Rookie Anderson nearing return to court — in Austin

[mike20spurs]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/01/16/rookie-anderson-getting-closer-to-return/
Cleared to begin on-court drills this week, the 6-foot-6 swingman from Oklahoma State will get back in game shape by playing for the Spurs’ NBA Development League team, the Austin Toros, perhaps as soon as this weekend.

[lefty]

Good :tu

[RobSM64]

as long as it gets him in shape it's all good

[Canibspur]

F that. He should't get in shape by playing in the d-league. It seems if he does that, even if the Toros try to play Spurs style its just going to slow him down in relation to where he needs to be in the Spurs rotation.

Bring him back to practice for a while until he can go full contact, then ease him back into to the rotation on game day, gradually increasing his minutes while at the same time building back up that team chemistry with him in the mix.

Either way I really cant wait for this kid to be back in action. He really was playing very well. Better than I expected so soon.

[koriwhat]

i'm also against the d-league for anderson considering this was how he started out the season anyhow... injured before the season, got well, established a role for himself in the rotation and he started to see more and more minutes up until this last injury.

he's better on the spurs bench in a suit, playing during practice with the spurs, and eventually suiting up in a jersey and seeing more and more minutes.

[Ice009]

You can't post that here. Express News doesn't allow it anymore. You can only post a paragraph and a link.

[koriwhat]

fuck the express news!

[jjktkk]

A good guess is that Anderson will get more minutes while up in Austin, than he would of with the Spurs, which is what I'm sure is what Pop wants. A couple of weeks with the Toros and Anderson should hopefully resemble the player he was to start the season.

[ChumpDumper]

fuck the express news!You're such a rebel.

And people don't seem to realize what a rehab assignment is.

[koriwhat]

You're such a rebel.

i was waiting for someone to say that. :tu

haha

[EricB]

So he should play garbage minutes in the NBA and slow his development OR play 30 minutes a night and get back into shape quick.

Yeah I can see how the latter is crazy.

[awktalk]

No rookie not named Neal will be the difference in a championship year. JA is here for the future, not to play a role on this team.

[koriwhat]

nothing good has come from playing with the toros... nothing.

[ChumpDumper]

Pretending that Anderson is a marginal NBA player like Malik Hairston and is being treated as such in this assignment is folly.

[galvatron3000]

Getting in game shape is a great idea, playing game style minutes in the D league is great. Once he's in shape (game shape) he will come back and learn the Spurs system once again. If he doesn't get in shape he will sit on the pine waiting on blowout games. It's nearly All Star weekend not the beginning of the season

[timtonymanu]

I miss seeing JA on the floor. It's good that he's getting a chance to take the rust off in Austin instead of being benched in San Antonio or even being rushed back into the rotation.

[Dex]

Pretending that Anderson is a marginal NBA player like Malik Hairston and is being treated as such in this assignment is folly.

The proof will be in the pudding, but it's not time for dessert quite yet. :hungry:

If Anderson spends a week or two in Austin, gets plenty of reps up and down the court, stays healthy, and is recalled to join the rotation once he is ready, I consider that one of the benefits to owning a farm team like the Toros.

Now, if Anderson gets shipped to Austin and ends up spending the rest of the season there, then I definitely would consider that a mistake. He showed enough potential early in the season that an injury, even as lengthy as this, should not shelve him for the remainder. Fortunately, even Pop seems to be talking like he expects Anderson to be back.

The problem that could be foreseen, I guess, is that Anderson now feels like he's up for second audition. He came in and proved as a rookie that he could hang, but if he comes back with the Toros and can't get back into that rhythm, the latter of those two scenarios suddenly becomes much more likely.

[ChumpDumper]

Why do you profess to know what Anderson feels?

Really, the only way Anderson doesn't get his job back is if Owens plays better than Anderson ever did -- not likely at all.

