Can Spurs Staff Develop Patty to Super Patty?

[jkid12456]

I want patty to drive, penetrate like tony parker, do you think in a couple years patty can do this, if the staff are willing to sacrifice a lot of time to work on patty? I'm sure patty will develop this type of tony's skill set, he will be with tony for a long time.

[jkid12456]

Looking forward to Patty Show tonight!

[hater]

He's our very own Bobby Jackson. No he will never amount to anything more than that. But that is pretty damn good IMO

[BillMc]

I just hope we re-sign Patty when his contract's up. He's a spark plug off the bench and a good team guy.

[RD2191]

Possibly if he had more size, tbh. He's just too short imo. I could be wrong though, he is a great hustle player and overall a positive player that brings energy to the team.

[Mikeanaro]

If they tried to make Neal a PG and run the offense sure why not

[Boomersgold]

Are you related to Patty? Every one of your posts is about him. :lol

[superjames1992]

Super Patty. :lol

[G-Dawgg]

He reminds me so much of the Raptors Mighty Mouse

[TJastal]

Possibly if he had more size, tbh. He's just too short imo. I could be wrong though, he is a great hustle player and overall a positive player that brings energy to the team.

TJ Ford was only like an inch taller and 20 lbs lighter but he was awesome and you miss him right?

[ThaBigFundamental21]

Another undersized PG who gets shut down in the paint by elite teams or teams with length? No thank you.

[RD2191]

TJ Ford was only like an inch taller and 20 lbs lighter but he was awesome and you miss him right?

I don't even remember watching TJ Ford play, tbh.

[Chinook]

TJ Ford was only like an inch taller and 20 lbs lighter but he was awesome and you miss him right?

Ford was the oppsite of Mills. Ford was a play-maker to a fault like Diaw was. He was definitely a true PG an not a star at that. If Mills were taller, he might be a star two-guard. But his size restricts him to play the point (as a bench player at that), so his lack of PG skills and below-average defense absolutely cripples his star potential.

[TJastal]

Ford was the oppsite of Mills. Ford was a play-maker to a fault like Diaw was. He was definitely a true PG an not a star at that. If Mills were taller, he might be a star two-guard. But his size restricts him to play the point (as a bench player at that), so his lack of PG skills and below-average defense absolutely cripples his star potential.

I really think some here need to look past the size of the man and see what he has so far accomplished this year as well as the strides he is taking to make improvements to his game (in particular his defense and court vision). He may never thrive in the league as a starter but it is not unheard of for guys his size to succeed and have successful careers. Some off the top of my head: Aaron Brooks 6'0 160lbs, Nate Robinson 5'9" 180lbs, Kyle Lowery 6'0 175lbs.

[Old School 44]

No doubt Patty can have a very successful career (meaning he will be in the league for a while). Great attitude, fantastic personality and I hope he does re-sign with the Spurs, but I do think as a "tweener" as others have mentioned, I doubt if the Spurs can develop him into "Super Patty", whatever that means.

Incredible game the other night, but it was the Bobcats, and with the limited options due to health, there's really not a lot of pressure to perform. You know, as soon as he has a bad game, there will be numerous "Trade Patty" threads, or for you SA local/Whataburger fans - "Super Patty Melt" threads. Damn...I'm hungry now. :)

[TJastal]

No doubt Patty can have a very successful career (meaning he will be in the league for a while). Great attitude, fantastic personality and I hope he does re-sign with the Spurs, but I do think as a "tweener" as others have mentioned, I doubt if the Spurs can develop him into "Super Patty", whatever that means.

Incredible game the other night, but it was the Bobcats, and with the limited options due to health, there's really not a lot of pressure to perform. You know, as soon as he has a bad game, there will be numerous "Trade Patty" threads, or for you SA local/Whataburger fans - "Super Patty Melt" threads. Damn...I'm hungry now. :)

I would understand downplaying a win against the bucks. Bobcats actually aren't doing too badly though. They're currently and 8th seed in the EC and 7-5 in their last 12 before playing the spurs with some impressive victories in that string (warriors, nuggets, clippers)

[Old School 44]

I would understand downplaying a win against the bucks. Bobcats actually aren't doing too badly though. They're currently and 8th seed in the EC and 7-5 in their last 12 before playing the spurs with some impressive victories in that string (warriors, nuggets, clippers) Maybe so, but 8th seed in the East, is lottery bound in the West. They are not even close to .500 at 22 and 29!

