Lowe: Davis Bertans and the rollicking Spurs bench

[Man Mountain]

Davis Bertans and the rollicking Spurs bench

Even with Manu Ginobili gone, the Spurs' bench remains a manic delight -- with Patty Mills and Marco Belinelli in constant whirring motion, and Davis Bertans drilling everything in sight now that he has finally (maybe?) nailed down a permanent rotation role. (I don't care what the tracking data says; Mills and Belinelli have never stood still on a basketball court. In their deepest sleep cycles, they probably leap from their beds and sleep-cut around imaginary off-ball screens.)

Bertans is putting up a 50/50/90 line and spacing the floor for Jakob Poeltl's tap-dancy rim-runs. The red-hot Spurs -- 8-2 over a home-heavy stretch -- have outscored opponents by 13.4 points per 100 possessions with Mills, Belinelli and Bertans on the floor. Those three unlock a ton of space for pick-and-rolls between Poeltl and one of San Antonio's shakier-shooting ball handlers (i.e., anyone but Bryn Forbes).

Bertans keeps the ball moving, too. Poeltl has perked up of late. Gregg Popovich will face some dilemmas when Pau Gasol returns. Gasol is an all-time high-post passer, and can work as a hub with Mills, Belinelli and Bertans orbiting him.

Bertans and Poeltl have earned minutes. Bertans is even hanging on defense, and looks more at ease switching onto guards -- even if he suffers from happy feet now and then.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25626559/10-things-like-including-luka-lebron-dimes-nba

[John B]

Agreed. That 2nd unit is a delight to watch. I must sway better offensive flow as the iso-heavy starting line-up. Davis rebounding and good defense is a plus and would earn him more minutes. Keep shooting the ball Davis!!!

Poeltl also has been very consistent playing big, defense on Jokic? Wow. Aggressive rebounding, his cutting to the basket is sensational. He just needs a couple of hook shots and maybe a consistent 8 footer and the kid would be a starter tbh

[wildbill2u]

I've been watching Bertans' rebounding under the basket and lane area. He has a new aggressiveness in fighting for rebounds against heavier stronger players. All you have to do is watch his face. He's feeling it!

[spurraider21]

we always knew bertans had the capacity to be a real weapon given his height and release. good to see it finally coming to fruition.

[DAF86]

Somebody tell lowe that it's called the 3pt squad.

[DAF86]

BTW, in before Bertans gets hit with the law of averages and finally has a bad shooting night, and the usual suspects come out of the woodwork to release all their repressed anger.

[Mr. Body]

Wow, that must have been painful for Lowe to write.

[timvp]

Further proof that basketball isn't a solvable math equation: I desperately wanted Ginobili to play one more year to help the bench (Poeltl, specifically) transition into a new era but now advanced metrics say the bench is more impactful today than it ever was during Ginobili's days. And it's gotten even better after fellow Hall of Famer Gasol went out.

Obviously there are reasons (smallish sample size, starters not as good, shooters on fire, etc) but that's not something anyone could have predicted. :dizzy

[skookumchuck]

BTW, in before Bertans gets hit with the law of averages and finally has a bad shooting night, and the usual suspects come out of the woodwork to release all their repressed anger.

He's already had multiple this season. Waive him before it's too late.

[TheGreatYacht]

Thank god Manure retired!

[Dex]

The bench has always been an underrated factor of Pop's equation.

Casual fans focus on the stars and starters, but historically, the bench is where the Spurs get their separation, and this year is no different. They are often responsible for cutting into deficits, or turning close games into blowouts.

Whether it's Tim and Tony or Demar and Lamar....the starters' job is just to keep up with other teams stars and keep the game close, if not gain a lead.

Then the bench mob comes in, and the game changes. Suddenly, opponents have to stop defending the mid-range, and start defending a swirling offense that covers the entire court. Even if you know it is coming, it's hard to shift gears like that...and once you do, the starters are back to punish from inside.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the first unit and the second unit play significantly different styles...and then when Pop mixes and matches them, it makes the math that much harder for opponents to figure out.

