Preseason Grades: Spurs vs. Jazz - Oct. 12, 2024

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-jazz-2025-preseason-3/

[Ice009]

Thanks for the grades. Yeah, I would have liked to have seen Steph play more with the starters too. Minix looks really good. I hope he can make it and Tre Jones, I really like his play when paired with Chris Paul.
Blake Wesley I was a huge fan off, but cooled on him a bit last season as I started to doubt whether or not he can improve his shooting and finishing. If he can get some sort of consistent jump shot and finish better at the rim, I'd like him to stick around. Seems like a good guy too.

[Ignazzz]

New Keldon big wow

[Ice009]

Forgot top say, Keldon was awesome. I hope he can play like this and has a great season.

[Mr. Body]

Like at UConn, by mid-season we'll forget Castle is a freshman. He won't get enough counting stats for the ROY but he'll be a key rotation guy.

[RC_Drunkford]

tank commander Zach gon make sure we get into the lottery. You know Pop won't play Mamu over him.

[onechance87]

Pop gotta stop fucking around with castle mins this season.He better play 25 min or more this season.

[DAF86]

It seems like a lot of guys are "earning" a rotation spot. Who's getting left out when everybody is healthy? CP3, Vassell, Sochan, Barnes, Wemby, Jones, Castle, Branham, Wesley, Champagnie, Keldon, Mamu, Collins.

If you ask ST, two names to left out would be Branham and Collins but I doubt Pop goes that route. The two most likely candidates would be Wesley and Mamu, that still leaves one guy to cut from the rotation unless Pop decides to run the weird 11 men rotation.

[John B]

Thanks for the grades Timvp. CP3 presence is really noticeable as a big change. Only at game 3 of the pre-season and already the offense is going much smoother than the previous season. It seems everyone is having easier shots. The passing has become infectious too. The calmness and composure seem to help not falter the lead and close the game with a W. Champ is a recipient of the easy shot. He’s a catch and shoot guy with a quick release. I know Vassell is the better player, but Champ seems to be the better target of CP3’s pass… We could only hope that Vassell could develop like SGA from him playing with CP3.

Sochan, Keldon need to play this way every night. Keldon with the chip on his shoulder, and Sochan no longer have to overthink but just play his position. Wesley continues his excellent plays. He is cementing himself in the rotation. Mamu is such a high Bball IQ and shows even better with a pointgod out there. If the team continues to play this way, and they’re just going to get better with more games together, it will be reasonable to expect more wins and maybe a shot at the playin. Good stuff.

[Pauleta14]

tank commander Zach gon make sure we get into the lottery. You know Pop won't play Mamu over him.

Mamu is in the process of winning his spot imo. It just doesn't happen in 1-2 games

Benching Zach would make it even more difficult to trade him and tbh wouldn't be fair in terms of timming as he's coming bck from an injury.

It seems unavoidable for tho.

[Pauleta14]

Pop gotta stop fucking around with castle mins this season.He better play 25 min or more this season.

That's what would make the most sense to me too, but reading some on ST he should be around 20-25'...

The more the better to me. Sorry Tre or Wes

[RC_Drunkford]

Pop gotta stop fucking around with castle mins this season.He better play 25 min or more this season.

He's not over himself yet. He'll play around 15-20.

[sfernald]

So who would rather have Cody Williams right now instead of Harrison Barnes? Barnes looks like he’s suffering from a bout of Gordan Haywood-itis out there. Looks like he’s been stuck on the bbq a few hours too long.

[LeBowen]

So who would rather have Cody Williams right now instead of Harrison Barnes? Barnes looks like he’s suffering from a bout of Gordan Haywood-itis out there. Looks like he’s been stuck on the bbq a few hours too long.

I'm sure some of the tanking teams would've taken Branham or Wesley without Spurs having to add some SRPs.
Could've had Cody instead of those two who will just take minutes from Castle.

Or if they're high on Wesley, we could've got rid of Tre.
Castle will be a better point guard than Tre in no time.

I mentioned it before, we shouldn't complain about passing on Dillingham, but Cody/Buzelis because if one becomes a good starter, someone in scouting department really fucked up.
You don't punt a top10 pick if you don't have a trade lined up (for example Markkanen). We're still one of the worst teams in conference and taking a swing on another wing we desperately need was the move to make.

[heyheymymy]

The MIN Timberwolves are playing the New York Knicks the same day the MIN Lynx are playing the New York Liberty

[Spurs Homer]

Dont worry about zollins guys, by january or FEBRUARY at the latest -

he will knockdown a 3 ptr or maybe even 2- 3pointers!