[Dex]

Why do you profess to know what Anderson feels?

http://kara.allthingsd.com/files/2009/04/miss-cleo.jpg
I'm Miss Cleo.

[crc21209]

Good to know he's fully healed and almost ready to go...:tu

[Darkwaters]

I'm a big fan of the Toros assignment. Go to Austin, play a few games, get your wind back, get back in the jive of 5 on 5 basketball and then step it back up to the big level.

This wasn't a piddly, "oh I tweaked my ankle, I'm out 2 games" kind of injury. The guy has missed two months. Hes going to be pretty rusty. Let him shake that stuff off where wins and losses don't mean as much.

[blackfire12]

Hope Anderson makes a quick return and can get back in shape here in Austin, with Bonner more or less day to day, we need guys like this that can spread the floor.

[greyforest]

it really sucks for these fragile players - their value is diminished greatly simply due to unreliability.

[Darkwaters]

it really sucks for these fragile players - their value is diminished greatly simply due to unreliability.

I wouldn't call Anderson a fragile player yet. Sure, hes had two unfortunate injuries so far in his pro career. But he doesn't have a history in college. He could well turn out to be completely fine in this regard.

[buttsR4rebounding]

“It’s an honor to have the best team in the league look at you, evaluate you and want you to join their family,” Owens said.

Well, more like being invited over to meet the parents...:meeting:

[UnWantedTheory]

Good advantage of the Toros is that they run the same system.


Good to know he's fully healed and almost ready to go...:tu

[MI21]

Andersen doesn't look to be the most fit guy even when he was in the rotation at the beginning of the year.

I can't imagine Pop playing him much after 2 months where he would have lost a decent amount of match fitness and conditioning.

Toros is the right move.

[blizz]

I don't like it only because what happens if he plays poorly? Will he get 'stuck' there?

[MI21]

If he plays poorly at Austin, it's quite likely he would be poor in the NBA right?

[angelbelow]

Nice move by the FO. I hope James doesn't go too hard in Austin, just get into playing shape would be good enough for JA. I wouldn't be too concerned if he were to struggle or put up poor stats.

[ChumpDumper]

What gives you the impression Anderson is fragile?

[ChumpDumper]

If he plays poorly at Austin, it's quite likely he would be poor in the NBA right?You do know he already played well in the NBA, don't you?

[ChumpDumper]

I don't like it only because what happens if he plays poorly? Will he get 'stuck' there?What is with you people?

[benefactor]

What is with you people?
I don't get any of them either. Spurs fan is reaching Rockets fan level in this thread.

[MI21]

You do know he already played well in the NBA, don't you?

Wow, really? I didn't know that :rolleyes

I said that in regard to a poster being concerned he would be "stuck" there if he played poorly. Which isn't really a big deal because if he is in bad form for the Toros then it's likely he isn't ready for rotation again yet - especially if he is still finding match fitness.

[mingus]

good decision by the FO, by the time he comes to the Spurs he will be in better shape and be able to contribute right away and possibly at a higher level than before.

theres's simply no reason to throw him in to the rotation right now. when the season started, the Spurs didn't know what they had in Neal. Neal's emergence can let the Spurs do this with only upside to the decision.

[will_spurs]

Being sent to the Toros = the Kiss of Death.

Let's hope he's the first player in Spurs history to survive a stint in the D-League.

[K-State Spur]

i'm also against the d-league for anderson considering this was how he started out the season anyhow... injured before the season, got well, established a role for himself in the rotation and he started to see more and more minutes up until this last injury.

he's better on the spurs bench in a suit, playing during practice with the spurs, and eventually suiting up in a jersey and seeing more and more minutes.

Do you know how rarely NBA teams have full practices at this juncture in the season?

Anyhow, my guess is that Pop will want him to rejoin the team for some (if not all) of the RRT.

[urunobili]

I'm bummed. The Toros have done nothing for the Spurs thus far...

[ChuckD]

What is with you people?


