Grades: Spurs vs. Mavs - Mar. 15, 2023

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/spurs-mavericks-grades-69/

Pretty solid loss, tbh :tu

[DPG21920]

I was so impressed with Barlows defense. Live, it stood out more than anything. Wood was so obviously the most skilled scorer for Dallas and Barlow did best job man to man and was pretty crisp and fluid on rotations. I was so impressed live watching him on defense.

Branham looks great and you are spot on about Wesley. He gets anywhere he wants, but man, he is bad at finishing right now. No touch and ball comes out of his hands all wonky on floaters.

[wildbill2u]

Grades are pretty much on target. Barlow needs to be mentored by McDermott on how to use his speed and mobility to move without the ball and get open. He keeps trying to get behind his defender when rolling to the basket--and this probably worked in high school where he was so much taller--but in the NBA his defender simply fades back to closely shadow Barlow and the passing lane is effectively closed. I still have hopes for him, but he needs to find a way to get open on offense. Too much simply standing around out of the plays.

[rjv]

hoping to see a strong finish to the season for barlow.

[Mr. Body]

I like Barlow. No idea what his timeline is. May actually be too slow for the team and they might draft over him, but he has the tools for the league and some good instincts, like a talented playground player. His attitude also seems to be great.

I feel like Wesley is thinking so much about just getting to the rim and not getting swatted that finishing is a distant priority. Work over the summer and he may not be banging these off the backboard.