Spurs Sign Patty Mills

[ace3g]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏ @WojYahooNBA


Patty Mills is finalizing a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Y! Sports. Portland's renouncing of rights is in the works.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏ @WojYahooNBA

Mills, the Aussie point guard, played the season in China and has been cleared to return to NBA. Deal should be completed in next 24 hours.

Sam Amick ‏ @sam_amick

Source confirms @WojYahooNBA report that Patty Mills will join San Antonio. Two- year deal. Mills was playing in China.

Sam Amick ‏ @sam_amick

Mills gets a player option in the second year, worth approximately $1 million. Houston was interested too. Portland renounced rights.

[crc21209]

Interesting....

[Kuestmaster]

Who is this guy?

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

nice :smokin

[Texas_Ranger]

he did play pretty good in Portland for a 10 minute guy...

[jiggy_55]

Is this guy any good? Never seen him play..

Thoughts by anyone who has seen him play enough? Can he shoot? How's his ball handing? Passing? Defense?

[gospursgojas]

Guy can ball. Better than Fish and Carter IMO.

Brett Brown surely helped this signing

[Russ]

Patty on St. Patty?

Look at ya, laddy, passin the ball and kaypin the Brits away.

[Mel_13]

Outstanding.

Now just need to add a big.

[Sausage]

SpfDYogY0MY

[Spurious]

St. Patty's Day joke? Not saying it is, at all...just the only day of the year in which news of some guy named Patty could be an inside joke.

Next up: Patrick Ewing comes out of retirement? Or Danica Patrick to PG?

[timtonymanu]

Fuck yeah! Loved this kid in Portland that I bought his jersey last season :lol.

He plays with a lot of heart and will add some spirit to the team.

[spurs50_]

hope she can ball..

[timtonymanu]

Surprised Portland did us a favor, tbh.

[callo1]

Aussie, was Blazers 25th pick in 2010. Six feet tall, quick...somewhat like a young TP with a better shot than Tony had when he entered the league.

I'm on board.

[stephen jackson]

i like

[Solid D]

Solid choice that makes sense. Played for coach Brett Brown with the Boomers. Once again, the Spurs with a move that few people expected.

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

SpfDYogY0MY
damn he made Nash his bitch at the beginning of the vid.

[SenorSpur]

Fuck yeah! Loved this kid in Portland that I bought his jersey last season :lol.

He plays with a lot of heart and will add some spirit to the team.

I've only seen this kid play sparingly during his stint in Portland, and I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed. He looked quick, but sort of puny.

Since you're more familiar with him, tell me what it is that you liked about him? And how is he defensively?

[timvp]

Wow, interesting.

1. I'm surprised the Blazers let him go. I was wrong when I thought Portland would hold onto him unless the Spurs gave them something. (Well, unless it comes out the Spurs gave the Blazers something to let Mills go ... not sure if that's legal, though).

2. Assistant coach Brett Brown being the Australian national league coach gives the Spurs some inside info on him. Brown must like what he saw.

3. Mills is more of a third string point guard, which means the Spurs will stick with Neal at backup point guard. Honestly, I really like that decision.

4. Mills isn't much of a playmaker, he's much more of a scorer. In the Spurs system, that's fine. He can handle the ball pretty well, which is important.

5. For a unknown guy, Mills has a pretty high ceiling. He was awesome in international competition a few years back and as a freshman in college, IIRC. His stock has flatlined a bit in recent years but he has an intriguing future.

Overall, I like the move. I didn't think he was available. If I knew the Spurs could have gotten him, he would have been near the top of my list.

[lefty]

RC is on fire

[Spurs Brazil]

I like

[NASpurs]

CIA Sean Marks move :smokin

[Bruno]

Great signing. :tu

Mills was the best option but I thought he wasn't really available since he was a RFA. Thanks to Portland for having renouncing to his rights.

Mills could be good enough to be be a full time backup PG. It's now up to Pop to decided if he will go with Mills or Neal for that spot. My guess is that he will stick with Neal because he knows more the team.

The second year in his contract is also interesting. He has a good chance of being Spurs backup PG next year. It's a bad news for Joseph. He will need to impress Spurs this summer and fall if he doesn't want to follow JA footsteps and having the option for his third year not picked.

[timvp]

I'm guessing the Blazers doing everything they could to screw the Spurs ended when Pritchard got fired.

[Paranoid Pop]

Australian connection. I'm fine with it.

[xellos88330]

I like it. Good prospect.

[venitian navigator]

Really like the move.
Has international experience and skills well suited for the nba game.
Probably the best (and younger) option out there available at the point guard position...

[timtonymanu]

I've only seen this kid play sparingly during his stint in Portland, and I have to admit that I wasn't very impressed. He looked quick, but sort of puny.

Since you're more familiar with him, tell me what it is that you liked about him? And how is he defensively?

Yeah I still want Neal to be the backup point, but Patty is a good 3rd PG. Not a guy you want as a vet point guard, but he's very scrappy and never gives up on a play. He's one of those fan favorite types, but it doesn't mean he's a scrub.

[rasho8]

Next up... Diaw.

[Mel_13]

Source confirms @WojYahooNBA report that Patty Mills will join San Antonio. Two- year deal. Mills was playing in China.

Mills gets a player option in the second year, worth approximately $1 million. Houston was interested too. Portland renounced rights.

http://twitter.com/#!/sam_amick

[timvp]

Aussie, was Blazers 25th pick in 2010.

25th pick of the second round.

[Mel_13]

Source tells http://CSNNW.com #Blazers renounced Patty Mills this morning & the Detroit Pistons went in hard offering a 2-year deal.

But Gregg Popovich convinced Patty Mills to join Spurs & assistant coach Brett Brown is Mills' national coach.

http://twitter.com/#!/ChrisBHaynes

[ace3g]

Now fans don't have to worry about Fisher joining the team; I didn't mean to mislead with the title about being the back up PG, should have put "Spurs add depth to PG spot"

[loveforthegame]

Damn. Nice signing. :tu

[Texas_Ranger]

so with this contract that he got, how much money do we have left, can Diaw still be signed?

[DesignatedT]

Nice. Perfect signing.

[Mel_13]

Any fans of the Australian NT out there? Wondering how much of the Spurs system Brett Brown used with the Aussies.

[Trill Clinton]

solid pickup

[hoopdreams11]

This is a great signing I think Pop will start sitting Tony a bit down the stretch to help him heal his aches

[ace3g]

'99 - Andrew Gaze in a lock out season and now Patty Mills in 2012...

[Chachachango]

Not bad. From the youtube vid looks like he's going to be a solid backup pg. Better than having Fisher and that other dude. Hope we can get a big now.

[Whisky Dog]

CIA Brett Brown. His international mission has provided intel here

[Solid D]

9tbrA7W_0Dg

[Steve-O-Matic]

He can handle the ball pretty well, which is important.

John Hollinger disagrees; his report on Mills...


+ Fast, undersized point guard with scorer's mentality. Good outside shooter.

+ Very poor dribbler. Struggles to advance ball against pressure.

+ Lack of size a problem on defense. Poor rebounder. Must improve strength.

Mills had an encouraging second pro season, showing he has a future as an Eddie House-type scorer off the bench. He averaged nearly a point every two minutes despite not shooting particularly well from deep (35.3 percent); he should be able to improve on that mark based on his history in international competition.

Like House, Mills is quick enough to get himself open and get a shot off, but he has a weak handle. For that reason Mills struggles to create plays for teammates and has a high turnover ratio for a shooting specialist. Similarly, he was 62nd out of the league's 68 point guards in pure point rating. Ball pressure drove him batty last season, but he can be very effective playing off the ball.

Mills' quickness hasn't proved to be as much of an asset as a defender -- he generally stays in front of people, but he's not much of a ball hawk. He also lacks both size and strength, and not surprisingly is a very poor rebounder.

[timvp]

Any fans of the Australian NT out there? Wondering how much of the Spurs system Brett Brown used with the Aussies.

I've read that Brown basically runs the same sets the Spurs do.

[tlongII]

Patty is a great locker room guy. He should do well with the Spurs.

