Neal's return pushed back

[ElNono]

Neal’s return pushed back; Anderson steps up (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/12/21/neal%E2%80%99s-return-pushed-back-anderson-steps-up/)

“He’s going to miss three, four, five games,” Popovich said. “Hopefully, the first couple weeks of January, he’ll be ready. Not the first week, but the week after.”

[benefactor]

Not too big of a deal right now. This is actually best case scenario for something like this to happen.

[AFBlue]

Not too big of a deal right now. This is actually best case scenario for something like this to happen.

Have you seen how awful the second unit has been without a go-to playmaker? This is a pretty big deal, because every game is going to count. I get that it's important he gets healthy long-term and that the beginning of the season is the best time or something like this to happen...but it still sucks.

[jaffies]

http://aofg.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/03/shitpushed.jpg

[ElNono]

CIA Pop, IMO

[ElNono]

Cue the "but Kobe is going to play with a dislocated wrist Sunday!" posts...

[VBM]

http://aofg.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/03/shitpushed.jpg

:lol

[monkeypunk]

http://aofg.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/03/shitpushed.jpg
:rollin

[elemento]

Well, we just have to Neal with it

[Big P]

You just had to say it.

[Dex]

You just had to say it.

http://i.imgur.com/NPr5f.gif

[will_spurs]

Blessing in disguise. More playing time for young players at the start and Neal with fresh legs afterwards. Actually I wouldn't mind seeing him miss a whole month.

[widowmaker]

Cue the "but Kobe is going to play with a dislocated wrist Sunday!" posts...

He has to. Lakers ain't shit without Kobe.

[Obstructed_View]

He has to. Lakers ain't shit without Kobe.

They looked a lot better without him against the Clippers than they did with him.

[Ice009]

They looked a lot better without him against the Clippers than they did with him.

Bynum could come into his own too without Kobe ball hogging.

[Giuseppe]

~Turned into a Kobe Thread~

The shadow of 5-4 ever more.

tee, hee.

[benefactor]

Have you seen how awful the second unit has been without a go-to playmaker? This is a pretty big deal, because every game is going to count. I get that it's important he gets healthy long-term and that the beginning of the season is the best time or something like this to happen...but it still sucks.
Never said it didn't suck...sure it sucks...but it slides Anderson over to SG(where he should be playing anyway) and gives Leonard his chance at SF. If he starts to pull it together some this could lead to RJ getting a lot less minutes. Furthermore, this helps offset the loss of camp time for Anderson. He's going to be depended on this year on that second unit to be one of the go to guys. Having more minutes during this first 10-12 games to help him move towards that role is a good thing.

[Mel_13]

Never said it didn't suck...sure it sucks...but it slides Anderson over to SG(where he should be playing anyway) and gives Leonard his chance at SF. If he starts to pull it together some this could lead to RJ getting a lot less minutes. Furthermore, this helps offset the loss of camp time for Anderson. He's going to be depended on this year on that second unit to be one of the go to guys. Having more minutes during this first 10-12 games to help him move towards that role is a good thing.

In much the same way that Anderson's injury early last season resulted in a more significant role for Neal. Now Anderson and Leonard will have the same sort of chance that Neal had last season to show that they belong in the rotation. There's really only room for one of Anderson/Leonard once Neal returns as long as TJ and RJ remain in the rotation.

[benefactor]

In much the same way that Anderson's injury early last season resulted in a more significant role for Neal. Now Anderson and Leonard will have the same sort of chance that Neal had last season to show that they belong in the rotation. There's really only room for one of Anderson/Leonard once Neal returns as long as TJ and RJ remain in the rotation.
Exactly. This is a huge opportunity for Leonard. Regardless of the rhetoric coming out of mouths of the Spurs brass, we know they are dissatisfied being stuck with RJ. Leonard will need to show a lot more urgency in his play over these first couple of weeks if he plans to avoid the doghouse. With the camp/preseason situation being what it is, the odds are already stacked against him. He'll need to work hard to beat them.

The TJ Ford situation will be interesting to watch as well. As far as vets go, he's the one that has the biggest chance to play himself out of the rotation if he doesn't play well. Pop loves vets, but he loves shooters even more. If Ford doesn't find his groove with the second team he could easily lose his backup PG minutes to Neal.

[boutons_deux]

Missing camp could mean missing the season, has happened before.

[elemento]

I don't think Neal will miss the season, but i do believe that he will lose his job as the main backup SG to Anderson.

[superbigtime]

Spurs are going to miss Neal each and every game he is out.