Grades: Spurs vs. Hawks - Summer League Game 1

[timvp]

Well, the silver and black got their first win since Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, it comes in the first game of summer league. Taking on a Hawks squad that won its first game by 20 points, the Spurs rode Kawhi Leonard down the stretch to an 82-76 victory. Leonard's late burst allowed the Spurs to outscore the Hawks 24-16 in the final period.

San Antonio started off slowly -- they scored only 11 points in the first quarter -- but their execution improved as the game progressed and they looked especially sharp in the second and fourth quarters. Next up for this team is the Lakers on Tuesday.

http://dailyelements.com/sl121.jpg

Kawhi Leonard B+
Early on, it didn't look like Kawhi Leonard's night. He was missing shots from the outside and didn't look completely comfortable running pick-and-rolls. Slowly but surely, Leonard's confidence grew. After he got a few interior shots to fall, his all-around abilities started to shine. Come the fourth quarter, he was a monster. Leonard had point guard duties for much of that period and looked like a natural. His ball-handling was much improved and the Hawks had little success keeping him out of the lane. The highlights of his outing were the numerous explosive forays to the hole; he looked like man amongst boys at times with the way he utilized a combination of power and gracefulness. When Leonard was trapped, he didn't hesitate to hit the open teammate. Despite being far and away the best player on the court, he actually could have played a lot better. His defense wasn't very good; it was obvious he was saving most of his energy for the other side of the court. Leonard's rebounding was lackluster by his standards and he missed nearly all of his outside jumpers.

Cory Joseph A
Following a forgettable rookie campaign, 20-year-old Cory Joseph illustrated a lot of promise in his first summer league game. In fact, he was unrecognizable. Last season, when Joseph shot a jumper, it was like he was launching a beach ball -- it had an exaggerated arc, little rotation and there was no telling where it would land. Tonight, Joseph's jumper looked like a legitimate NBA shot. The trajectory and rotation looked much better, plus he was able to shoot it on the move. Another huge improvement was his posture. He wasn't hunched over nearly as much and, as a result, was able to make quicker movements. While his offensive numbers stand out, I thought Joseph was best on the defensive end. He was able to pressure the basketball relentlessly and made it difficult for the Hawks to run any of their sets. Offensively, Joseph did his best work when looking to score the ball. His pick-and-roll sets oftentimes ended up with a basket but he was usually out of control. Going forward, if Joseph can continue defending and scoring like he did tonight while showing a more consistent playmaking ability, the young point guard out of the University of Texas could complete a stunning metamorphosis from seemingly surefire first round bust to possible first round gem in just a couple months.

Eric Dawson A-
Eric Dawson just continues to quietly dominate his competition. Last season, he posted the highest PER in D-League history and did well in his stint in San Antonio. Tonight against the Hawks, he was very solid. Ten of his 13 rebounds came in the first half and he played physical defense throughout. While he was caught out of position at times, the effort was always there. Offensively, Dawson's mid-range jumper is a definite strength and his touch around the basket is delicate. On both ends, he plays a very team-oriented style that will serve him well if an NBA team gives him a chance. Dawson should also be commended for getting in even better shape than he was last year. While I think there is still room for improvement since he got winded in the second half, it's apparent that Dawson is working hard to transform himself into a candidate for a full-time roster spot.

James Anderson C
One game in and the Spurs have to be feeling like they made the right decision to not pick up the option year on James Anderson. Although he played hard, Anderson wasn't able to show any NBA level traits. When he has the ball, he doesn't have the athleticism or ball-handling ability to consistently get good looks. Anderson also didn't show any confidence in his outside jumper, which is something he has to have in his favor to even have a chance. Defensively, he was average at best. Most of the time he was a step slow going around screens and didn't consistently stay in front of his man. Anderson didn't help out on the boards and he was a tad selfish with his decisions a few times. For his sake, hopefully he shows something in the remaining four summer league games because tonight he didn't even look worthy of a training camp invite.