[acoelho1]

From the highlights he seems to have a nice stroke with range and decent handles (better than Neal's anyway).

[ace3g]

Here is the article Woj wrote: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_patty_mills_spurs_031712

[Russ]

Bit of a gamble but let's hope it works out . . .

[timvp]

John Hollinger disagrees; his report on Mills...
Hollinger is a Blazers homer so he's seen Mills more than I have. From what I've seen over the years, I'd say he can handle the ball decently well. But if Hollinger says he can't dribble, that's definitely something to worry about since Hollinger has obviously seen him more than I have.

We'll see but in college and in international competition, I never saw ballhandling as a major liability.

[ace3g]

Hollinger also wrote this...


John Hollinger ‏ @johnhollinger

Two key OKC adjustments last night that may portend for WCF matchup: Playing Durant at 4 to take Blair out of game, and using Ivey on Parker

[ElNono]

good pickup... with TJ Ford traded/retiring, Mills is great insurance

[spursince#99]

This dude can fucking ball!!!!. Im so glad we got this addition to our team!!! He can start on most teams and is thousand times better than tj ford!!!!!

[Spursfan092120]

Patty is a great locker room guy. He should do well with the Spurs.

Was about to ask your opinion on him..thanks.

[Bruno]

Aside of the Brett Brown insight, Pop has watched him too play this summer in London with Australia during a friendly tournament.
His stats at this tournament:
http://london2012.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/57899/sid/8509/tid/239/_/2012_London_men/index.html

[siraulo23]

Mills played like a beast vs USA in the olympics

he scored like 20+

[SenorSpur]

I've read that Brown basically runs the same sets the Spurs do.

Now that makes a lot of sense. I'm liking it more and more now.

I wonder if Sean Marks played a role in this signing too?

[timvp]

Couple other thoughts.

1. The second year player option is really interesting. It's definitely not the run of the mill (no pun intended) type of contract they hand out to prospects. They must actually like him a good amount.

2. This isn't a good sign for Joseph. Then again, anyone who has watched him play can't be too thrilled with him right now. He just doesn't look like an NBA player at all.

3. Not going after Fisher is a bit surprising but I guess Pop is happy with Neal. And, tbh, I am too.

4. Pop loves backup point guards who aren't afraid to shoot. That is one aspect where Mills is strong ... he's always willing to shoot.

[Spursfan092120]

And on St. Patrick's Day...go figure.

[tlongII]

Patty's handle is decent. His problems are due to lack of size. He's a weak defender and he's pretty easy to trap.

[Spursfan092120]

Well..the good thing is, he's only going to be playing 9-10 minutes a game. He's not starting or anything.

[spursince#99]

I watched him back with portland and he basically started for that team. He's an above average point guard i can tell you that and he played at an unbelievable level in the fibas.

[Spursfan092120]

he played at an unbelievable level in the fibas.

so could Spanoulis

[SenorSpur]

CJ was never really ready to play this year. He probably needed a full season in D-League. I just wonder what this means for CJ. I know Buford likes him a lot otherwise, the Spurs wouldn't have ever taken him at the end of the first round. I certainly prefer his size and defensive prowess over that of Mills. With the 2-yr contract extended to Mills.

[DBMethos]

Solid move. It's looking more and more like the FO has accepted that Joseph was a swing-and-a-miss.

[TD 21]

I'm guessing the Blazers doing everything they could to screw the Spurs ended when Pritchard got fired.

If only you'd have listened to me. :rollin

Given their situation, this is the best they could have done and it's a nice pickup overall. I'd much rather Mills than Carter and even Fisher, who'd have likely expected the backup PG job guaranteed. That's not going to happen here, where Neal will remain in that role. And let's face it, Fisher is really more of a PG in name than game anyway.

I agree with Bruno, that Mills has the potential to be a legit backup though. Which is perfect; you want someone who has that capability, but who won't ruffle feathers if they're not.

[spursince#99]

so could spanoulis

he also played well in portland

[howbouthemspurs]

Sweet move!

[spursince#99]

Aye but fuck that though can we sign a damn big???? Gosh

[DesignatedT]

I'm not so sure this guy won't crack the rotation. People shouldn't be writing that off completely. I'm sure Pop will give him plenty of opportunities to run point from here until the end of the regular season. Doubt he would have signed here if Pop and RC said "Yeah come sit on the bench as the 3rd PG and play in garbage time".

[SenorSpur]

Aside fron his obvious abilities as a PG, I really like the fact that he's an international player - for some reason. That just seems to fit the Spurs already-internationally-flavored roster.

Now if we can just manage to obtain a young, backup PF, who has been discarded.

[SenorSpur]

Patty's handle is decent. His problems are due to lack of size. He's a weak defender and he's pretty easy to trap.

Now this is what I call an authority on the subject of ex-Blazers.

[DPG21920]

This is about as good of a signing as one could realistically hope for. He has flaws, but the type of player the Spurs were looking for he has decent upside.

[Bruno]

I'm curious to see if Spurs have signed him with a part of their mini-MLE or to a minimum salary. Reports talks of a player option of about $1M, which is close to his min salary ($885,120).

[TDMVPDPOY]

he played in the nbl back home when it was during the lockout, i think he avg like 20ppg, but then again the australian league is worst then ur gym rats....nothing to boast about...dont think he stick around much after gettin paid 1m, then bolting to china for another pay deal....

[benefactor]

I remember thinking he'd be interesting during the draft. I've seen him play a few times and he looked like a decent backup PG. He's probably as good as the Spurs are going to get at this point.

C'mon Diaw buyout....

[DesignatedT]

How does this affect Boris Diaw if at all?

[DPG21920]

Prob doesn't. If they used MLE it might.

[The Truth #6]

AG: Aboriginal gangsta

[spursince#99]

we staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccckkkkeeeeeeeeeddddddddddd dd

[GSH]

After last season, my one and only concern is the post-season. I can't see this helping the Spurs in this year's playoffs. Nothing in Pop's past suggests that Mills will have a prayer of seeing daylight, once the playoffs begin. Maybe next year, but not this one. And it's exactly the teams the Spurs will face in the playoffs that really limit Neal's effectiveness at the point.

I've watched Mills play, and he's a feisty little guy. I think he has a place in the NBA. My only real thought is that, like Jefferson, I question his fit on this team. The Spurs have a good second unit, that can actually extend leads, if they have someone to keep things moving. Mills is even less of a distributor than TJ Ford was when he entered the league. (That's why I don't understand some of these comments. Some of the same people who bitched about Ford act like Mills is somehow different. Unless something has changed, he's not.) Personally, I think he's well suited for a wide-open offense, but not so much for here. Maybe if he had played for D'Antoni, it would have been Mills-Sanity.

He's a good young player, and I can't pretend like it will hurt the Spurs. And looking to the future, he's probably a good pickup. But I don't see it putting them any closer to another title. Especially if he really is mostly a specator, come playoff time. I think he will be. I guess we'll see.

[Solid D]

With Jack and Patty on the team, the room just got some extra personality.

[SenorSpur]

Dude always seems to have a disheveled look about himself.

[wildbill2u]

We had one slot open but I'm surprised we didn't shore up the frontline. Further surprised we didn't go for an older vet PG for the playoffs. An Interesting atypical move for the Spurs

He does remind one of Parker as a scoring PG from the highlight vid but Parker had no 3pt shot at a comparable stage of his NBA career.

[Mel_13]

We had one slot open but I'm surprised we didn't shore up the frontline. Further surprised we didn't go for an older vet PG for the playoffs. An Interesting atypical move for the Spurs

He does remind one of Parker as a scoring PG from the highlight vid but Parker had no 3pt shot at a comparable stage of his NBA career.

Mills is the 13th player signed to the end of the season. They currently have one roster spot open and will have one more when Dawson's 10-day contract ends on March 25th

[TDMVPDPOY]

dont expect hiim to get any playoff minutes, pop rarely plays rookies in the playoffs...KL will be the exception this season

[roycrikside]

Hollinger saying OKC might have found something with Ivey guarding Parker and using Durant as the 4 to get Blair out of the game is hilarious.

