I guess Pop isn’t playing Lonnie this year...

[gospursgojas]

...and is also pulling out our best player in forth
...and is also giving Lyles real minutes over Poeltl
...and is also allowing Marco to stay on floor while he’s getting scorched on D
...and is also letting Patty shoot 3 for 11
...and is also DNPing the only real signing this off season


Ok, cool.

[Pavlov]

Isn't there already a list of grievances after this win thread?

[DC23]

...and is also pulling out our best player in forth
...and is also giving Lyles real minutes over Poeltl
...and is also allowing Marco to stay on floor while he’s getting scorched on D
...and is also letting Patty shoot 3 for 11
...and is also DNPing the only real signing this off season


Ok, cool.

1. Murray on minutes restriction coming off injury
2. I thought Lyles and Poeltl each played appropriate minutes and had strong impact
3. Agreed, hopefully we see Carroll and/or Lonnie as the season progresses. Only Game 1
4. Agreed, 11 shots is too many for Patty (regardless if he has a good shooting night)
5. Back to #3

[MannyIsGod]

Man its game 1 and this shit is already getting unbearable. I agree I'd rather see Lonnie over Beli but its game one.

[SpurPadre]

As for Carroll, he didn't do himself any favors after a bad preseason. He simply looked lost in the system but he will gradually get acclimated and earn his minutes.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Yes, I expect Walker and Carrol will end the season with zero minutes.

Seems like I remember that after the first preseason game, a lot of people had decided that Pop had already decided to make Poeltl a permanent starter this season. That was a swing and a miss, too.

[RC_Drunkford]

Why are people surprised at this? It'll need an injury for him to figure this out

[Rummpd]

What questioning the all brilliant Popovich?

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

:cry hating pop to own the libs :cry

[jjktkk]

1 game in and OP assumes Walker won't play this year. Nice TMZ drama thread OP. :lol

[Chomag]

Maybe Lonnie needs to focus on his towel waving skills this season?

[MultiTroll]

meh looked like Pop was going to chain DWhite to the bench last year.

Time will tell. Maybe Patty will get pregnant or something.

[TheGreatYacht]

Getting The Suckers triggered after game 1 :lol good shit OP

I called it in the preseason when he was destroying the competition. Folks getting wet for no reason knowing Marco and Mills are still on that roster. He’ll get minutes, when bodies start dropping and to get the wombat some rest in garbage time.

[TheGreatYacht]

meh looked like Pop was going to chain DWhite to the bench last year.

Time will tell. Maybe Patty will get pregnant or something.
No lol. Parker left and Murray tore his ACL. Pop was FORCED to play him :lol let’s not try to give him credit for that

[NASpurs]

prayingdog.jpg for Marco and Wombat to get deported.

[Rosewood]

This thread sucks and OP was bottlefed hard liquor as a baby.

[look_at_g_shred]

This thread sucks and OP was bottlefed hard liquor as a baby.
LMAO

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Man its game 1 and this shit is already getting unbearable. I agree I'd rather see Lonnie over Beli but its game one.
That shit don't fly when it comes to Pop son. He was starting Cunningham all the way until December last year. We ain't seeing Lonnie this year PERIOD

[tmtcsc]

I agree Lonnie should be getting minutes but lets not pretend he did anything in preseason to warrant a whole lot of time. He still looks lost on the court to me. He looked great against the summer league scrubs but that's about it.

[SpurSpike]

I was very unsure about Lonnie when everyone else seemed pretty high on him. Mainly because he was atrocious at defense and he looked completely lost without the ball in his hands in the few outings he had last year. He seemed like the type of player that knew how to score but didn't know how to do anything else.

However, this year on that preseason game against the Rockets he won me over because he guarded Harden very well and moved decent without the ball. Harden is one of the most difficult players in the NBA to guard because he draws so many fouls. Lonnie showed me in that game that he has stepped up his defensive game and has some real star potential. He really shouldn't be ignored and needs to be given at least a few meaningful non garbage minutes a game to build his confidence.