Luke Zeller F
Coming into summer league, I couldn't understand why Luke Zeller was even on the roster. This is a 6-foot-11 player who averaged 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds as a senior at Notre Dame. On the Toros, he has never shown much promise. Yet not only is he on the summer league roster, he started and played 23 minutes tonight. Needless to say, he was horrible. I guess in theory he's a stretch four but he can't shoot, rebound, play defense or do anything other than be tall. His stats look bad but Zeller was even worse than those numbers indicate. The sooner the Spurs give up on this experiment, the better. I'm sure he's a great guy but this is ridiculous.

Marcus Denmon C+
It's unfortunate but Marcus Denmon didn't pass the eyeball test. Compared to the other players on the court, Denmon looked small and unathletic. His lack of long arms or quickness was also unavoidable to notice. To Denmon's credit, he shook off a rocky start and had an encouraging stretch in which he showed a smidgen of playmaking ability. Defensively, though, he was consistently below average. It looked like a case of simply not having the physical tools to put up a fight. Hopefully I'm wrong and this was simply a case of opening night jitters but Denmon's long odd appear to have gotten even longer.

Ryan Richards B
Talk about intriguing. Ryan Richards didn't do much to dent the score sheet in a positive way but he's an provocative prospect. He's tall, long, has range on his jumper and runs the court like a gazelle. All the movements needed to play the game of basketball seem to come easy to him. Even his shot looks really smooth. Richards definitely looks like an NBA player -- but that has always been the case with him. It's actually learning how to play basketball that has been the problem. Defensively, he gave good effort but he rarely made a difference despite his imposing length and jumping ability. Offensively, Richards acted like he knew he was doing but the results were lacking. Despite the negatives, I'm now really interested to see what he can do from here on out. All the physical tools are there; Richards just has to put it together. As it stands, it looks like spending a year or two in Austin would do him a world of good.

JaMychal Green D
JaMychal Green probably wishes he could have a do-over. In less than nine minutes, he picked up seven fouls. Green's fouling overshadowed a couple quality plays. He has a lively body and is more comfortable out on the perimeter than I expected. That said, he doesn't have the physique of someone who could play power forward in the NBA right now. He'd need to bulk up a lot more to even have a chance. Green may be able to bounce back from this debut and end up earning a training camp invite but this wasn't a good start.

Tyler Wilkerson B
With Zeller needlessly eating minutes, Tyler Wilkerson was probably the biggest loser of potential minutes. In his time out on the court, he did more of what became expected out of him during the 2010 summer league. Wilkerson provided energy and an ample amount of physicality in the paint. In the next few games, hopefully we get to see more of him.

L.D. Williams C+
As anticipated, L.D. Williams and his elite jumping ability make him an exciting player to watch. But the reality is that he's a 6-foot-4 small forward with a limited amount of skill. Unless he starts to show some semblance of guard proficiency, he's not a legit prospect.

Dwight Buycks B-
Mostly playing at backup point guard, Dwight Buycks didn't do much right or wrong. His intensity was commendable and he was able to make a few plays on both ends but he'll need to do more to turn a head.

Jacque Vaughn A-
Other than the inexplicable Zeller minutes, Jacque Vaughn coached a good game. I like that he gave Leonard big minutes and I especially liked that he switched Leonard over to point guard down the stretch. Vaughn had the best player at his disposal and was able to put him in positions to succeed. His other good move was giving Richards extended minutes in the second half. Richards was doing enough to deserve a longer look than usual. With so many players on this summer league roster, it'll be interesting to see how Vaughn doles out minutes going forward.

[ElNono]

wow, we get the red carpet treatment even during the summer... thanks! :toast

[Solid D]

http://nuevoprogreso.otestuj.cz/images/Taco-Shell.1.jpg

Ryan Richards

[Solid D]

timvp, thanks for taking the time to post your grades and thoughts! Quality stuff.