First of all, we WANT Blair out of the game. Pop would prefer to play him as little as possible and to play small as much as possible with Leonard and Jackson. That opens the lane for Tony and Manu to drive, using Tim as a high screener on Ibaka and leaving nobody to block shots outside of Durant. Also lets Tim work inside on Ibaka instead of Perkins.

Secondly, not only is Ivey a liability on offense, but with Safolosha out of the game Ginobili would eat the Thunder alive. Westbrook can't guard him.

[coachmac87]

I remember him making some noise in the NCAA tourney years back at st.mary....I don't think he will be used come playoff time unless injury to Neal, but mainly just to make sure TP isn't completely gassed by April 26th....

[Fabbs]

should really make in impact.

[Obstructed_View]

Good pickup. Hoping it didn't cost them any money that might hurt them in acquiring a big, but it's a position of need, and at least he's got pro experience.

[timvp]

Patty's handle is decent. His problems are due to lack of size. He's a weak defender and he's pretty easy to trap.Maybe Hollinger classifies someone who is easy to trap as a bad ballhandler. I think that's too different things even though it's somewhat related.


If only you'd have listened to me. :rollin

TD 21 was right.

timvp was wrong.





See, that's how it's done :hat

[timvp]

Some of the same people who bitched about Ford act like Mills is somehow different.

What I didn't like about Ford is that he dribbled too much and dominated possessions. He also wasn't a shooter.

Mills is a better fit because even though he's much less of a true point guard, he doesn't overdribble and he's willing and able to play off the ball. Plus he can shoot relatively well.

That said, I do agree with you that this signing doesn't exactly help their title hopes. Mills is a good signing since he's a prospect who still has potential but is he ready to help right now? I doubt it. I see his role as more of an emergency player in case Neal falls flat on his face.

I think Pop should give him some time but anyone who is expecting Mills to become the new backup to TP anytime soon is going to be disappointed, IMO.

[TD 21]

TD 21 was right.


timvp was wrong.





See, that's how it's done :hat

The times I've been wrong, I've admitted it. But the time you're referring to, I wasn't wrong; you and Hollinger were. You said, to paraphrase, that Turiaf could only do one thing better than Blair and that was block shots. When in actuality, he's a also a more versatile defender. As far as his mid range shooting, blame Hollinger, for his supposedly incorrect numbers.

[timvp]

The times I've been wrong, I've admitted it.

Link? I've never seen that.

[BackHome]

Aussie, was Blazers 25th pick in 2010. Six feet tall, quick...somewhat like a young TP with a better shot than Tony had when he entered the league.

I'm on board.


So now we have a true backup PG and so we can trade CJ and Anderson and get back in the first round draft. Hell Yeah.................:toast

[TD 21]

Link? I've never seen that.

Well, it's not as if I have them bookmarked. And let's face it, it's such an infrequent occurrence, that the times it has happened don't exactly spring to mind. But it has happened . . . a few times. You can waste your time searching my post history, if you don't believe me.

[Solid D]

The times I've been wrong, I've redirected it.

Fixed.

Tough love. :)

[Libri]

What I didn't like about Ford is that he dribbled too much and dominated possessions. He also wasn't a shooter.

Mills is a better fit because even though he's much less of a true point guard, he doesn't overdribble and he's willing and able to play off the ball. Plus he can shoot relatively well.

That said, I do agree with you that this signing doesn't exactly help their title hopes. Mills is a good signing since he's a prospect who still has potential but is he ready to help right now? I doubt it. I see his role as more of an emergency player in case Neal falls flat on his face.

I think Pop should give him some time but anyone who is expecting Mills to become the new backup to TP anytime soon is going to be disappointed, IMO.

I agree. Now, as opposed to being a D-league callup, his 64 NBA games and 12 mpg of last year should be enough burn for Pop to give him some serious opportunities to compete. Nevertheless, I will not expect him to get much playing time.

[GSH]

What I didn't like about Ford is that he dribbled too much and dominated possessions. He also wasn't a shooter.

Mills is a better fit because even though he's much less of a true point guard, he doesn't overdribble and he's willing and able to play off the ball. Plus he can shoot relatively well.

That said, I do agree with you that this signing doesn't exactly help their title hopes. Mills is a good signing since he's a prospect who still has potential but is he ready to help right now? I doubt it. I see his role as more of an emergency player in case Neal falls flat on his face.

I think Pop should give him some time but anyone who is expecting Mills to become the new backup to TP anytime soon is going to be disappointed, IMO.

Echhh. I can't argue about Ford not playing off the ball.

I didn't want to bring up Fisher, because it would look like I was beating a dead horse. But I was also thinking about people saying that Fisher was a bad choice because he is really a 2 guard playing point because of his size, and because they say he isn't a good defender. And then here's Mills, who is basically a 2 guard playing point because of his size, and they say he isn't a good defender. Just scratching my head over the logic.

I actually like Mills. But his AST/36 is really, really low. (As in: worse than Corey Joseph.) And his AST/TO ratio is really, really low. (As in: a lot worse than Corey Joseph.) I'm not saying Joseph is as good as Mills - nowhere close. Just that Mills really isn't a PG. He's a scorer. A really short 2 who sometimes kicks to a teammate. Slightly more often than he gives the ball to an opponent. To me that makes him a shorter Gary Neal. We already have a taller Gary Neal.

This announcement reminds me of the day we signed RJ. My first thougth was, "Good player - but I don't see how he fits here." Mills won't get big minutes, and won't cost much money, so we're still better off having him than not having him. (Unlike RJ.) But I guess I just had this vision of a dependable distributor who could spell Tony, so that Manu and Neal could just worry about being Manu and Neal.

Mills is going to light up some 3's in the rest of the regular season. People are going to fall in love with him, and insist that he should be starting. I'll just cringe and wait for the threads.

[timvp]

Well, it's not as if I have them bookmarked. And let's face it, it's such an infrequent occurrence, that the times it has happened don't exactly spring to mind. But it has happened . . . a few times. You can waste your time searching my post history, if you don't believe me.
Yeah, I knew there'd be no link.

You're wrong to say you've ever admitted to being wrong. Admit it. :toast

[Mal]

I like this ,especially over silly ideas with Fisher.

[timvp]

One plus for Mills: When Pop forfeits a game, like he did against the Blazers, Mills is the perfect type of player for that situation. With the Big 3 sitting out, Mills is capable of putting up 20+ points based on his own playmaking. The signing of Mills might allow the Spurs to steal one of those forfeit games. And with the way this schedule really condenses going forward, he could have three or four opportunities to do so . . .

[TD 21]

Yeah, I knew there'd be no link.

You're wrong to say you've ever admitted to being wrong. Admit it. :toast

jjttkk, can attest. He's seen it twice, I believe. I remember this because he acted as if he were stunned.

That's an excellent point about the Mills signing. Instead of just conceding those games you alluded to, they've now got a puncher's chance in them.

[Mal]

One plus for Mills: When Pop forfeits a game, like he did against the Blazers, Mills is the perfect type of player for that situation. With the Big 3 sitting out, Mills is capable of putting up 20+ points based on his own playmaking. The signing of Mills might allow the Spurs to steal one of those forfeit games. And with the way this schedule really condenses going forward, he could have three or four opportunities to do so . . .

Oh yeah. Lineup build with guys who can score - Mills, Neal, Bonner, Green, Tiago/Blair. They could put some good runs with older guys resting. Watchout.

[Marco]

He seems too good for being only a 3rd string PG.

[k_nguyen93]

Hollinger isn't a Blazers fan I don't think whoever said that, its Henry Abbott.

[Warlord23]

IMO this will just make our second unit that much more potent on offense. Even w/o TJ Ford, the Spurs' bench has shown the ability to score. Mills gives Pop another option in case Neal or Green aren't playing well on any given night.

Mills' role in the offense will be :
- In fast break scenarios, he can push the ball up the court, try and score quickly
- In the half court offense I see Manu handling the rock when TP is on the bench, so Mills can camp out at the 3 point line and wait for a few open looks

[cheguevara]

I like it :tu

[Darkwaters]

Next up... Diaw.