I don't get any of them either. Spurs fan is reaching Rockets fan level in this thread.

SpursTalk: it's all about the drama.

[Mel_13]

Take a look at the schedules of the Spurs and the Toros in the week before the RRT. The Spurs travel back from Utah on the 26th and then have just one game (home on the 29th v. Houston) before leaving for the RRT. The Toros have a 4-game homestand from the 26th to the 30th. Beyond that, there's what R.C. had to say:


“The plan isn’t to send him down there to play him a lot of minutes, but it would be difficult to prescribe to Pop what the doctors want to see. But we can describe to the Toros staff what we’d like to see.”

If the docs prescribe 5 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 5 minutes on (or whatever the plan may be) to monitor JA's progress, that can be done in a Toros game. Not so easy to do that in a Spurs game.

[SPURadic]

Do you know how rarely NBA teams have full practices at this juncture in the season?

Anyhow, my guess is that Pop will want him to rejoin the team for some (if not all) of the RRT.

So very true. :toast

Also, the Spurs do know what they are doing which is why they've been successful all these years. I don't think comparing Hairston with JA is fair mainly because Hairston was a fringe NBA player at the time he came to the Spurs from the D-League with fairly good potential, but JA coming straight from college already had the polish of a steady bench/role player (even though he lacked defensive intensity back in college) in the Association.

As such, with the Spurs having the luxury of a great start to the season as well as different players contributing every game, they have time to give JA the time to shake of the rust, get his confidence back, then put him in game situations when he is ready.

[ElNono]

Good advantage of the Toros is that they run the same system.

True. That said, not that it did anything for the likes of Gee or Mahinmi...

[Mel_13]

True. That said, not that it did anything for the likes of Gee or Mahinmi...

Come on, you nono better than that....

[ginobilized]

Toros assignment gives the Spurs a great chance to see how he responds to some actual basketball playing, while getting into some semblance of game shape. No way Pop does this if he doesn't want JA to play when he comes back. 1st priority is assessing the injury, no way that can fully happen in a practice. Just pragmatic caution and due dilligence on the Spurs part.

[wildbill2u]

The fact is that most teams don't have much time for practices where a rookie can learn to play the system during the season. Playing time will force feed his learning curve and his conditioning.

I'm glad that our coach, FO and training staff consulted with me before making this decision.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

The master and commander of the Big 12 is returning! w00tw00t!

[jimo2305]

ok.. for those who know james anderson' game.. cuz ill be honest i didn't watch any game of his until he got drafted by us.. how is his ball handing?

he pulled his weight around when he played with us those few games.. but he seemed kinda like a stiff IMO.. maybe it was the injury who knows.. but he always seemed like some guy who'd turnt he ball over easily when trying to drive in the lane or something.. so he'd be better off being a spot up shooter..

[blackfire12]

ok.. for those who know james anderson' game.. cuz ill be honest i didn't watch any game of his until he got drafted by us.. how is his ball handing?

he pulled his weight around when he played with us those few games.. but he seemed kinda like a stiff IMO.. maybe it was the injury who knows.. but he always seemed like some guy who'd turnt he ball over easily when trying to drive in the lane or something.. so he'd be better off being a spot up shooter..

I'd say his ball handling was decent from what I watched, he's no point guard thats for sure. But what I did see from him was very consistent in what was described, he can shoot the ball and well. Having only memories and youtube clips maybe of him playing, he looked like he fit in well and whenever they needed him to hit his shots he did. It's a miracle that Neal fit in and could cover his spot so well.

[EricB]

True. That said, not that it did anything for the likes of Gee or Mahinmi...

Because they stink.

[jjktkk]

People worried about this so called "toros jinx", need to remember Anderson going to the toros is strictly a rehab assignment, not a demotion.

[wildbill2u]

Anderson is taller, bulkier shooter than Neal. He'll have to play some SF to get any minutes IMO because he can't beat Neal out of the rotation at guard based on Neal's great performance so far.