[siraulo23]

I was waiting for this

great read, as always~

[RodNIc91]

That was what I was talkin' about. Thanks bro. As always nice job

[c whata11]

thanks for the grades timvp. plan on watching this on nbatv later.

i know when the offseason began, you had some comments on the future of spurstalk, but dont end this. i appreciate your insight, game grades and the entire forum in general; im sure most people do too but you dont get thanked enough.

also, would it really be that bad of an idea to add dawson to the roster. he seems loyal to the organization, knows the system, isnt undersized and has proven hes not a complete scrub on an nba court. and i doubt taking the minimum would be a blow for him.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i see the fkn morons on here are high on richards just like that turd they were high on last season james anderson....shit mate, how many chances you clowns continue to give when its clearly they are busts

[xellos88330]

Most of us haven't had the chance to really see Richards play. As Timvp stated, he has the tools to be an NBA player, but will he actually be able to replace a certain other big currently on the Spurs roster? The kid is long, athletic, fast, and has 3pt range. I don't think anyone expects him to be a superstar, just a sandwich enthusiasts replacement. As for James Anderson, that broken foot really fucked him over. His jumper completely disappeared and it looks as if he lost a step as well.

So far, Leonard looks good (but needs to get his jumper going again) and Joseph looks like a different player. He seemed downright cocky on the court at times. Gave me some good laughs. Dawson looks like he could actually make the team. The man is consistent and deserves another shot at the big league.

[mountainballer]

most impressive stat line:
JaMychal Green 8:43 minutes, 7 fouls AND still a +/- of +11!!
how did this happen? (typo in the stat sheet?)

[timvp]

i see the fkn morons on here are high on richards just like that turd they were high on last season james anderson....shit mate, how many chances you clowns continue to give when its clearly they are busts

This makes less sense than your typical ramblings. What chances has Richards gotten? He's been injured or playing in weak leagues since he got drafted. 95% he never amounts to anything but this is really his first time playing good competition ... probably ever.

[Em-City]

This makes less sense than your typical ramblings. What chances has Richards gotten? He's been injured or playing in weak leagues since he got drafted. 95% he never amounts to anything but this is really his first time playing good competition ... probably ever.

can't u just take away his upstairs posting privileges?

[-21-]

Really impressed with CJ and Dawson. Hopefully they keep it up.

Oh and next time they should start Richards over Zeller.

[jesterbobman]

Richards is definitely a worthwhile shot as a second round pick. While I doubt he gets there as a basketball player, there isn't a lack of tools at his disposal.

Kawhi is still a secondary offensive weapon, but the fact he can have plays run through him is good. Adding variety in the offense is good.

Cory Joseph is the most encouraging development by far. Good to see.

[tesseractive]

I was hoping Denmon or Green would be able to show something, so I'm a little disappointed that they didn't -- but maybe one of them will turn things around in one of the other games.

On the flipside, it's great that Joseph looks like a real player. I had pretty well written him off after last season (as I think many others had), so if he can prove he can play, it's a complete windfall.

[therealtruth]

Does Danny Green not need summer league? With his WCF showing it would seem he could benefit.

[smaka]

Does Danny Green not need summer league? With his WCF showing it would seem he could benefit.

Then Bonner should play every year... :rolleyes

[AFBlue]

Interesting that Ajinça didn't play. I wonder if they're going to give him a look in game 2.

[AFBlue]

Thanks for posting btw! I plan on watching the replay today, but your insight and quick turnaround are definitely appreciated. :toast

[therealtruth]

Then Bonner should play every year... :rolleyes

Good point. Bonner probably couldn't even make the summer league team.

[Bruno]

Thanks for the grades, timvp. You're awesome. :tu

Spurs still have a part of their MLE to sign a rookie to a 3 or 4 years minimum contract with only the first year guaranteed. After 1 SL game, Denmon and JaMychal Green don't seem to deserve it. This kind of contract would be great to work with a long term project like Richards but it's a lot of money to invest. Other possibilities are signing a rookie from another SL team or not using the rest of the MLE.

Something noteworthy is that Byars hasn't played. Maybe he is injured, maybe he sucked in practice but maybe too Spurs have a little trade with him in the works. Byars and his non-guaranteed contract is a nice little trade asset.

[Slomo]

Then Bonner should play every year... :rolleyes

:lol

[maverick1948]

If Dawson continues to play this well, could we keep him at minimum and amnesty Bonner? Then keep Richards for minimum and shuffle Blair off to someone for a high second round pick?

Dawson could have a 2 yr minimum contract with 2nd year NG clause. Ridding ourselves of Bonners contract at 3.6 M would save us almost 3 Mil for the year.