Actually, next up is probably, "Spurs assign Cory Joseph to Austin....again"

[timtonymanu]

Actually, next up is probably, "Spurs assign Cory Joseph to Austin....again"

THIS

Poor CJ. Then again, he doesn't look like an NBA player right now.

[timvp]

Hollinger isn't a Blazers fan I don't think whoever said that, its Henry Abbott.

He worked for Portland's local newspaper for a few years and still follows the Blazers closely. He also follows the Hawks closely. When the Blazers play the Hawks, ESPN calls it the Hollinger Bowl, fwiw :wakeup

[thispego]

Patty is a great locker room guy. He should do well with the Spurs.

A story I remember hearing about this guy while on the blazers was that when Rudy Fernandez was being all emo and wantin out of his contract to return to Spain, Patty Mills came along and he and Rudy really hit it off and became best of fwiendz :lmao then Rudy was as happy as could be and could just play ball cause he had found his kindred spirit on his team. I think the term 'inseperable' was used :lol

Can you confirm this, tlong?

[Darkwaters]

I think Pop should give him some time but anyone who is expecting Mills to become the new backup to TP anytime soon is going to be disappointed, IMO.

I'm actually hoping Mills can get a few rotation minutes down the stretch. Not much, only about 5-10. But it'd be nice to get Tony a little more rest as we go into the playoffs. Mills shouldn't see any court time in May or beyond...but it'd be nice to burn him instead of other more critical players down the stretch.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

Not a bad signing, a little ironic as to I was just on ESPN and read the Blazers release Mills. I was checking frantically, "Is he a PF or C?" Only to see he was a PG, I automatically dismissed him. 5 minutes later I'm here, only to find out the Spurs are signing him. After watching his highlights and reading up on him, I do like this move. I love adding youthful high energy guys to this roster, and that's just what he is. And it looks like he has a nice stroke. That and he fills a NEED. My only concern is, will Pop actually let this kid play, and can Mills actually learn anything about our system in limited time??? The Spurs seem to be willing to try and add anyone that can help us win this year and I like that. Bring on Diaw please!!! There is not doubt in my mind Diaw would come to San Antonio ready to ball and try to get a title.

[DMC]

Aussie Aussie Aussie!

[maverick1948]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Patrick-Mills-1362/stats/

Check out the stats on Patty. He may not be a true dribble first point guard but he has a good handle according to the stats. Doesn't look like he is a turnover machine. He gets to the line and can make them. Of course, being on the Aussie team, he is familiar with the word "DEFENSE". Let's give him a little time to get acclimated to the Spurs team before we give him a grade.

[MI21]

This is really cool news for me, the Spurs have long had an Aussie connection and how it just grows a bit more. Tbh, give me the Kluby backpatter because I kind of called this about 2 months ago.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5570923&postcount=28

[MI21]

FWIW, I've seen Patty play earlier this year/late last year in my local Australian league. Now the Aussie league is by no means stellar, but it does have pretty good guard play. Mills was hyped up beyond belief being a returneing Aussie NBA player. He struggled with the pressure and did not play well. He put up points at crap %'s and that's about it. But he is much better than that.

His last season in Portland was pretty good. He is a good spark off the bench, a real hit or miss type, but he has legitimate NBA speed and shot when on. My scouting report would go something like this --

PROS

- Lightning fast
- Has good range on his shot extending out past 3pt line
- Solid ball handler
- Knows how to play off of the ball
- Tries hard on defense
- Good transition player
- Has a lot of energy and brings some spirit onto the floor

CONS

- Court vision isn't where it should be
- Poor decision maker
- Struggles running an offense
- Below par defender due to size, defensive knowledge
- Struggles to finish in paint due to size, leaping ability
- Poor off hand skills

Basically, what you are getting here is a guy who can score a bit from the perimeter, get out on transition, handle the ball as long as he doesn't get fancy and provide a spark. You will also get bad defense, some turnovers due to bad decisions and not a lot of scoring in the paint.

If he improves his court vision and awareness he could become a valuable 2nd string PG because he can get in the paint and collapse a defense, it's just he doesn't know what to do with the ball once he does. Defensively he will always struggle.

Overall, I like the signing and he is very good insurance at 3rd PG.

:tu Spurs

[Marcus Bryant]

The Aussie human victory cigar. We're set. Time to party like it's 1999.

[mattyc]

I can't add much more than my compatriot MI21 but I think this is quite a good pick up. The thing that sets him apart is his tenacity and want to succeed. I think he will learn plenty from TP.

In all honesty he is probably Australia's second best player behind Bogut.

[Spurtacus]

Solid signing. Parker is going to rest more down the stretch. Hopefully he buys into the system quick.

[slick'81]

if the spurs want him over fisher right now thats good enough for me

[loveforthegame]

Hopefully he can provide a spark.

[SamoanTD]

he looks like a tough kid nice sign team lookin tough now

[mosdef17]

During the lockout he went and signed in Australia with the Melbourne tigers so I have seen him play 4-5 times in the past couple of months in person. He eventually left and went to china. Of course being Aussie I have also seen him play heaps both internationally and in college. He's insanely quick, maybe top 10 in the NBA quick. I heard some people calling him a third string PG but he is a legit backup pg in the NBA. If he was American he would have been drafted in the 25-35 range. Maybe higher.

He's a very smart player that can distribute very well. His shooting has become a lot more consistent in the past couple of years but he still has a little room for improvement. If he gets 12-15mins a game he will have a few 15 point games before the end of the season. What more could you hope for really. A really great signing and he will only get better, I can't wait to see him learning from a PG that plays a similar style instead of learning from Andre Miller like he did in Portland. Miller is the anti-Patty Mills, couldn't be more opposite.

PS I'm not just saying this cause I'm aussie, he has excelled everywhere he has played when give minutes. He had 39 in his 4th ever game at college with St Mary's and be led an Aussie team (without Bogut) to within 10 of team USA in the last world champs.

[mattyc]

Yeah Mills showed in the NBL that he can put a team on his back and carry them. The Tigers have been a bit of a basket case this season, particularly early, and he genuinely kept them winning.

[Ice009]

I got nothing against Mills as I actually wanted the Spurs to draft him instead of Jack Mclinton, but in this situation I would have much preferred a defensive player like Anthony Carter.

[AusSpur]

Mills has talent, he had his famous 20 point game against USA as a 19yo in the Olympics when he returned to St Marys for his sophomore season he was talked about as a top 10 draft pick.

Problem was that he started the season off shooting poorly and then half way through he broke his hand and when he returned didnt look great but declared for the point guard heavy draft of 2009 which was dumb.

I didnt watch him play much in Portland but as an Aussie have watched him play internationally many times and there is nothing wrong with his handle (not sure what Hollinger is going on about there).

He is a shoot first point guard who is great in transition. slight build which does not bode well for defence but has range. A good signing because he has untapped potential IMO.

[dbestpro]

Spurs fans are gonna love this kid. I think Anderson may never see the floor again as a Spur and would not be surprised if they waive him. I just hope there is enough time to work him in the lineup. Pop sure has his hands full trying to put the right players on the floor.

[Ice009]

Mills has talent, he had his famous 20 point game against USA as a 19yo in the Olympics when he returned to St Marys for his sophomore season he was talked about as a top 10 draft pick.

Problem was that he started the season off shooting poorly and then half way through he broke his hand and when he returned didnt look great but declared for the point guard heavy draft of 2009 which was dumb.

I didnt watch him play much in Portland but as an Aussie have watched him play internationally many times and there is nothing wrong with his handle (not sure what Hollinger is going on about there).

He is a shoot first point guard who is great in transition. slight build which does not bode well for defence but has range. A good signing because he has untapped potential IMO.

It's a good potential signing, but not a good signing for this season IMO. I would have preferred Anthony Carter who can play some tough D.

If Anthony Carter isn't available or wasn't interested in signing here then it's a solid signing.

[therealtruth]

I've heard he's not a good passer but he throws one of the sickest assists ever in that highlight video.

[timvp]

FWIW, I've seen Patty play earlier this year/late last year in my local Australian league. Now the Aussie league is by no means stellar, but it does have pretty good guard play. Mills was hyped up beyond belief being a returneing Aussie NBA player. He struggled with the pressure and did not play well. He put up points at crap %'s and that's about it. But he is much better than that.