[SpursDynasty85]

Lonnie will get random starts when Derozan needs to rest and will play a lot more if Belli needs rest. He'll have to look amazing in practice to break the rotation. Pop loves his Milli Belinilli. lol.

[poopbox]

As much as I have been complaining about Pop not playing Lonnie I do expect him to play Lonnie over Beli as the season goes on...

Knicks hunted Marco down every play he was on the court...just like ever other team will do...and eventually he is going to take enough bad shots and have enough 2 for 9 games where he gets roasted on defense that Pop is going to have to put him out to pasture...

Mills is the only guy on this team who is allowed to continuously be a net negative and continuously get minutes

[Fireball]

Getting The Suckers triggered after game 1 :lol good shit OP

I called it in the preseason when he was destroying the competition..

Lonnie was not really good in the preseason ... he has the ability to create his own shot but is not hitting it
i still want him to play instead of belli but he destroyed nobody in the nba yet

[RC_Drunkford]

Lonnie was not really good in the preseason ... he has the ability to create his own shot but is not hitting it
i still want him to play instead of belli but he destroyed nobody in the nba yet

that will change when he gets consistent playing time. Walker has superior athleticism which means he can get his shot off against anybody. Pop was testing it in the last preseason game against Memphis where he put Lonnie in the pick & roll on every posession at the end of the 4th

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Maybe a few more sh!t games from Marco will convince Pop that Lonnie needs some run.

[JuneJive]

I can see Pop randomly putting him in to defend some superstars.

[ceperez]

I agree Lonnie should be getting minutes but lets not pretend he did anything in preseason to warrant a whole lot of time. He still looks lost on the court to me. He looked great against the summer league scrubs but that's about it.

:bobo

Yes, he didn't do too well in preseason. Well, he's insurance in case that DeRozan bolts.

[ceperez]

I can see Pop randomly putting him in to defend some superstars.

I'll be great if he become the Spurs goto defensive specialist.

[playblair]

its not pops fault gm wright put together a shite roster

[Slippy]

You know it's one game but second season for a rookie. You expect the strictest of coaches to back him . Lonnie should have set role even if its only a few mins.

You also got Derrick white playing less mins off bench after a breakout last season as a starter. His min are restricted even more because pop feels pairing him with Dejounte is suicide.

Playing Patty and Marco consistently big mins off the bench isnt however?

[Dverde]

its not pops fault gm wright put together a shite roster

:lol You think the GM runs the operation in San Antonio.

[SpurPadre]

I can see Pop randomly putting him in to defend some superstars.

Guess again:

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/72/60/21/15402075/3/rawImage.jpg

[weebo]

Give it time.. Walker didn’t impress enough to warrant minutes this early. He’ll see some minutes soon because the guys have ahead him sucks ass.

[dabom7]

Give it time.. Walker didn’t impress enough to warrant minutes this early. He’ll see some minutes soon because the guys have ahead him sucks ass.

You don't impress enough to warrant posts, nigga. :lol

IV is a star. Pop needs to learn his lesson after driving out Kawhi with this BS.

[Dennis the Menace]

Guess again:

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/72/60/21/15402075/3/rawImage.jpg

In the PLAYOFFS. Lol the “Pop special”

[bdictjames]

Is Demarre Carroll this season's Pondexter?

I feel like Lyles is more suited to today's NBA over Poeltl, tbh.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

Not playing Lonnie is inexcusable. Pop should be looking at life after Demar. This team needs to get younger and more athletic. Walker is both and very talented.

[acoelho1]

I fully expect Walker to play this year and Pop wants his young players to earn those minutes. The key for Walker is to play solid defense when his number gets called.

[duncan2k5]

Walker ain't gonna learn to play VS NBA competition sitting on the bench... Him looking lost in preseason means he needs some game action to figure things out

[Frenchfred]

You don't impress enough to warrant posts, nigga. :lol

IV is a star. Pop needs to learn his lesson after driving out Kawhi with this BS.