Keeping Richards means he gets actual training from someone who really does know basketball. He doesnt want to go back to Europe and I for one dont see that sending him there will do anymore good than being in the Spurs controlled DLeague system. At least his minutes would be there for him to improve instead of early season minutes and then benching him in mid season like he was in Europe.

I agree with Timvp on Cory Joseph wishing last year never happened. So do a lot of young players. Not a single thing went right in his favor for learning until he got to the DLeague and saw playing time. But that was cut short by TJ Fords injury. He will benefit from having this summer league and fall camp to advance. When the Spurs selected him, I almost laughed, but seeing he will turn 21 just before the season camp starts, I am interested in his abilities. He had a solid 1st summer league game and in a couple of years "may" become our point guard after TP. I think back to TP 1st 2 or 3 years and how Pop handled him and see a lot more in CJ than I did when he was drafted.

Anjica may not play much in Vegas. If he is really showing up in practice, the Spurs want to hide him for training camp. Thus preventing MarK Cuban from siging him.

Overall, game 1 was well played and well coached by JV.

[MR-Clutch]

Is green here to replace the regular season +/- king?

[lefty]

Timvp doing work !

[Interrohater]

Good point. Bonner probably couldn't even make the summer league team.

I'm definitely not defending Bonner, but let's be real here. He would tear up the summer league.

[wildbill2u]

The thing I like about Dawson is that he has shown some real consistency in his abilities wherever I've seen him play. He looks like a banger with a pretty good short jumper and touch around the basket. I'd like to see him get an invite to training camp.

[mountainballer]

does Dawson qualify as a poor man's Udonis Haslem?

[jiggy_55]

does Dawson qualify as a poor man's Udonis Haslem?

I would hope so. I'd like to see him get a chance of making the team, he's a nice big to have off the bench.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Awesome info.

Can't wait to see more Richards.
THE NEW SAVIOR

[ElNono]

Dawson certainly looked the more polished of the "bigs" that played last night, but the jury is still out if he can actually become anything but a below-average NBA player... he's undersized, already 28, and defensively nothing to write home about. The only reason he might have a shot with the Spurs is that we're already in somewhat the same boat with Blair (who is younger, but has no jumper), IMO. But we're talking scrapping the bottom of the barrel here.

[SenorSpur]

I was hoping Denmon or Green would be able to show something, so I'm a little disappointed that they didn't -- but maybe one of them will turn things around in one of the other games.

On the flipside, it's great that Joseph looks like a real player. I had pretty well written him off after last season (as I think many others had), so if he can prove he can play, it's a complete windfall.

My thoughts exactly. I had high anticipation of seeing what Green and Denmon had. I'm hoping Green can stay out of foul trouble so that he can give himself a chance. If Game 1 is any indication, Denmon looks really lost and overwhelmed. He appears to have a long way to go.

Meanwhile, Leonard looked and dominated exactly one would've expected. Still, it was good to see. As for Joseph, I agree that he really looks to have made great strides since last year. He was a joy to watch.

I'm also looking forward to watching Richards throughout the next several games.

Great writeup summary on Game 1. It's certainly helpful for those that are unable to watch the game and very much appreciated. :tu

[MR-Clutch]

Joseph was also robbed of 3-4 assists by his teammates. If you include those assists he had a pretty solid stat line. I would like to see Joseph get to the rim more and I also think a floater would do his game wonders. While he did look good yesterday I'm not sure hell be ready for the nba next year, because he did seem to be outta control and falling on the floor a lot. One thing that seemed kind of unique about Joseph was that spin move to initiate his dribble, I don't recall seeing a player really use that move, although sometimes it did look a little out of control. All in all I would say Joseph has a long future with the spurs.

[AFBlue]

I'll reserve judgement on CoJo until I see the tape, but it sounds like he showed the aggressiveness and floor leadership that I saw in a pre-season game last year. I'm glad to hear he's worked on his jumpshot, because that will be key to his effectiveness as a playmaker due to his limited athletic upside.

[DPG21920]

does Dawson qualify as a poor man's Udonis Haslem?

That is what he reminds me of with obviously a much lower defensive ceiling.