His last season in Portland was pretty good. He is a good spark off the bench, a real hit or miss type, but he has legitimate NBA speed and shot when on. My scouting report would go something like this --

PROS

- Lightning fast
- Has good range on his shot extending out past 3pt line
- Solid ball handler
- Knows how to play off of the ball
- Tries hard on defense
- Good transition player
- Has a lot of energy and brings some spirit onto the floor

CONS

- Court vision isn't where it should be
- Poor decision maker
- Struggles running an offense
- Below par defender due to size, defensive knowledge
- Struggles to finish in paint due to size, leaping ability
- Poor off hand skills

Basically, what you are getting here is a guy who can score a bit from the perimeter, get out on transition, handle the ball as long as he doesn't get fancy and provide a spark. You will also get bad defense, some turnovers due to bad decisions and not a lot of scoring in the paint.

If he improves his court vision and awareness he could become a valuable 2nd string PG because he can get in the paint and collapse a defense, it's just he doesn't know what to do with the ball once he does. Defensively he will always struggle.

Overall, I like the signing and he is very good insurance at 3rd PG.

:tu Spurs

This was the post I was waiting for. I trust MI21's scouting report most of all.

I'm glad you disagree with Hollinger saying Mills is a poor ballhandler. The Spurs can live with a lot of negative traits in a backup point guard but being a poor hallhandler would make it tough.

The way Pop coaches, I've always thought Eddie House type guards are the best fit behind Parker. Whenever Pop has had a playmaker behind Parker, he always ends up complaining that he doesn't shoot enough. And since three-point shooting is probably Parker's biggest weakness, his backup covering that weakness is important.

So yeah, Mills fits the mold of the type of backup point guard that should have success under Pop. He still has to improve a bit, as MI21 laid out, but it's an intriguing signing ... at the very least.

[mattyc]

FWIW, Mills averaged 2.4 turnovers in his 9 NBL games. I don't think his ball handling is too much of an issue - it's not elite but it's pretty good. Certainly a good start.

I really like the signing, regardless of my Aussie bias.

[MannyIsGod]

Considering the day, I could have sworn this was a troll job based on the name.

[MI21]

This was the post I was waiting for. I trust MI21's scouting report most of all.

I'm glad you disagree with Hollinger saying Mills is a poor ballhandler. The Spurs can live with a lot of negative traits in a backup point guard but being a poor hallhandler would make it tough.

The way Pop coaches, I've always thought Eddie House type guards are the best fit behind Parker. Whenever Pop has had a playmaker behind Parker, he always ends up complaining that he doesn't shoot enough. And since three-point shooting is probably Parker's biggest weakness, his backup covering that weakness is important.

So yeah, Mills fits the mold of the type of backup point guard that should have success under Pop. He still has to improve a bit, as MI21 laid out, but it's an intriguing signing ... at the very least.

Yep, I've noticed that from Pop all these years as well. He almost likes the backup PG to be Parker-lite and when Mills was coming out of college, that was sort of the vibe I got from him. But the increase in size and athleticism of his competition made him unable to finish inside but he managed to improve his jumpshot enough to be a viable offensive player. He will not die wondering and isn't afraid of missing a few shots in a row.

The ball-handling stuff, I'm not sure where Hollinger got that from. Patty isn't going to be crossing people over, going coast to coast weaving in and out of traffic like Tony, but he is fine to bring the ball up against pressure. All he really has to do is run in straight lines because he is fast. I would say he is a superior ballhandler to Cory Joseph but also more mistake prone due to irrational confidence :lol Cory looks like he has zero confidence.

He can run himself into trouble in the half court because he tends to pick his dribble up a bit quickly when he is probing the half court D, but that is a different issues. You won't see any Beno against Lindsay Hunter moments from Patty.

As I posted earlier, I called this signing as soon as TJ showed signs of still being a walking injury. It wouldn't surprise me if this was on the cards for a long time. I was hoping the Spurs would draft Patty a few years back but instead they went with that undersized 2 guard who couldn't shoot (was it McClinton?).

It's nice to see the Spurs continue to experiment with youth rather trialling out old, stale veterans in a lockout shortened season.

[MI21]

Btw, for anyone who hasn't seen Patty play, my NBA player comparison would be a poor man's Aaron Brooks.

[TheCerebral1]

I think he uses his insticts well enough to be as efficient as someone like Vaughn was or other back up options the Spurs have used in the past. Yes he's a shoot first, but he's still young enough to make a nice transition. I've been a fan of his for a while. This is one of those signings that I like because he's worth that level a low contract.

[TheCerebral1]

The Spurs have continued to use the waiver system and crafy moves to add depth to the second unit. I won't lie, when Danny Green came in I didn't think much of the move, but he's been a good player for the team. Mills can easily be that type a guy.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

As I posted earlier, I called this signing as soon as TJ showed signs of still being a walking injury. It wouldn't surprise me if this was on the cards for a long time. I was hoping the Spurs would draft Patty a few years back but instead they went with that undersized 2 guard who couldn't shoot (was it McClinton?).

It's nice to see the Spurs continue to experiment with youth rather trialling out old, stale veterans in a lockout shortened season.

It was smart to wait until after the trade deadline. Portland stuffed their roster from trades to the point that they had to cut several players to get down to the maximum roster size of 15. There was no room for them to play hardball and match our offer. :lol

[loveforthegame]

PROS

- Lightning fast
- Has good range on his shot extending out past 3pt line
- Solid ball handler
- Knows how to play off of the ball
- Tries hard on defense
- Good transition player
- Has a lot of energy and brings some spirit onto the floor

CONS

- Court vision isn't where it should be
- Poor decision maker
- Struggles running an offense
- Below par defender due to size, defensive knowledge
- Struggles to finish in paint due to size, leaping ability
- Poor off hand skills


Thanks for the scouting report. Good stuff. :tu

I can live with the bad if the good is as good as advertised. We need a pg who can attack the paint. Hopefully he can learn to finish better but the attack and kick out is what we're missing from our back up point guards when Parker goes to the bench.

[GSH]

Yep, I've noticed that from Pop all these years as well. He almost likes the backup PG to be Parker-lite and when Mills was coming out of college, that was sort of the vibe I got from him. But the increase in size and athleticism of his competition made him unable to finish inside but he managed to improve his jumpshot enough to be a viable offensive player. He will not die wondering and isn't afraid of missing a few shots in a row.

The ball-handling stuff, I'm not sure where Hollinger got that from. Patty isn't going to be crossing people over, going coast to coast weaving in and out of traffic like Tony, but he is fine to bring the ball up against pressure. All he really has to do is run in straight lines because he is fast. I would say he is a superior ballhandler to Cory Joseph but also more mistake prone due to irrational confidence :lol Cory looks like he has zero confidence.

He can run himself into trouble in the half court because he tends to pick his dribble up a bit quickly when he is probing the half court D, but that is a different issues. You won't see any Beno against Lindsay Hunter moments from Patty.

It's nice to see the Spurs continue to experiment with youth rather trialling out old, stale veterans in a lockout shortened season.


After a little time to think about it, I feel better about some of his cons, as long as he's on the floor with Manu, so that there is another facilitator. I know Mills can score. But picturing him on the floor with our second unit, it's like the All Perimeter Team. I know Splitter will be out there, but if you can't feed him the ball? But with Manu's ability to take it to the paint, and to feed Splitter, I actually like the idea. Mills can definitely put up points.

I know you, and some others, kind of discount the turnover aspect. But for the number of minutes he plays, he turns the ball over quite a lot. That's a playoff road-game nightmare. Championships have turned on a few stretches where one team coughed it up too many times. I'm sure he'll see the difference in the Spurs' locker room. I hope that the need to limit turnovers is something they drill into him from the moment he arrives.

[dbestpro]

The turnover issue can also be credited to being the only scorer on most nights he plays and he is only 6 foot. You shoot more, you take more bad shots, and you turn the ball over more. SJax was getting the same in Mil.

