timvp
10-04-2012, 05:22 AM
(Wow, that was a fast offseason. Is it Spurs season already? Should be fun one. Thank you for being part of the SpursTalk experience. Let's get started on the 2012-13 season...)
Prior to the scrimmage, the Spurs ran through some of their offensive sets and also worked on defensive rotations. I was impressed with the overall fitness level of the group and there was a good amount of energy throughout the proceedings.
Considering this was only their third official practice of training camp, I was expecting a lot of sloppiness. To my surprise, the level of play during the scrimmage was quite high and much more competitive than I was expecting.
Tim Duncan
It's obvious that Tim Duncan once again put in great work during the summer. He looks to be in fantastic shape. He was moving with a lot of fluidity and was getting up and down the court well. I was especially impressed with the quickness of his feet during the drills -- let's hope he can remain this mobile for the duration of the season. He really doesn't look like a 36-year-old bigman whose tires have made the trip to Springfield a few times over.
Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili is ready for the regular season. In recent years, Ginobili hasn't been too impressive in the preseason scrimmage. Tonight was different, as he poured in a game-high 21 points. He moved well, he was explosive in movements to the rim and his outside shooting stroke was smooth. Even the little things -- like his passing, his movements away from the ball, his anticipation on defense, etc. -- look regular season ready. It was definitely exciting to see.
Tony Parker
I know this reads like a broken record but Tony Parker was it very good shape. He's slim and was able to turn on his jets to reach the speed only he can reach. Parker showed some rust basketball-wise ... just as you'd expect in the third practice of training camp. But all in all, I saw nothing to suggest Parker can't have another great season.
Kawhi Leonard
This kid's confidence was the story of the scrimmage in my eyes. Kawhi Leonard played like he wants to be a star. And for any player, that's the first step in actually becoming a star -- so that's great news for the Spurs. In the first half, he was the best player on the court. Offensively, his outside shot looked even better than it did last season; he got it off quicker and with a higher release point. His ballhandling was also much better. Last season he was a capable ballhandler but it looks like he might be able to use it as a weapon this season. He's much faster with the ball and he kept his head up, which made him more of a threat to pass (in the scrimmage, he had a handful of nice passes to go along with his 16 points and seven rebounds). To add to his package, Leonard also illustrated a quick jumper off the bounce. Combine what we saw tonight with his great play in summer league and it's exciting to think about the possibilities of his sophomore season.
Danny Green
It'll be interesting to see how Danny Green bounces back from his nightmarish end to last season. Tonight, he looked like solid. He knocked down a few outside shots and he was attentive on defense. Green is another player who appears to be in game shape.
Boris Diaw
I was worried what I'd see when Boris Diaw reported to camp. During the Olympics, he seemingly gained weight each passing day. By the closing ceremonies, he was a boat. I was afraid he'd show up grossly out of shape, especially considering he just inked a new deal. Thankfully, Diaw looks to be in decent shape. He still has some extra weight on him but he looked trimmer than he did during the Olympics. If he keeps working hard, he could get himself in good shape by the start of the regular season. We know he has the talent, we just have to hope he'll show a drive to maximize that talent.
DeJuan Blair
It took DeJuan Blair a few months to work his way into good enough shape to dunk last season. During tonight's scrimmage, Blair was often high above the rim. He looks to be in good shape, he was jumping well and he was able to run the court without tiring. In other words, he's another player who put in work during the offseason. Blair had 19 points, with the most interesting points coming on jumpers. He knocked down a pair of shots from beyond 15 feet ... and the shots actually looked good coming off of his hands. Blair didn't simply launch a no-jump, one-handed missile like we've grown accustomed to seeing. If he legitimately adds a jumper to his arsenal, he'd become a much more valuable player on this team.
Stephen Jackson
After spending most of the summer advancing his musical career, I was curious how Stephen Jackson would look. The answer: Not bad. He's slim and looked relatively toned, however he wasn't moving especially well and his rhythm was lacking. I did like the competitive spirit he played with and his underrated playmaking ability was on display at times.
Eddy Curry
The most intriguing player in the arena was Eddy Curry. How would the talented yet troubled bigman look in his first stint in silver and black? It was a mixed bag. The good: He's skinnier than he's been in a long time. Curry actually gave effort on individual defense and his hands were good. He even made a few thoughtful passes, which is notable for someone regarded as one of the worst passers to ever lace up sneakers. The bad: He had no stamina. A couple times he waved to the bench to be taken out of the game. Due to that lack of stamina, he oftentimes slowly jogged up the court on transition defense. So while he's definitely thinner, it doesn't appear that he's in great shape. Overall, I'm still intrigued. He didn't come close to earning a spot on the team with his play in the scrimmage but he did enough to remain a prospect. If the Spurs think he can get in shape, it's difficult to ignore his imposing size, relatively young age and past exploits.