[DPG21920]

The thing that bothers me with CJ is that it was all jumpshots. When jumpers are falling, everyone looks pretty damn good. He really seems to lack the speed and handling to get all the way to the rim for a layup, at least with any semblance of regularity (not that anyone gets layups all game, but he rarely gets one).

He get's close to the rim occasionally, but always has to fade away or shoot a leaner vs getting to the rim. He played very well this first game, but that stuck out to me.

[benefactor]

does Dawson qualify as a poor man's Udonis Haslem?
Funny you said this...I was thinking his game reminded me of someone and you hit it on the head. If they trade Blair they might see him as someone who can eat some minutes at PF and sign him to a minimum contract.

Leonard looked great and Joseph looked much, much better. Outside of those three the only other noticeable player was Richards...mostly because it's rare to see a man of his size getting up and down the court like that. LJ made a good point in that it's obvious he knows how to play but he has to make it all come together from mental perspective. I think he's a perfect candidate to spend a year in Austin...and one of the few players out of this group that could actually use that time to put it all together and become a well rounded big man.

[MaNu4Tres]

Thanks for the grades, timvp. You're awesome. :tu

Spurs still have a part of their MLE to sign a rookie to a 3 or 4 years minimum contract with only the first year guaranteed. After 1 SL game, Denmon and JaMychal Green don't seem to deserve it. This kind of contract would be great to work with a long term project like Richards but it's a lot of money to invest. Other possibilities are signing a rookie from another SL team or not using the rest of the MLE.

Something noteworthy is that Byars hasn't played. Maybe he is injured, maybe he sucked in practice but maybe too Spurs have a little trade with him in the works. Byars and his non-guaranteed contract is a nice little trade asset.

IMO-- Spurs won't use the remaining part of their MLE anytime soon. They will wisely hold on to this money for later on in the year when better players become available via buy out.


The only additions Spurs will make from here on out will be 10-day contracts as the season progresses or the additions will be made from a trade (probably featuring Blair/Neal).

[venitian navigator]

I didn't watch the game but it looks like Anderson hasn't taken any long shots...that was (and shold be still seen as) his main weapon.
If he has totally lost confidence in that, obviously ther's no way we can gain any kind of consideration by an nba team (Spurs included)...

[dylankerouac]

Thanks for the goods timvp.

[Bruno]

IMO-- Spurs won't use the remaining part of their MLE anytime soon. They will wisely hold on to this money for later on in the year when better players become available via buy out.

Spurs have only about $500K left on their MLE. They can only use it on a rookie to sign him to a very low salary contract. The edge of using the rest of the MLE instead than using the min exception to sign this rookie is that they will be able to offer him a 3 or 4 years contract while with the min exception the maximum length is 2 years. It is what they did with Neal a couple of years ago.

Players bought out during the season are most of the time NBA vet. Teams keep their good rookies. Spurs can't sign a NBA vet with the rest of their MLE.

[MaNu4Tres]

Spurs have only about $500K left on their MLE. They can only use it on a rookie to sign him to a very low salary contract. The edge of using the rest of the MLE instead than using the min exception to sign this rookie is that they will be able to offer him a 3 or 4 years contract while with the min exception the maximum length is 2 years. It is what they did with Neal a couple of years ago.

Players bought out during the season are most of the time NBA vet. Teams keep their good rookies. Spurs can't sign a NBA vet with the rest of their MLE.

But they can offer an NBA vet the minimum whenever that time comes, correct? Wouldn't it be wise to not use any guaranteed money til then?

[ChumpDumper]

The thing that bothers me with CJ is that it was all jumpshots.I remember at least one drive with a floater in a lot of traffic at the end of the first half.

[DPG21920]

I remember at least one drive with a floater in a lot of traffic at the end of the first half.

Ya - like I said - he can sometimes get into the lane, but his handle is so loose and his athleticism seems to keep him from getting all the way to the rim. He either has to pull up, fade away or shoot a little leaning shot.

[Bruno]

But they can offer an NBA vet the minimum whenever that time comes, correct? Wouldn't it be wise to not use any guaranteed money til then?

Yep, they can offer the min to a NBA vet even if they use the rest of the MLE on a rookie without a problem. After that, there are other issues like the 15 players roster limit and the luxury tax threshold that Spurs might not want to go over.