[Hoops Czar]

Thanks for the scouting report. Good stuff. :tu

I can live with the bad if the good is as good as advertised. We need a pg who can attack the paint. Hopefully he can learn to finish better but the attack and kick out is what we're missing from our back up point guards when Parker goes to the bench.

I'm not worried about the pro's or con's because he'll only see 7-10 minutes a game and even less come playoff time. He's not going to make or break the team in any way.

[SilverSpur]

When I read that Portland had renounced his rights, I was thinking he would be a nice pickup. Then this morning I read we are signing him. This is great. If we can get Diaw and work him in slowly before the playoffs, we should have a nice squad.

[GSH]

The turnover issue can also be credited to being the only scorer on most nights he plays at 6 foot. You shoot more, you take more bad shots, and you turn the ball over more. SJax was getting the same in Mil.

That's fair. The more time any player spends with the ball in his hands, the more likely he is to get some turnovers. But (just my opinion) it's more than that with Mills. MI21 mentioned him being "more mistake prone due to irrational confidence". You can also look at his AST/TO, which is awfully low for a PG.

I don't want to keep arguing the point, because it will sound like I'm bashing the guy. I'm really not. Just trying to be honest about who he is and isn't, and discussing how he fits in.

The turnovers, by themselves, aren't big problem. Same for the low assist numbers. But the two things together is worth worrying about. When Mills' own shot isn't falling, you're looking at a stalled offense a lot of the time.

It's all just talk right now. We'll see when he gets in a uniform.

[Darkwaters]

When I read that Portland had renounced his rights, I was thinking he would be a nice pickup. Then this morning I read we are signing him. This is great. If we can get Diaw and work him in slowly before the playoffs, we should have a nice squad.

Agreed. And this is a guy that possibly isn't just a rental for the end of the year push and might have a role next season. If he doesn't mesh well then his contract will be expiring next season and he can easily be dumped. All around good signing.

[SilverSpur]

Agreed. And this is a guy that possibly isn't just a rental for the end of the year push and might have a role next season. If he doesn't mesh well then his contract will be expiring next season and he can easily be dumped. All around good signing.

I agree, this kid will be here for the long haul. I saw his highlight video on YouTube from when he was in Portland and he plays like Tony Parker. Cory Joseph just became trade bait along with James Anderson.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

I agree, this kid will be here for the long haul. I saw his highlight video on YouTube from when he was in Portland and he plays like Tony Parker. Cory Joseph just became trade bait along with James Anderson.

James Anderson's contract will run out before the next trade period.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

an angle which hasn't been mentioned yet:


nicolas88batum Nicolas Batum
Congrats to my bala @Patty_Mills and wish him all the best with the Spurs.



and he's got a player option for next season you say? and Batum will be in free agency?
well it's certainly nice to see that he likes the Spurs and likes Patty Mills...
:stirpot::hungry:

[Hoops Czar]

an angle which hasn't been mentioned yet:


nicolas88batum Nicolas Batum
Congrats to my bala @Patty_Mills and wish him all the best with the Spurs.



and he's got a player option for next season you say? and Batum will be in free agency?
well it's certainly nice to see that he likes the Spurs and likes Patty Mills...
:stirpot::hungry:

Well if Batum doesn't want to get paid, the Spurs would love to have him.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

an angle which hasn't been mentioned yet:


nicolas88batum Nicolas Batum
Congrats to my bala @Patty_Mills and wish him all the best with the Spurs.



and he's got a player option for next season you say? and Batum will be in free agency?
well it's certainly nice to see that he likes the Spurs and likes Patty Mills...
:stirpot::hungry:

Spurs have no chance whatsoever to land Batum after the RJ - Jax deal.

[Buddy Holly]

Spurs have no chance whatsoever to land Batum after the RJ - Jax deal.

If he becomes a free agent in 2013, they do. They'll have a lot of cap space.

[T Park]

What little I saw out of Mills last year he seemed a lot like an Eddie House type player, now I'm sure thats been said so I'm obviously just repeating the other 158 comments.

High energy guy, loves to waive the towel, bit of a cheerleader.

Kind of reminds me of a combination of Malik Rose and Speedy Claxton.

What do I know though,

[timtonymanu]

What little I saw out of Mills last year he seemed a lot like an Eddie House type player, now I'm sure thats been said so I'm obviously just repeating the other 158 comments.

High energy guy, loves to waive the towel, bit of a cheerleader.

Kind of reminds me of a combination of Malik Rose and Speedy Claxton.

What do I know though,

Good comparison. He does have the Eddie House energy minus the obnoxious attitude. He's a good player to have to get the players into the game. I believe it was Mills who started the "3 goggles" idea in Portland last year.

[Drachen]

i know d doesn't make it into videos like this, but I would like to see what he has there. Also, that music is horrid.

[Ditty]

I used to hate when he would do that hit the ground with a towel bullshit in Portland...maybe now I will be a fan.

[100%duncan]

now, diaw or turiaf?

[Darkwaters]

now, diaw or turiaf?

Mills is a point guard.

[Slippy]

What little I saw out of Mills last year he seemed a lot like an Eddie House type player, now I'm sure thats been said so I'm obviously just repeating the other 158 comments.

High energy guy, loves to waive the towel, bit of a cheerleader.

Kind of reminds me of a combination of Malik Rose and Speedy Claxton.

What do I know though,

Welcome back bro. Most of the Aussies have already covered what Mills brings but i think some are being too kind on his shooting abilty. I'd call it streaky at best especially out on the 3point line. Eddie House he is not.

His strengths are speed and scoring. He will creat points On transition. The clear advantage he does bring is that Brett Brown ran a lot of the offense through him when playing for the national team and they are pretty much the same as what is run for Parker on the Spurs.

There's no doubt in my mind that he's scoring PG at best but many fans of the NBL were complaining that he didn't pass enough. The only problem being he was the best scorer on the team and looking to create for his teammates would of detracted from his game.

What Mills needs to improve on is perimeter shooting, court awareness and his passing but with age and the spurs on his side, i think the only way is up in those departments. Tony Parker evolved as a PG for the Spurs maybe he can too. As a back-up offcourse.

[G-Dawgg]

NbaDraft.net called it best. He totally reminds me of Damon Stoudamire when Damon was in Portland...

[ace3g]

bump

[Hoops Czar]

What are the terms?

[AFBlue]

Can't be a bump for signing...free agency doesn't even start until June 30th iirc.

[ace3g]

Yeah, just looking back at everyone's thoughts when we originally signed him.

[littlecoyotecoin]

Yeah, just looking back at everyone's thoughts when we originally signed him.

Yeah. Can't shoot the three, now who do we sign Diaw or Turiaf. Diaw=Ring. Good way back machine bump.

[hsxvvd]

The comments on Diaw after this signing very coincidental that the two then lead the charge to a championship.

[MI21]

FWIW, I've seen Patty play earlier this year/late last year in my local Australian league. Now the Aussie league is by no means stellar, but it does have pretty good guard play. Mills was hyped up beyond belief being a returneing Aussie NBA player. He struggled with the pressure and did not play well. He put up points at crap %'s and that's about it. But he is much better than that.

His last season in Portland was pretty good. He is a good spark off the bench, a real hit or miss type, but he has legitimate NBA speed and shot when on. My scouting report would go something like this --

PROS

- Lightning fast
- Has good range on his shot extending out past 3pt line
- Solid ball handler
- Knows how to play off of the ball
- Tries hard on defense
- Good transition player
- Has a lot of energy and brings some spirit onto the floor

CONS

- Court vision isn't where it should be
- Poor decision maker
- Struggles running an offense
- Below par defender due to size, defensive knowledge
- Struggles to finish in paint due to size, leaping ability
- Poor off hand skills

Basically, what you are getting here is a guy who can score a bit from the perimeter, get out on transition, handle the ball as long as he doesn't get fancy and provide a spark. You will also get bad defense, some turnovers due to bad decisions and not a lot of scoring in the paint.

If he improves his court vision and awareness he could become a valuable 2nd string PG because he can get in the paint and collapse a defense, it's just he doesn't know what to do with the ball once he does. Defensively he will always struggle.

Overall, I like the signing and he is very good insurance at 3rd PG.

