Summer League Grades: Spurs vs. Raptors - July 8, 2019

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-raptors-summer-league-game-6/

Lonnie Walker IV is becoming impossible to ignore. Against the Raptors, he was far and away the best player on the court. He looks ready for prime time :tu

[siraulo23]

Easily Walker's best game - showed flashes of being a floor general and playmaker. 4th quarter was forgettable, but other than that he dominated

[slick'81]

Ewwwbanks is still eww to me

[siraulo23]

Dunno wtf Eubank was thinking with the elbow, dirty play

[BillMc]

The amount of potential the young guys have Walker, White, DJ, KJ, Luka, Weatherspoon, even Forbes and Poeltl is really exciting. Nice mix with the veterans.

[slick'81]

The amount of potential the young guys have Walker, White, DJ, KJ, Luka, Weatherspoon, even Forbes and Poeltl is really exciting. Nice mix with the veterans.


8 guys 25 or younger:tu

[DAF86]

Does anyone else see a glitch on Walker's legs when he shoots a fadeaway? He does something weird with his legs but I can't really tell what it is.

[BillMc]

8 guys 25 or younger:tu
:bobo

[r0drig0lac]

Walker is definitely an elite talent, and the only player on the current roster with offensive superstar ceiling (Harden / Kawhi level), his combination of agility, athleticism and shooting mechanics is a scary package if developed in the right way. In today's game he has already started using his facility to create shots for himself, to create for his teammates, as soon as he mastered this ability, it's over, I have no doubt that he will be better than some similar players in the league (Oladipo, Mitchell, etc).

[Thunder1]

Thanx again for the grades!!..

[TDMVPDPOY]

Walker is definitely an elite talent, and the only player on the current roster with offensive superstar ceiling (Harden / Kawhi level), his combination of agility, athleticism and shooting mechanics is a scary package if developed in the right way. In today's game he has already started using his facility to create shots for himself, to create for his teammates, as soon as he mastered this ability, it's over, I have no doubt that he will be better than some similar players in the league (Oladipo, Mitchell, etc).

still needs to do that against nba talent, not nba gleague scrubs

[poopbox]

Walker has to be getting 1st or 2nd guard off the bench rotation minutes...he is to good to be playing in the summer league or g league and is only going to take the next steps in his development by playing against nba players...

Eubanks has a lot of warts to his game...but with Morris on the team and probably starting at the 4...that moves Poeltl to the bench...and I expect Rudy and Carroll to alternate between backup 3 and 4...so Eubanks is basically going to be the 4th big...which is about as good as he is...I'm fine with that...

Ben Moore turns down way to many open shots...something you can't do at the nba level anymore...

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Thanks Timvp!

Lonnie looked great!

Think we’ll see more zone defense? :lol. That was awful.

[Mr. Body]

Dunno wtf Eubank was thinking with the elbow, dirty play

Lol, like elbows aren't thrown in the NBA. Dude just ran into it.

Eubanks had a monster block that was called a foul for some reason. He soared with both hands straight up and just stuffed the fuck out of the drive. Timvp is wrong about his potential. He has the athletic profile, has a nice touch in the paint, is mobile and active, and tough.

[Mr. Body]

Walker is definitely an elite talent, and the only player on the current roster with offensive superstar ceiling (Harden / Kawhi level), his combination of agility, athleticism and shooting mechanics is a scary package if developed in the right way. In today's game he has already started using his facility to create shots for himself, to create for his teammates, as soon as he mastered this ability, it's over, I have no doubt that he will be better than some similar players in the league (Oladipo, Mitchell, etc).

C'mon, man. Not better than Oladipo, who is close to a top tier player in the league. I wonder if people actually watch the rest of the league? Oladipo is who Walker most reminds me of right now -- straight line athleticism, strength -- if VO is a better defender and not the same shooter.

[NASpurs]

The amount of potential the young guys have Walker, White, DJ, KJ, Luka, Weatherspoon, even Forbes and Poeltl is really exciting. Nice mix with the veterans.

I’m interested to see a lineup of our small 3 (Walker, Murray and White) play together and see if it’s a train wreck. All 3 need the ball except there’s only one ball.

[John B]

Thanks Timvp. Lonnie is a revelation to watch. We got ourselves an Oladipo, Lou Williams, Crawford, unguardable offensive force. 6th man will be between Lonnie and Gay, at least this season. Easily cancels out Belli off rotation, and I’m not surprised about the trade rumor over Belli, hopefully for our backup big.