[ChumpDumper]

Ya - like I said - he can sometimes get into the lane, but his handle is so loose and his athleticism seems to keep him from getting all the way to the rim. He either has to pull up, fade away or shoot a little leaning shot.I guess. They can't all be Tony Parker.

[AFBlue]

The thing that bothers me with CJ is that it was all jumpshots. When jumpers are falling, everyone looks pretty damn good. He really seems to lack the speed and handling to get all the way to the rim for a layup, at least with any semblance of regularity (not that anyone gets layups all game, but he rarely gets one).

He get's close to the rim occasionally, but always has to fade away or shoot a leaner vs getting to the rim. He played very well this first game, but that stuck out to me.

I haven't seen the game, so I'll take your word for it. What was your impression of his floor leadership? Was there a good balance of looking for his own shot and creating for others? Was he effective in using one to facilitate the other?

Just curious on additional insights from you or others that saw the game.

[Obstructed_View]

Mini O_V Thoughts, aka TL;DR

Despite so many people who have clearly hitched their wagons to the "he can't play" horse, Cory Joseph looks like an NBA player to me. All-star? Uh, no. "Mini Tony Parker" as Rick Mahorn called him? lol. Starter? Probably not. If he works on his game and improves, can he be a poor man's Derek Fisher? Yeah, I think so, and I say that partially because of how impressive his defense was, but he also had a really good head for who was where. I need another few games to know for sure, as it sure felt like he was out of control a few times and always managed to do the right thing, be it a pass or a shot. If it was luck, that will run out before summer league is done.

Now that I've given my impressions of Joseph, here's the downside: I always thought James Anderson looked like an NBA player, even from the start. Unfortunately, we've been waiting for something to click, for him to figure it out. It hasn't happened. He's not an NBA player. He'll be mediocre anywhere he goes until the caliber of the competition drops to the point that he can do well with the stuff he's done since he was 16. I know his presence on the team at all was a favor by the front office so he could catch on with someone else, but he isn't even able to take advantage of that urgency to do anything worthwhile.

Dawson did the same things he did as a Spur. All of which I like. If he were three inches taller he'd have an NBA career. If the Spurs ever decide that defense and/or defensive rebounds are important, they might consider this guy as a Bonner/Blair replacement. Doubtful. EDIT: So it's not misunderstood, I don't know that Dawson gives enough of either rebounding or defense to make a difference at his size.

Ryan Richards is so fucking athletic for a guy his size. He's going to tantalize people until he disappears into the mist. I'm squashing my hope and stating the fact that he's going to be the seven foot version of James Anderson. Howevuh, I'm going to be just as on-board as anyone else if he is given a chance to disappoint us over the next two years.

Marcus Denmon was overwhelmed on both ends of the ball. I expect him to calm down a bit as we go forward to see what he can actually do. He's one of the worst defenders I've ever seen (and due to a stroke of luck, the second worst defender on his own team), but he had a couple of nice shots. We all know he's better than he showed. As good as Joseph played, the clock is ticking if he wants to make an impression.

Zeller. What. The. Fuck. The only thing he provided for the team was a carbon footprint. I have a horrible feeling that Pop's considering the guy just to make Matt Bonner look better by comparison. I seriously hope he got his charity minutes for the tournament and spends the rest of the time watching from a folding chair. That position likely gets him closer to his man than when he's on the court.

[DPG21920]

I haven't seen the game, so I'll take your word for it. What was your impression of his floor leadership? Was there a good balance of looking for his own shot and creating for others? Was he effective in using one to facilitate the other?

Just curious on additional insights from you or others that saw the game.

Outside of the first quarter (which was awful for everyone) he seemed to grasp the flow/pace of the game very well compared to his time with the Spurs. He took much more of a leadership role on both ends and wasn't thinking as much. Seemed more natural.

The game got sticky at times with regards to ball movement overall, but for a SL game I thought he did pretty well with his pass/shoot balance. He was not proficient at drive and kicks, which also led to my other observation about his ability to get all the way to the rim. That is not a deal breaker - just an assessment of his game.

He seemed to have a lot better pace and feel for the game and his jump shot was really great too.