:tu Spurs

MI21 with that basketball knowledge, tbh. Right about det Patty.

[Ice009]

That was a darn good take MI21. Props.

[ducks]

cons are still there

[Boomersgold]

cons are still there

Some of those cons have become his pros:
"below par defender due to size"
Now, he's a pesky defender, due to his quickness, who has a knack for drawing charges.

"Court vision isn't where it should be and poor decision maker"
He's now capable of running the pick 'n' roll with our bigs. Pop's praised his decision making numerous times this season. Says that he's a "better basketball player" overall.

"struggles to finish in paint"
Patty's significantly improved his ability to get into the lane. He's worked on his TP floater, and isn't afraid to use his speed to get into the lane. Just watch any of Mills' highlight videos, and you'll see at least one floater from him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kU1VncMQyc

[T Park]

A lot of his cons could be attributed to his poor conditioning.

Very very important him and Diaw are brought back.

[Macca76]

MI21 with that basketball knowledge, tbh. Right about det Patty.

Very good take indeed MI21
"You will also get bad defense, some turnovers due to bad decisions" => he has really improved in these areas and I'm sure he will also improve the coming year for points in the paint. And he showed that he was back up PG, not 3rd string. He had a breakout year on many aspects and at 25 I'm sure he will be better next year.
He definitely has to come back

[Macca76]

Some of those cons have become his pros:
"below par defender due to size"
Now, he's a pesky defender, due to his quickness, who has a knack for drawing charges.

"Court vision isn't where it should be and poor decision maker"
He's now capable of running the pick 'n' roll with our bigs. Pop's praised his decision making numerous times this season. Says that he's a "better basketball player" overall.

"struggles to finish in paint"
Patty's significantly improved his ability to get into the lane. He's worked on his TP floater, and isn't afraid to use his speed to get into the lane. Just watch any of Mills' highlight videos, and you'll see at least one floater from him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kU1VncMQyc

Exactly, especially the first 2 points IMO. About the paint part I think he will improve the coming year and with Green improving as well in this area, it would give great weapons (assuming Mills comes back which I hope)

[DJR210]

MI21 with that basketball knowledge, tbh. Right about det Patty.

What a fucking horrible take. You don't deserve to be bolded.





































Just kidding, you fucking nailed it Wilbon.

[tmtcsc]

Where's the "pro" about him being a confident shooter that isn't afraid to pull up on a fast break and nail 3's ? Dude was money and a huge reason we stomped the Heat.

[tholdren]

That was a darn good take MI21. Props.
minus he has the most active hands and feet on the spurs defense.

[Brazil]

Great signing. :tu

Mills was the best option but I thought he wasn't really available since he was a RFA. Thanks to Portland for having renouncing to his rights.

Mills could be good enough to be be a full time backup PG. It's now up to Pop to decided if he will go with Mills or Neal for that spot. My guess is that he will stick with Neal because he knows more the team.

The second year in his contract is also interesting. He has a good chance of being Spurs backup PG next year. It's a bad news for Joseph. He will need to impress Spurs this summer and fall if he doesn't want to follow JA footsteps and having the option for his third year not picked.

Bruno with the goods tbh

[xmas1997]

What happened to Bruno?

[Spurtacular]

The Jimmer pick-up back in the day.

[steeledl]

Who?

[ChumpDumper]

The Jimmer pick-up back in the day.Dude, are you Mormon?

[cd98]

The Jimmer pick-up back in the day.

You would be wise to tame the Jimmer Shtick until he makes the team and gets minutes to back up your cheerleading. Or do you think he won't make it so you are cheerleading while you still can?

[Spurtacular]

You would be wise to tame the Jimmer Shtick until he makes the team and gets minutes to back up your cheerleading. Or do you think he won't make it so you are cheerleading while you still can?

My enthusiasm is tempered, tbh. And what have I said about Jimmer that is so obscene? That he can be a rotation player? That what? If people (generally trolls) have a problem with such benign opinions, that's there problem.

And for the record, I believe Jimmer will make the 15 man roster.

And why would I 'cheerlead' otherwise. That's just your subtle way of asking if I'm trolling. Give me a break, dude.

[ChumpDumper]

My enthusiasm is tempered, tbh. And what have I said about Jimmer that is so obscene? That he can be a rotation player? That what? If people (generally trolls) have a problem with such benign opinions, that's there problem.

And for the record, I believe Jimmer will make the 15 man roster.

And why would I 'cheerlead' otherwise. That's just your subtle way of asking if I'm trolling. Give me a break, dude.You are trolling. We just want to know why.

[daledondale]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCBdBJ30d3I/U5e1vj6P4SI/AAAAAAAAHYw/KEFiqLsX3Kw/s1600/6.gif

[monkeypunk]

You are trolling. We just want to know why.

I'm pretty sure that Spurtacular is Mrs. Fredette. Explains the perpetual cheerleading and the advanced knowledge of his stats and skillset. Pretty obvious actually.

[Spurtacular]

You are trolling. We just want to know why.

Why do you troll?

[Spurtacular]

I'm pretty sure that Spurtacular is Mrs. Fredette. Explains the perpetual cheerleading and the advanced knowledge of his stats and skillset. Pretty obvious actually.

:lol What do you think the odds are that Jimmer's wife is worried about touting Jimmer to a very small subset of forum goers?

BTW, I had my account with ST before Jimmer signed here.

[ChumpDumper]

Why do you troll?Not for religious reasons.

Are you Mormon?

[Lostwingman]

:lol What do you think the odds are that Jimmer's wife is worried about touting Jimmer to a very small subset of forum goers?

BTW, I had my account with ST before Jimmer signed here.

That's just covering all the team forum bases, gotta be able to strike while the iron's not in training camp.

[Spurtacular]

Not for religious reasons.

Are you Mormon?

So, why do you troll, then?

[ChumpDumper]

So, why do you troll, then?Many reasons. None of them religious.

One reason is it's interesting to find a question that makes people like you uncomfortable and defensive.

So, are you Mormon?

[Mikeanaro]

:ihitDont you dare to compare Patty with that scrub.

[benefactor]

:lol bumping this thread after I used it as evidence to own the shit out of you

[Chinook]

Mills is like half a year older than Jimmer, so there's no reason to assume Fredette has that type of upside. Frankly, the guy is living off college hype and hasn't gotten any better. At least Patty's hype came against the best players in the world.

Really happy to see Patty succeed. He was obviously a great signing, and Portland messed up letting him go. But I don't know if Mills is long for the Spurs. Simmons or Anderson (or both) is going to have to show NBA-level playmaking skills to allow Patty to stay on the floor after Manu leaves.

[Mikeanaro]

Mills is like half a year older than Jimmer, so there's no reason to assume Fredette has that type of upside. Frankly, the guy is living off college hype and hasn't gotten any better. At least Patty's hype came against the best players in the world.

Really happy to see Patty succeed. He was obviously a great signing, and Portland messed up letting him go. But I don't know if Mills is long for the Spurs. Simmons or Anderson (or both) is going to have to show NBA-level playmaking skills to allow Patty to stay on the floor after Manu leaves.
It might be, but Anderson runs like Jabba The Hut and Patty is a Lightning Bolt, KA should be able to create and find good looks for Patty, anyway there wont be another Manu never ever.

[Spurtacular]

Many reasons. None of them religious.

One reason is it's interesting to find a question that makes people like you uncomfortable and defensive.

So, are you Mormon?

I don't have any religious reasons either....

[ChumpDumper]

I don't have any religious reasons either....But are you Mormon?

[Spurtacular]

But are you Mormon?

:lol

You on a crusade or what, dude?

[ChumpDumper]

:lol

You on a crusade or what, dude?Just asking a question, dude.

Are you Mormon?

[Spurtacular]

Just asking a question, dude.

Are you Mormon?

How about you give me your response:

A. To I'm not a Mormon
B. To I'm a Mormon

Then, we can just cover the bases, dude.

[admiralsnackbar]

How about you give me your response: A. To I'm not a Mormon B. To I'm a Mormon Then, we can just cover the bases, dude. So you're Mormon. It's ok.