[K-State Spur]

He'll have to play some SF to get any minutes IMO

that's pretty much been the plan since day 1.

[ChuckD]

Anderson is taller, bulkier shooter than Neal. He'll have to play some SF to get any minutes IMO because he can't beat Neal out of the rotation at guard based on Neal's great performance so far.

Manu is STILL playing a career high 31.6, so he could scavenge 3-5 there, and ideally, you don't want Chris Quinn playing at ALL, so those 6 minutes can pass through George to James, plus, as you said, backup minutes at the 3 spot. He was playing 17 before the injury, and I don't really see a problem with 15-17 when he gets back and in shape.

[urunobili]

People worried about this so called "toros jinx", need to remember Anderson going to the toros is strictly a rehab assignment, not a demotion.

Thanks....



:bang

[Budkin]

Going to the Toros is the kiss of death.

[rjv]

the key is to get into shape because the plan, i am sure, is to get him back into the rotation very quickly. i expect him back once the rodeo road trip starts up.

[ace3g]

JMcDonald_SAEN Jeff McDonald
James Anderson is active and is warming up ... BUT, he's unavailable to play. Don't get excited. #spurs

[Danny.Zhu]

JMcDonald_SAEN Jeff McDonald
James Anderson is active and is warming up ... BUT, he's unavailable to play. Don't get excited. #spurs

Cool.

[Dex]

Elliott just reported that Anderson will be sent to Austin when the team goes on this short road trip, then should rejoin them afterward.

[ChumpDumper]

Makes sense. The Toros have four home games in five days next week, so there should be plenty of time for reps and evlauation.

[DMC]

nothing good has come from playing with the toros... nothing.

Bite your tongue, I get to drive about 8 miles and see the games.

[DMC]

As long as Neal doesn't go back to court.... :)

[crc21209]

Elliott just reported that Anderson will be sent to Austin when the team goes on this short road trip, then should rejoin them afterward.

Great news! :tu

[Ditty]

yeah saw him shooting around at halftime he just was shooting lazy jump shots and knocking them down still. I think he asked pop at the end of the game if he can go in, but pretty sure if that's what he asked it was a no.

[ace3g]

“It’s more likely he can get 15, 20 or 30 minutes there than he could here right now,” Popovich said. “I’m not going to put him in a game 20 or 30 minutes right off the bat. Down there, he can get those minutes and get into a rhythm a lot more quickly rather than waiting for me to get him into a game.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/01/19/long-range-shots-finally-start-falling/

[tdunk21]

Update:

Spurs To Send Anderson To D-League Next Week


http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/71244/20110120/spurs_to_send_anderson_to_d_league_next_week/


James Anderson was in uniform on the San Antonio bench on Wednesday for the first time since November 6th, but Gregg Popovich had no intention on using him.

Anderson is scheduled to join the Spurs’ Austin Toros NBA D-League team early next week on an assignment coach Popovich said is intended to get his rhythm back.

“It’s more likely he can get 15, 20 or 30 minutes there than he could here right now,” Popovich said. “I’m not going to put him in a game 20 or 30 minutes right off the bat. Down there, he can get those minutes and get into a rhythm a lot more quickly rather than waiting for me to get him into a game.”


Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/71244/20110120/spurs_to_send_anderson_to_d_league_next_week/#ixzz1BauKck78

[duncan228]

James Anderson getting close to return to Spurs (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Andrew A. McNeill
48 Minutes of Hell

Being injured sucks. Not only do you not get to play, but you spend a lot of time away from your teammates, guys who you (hopefully) like to hang around. You have to sit behind the bench during games, there’s less time in the locker room with the guys and oftentimes you stay behind on road trips to rehab.

Instead, there’s a whole lot of time working with trainers and strength and conditioning coaches. I would imagine that when you’re working with them, they’re not much fun to be around.

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/james-anderson-nearing-return-to-spurs#more-12534)