[Obstructed_View]

He had a great drive and kick to Leonard, who missed the three. Joseph was also talking to teammates telling them where to be, which was nice to see.

[ChumpDumper]

Jospeh played good D, but it was mostly against a former teammate who is playing point guard for apparently the first time in his life. I'll be interested to see how he does against more seasoned point guards.

The best thing about his game was he wasn't forcing anything and letting the game come to him. He had a good deal of space in which to take most of his shots.

[Obstructed_View]

I actually kind of forgot one guy in my notes:

Kawhi Leonard is something special. He did some really impressive things on both ends, and I'm pretty sure he had what he would classify as a bad shooting night. To go from a guy who was considered to have a weakness handling the ball to running point in the fourth quarter last night, I'm very happy with the gym time he's put in. He actually was able to create so much space with his first step that he ended up driving a bit too often and forcing it once he was among the trees. A few times he still managed to find a clever way to score. Last year my "unrealistic comparison" was Bruce Bowen. This year, it's looking like it might be Scottie Pippen. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

[Ditty]

I've been a huge fan on Anderson and always believed he was more talented, and better upside then Green, but I'm starting to lose all hope.:depressed

He seems to be a good player when he makes something happen, but he looks like he never wants the ball in his hands now.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

James Anderson must have just been hot his rookie year when he was nailing a few 3s in the handful of games he played.
I believed in him last year, but sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade

[BackHome]

Most of us haven't had the chance to really see Richards play. As Timvp stated, he has the tools to be an NBA player, but will he actually be able to replace a certain other big currently on the Spurs roster? The kid is long, athletic, fast, and has 3pt range. I don't think anyone expects him to be a superstar, just a sandwich enthusiasts replacement. As for James Anderson, that broken foot really fucked him over. His jumper completely disappeared and it looks as if he lost a step as well.

So far, Leonard looks good (but needs to get his jumper going again) and Joseph looks like a different player. He seemed downright cocky on the court at times. Gave me some good laughs. Dawson looks like he could actually make the team. The man is consistent and deserves another shot at the big league.

+1

In regards to big's they take longer to develop the only reason I didn't like Ian was not that he wasn't talented but that he was always injured. If Richardson can stay healthy then I think that playing in our D-League and getting good coaching will make a huge difference.

I love that they have Kawhi playing point just for the fact that ball handling is something he needs to work on and playing the point well help him. If Green is reading this you better be working on your ball handling skills to so what ever pick up game you play call dibs on point!

Dawson just gets the job done nothing fancy but a bring your lunch pail to work kinda guy. Hell I would rather have this guy on our team then Boner...he is a better re bounder, shot blocker, and has a great outside shot.

I have hated on CJ but he played good and I am glad for him I hope he can continue and improve..

[DPG21920]

He still intrigues me defensively. That was the most impressive thing to me with regards to JA that very promising stretch; it was his defense.

[timvp]

James Anderson must have just been hot his rookie year when he was nailing a few 3s in the handful of games he played.
I believed in him last year, but sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade

I really do think it all goes back to the broken foot. That specific injury is a career-ender for a lot of players. Even young players have seen their careers collapse after that injury. Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Roddy Buckets, etc.

For whatever reason, if you break that bone in your foot, you're usually toast. And JA has broken that same bone in each foot. So, unfortunately, he's probably toast.

[tomtom]

Nice to see CJ showing some life, maybe he can prove us all wrong. The highlights showed some really nice moves by Kawhi. I'm very interested what his ceiling is.

[AFBlue]

Thanks to O_V, DPG and Chump for the additional insight on CJ.

[gambit1990]

jmtpHkqs6nk

i didn't catch the game.

there's only two kawhi plays in there, but they're really interesting drives. and they're both and 1's.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

I really do think it all goes back to the broken foot. That specific injury is a career-ender for a lot of players. Even young players have seen their careers collapse after that injury. Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Roddy Buckets, etc.

For whatever reason, if you break that bone in your foot, you're usually toast. And JA has broken that same bone in each foot. So, unfortunately, he's probably toast.

Timvp what part of his foot did he break?

[timvp]

Timvp what part of his foot did he break?

Fifth metatarsal. In this thread (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190368) I gave a rundown of players who have suffered similar injuries.