[ChumpDumper]

How about you give me your response:

A. To I'm not a Mormon
B. To I'm a Mormon

Then, we can just cover the bases, dude.How about you give me your response to:

A. Are you Mormon?

[dabom]

Dude is a fucking Mormon lol

[monkeypunk]

How about you give me your response to:

A. Are you Mormon?

It's obvious she is. She married Jimmer.

[313]

Dude is a fucking Mormon lol
:lol

[313]

All CHump does is ask questions and no one ever just answers the question :lmao

[Spurtacular]

Deary...

The desperation of those last hand full of posts....

[Spurtacular]

All CHump does is ask questions and no one ever just answers the question :lmao

Dude's grasping at straws.

[ChumpDumper]

Dude's grasping at straws.I'm asking you a simple question.

Are you Mormon?

[Spurtacular]

I'm asking you a simple question.

Are you Mormon?

Jackson Emery ain't releasing no personal info.

Now, you finally answer the very simple question of how your question is relevant?

[ChumpDumper]

Jackson Emery ain't releasing no personal info.Jackson Emery is Mormon.


Now, you finally answer the very simple question of how your question is relevant?Are you Jackson Emery?

[Spurtacular]

Jackson Emery is Mormon.

Are you Jackson Emery?

Such personal info is currently unavailable for release.

You still haven't made a case for relevance. A judge would have thrown out your inquiry by now.

[ChumpDumper]

Such personal info is currently unavailable for release.You think someone would be able to doxx you with that info or something? What are you afraid of?

If you were Mormon that wold narrow you down to one of like 15 million people.


You still haven't made a case for relevance. A judge would have thrown out your inquiry by now.You think you're on trial now?

Are you a lawyer too?

Whatever your religion, you're a drama queen -- and more than a bit of a pussy.

[Spurtacular]

You think someone would be able to doxx you with that info or something? What are you afraid of?

If you were Mormon that wold narrow you down to one of like 15 million people.

You think you're on trial now?

Are you a lawyer too?

Whatever your religion, you're a drama queen -- and more than a bit of a pussy.

Do those cheap come-ons work on the boys when you're frequenting your rest stops?

[ChumpDumper]

Do those cheap come-ons work on the boys when you're frequenting your rest stops?What are you trying to say here?

Are you making assumptions about my personal life?

Pretty hypocritical for a Mormon tbh.

How do you come on to boys at rest stops?

[Spurtacular]

What are you trying to say here?

Are you making assumptions about my personal life?

Pretty hypocritical for a Mormon tbh.

How do you come on to boys at rest stops?

Sorry, I must've forgotten that I was speaking to such a dignitary.

[ChumpDumper]

Sorry, I must've forgotten that I was speaking to such a dignitary.You just got defensive as all shit when you were asked if you were Mormon.

Why does being a Mormon bother you so?

[Spurtacular]

You just got defensive as all shit when you were asked if you were Mormon.

Why does being a Mormon bother you so?

Who's making assumptions now?

[ChumpDumper]

Who's making assumptions now?I am. I already have.

It's OK that you're a Mormon. You've made a much bigger deal of it than it should have been.

All you had to do was say "Yes" when I asked. Now your in for a load of grief from the others.

[Spurtacular]

I am. I already have.

It's OK that you're a Mormon. You've made a much bigger deal of it than it should have been.

All you had to do was say "Yes" when I asked. Now your in for a load of grief from the others.

You might want to check the transcript, dude. You're the one that made a deal of it. I dismissed your deal at every turn.

[ChumpDumper]

You might want to check the transcript, dude. You're the one that made a deal of it. I dismissed your deal at every turn.I checked the transcript. Your stonewalling is the big deal here.

It's also hilarious.

:cry personal information :cry

[Spurtacular]

I checked the transcript. Your stonewalling is the big deal here.

It's also hilarious.

:cry personal information :cry

Stonewalling? You still haven't made a case for relevance even after repeated requests.

[ChumpDumper]

Stonewalling? You still haven't made a case for relevance even after repeated requests.It's all part of your stonewalling.

I never expected you to answer and I won't expect you to answer.

It's just fun watching you whine about it.

:cry relevance :cry

You're not on trial. You don't have to go all BYU pre-law on us.

[Spurtacular]

It's all part of your stonewalling.

I never expected you to answer and I won't expect you to answer.

It's just fun watching you whine about it.

:cry relevance :cry

You're not on trial. You don't have to go all BYU pre-law on us.

You created an issue and never explained relevance.

[ChumpDumper]

You created an issue and never explained relevance.Who said it was an issue?

I asked you a simple question that you are afraid to answer.

It's OK.

[Spurtacular]

Who said it was an issue?

I asked you a simple question that you are afraid to answer.

It's OK.

Are you qualifying it as a non-issue then?

[ChumpDumper]

Are you qualifying it as a non-issue then?I am qualifying it as a simple question you are afraid to answer.

[Spurtacular]

I am qualifying it as a simple question you are afraid to answer.

This is the second question that you've been afraid to answer.

[ChumpDumper]

This is the second question that you've been afraid to answer.I answered quite plainly.

It's OK not to like the answers you are given just as it is OK for you to be afraid to answer a simple question.

Are you Mormon?

[Spurtacular]

I answered quite plainly.

It's OK not to like the answers you are given just as it is OK for you to be afraid to answer a simple question.

Are you Mormon?

I've put forth two questions to you, and you've answered neither. You've not attempted to answer them let alone answered them "quite plainly."

[ChumpDumper]

I've put forth two questions to you, and you've answered neither. You've not attempted to answer them let alone answered them "quite plainly."Sure I did.

You just didn't like the answers. And that's OK.

Are you Mormon?

[Spurtacular]

Sure I did.

You just didn't like the answers. And that's OK.

Are you Mormon?

Are you really that deluded? Or do you just not care? You answered neither question.

[ChumpDumper]

Are you really that deluded? Or do you just not care?Am I deluded that you're a Mormon?

All you need to do is say yes or no. I won't think any less of you.

[Spurtacular]

Am I deluded that you're a Mormon?

All you need to do is say yes or no. I won't think any less of you.

I don't need to say anything. That's kind of the point. And I agree that you wouldn't think any less of me....

[ChumpDumper]

I don't need to say anything. That's kind of the point. But you keep saying things. That's kind of the point.

[Spurtacular]

But you keep saying things. That's kind of the point.

That's a pretty dull point.

[ChumpDumper]

That's a pretty dull point.And yet, you keep making it for me over and over again.

[ceperez]

And yet, you keep making it for me over and over again.

Quit trolling dude.

He's a Jimmer fan and has every right to be.

I'm a fan of every player on this current team. Until of course when someone disappoints consistently.

[benefactor]

:lol Mormons
:lol Joseph Smith
:lol hearing from God through a rock in the bottom of a hat

[benfti]

why to fuck up a good thread spurtacular, about one of our beloved champions, with crap about Jimmer Ferdette. That takes a special kind of wanker:p:

[ChumpDumper]

Quit trolling dude.

He's a Jimmer fan and has every right to be.

I'm a fan of every player on this current team. Until of course when someone disappoints consistently.Tell him to quit trolling.

[cd98]

Thread is destroyed. Patty Mills has been a great signing for the Spurs and we got a great discount from him when he injured his shoulder. He is better than Jimmer. That said, where is it written that if you like Jimmer, you must be Mormon. I enjoy watching players that are great outside shooters, and Jimmer is a great outside shooter. He's got great form (despite what some say about a hitch). I doubt he'll ever get to Patty's level, but I don't doubt that Jimmer could make the team and get minutes in the rotation. Especially with injuries and resting players that will happen all season.

[SAGirl]

Well, not to be necro posting but Patty doesn't have a proper church and I hate to be spamming stuff that will then get lost among so many threads. It's easier to find links and stuff in guys churches... maybe I will post this in the think tank too

Anyways, here it is: Patty has a website fans can check up on to keep up with him.

780213287594041344

[DJR210]

:lol Mormons
:lol Joseph Smith
:lol hearing from God through a rock in the bottom of a hat

:lol mormons

Everytime I slug up them mormon faggots I get at least 3-4 hateful replies back.. grimy bunch them fuckin' mormon bastards