Gary Neal
Well, the Gary Neal at point guard experiment isn't over. He started at point guard and did about what we've come to expect. Defensively, he was bad. It wasn't even fair when Parker attacked him. Offensively, he's capable. He can score for himself and pass well enough to run the offense. I thought Neal looked like he dropped five or ten pounds compared to last season. Hopefully that translates into quickness -- a trait he desperately needs on the defensive end.
Patrick Mills
There were no surprises out of Patrick Mills. He utilized his speed to score in the open court. He also wasn't afraid to let jumpers fly from any distance. Defensively, he wasn't special but he pressured the ball well. Mills lost weight for the Olympics and he appears to have kept it off. All in all, he didn't steal the show but he also didn't hurt his stock.
Cory Joseph
Following his extremely strong showing in summer league, Cory Joseph is out to prove he can translate that success to the real NBA. So far, so good. He wasn't flashy but I really liked what I saw out of Joseph. He can handle the ball, penetrate into the lane and make good passes. He's not a great athlete but he's big for his position so he can get his shot off most of the time. Defensively, there's not another point guard on the team with his upside. Joseph is a darkhorse to earn a meaningful role this season but if he keeps improving at this rate, it might prove impossible to keep him off the court.
Matt Bonner
The Larry Bird of scrimmage was back at it. When there's no pressure, Matt Bonner is a monster. He didn't hit rim on any of his open looks. Coming into last season, Bonner was out of shape. This year, he looks like he's ready to do what he does.
Nando De Colo
Some question Nando De Colo's athleticism but I just don't see that being a major concern. He's not a great athlete but he's a pretty darn good one. He can move and his arms are long and active. The issues with De Colo are more about his decision-making and aggression level. We saw some of that tonight. He was passive at times and other times he was too reckless. If he can figure out how to toe that line, he has a chance to be an NBA player. After seeing him live for the first time, I'm more confident than ever in saying athleticism (or lack thereof) isn't what's going to hold him back.
Josh Powell
Out of all the training camp invitees, Josh Powell probably helped his chances the most. He was more explosive than I've seen him in the past. His defense was stout and he was hustling all over the court. Add a somewhat reliable midrange jumper and he's a pretty good fit on paper. If you squint, you can almost see a middle class Antonio McDyess -- and that's a good thing.
Tyler Wilkerson
In summer league, Tyler Wilkerson has tantalized with his all-around ability. In this scrimmage, he didn't do much to disappoint. He's a power forward with a healthy amount of perimeter skills. He can shoot, dribble and pass well for a PF. He's also athletic enough to hang in the paint. Wilkerson is short (about 6-foot-8) but he might be able to compensate with his all-around abilities. What I want to see out of him going forward is more fight. If he's going to make this team, he's going to have to play like it's life or death. In the scrimmage, he was floating too often and didn't show the passion you want out of a player trying to scratch and claw his way into the league.
Wesley Witherspoon
He has an NBA body. He has NBA athleticism. Based on his resume, it's highly questionable that Wesley Witherspoon has NBA skill but the 22-year-old is one to keep an eye on. If he can learn to do a few things well, it's not inconceivable but that he'll one day make the NBA.
Derrick Brown
There's no doubt that Derrick Brown is a great athlete. Can he do more than run and jump? I'm not sure and tonight didn't give any answers.
Sherron Collins
Considering that the Spurs have about eight players who can play point guard, Sherron Collins isn't going to make the team. It also doesn't help that he's obviously carrying around 20 or 30 extra pounds. That said, if he Toros can get him, the former college standout is probably a worthwhile prospect.
Tiago Splitter
Tiago Splitter sat out the scrimmage with back spasms. The injury is reportedly not serious. Then again, Splitter missed games due to back spasms last season and you never want to hear about a bigman struggling with his back. Get well soon.
Pop
The way the teams were split (I'll assume Pop made the decision) was a little bit surprising. Starting next to Duncan and Parker were Green, Blair and Jackson. I doubt it means anything but you'd think Leonard would have been in that group instead of Jackson. And based on how last season ended, Diaw instead of Blair seemed like the more likely choice. The other surprise was Neal starting at point guard for the other team. At this juncture, Neal is apparently ahead of Mills, Joseph and De Colo on the depth chart at PG. In fact, De Colo played almost exclusively at shooting guard. The Spurs have a deep roster and these decisions in a meaningless scrimmage probably shouldn't be overanalyzed, but they might give us an early clue into what the coaching staff is thinking -- and, besides, if you didn’t want overanalyzation, you wouldn’t have read 2,000 words about a scrimmage.