Kawhi didn’t want to stay in San Antonio. He’s from Cali and LA and its surroundings are way more fun than SA, sorry. SA is an uninteresting city and a small market.

[weebo]

Walker ain't gonna learn to play VS NBA competition sitting on the bench... Him looking lost in preseason means he needs some game action to figure things out

Well he ain’t gonna learn by running around the court looking like a chicken without a head either. Unfortunately, LW has all the physical tools to be an NBA star but not the mental wherewithal to play the game. He’s still very young—he’s still learning and guys like Mills and Bellineli (even though they’re average at best) can still teach the young fella a thing or two about the NBA.

[Fireball]

that will change when he gets consistent playing time. Walker has superior athleticism which means he can get his shot off against anybody. Pop was testing it in the last preseason game against Memphis where he put Lonnie in the pick & roll on every posession at the end of the 4th

i am totally with you ... but he destroyed nobody in the preseason which is what TGY stated

[4lifecowboy]

Lonnie is too passive on the court. Pop is waiting for him to play confidently, consistently he has to take his spot.

[Coach X]

It's only one game :wakeup Relax

[monty4329]

Pop's job is to win games. Hence, Walker is not playing. Have him on the court makes the same sense as having Metu.

Will Walker develop into an NBA-caliber player? Maybe. Now he is not.

[cd021]

The Carroll benching is far worse tbh, he makes far more sense in the SL than Lyle's does.

Think Pop will have Walker start games that Murray, Forbes, or DDR misses and plays like 20 minutes. He's done it before with young players.

[FutureMan]

It's only one game :wakeup Relax

This. One game isn’t enough to come to any conclusions. The way this roster is build we might see something similar to 2013-14 where 1-2 players would rest each game. Just have to wait and see.

[8FOR!3]

You seem like the type of guy who would text their gf "I guess you're not gonna text me back" after she hasn't responded in an hour. It's one game in, I'm sure DeMarre Carroll will get plenty of minutes this season and Lonnie Walker will get opportunities. Pop's already starting Lyles so I'm sure he wants some continuity off the bench in the first however many games. I agree though, Mills struggled and Belinelli is a complete liability on defense. But they've also spent years in the Spurs system and early on I think it's important to have some form of continuity when you're trying to win games with some new guys. Murray is on a minutes restriction to start the year for sure and I think Poeltl/Lyles split time well. Plus Lyles was pretty good so I don't really understand the complaint.

[Mugen]

Pop's job is to win games. Hence, Walker is not playing. Have him on the court makes the same sense as having Metu.

Will Walker develop into an NBA-caliber player? Maybe. Now he is not.

One of the stupidest takes I've heard in a while tbh, props.

[phxspurfan]

I still don’t understand the “Go Spurs, Go Jazz” screen name.

[KobesAchilles]

Well he ain’t gonna learn by running around the court looking like a chicken without a head either. Unfortunately, LW has all the physical tools to be an NBA star but not the mental wherewithal to play the game. He’s still very young—he’s still learning and guys like Mills and Bellineli (even though they’re average at best) can still teach the young fella a thing or two about the NBA.

First sentence perfectly describes Mills. Takes horrible shots, can’t run a proper 2 for 1 in his 11th year, always out of place on defense. Atleast let the 6ft 5 guy do this with the hope he can improve over the midget who has shown zero improvement in the last 4 years.

[monty4329]

One of the stupidest takes I've heard in a while tbh, props.

Thank you, it is actually an honor to be called stupid by one of the top three dumbest posters in this forum. You just confirm the validity of my point.

[weebo]

First sentence perfectly describes Mills. Takes horrible shots, can’t run a proper 2 for 1 in his 11th year, always out of place on defense. Atleast let the 6ft 5 guy do this with the hope he can improve over the midget who has shown zero improvement in the last 4 years.

Come on man—I’m not a wombat fan but the hate he gets around here...smh—RN LW is just potential—why rush him when you have NBA vets that you can plug in until he’s ready—plus we still don’t know about that knee—it’s one game—he’s not in Austin to start the season so that should tell you something.