I like Eubanks offensive skills. He is trying very hard. But for crying out loud, guard somebody. The guy is 6’11” and should learn how to just raise his arms straight up. Boxout. I think he could pass for a 4.

[Dhbsr555]

C'mon, man. Not better than Oladipo, who is close to a top tier player in the league. I wonder if people actually watch the rest of the league? Oladipo is who Walker most reminds me of right now -- straight line athleticism, strength -- if VO is a better defender and not the same shooter.

Mud wi be better than victor you can take that to the bank ... whether it’s with The Spurs or not idk but Lonnie will be legit

[RC_Drunkford]

Does anyone else see a glitch on Walker's legs when he shoots a fadeaway? He does something weird with his legs but I can't really tell what it is.

he curls his right leg to offset him fading away while in the air and keeping his balance. Nephew does it the exact same way

[BillMc]

Haven't seen an SL game where Lonnie played this year. How's his defense look?

[GreekSpursfan]

Summer league games don't mean much to me tbh they are just practice and preparation games. Fathead looked like the second coming of Magic if people remember, Cristian Wood from the Bucks looked like Giannis 2.0 and the Bucks still let him go. Need to see at least half of what he showed here against real competition.

[Harry Callahan]

I guess the Spurs FO messed up on Walker huh? NOPE. To get a guy with the level of explosiveness he has at 18 last year is once again impressive.

Lonnie was never healthy enough last year to show what he's got. Now he can get anywhere on the floor and score. I would kind of shut him down at this point and give time to the rookies.

[Dhbsr555]

I guess the Spurs FO messed up on Walker huh? NOPE. To get a guy with the level of explosiveness he has at 18 last year is once again impressive.

Lonnie was never healthy enough last year to show what he's got. Now he can get anywhere on the floor and score. I would kind of shut him down at this point and give time to the rookies.

Agree no reason for injury.

[RC_Drunkford]

Haven't seen an SL game where Lonnie played this year. How's his defense look?

improved. Had 2 steals and 2 blocks in the last game. He'll have to improve his positioning, but that will come with playing time

[Drom John]

I focused on Magette and Galen Robinson.
Magette has better handles and size, passes to the sides and usually pulls the receiver safely away from the basket, is active on defending the ball handler, but not the passer.
Robinson is all downhill, faster, passes leading receiver toward the basket, more aware of perimeter shooters (rather than perimeter safe passes).
I'd like Weatherspoon as the primary Austin PG, with Robinson as the backup.

NBA.com wrote up Lonnie as the star of the day, but I liked other players better.
Zhaire Smith and Hamidou Diallo both played very complete games.
And Mr. Fundamental Jr. was Matt Costello. I focused on Costello, and was very impressed with his improvement shooting a five feet from the basket. Matt looks like the perfect G-League center, anchoring the defense.

Thomas Robinson was very good at talking, almost coaching, on defense.

I sat five rows behind Brent Barry who was accommodating to signatures and selfies during breaks.

I did one day of LVSL in 2017, two in 2018 and three this year. Maybe four in 2020.

[wildbill2u]

Does anyone else see a glitch on Walker's legs when he shoots a fadeaway? He does something weird with his legs but I can't really tell what it is.

I posted about it the other day, hoping it was just a anomaly caused by his move. He tends to move his left leg out to the side on his jumper, especially when moving to his left. He doesn't get fully squared up and basically is jumping off his right leg.

That can give a bad trajectory to the shot, but worse to me is the way he comes down on his single right leg with momentum to the left. That is a leg or ankle injury just waiting to happen.

[313]

I don't know, I haven't seen anything that special yet. I'm sure any end of the rotation NBA guard could drop 40 in SL. Hoping it carries over in the RS.

[DAF86]

he curls his right leg to offset him fading away while in the air and keeping his balance. Nephew does it the exact same way

Nah, it's this:


I posted about it the other day, hoping it was just a anomaly caused by his move. He tends to move his left leg out to the side on his jumper, especially when moving to his left. He doesn't get fully squared up and basically is jumping off his right leg.

That can give a bad trajectory to the shot, but worse to me is the way he comes down on his single right leg with momentum to the left. That is a leg or ankle injury just waiting to happen.

I wonder if he does this because of the injury he had on his left leg.

[wildbill2u]

I think he may be trying to keep his balance with that left leg out, but damn it sure looks like he leaves the right leg in a dangerous position for an injury.

[Ice009]

surely Chip Engelland is watching Lonnie and would be correcting him if he thinks he's doing something dangerous that could injure him in the long run?

[BillMc]

improved. Had 2 steals and 2 blocks in the last game. He'll have to improve his positioning, but that will come with playing time

Thanks