Prior to the scrimmage, the Spurs ran through some of their offensive sets and also worked on defensive rotations. I was impressed with the overall fitness level of the group and there was a good amount of energy throughout the proceedings.
Considering this was only their third official practice of training camp, I was expecting a lot of sloppiness. To my surprise, the level of play during the scrimmage was quite high and much more competitive than I was expecting.
Tim Duncan
It's obvious that Tim Duncan once again put in great work during the summer. He looks to be in fantastic shape. He was moving with a lot of fluidity and was getting up and down the court well. I was especially impressed with the quickness of his feet during the drills -- let's hope he can remain this mobile for the duration of the season. He really doesn't look like a 36-year-old bigman whose tires have made the trip to Springfield a few times over.
Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili is ready for the regular season. In recent years, Ginobili hasn't been too impressive in the preseason scrimmage. Tonight was different, as he poured in a game-high 21 points. He moved well, he was explosive in movements to the rim and his outside shooting stroke was smooth. Even the little things -- like his passing, his movements away from the ball, his anticipation on defense, etc. -- look regular season ready. It was definitely exciting to see.
Tony Parker
I know this reads like a broken record but Tony Parker was it very good shape. He's slim and was able to turn on his jets to reach the speed only he can reach. Parker showed some rust basketball-wise ... just as you'd expect in the third practice of training camp. But all in all, I saw nothing to suggest Parker can't have another great season.
Kawhi Leonard
This kid's confidence was the story of the scrimmage in my eyes. Kawhi Leonard played like he wants to be a star. And for any player, that's the first step in actually becoming a star -- so that's great news for the Spurs. In the first half, he was the best player on the court. Offensively, his outside shot looked even better than it did last season; he got it off quicker and with a higher release point. His ballhandling was also much better. Last season he was a capable ballhandler but it looks like he might be able to use it as a weapon this season. He's much faster with the ball and he kept his head up, which made him more of a threat to pass (in the scrimmage, he had a handful of nice passes to go along with his 16 points and seven rebounds). To add to his package, Leonard also illustrated a quick jumper off the bounce. Combine what we saw tonight with his great play in summer league and it's exciting to think about the possibilities of his sophomore season.
Danny Green
It'll be interesting to see how Danny Green bounces back from his nightmarish end to last season. Tonight, he looked like solid. He knocked down a few outside shots and he was attentive on defense. Green is another player who appears to be in game shape.
Boris Diaw
I was worried what I'd see when Boris Diaw reported to camp. During the Olympics, he seemingly gained weight each passing day. By the closing ceremonies, he was a boat. I was afraid he'd show up grossly out of shape, especially considering he just inked a new deal. Thankfully, Diaw looks to be in decent shape. He still has some extra weight on him but he looked trimmer than he did during the Olympics. If he keeps working hard, he could get himself in good shape by the start of the regular season. We know he has the talent, we just have to hope he'll show a drive to maximize that talent.
DeJuan Blair
It took DeJuan Blair a few months to work his way into good enough shape to dunk last season. During tonight's scrimmage, Blair was often high above the rim. He looks to be in good shape, he was jumping well and he was able to run the court without tiring. In other words, he's another player who put in work during the offseason. Blair had 19 points, with the most interesting points coming on jumpers. He knocked down a pair of shots from beyond 15 feet ... and the shots actually looked good coming off of his hands. Blair didn't simply launch a no-jump, one-handed missile like we've grown accustomed to seeing. If he legitimately adds a jumper to his arsenal, he'd become a much more valuable player on this team.
Stephen Jackson
After spending most of the summer advancing his musical career, I was curious how Stephen Jackson would look. The answer: Not bad. He's slim and looked relatively toned, however he wasn't moving especially well and his rhythm was lacking. I did like the competitive spirit he played with and his underrated playmaking ability was on display at times.
Eddy Curry
The most intriguing player in the arena was Eddy Curry. How would the talented yet troubled bigman look in his first stint in silver and black? It was a mixed bag. The good: He's skinnier than he's been in a long time. Curry actually gave effort on individual defense and his hands were good. He even made a few thoughtful passes, which is notable for someone regarded as one of the worst passers to ever lace up sneakers. The bad: He had no stamina. A couple times he waved to the bench to be taken out of the game. Due to that lack of stamina, he oftentimes slowly jogged up the court on transition defense. So while he's definitely thinner, it doesn't appear that he's in great shape. Overall, I'm still intrigued. He didn't come close to earning a spot on the team with his play in the scrimmage but he did enough to remain a prospect. If the Spurs think he can get in shape, it's difficult to ignore his imposing size, relatively young age and past exploits.