[Pavlov]

Come on man—I’m not a wombat fan but the hate he gets around here...smh—RN LW is just potential—why rush him when you have NBA vets that you can plug in until he’s ready—plus we still don’t know about that knee—it’s one game—he’s not in Austin to start the season so that should tell you something.Well Austin hasn't even started training camp yet. Their draft is tomorrow.

[KobesAchilles]

Come on man—I’m not a wombat fan but the hate he gets around here...smh—RN LW is just potential—why rush him when you have NBA vets that you can plug in until he’s ready—plus we still don’t know about that knee—it’s one game—he’s not in Austin to start the season so that should tell you something.

He deserves that hate tbh. He can’t dribble penetrate, he can’t set up teammates, he can’t defend, and he can’t run an offense as an 11th year vet. His one good attribute is shooting but I feel like he’s peaked in that regard too.

Great guy, great teammate, great towel waver, but he needs to have his minutes cut. Same with Marco who I can’t even name a positive about his game.

[weebo]

He deserves that hate tbh. He can’t dribble penetrate, he can’t set up teammates, he can’t defend, and he can’t run an offense as an 11th year vet. His one good attribute is shooting but I feel like he’s peaked in that regard too.

Great guy, great teammate, great towel waver, but he needs to have his minutes cut. Same with Marco who I can’t even name a positive about his game.

Experience. That’s the one attribute they have over LW—they know the Spurs game better—eventually LW will take their spot in the rotation but it’s apparent that he isn’t ready to be one of the first off the bench—he’ll get plenty of minutes once he’s ready—just give it time my man

[FkLA]

Experience. That’s the one attribute they have over LW—they know the Spurs game better—eventually LW will take their spot in the rotation but it’s apparent that he isn’t ready to be one of the first off the bench—he’ll get plenty of minutes once he’s ready—just give it time my man

Lonnie's not going to become experienced by being buried in the rotation behind two fringe NBA players, tbh.

[SpursDynasty85]

Lonnie's not going to become experienced by being buried in the rotation behind two borderline NBA players, tbh.

I want Walker playing over Belli but it's not a big deal to me. You're statement can be refuted by Dejounte looking so much better than the last time he played. He put in the work, learned from staff and veterans, now look at him!

[weebo]

I want Walker playing over Belli but it's not a big deal to me. You're statement can be refuted by Dejounte looking so much better than the last time he played. He put in the work, learned from staff and veterans, now look at him!

100% agree. Give the kid time to develop—if this is game 50, bitch and whine all you want but it’s been one game.

[FkLA]

I want Walker playing over Belli but it's not a big deal to me. You're statement can be refuted by Dejounte looking so much better than the last time he played. He put in the work, learned from staff and veterans, now look at him!

It should be a big deal to you if you care about winning. The Mills-Belli tandem has proven itself to be cancerous and Lonnie taking Belli's minutes is the most realistic way to put an end to that.

Murray is a bad comparison since he was a rotation player heading into his sophomore season and a starter by the middle of said season. White, Murray, Forbes, Bertans all became rotation players their second year. Not sure why Pop is so reluctant with Lonnie.

[SpursDynasty85]

It should be a big deal to you if you care about winning. The Mills-Belli tandem has proven itself to be cancerous and Lonnie taking Belli's minutes is the most realistic way to put an end to that.

Murray is a bad comparison since he was a rotation player heading into his sophomore season and a starter by the middle of said season. White, Murray, Forbes, Bertans all became rotation players their second year. Not sure why Pop is so reluctant with Lonnie.

Walker, Murray, Forbes all looked better in the G League than Walker has so far. It's already well documented that Lonnie has the least amount of high-level program experience and playing time coming into the NBA than all of the guys you just mentioned. I believe Walker's job this season will be to light it up in practice, impress the coaches with his understanding of the system, and out play belinelli on the practice floor. I truly believe Belinelli and Mills give the Spurs a better chance to win games as of now but I am optimistic Walker beats them out by all-star break. (probably Belinelli and not Mills).