BSPN power rankings calls out Centerpiece 2018 by name

[phxspurfan]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25373693/nba-power-rankings-our-expert-panel-ranks-league-30-teams-ahead-week-7

:lol he's definitely our 2018 Bonner, along with Mills. Being targeted by everybody. Just needs to open a sandwich shop.

19. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 9-10

PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK
16 1-3 @CHI, @MIN, HOU, POR

It seems like the Spurs' 6-2 start was a long time ago. San Antonio has lost eight of 11 games since then, and it's reasonable to wonder how much longer coach Gregg Popovich can stick with Dante Cunningham as a starter. Cunningham has the Spurs' worst net rating in that 11-game span by a significant margin, as San Antonio has been outscored by 16.2 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. -- MacMahon

[timvp]

I've never thought starting Cunningham is a good idea, so I can't disagree with ESPN's blurb.


:lol he's definitely our 2018 Bonner

To be fair to Bonner, he was always the Plus/Minus King even when SpursTalk hated him.

[Leetonidas]

In fairness it's not really his fault, Pop is trying to use him in a retarded way because he's the only one capable of "guarding" (if you can call it that) the other teams SF

[Play Boban]

Start Poeltl........

[Chinook]

Eh, it's what it is. Only thing Cun can do to help the team more than he currently is is to give Rudy his Achilles. If Bertans can start holding up better against contact, he can start taking over more minutes, but failing that, Dante needs to play a lot. Gay just doesn't seem able to.

[Fusternino]

Give Q-Pon or even Metu some run, tbh.

[slick'81]

Sad thing is who would be better

[JeffDuncan]

The alternatives are:

Bertans.
Eubanks.
Metu.
Moore.
Pondexter.
Poeltl??
Gasol in a boot.

So there we are.

[TD 21]

He rates 9th among listed SF's in ESPN's defensive "real plus-minus" and 69th overall, while also ranking 2nd on the team in defensive box score plus-minus (Gasol is 1st, but he's also played only 9 games).

You could argue that they're going to be bad defensively no matter what rotation they utilize with this personnel, so they might as well start Bertans and goose the offense.

If Walker so much as shows a modicum of competency, he should probably start eventually . . . but this is all talking around the obvious, which is, if they're serious about trying to make the playoffs, they need to make a trade.

[DAF86]

Eh, it's what it is. Only thing Cun can do to help the team more than he currently is is to give Rudy his Achilles. If Bertans can start holding up better against contact, he can start taking over more minutes, but failing that, Dante needs to play a lot. Gay just doesn't seem able to.

Emmh not, Bertans could literally be a traffic cone on defense and he would still bring more value to a team than Cunningham. Cunningham isn't good at anything, not even defense.

[JeffDuncan]

Strangely enough, Dante is shooting .485 from 3pt range this season, which is better than Bertans at .458.

Fun with stats.

[alpha_HaZE]

Hopefully, Lonnie can fill that role. If not, I don't see Bertans developing as a defender and like other have mentioned Rudy can't play extended minutes.

[phxspurfan]

ESPN's quoted stat here, net rating, probably takes into account offensive and defensive production. So basically starting someone at SF who can score a bit (Bertans, for instance), may help the net rating. Even if he can't guard a lick.


Also in watching tonight's game against the Bulls, it's clear teams are just ignoring him on offense, which leads to easy double teams on the scorers like Aldridge. Starting a real threat would probably space the floor better, letting the buckets come easier.

Perhaps someone wants to call up some stats that prove that LMA + Cunningham lineups lead to LMA scoring less (due to double teams). I'd assume that's the case from what I'm seeing.

[Poolboy5623]

It's a league of small forwards, and the Spurs have Dante Cunningham. THE END.

[JeffDuncan]

Gosh the Bulls suk.

[ducks]

Why not call out pop

[Jsmoothexpress]

The alternatives are:

Bertans.
Eubanks.
Metu.
Moore.
Pondexter.
Poeltl??
Gasol in a boot.

So there we are.
I wish they would give Julian Washburn a look up in Austin.

[Kawhitstorm]

:pop:: Dante is a great leader of MEN!!!!

[runningnurse71]

I wish they would give Julian Washburn a look up in Austin. Agree! I have watched this dude since last year, he’s 6’8” and I think better defender than Cunningham.

[DAF86]

Strangely enough, Dante is shooting .485 from 3pt range this season, which is better than Bertans at .458.

Fun with stats.

On less than 2 attempts per game. Tony has entire seasons of shooting over 40% from 3, but that didn't make him a 3 pt threat.

In today's NBA passing up open looks from 3 is a killer.

[Arcadian]

The problem with Cunningham is, he's just not very...good at anything. Yeah...that's going to be a bit problematic :lol

[Spursfanfromafar]

He is going to start till the Spurs pry out Trevor Ariza or Demarre Carroll on the waiver deadline in March. Or till hopefully Huestis gets healthy and actually is a defensive option in the starting lineup.

[r0drig0lac]

In fairness it's not really his fault, Pop is trying to use him in a retarded way because he's the only one capable of "guarding" (if you can call it that) the other teams SF



It's a league of small forwards, and the Spurs have Dante Cunningham. THE END.

[Jsmoothexpress]

Agree! I have watched this dude since last year, he’s 6’8” and I think better defender than Cunningham.
With close to a 7 foot wingspan and can shoot the he three ball.

[UncleDennis]

It's a league of small forwards, and the Spurs have Dante Cunningham. THE END.

ding-ding-ding

[james evans]

It's a league of small forwards, and the Spurs have Dante Cunningham. THE END.
Popovich made Duncan and Leonard. Surely he can turn Cunningham into a 20 POV scorer

[Leetonidas]

Popovich made Duncan and Leonard. Surely he can turn Cunningham into a 20 POV scorer

Lol no one has ever said that about duncan

[YGWHI]

Cun has not been that great but I guess most people are overreacting here. The Spurs will make the playoffs and fans will forget this weird start of the season.