[heyheymymy]

yeah I don't want to read to much into a great performance against the bobcats, but mills has been looking a bit more polished this season. the lost weight and better conditioning, the familiarity with the system moreso now than ever before, and the spike in mins he is getting this season seem to have turned a corner for patty.

just noticing a little bounce pass to duncan for a jumper last night and thinking how little awareness moves like that indicate to me that he is improving subtly as each game passes.

I think this year, he might be able to hit some big neal-like shots in the postseason, but I look toward his performances against the better teams (okc, mia, por) as the regular season draws to an end to measure how much I think I could expect from him in the playoffs.

[DMC]

It doesn't matter what Mills has accomplished in terms of scoring the ball. It's about what he brings to a particular system overall, since no one is going to build a team around him. Up tempo offensive systems will benefit from his play because he can play extended minutes and get up and down the court, so he'd be good in Portland (again) or perhaps a younger LA squad, but many of the league's best systems feature half court sets that Mills would struggle with because he's just not good enough defensively to cover any holes. Teams would rather have a George Hill who cannot run the point for shit and isn't a great shooter, but can defend at the other end than have Mills who can shoot the lights out but cannot defend. Poor defense isn't covered by good offense on a player by player basis. See Kevin Love or Carmelo Anthony for examples.

[sook]

wtf is this crabby patty nonsense.

[cd021]

Maybe so, but 8th seed in the East, is lottery bound in the West. They are not even close to .500 at 22 and 29!

They are a good defensive team though.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

I think all Patty needs, is the go ahead. His vision stands to improve of course, but his ball handling was definitely improved. He isn't too shabby a passer, and I think Patty has the will to become a lot better in that area. The dude is a firecracker, and is obsessed with exerting every last bit of energy he has, when he's on the court. Patty is young, and as he continues to show his worth, and becomes trusted with more touches, he will just get better and better (as he already has been).

[Dex]

Not sure if Patty has what it takes to be an all-around star. To no fault of his own, he just lacks the physical attributes and talents to take it to the next level.

1) He's too short. Although only a couple inches shorter than Tony Parker at 6'0, that two inches make a big difference in a game predicated on size. Patty obviously has the speed and skill to compete amongst the trees, but not sure if he can do so at an All-Star level. He's always going to have a harder time than most guys getting his shot off, especially around the basket, and his defense will always be limited as well.

2) He shoots to score. Patty CAN drive, and has some decent finishing moves around the basket (that nifty sweeping hook going to his left against the Cats was a thing of beauty). However, when Patty really gets it going, it is because his jump shot gets hot. I'd estimate that 80% of his scores against Charlotte came on jumpers off the dribble, particularly that running pull-up. Patty is as good of a shooter as they come, but the law of averages always finds a way to catch up, which means that when the jumper isn't falling, Patty struggles to score consistently.

3) He lacks true court vision. Mills can make plays and is not a dumb player by any means; he is just not a true point guard. His focus will always be to shoot first, pass second. That mentality works well within the Spurs system, but it also dampens the effect Mills can have on the court. Defenders can key on him easier without having to worry about the threat of the pass. If Patty were an above average passer, it would also open up his own scoring options, but as it stands his offense is still fairly one-dimensional. He's a shooting guard stuck in a point guard's body.

I'd put Mills ceiling as either a quality backup PG on a good team, or perhaps a starting PG on a struggling team.

[ceds]

in Parkers rookie season he would get into paint with ease but always pass the ball out .

His 2nd season he would get into the paint and had the "tear drop floater" from about five feet out.

Over he years he developed a variety of spins reverses, and change of pace to get his lay ups. The spurs have developed him to the oint where the tear drop is no longer necessary in his game.

One thing about mills is that he is one of the top 5 fastest players in the league ..just as fast as a young Parker.

He can flat out shoot the ball as good as any PG in the L so if he sticks and the spurs can develop his scoring in the paint then watch out.

TP was never a PG to begin with but he became one with us....Mills has that same Moxy. We better keep him