he's improved one whit since then.


Time to go find a job, Josh.


After all the gushing about how athletic Duane Mitchell is, I'm glad we finally got to see him dunk again.

[Solid D]

Bump - Nice to remember Neal's benchmark game last summer.

[Obstructed_View]

Bump - Nice to remember Neal's benchmark game last summer.

Super glad to know it wasn't the fluke I thought it was at the time.

[ChumpDumper]

lol preemptive

[Obstructed_View]

lol preemptive

lol vicarious victory celebration.

[ChumpDumper]

No victory. only lulz.
If Neal makes the team he'll become the most hated player on the squad by December.

[Obstructed_View]

Well if the lulz can make you feel better about having your ass handed to you in other debates, then go right ahead.