Gary Neal
Well, the Gary Neal at point guard experiment isn't over. He started at point guard and did about what we've come to expect. Defensively, he was bad. It wasn't even fair when Parker attacked him. Offensively, he's capable. He can score for himself and pass well enough to run the offense. I thought Neal looked like he dropped five or ten pounds compared to last season. Hopefully that translates into quickness -- a trait he desperately needs on the defensive end.
Patrick Mills
There were no surprises out of Patrick Mills. He utilized his speed to score in the open court. He also wasn't afraid to let jumpers fly from any distance. Defensively, he wasn't special but he pressured the ball well. Mills lost weight for the Olympics and he appears to have kept it off. All in all, he didn't steal the show but he also didn't hurt his stock.
Cory Joseph
Following his extremely strong showing in summer league, Cory Joseph is out to prove he can translate that success to the real NBA. So far, so good. He wasn't flashy but I really liked what I saw out of Joseph. He can handle the ball, penetrate into the lane and make good passes. He's not a great athlete but he's big for his position so he can get his shot off most of the time. Defensively, there's not another point guard on the team with his upside. Joseph is a darkhorse to earn a meaningful role this season but if he keeps improving at this rate, it might prove impossible to keep him off the court.
Matt Bonner
The Larry Bird of scrimmage was back at it. When there's no pressure, Matt Bonner is a monster. He didn't hit rim on any of his open looks. Coming into last season, Bonner was out of shape. This year, he looks like he's ready to do what he does.
Nando De Colo
Some question Nando De Colo's athleticism but I just don't see that being a major concern. He's not a great athlete but he's a pretty darn good one. He can move and his arms are long and active. The issues with De Colo are more about his decision-making and aggression level. We saw some of that tonight. He was passive at times and other times he was too reckless. If he can figure out how to toe that line, he has a chance to be an NBA player. After seeing him live for the first time, I'm more confident than ever in saying athleticism (or lack thereof) isn't what's going to hold him back.
Josh Powell
Out of all the training camp invitees, Josh Powell probably helped his chances the most. He was more explosive than I've seen him in the past. His defense was stout and he was hustling all over the court. Add a somewhat reliable midrange jumper and he's a pretty good fit on paper. If you squint, you can almost see a middle class Antonio McDyess -- and that's a good thing.
Tyler Wilkerson
In summer league, Tyler Wilkerson has tantalized with his all-around ability. In this scrimmage, he didn't do much to disappoint. He's a power forward with a healthy amount of perimeter skills. He can shoot, dribble and pass well for a PF. He's also athletic enough to hang in the paint. Wilkerson is short (about 6-foot-8) but he might be able to compensate with his all-around abilities. What I want to see out of him going forward is more fight. If he's going to make this team, he's going to have to play like it's life or death. In the scrimmage, he was floating too often and didn't show the passion you want out of a player trying to scratch and claw his way into the league.
Wesley Witherspoon
He has an NBA body. He has NBA athleticism. Based on his resume, it's highly questionable that Wesley Witherspoon has NBA skill but the 22-year-old is one to keep an eye on. If he can learn to do a few things well, it's not inconceivable but that he'll one day make the NBA.
Derrick Brown
There's no doubt that Derrick Brown is a great athlete. Can he do more than run and jump? I'm not sure and tonight didn't give any answers.
Sherron Collins
Considering that the Spurs have about eight players who can play point guard, Sherron Collins isn't going to make the team. It also doesn't help that he's obviously carrying around 20 or 30 extra pounds. That said, if he Toros can get him, the former college standout is probably a worthwhile prospect.
Tiago Splitter
Tiago Splitter sat out the scrimmage with back spasms. The injury is reportedly not serious. Then again, Splitter missed games due to back spasms last season and you never want to hear about a bigman struggling with his back. Get well soon.
Pop
The way the teams were split (I'll assume Pop made the decision) was a little bit surprising. Starting next to Duncan and Parker were Green, Blair and Jackson. I doubt it means anything but you'd think Leonard would have been in that group instead of Jackson. And based on how last season ended, Diaw instead of Blair seemed like the more likely choice. The other surprise was Neal starting at point guard for the other team. At this juncture, Neal is apparently ahead of Mills, Joseph and De Colo on the depth chart at PG. In fact, De Colo played almost exclusively at shooting guard. The Spurs have a deep roster and these decisions in a meaningless scrimmage probably shouldn't be overanalyzed, but they might give us an early clue into what the coaching staff is thinking -- and, besides, if you didn’t want overanalyzation, you wouldn’t have read 2,000 words about a scrimmage.