[Play Boban]

The bench has always been an underrated factor of Pop's equation.

Casual fans focus on the stars and starters, but historically, the bench is where the Spurs get their separation, and this year is no different. They are often responsible for cutting into deficits, or turning close games into blowouts.

Whether it's Tim and Tony or Demar and Lamar....the starters' job is just to keep up with other teams stars and keep the game close, if not gain a lead.

Then the bench mob comes in, and the game changes. Suddenly, opponents have to stop defending the mid-range, and start defending a swirling offense that covers the entire court. Even if you know it is coming, it's hard to shift gears like that...and once you do, the starters are back to punish from inside.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the first unit and the second unit play significantly different styles...and then when Pop mixes and matches them, it makes the math that much harder for opponents to figure out.
Troof bomb

[John B]

The bench has always been an underrated factor of Pop's equation.

Casual fans focus on the stars and starters, but historically, the bench is where the Spurs get their separation, and this year is no different. They are often responsible for cutting into deficits, or turning close games into blowouts.

Whether it's Tim and Tony or Demar and Lamar....the starters' job is just to keep up with other teams stars and keep the game close, if not gain a lead.

Then the bench mob comes in, and the game changes. Suddenly, opponents have to stop defending the mid-range, and start defending a swirling offense that covers the entire court. Even if you know it is coming, it's hard to shift gears like that...and once you do, the starters are back to punish from inside.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the first unit and the second unit play significantly different styles...and then when Pop mixes and matches them, it makes the math that much harder for opponents to figure out.
Nice take on the different styles between the 1st and 2nd unit. I like it :toast

[SAGirl]

They are due to get hit with some cold shooting but hopefully it affects one guy at a time and not all at the same time. Mills and Marco have had cold streaks and Forbes had one too not that long ago. Davis is due. The fact they have several guys that can get hot hopefully spares them (as a group) from some real downswing.

Funny that a lot of credit goes to the bench (well deserved) and not the team's "stars"

[spurraider21]

obviously bertans is not going to sustain a 50% 3pt shooting clip... but i'm trying to remember a more dangerous 3pt shooting threat that the spurs have ever had. i mean Green has awesome for a while, but bertans' size/position makes him more difficult to defend.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

I like when Demar is involved in the unit bc it gives the bench an added element. Him getting those bulldozer screens set by Poetl help his driving game. And as a willing passer, DeRozan has no problem sharing the ball. But when Patty, Bertans, and Marco catch fire, there is no stopping us. How often they can do that in a 7 game series is what I think will determine our playoff success. More so than how DeRozan plays. If our bench goes cold in 4 games then that's the series right there. Luckily we actually have shooters to choose from this year and we don't necessarily have to stick with the cold hand (I'm talking about you Danny!) like we did in years past

[phxspurfan]

:reading These writers be reading forums to develop their takes... :reading

[John B]

I like when Demar is involved in the unit bc it gives the bench an added element. Him getting those bulldozer screens set by Poetl help his driving game. And as a willing passer, DeRozan has no problem sharing the ball. But when Patty, Bertans, and Marco catch fire, there is no stopping us. How often they can do that in a 7 game series is what I think will determine our playoff success. More so than how DeRozan plays. If our bench goes cold in 4 games then that's the series right there. Luckily we actually have shooters to choose from this year and we don't necessarily have to stick with the cold hand (I'm talking about you Danny!) like we did in years past
That’s why defense wins championships. The Denver game would’ve been below 100 also if not for the last minute 3pts barrage. I think this is where White/LW4 backcourt would help, especially when DJ comes back next year. The 2nd unit has been good getting us the lead, but it’s up for the defense to maintain and close the game. I remember when Drob/Timmy would keep the team within striking distance knowing that comes the last 2 minutes Timmy can score down low, but more importantly, stop the other team from scoring.

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

obviously bertans is not going to sustain a 50% 3pt shooting clip... but i'm trying to remember a more dangerous 3pt shooting threat that the spurs have ever had. i mean Green has awesome for a while, but bertans' size/position makes him more difficult to defend.Dale Ellis