[sfernald]

I'm sure some of the tanking teams would've taken Branham or Wesley without Spurs having to add some SRPs.
Could've had Cody instead of those two who will just take minutes from Castle.

Or if they're high on Wesley, we could've got rid of Tre.
Castle will be a better point guard than Tre in no time.

I mentioned it before, we shouldn't complain about passing on Dillingham, but Cody/Buzelis because if one becomes a good starter, someone in scouting department really fucked up.
You don't punt a top10 pick if you don't have a trade lined up (for example Markkanen). We're still one of the worst teams in conference and taking a swing on another wing we desperately need was the move to make.


I totally agree. It’s sort of sad I’m watching some Bulls games just to figure out what Buzelis is lol. I will say tho this is the first time ever I’m sort of liking what Wesley is doing out there. He is taking Castle minutes but it is neat to see him and Castle coming out there and start the lockdown.

[MultiTroll]

"on the defensive end. Jones and Paul are both tough enough to survive against most backcourts in the association."


You can't be serious. Bigger better guards will light this combo up.

[LeBowen]

"on the defensive end. Jones and Paul are both tough enough to survive against most backcourts in the association."


You can't be serious. Bigger better guards will light this combo up.

While CP3 has great IQ and holds his own in a lot of situations because his positioning is perfect, he's old and his legs are mostly gone.
Sexton kept draining threes in his face because if CP3 steps up he can't contain the drive.

Tre is just too small and a non-factor against any athletic guard. We've seen it last year. He does everything well, textbook defense, but he's just too physically limited to play against starters.

[BackHome]

Yeah, people forget CP3 is 40 years old so don’t care how well you take care of your body at that age and the length of a NBA season it is going to take its toll. That is why I am not worried about Castle getting enough minutes as between age and other players injuries he will be getting enough playing time

[Chinook]

Wait, Paul's aging should affect his strength at all. He should bestronger now than he's been his whole life. He's 40, not 70. I actually expect Paul to guard up to SGs if not SFs. Just like with Jones, height matters less defensively than fans assume it does. Paul and Jones will almost certainly play together to free up minutes for Wesley and Castle, and depending on the surrounding players, they'll probably do all right.

[BackHome]

It is not about strength it more about his lateral quickness as he is going to have difficulty time staying in front of speedy, explosive PG and SG for that matter. But we didn’t bring him because for a defensive stopper we brought to be our floor general which I think he will excel at.

[Dex]

Mamu is in the process of winning his spot imo. It just doesn't happen in 1-2 games

Benching Zach would make it even more difficult to trade him and tbh wouldn't be fair in terms of timming as he's coming bck from an injury.

It seems unavoidable for tho.

Zach Collins playing also hurts his trade value because other teams will be able to see how useless he is :lol

[Pauleta14]

Zach Collins playing also hurts his trade value because other teams will be able to see how useless he is :lol

Really not a fan of Collins but he's allowed to get better as well and let's wait a bit before judging him as he's back from a long absence.

I like Mamu but the only reason I'd be ok for him to be 1st option off the bench would be by default. We need to find a legit bench big

[Chinook]

It is not about strength it more about his lateral quickness as he is going to have difficulty time staying in front of speedy, explosive PG and SG for that matter. But we didn’t bring him because for a defensive stopper we brought to be our floor general which I think he will excel at.

That's why I don't expect him to guard PGs very often, unless that PG is the weakest threat

[Strategic]

Good write. Having Paul and Barnes should help the shooters get easier looks. If Vassell, Johnson, Champ and Castle can knock them down we may have a surprising season. Now if they can get Vic to stop with those extended arm awkward shots?

[rankingtear]

Sochan at C would be a thing. DEN do this with Gordon to have as much talent on the floor to survive the non Jokic minutes.

[CGD]

Did Maliki play last night? Haven’t been able to follow the pre-season but how’s he been?

Super curious about these option decisions. Feels like Blake is earning it, but wonder what they think of Branham.

[spurraider21]

Did Maliki play last night? Haven’t been able to follow the pre-season but how’s he been?

Super curious about these option decisions. Feels like Blake is earning it, but wonder what they think of Branham.
branham wasnt among the guys who had been previously announced to be out. but he was in street clothes. i dno, i hope its a sign that they are looking to move/dump him :lol

with them playing champagnie more at the 2 than ever before, the willingness to play these 2 PG lineups with Tre/Blake alongside Paul, and of course with Castle playing 1-3, i just dont see where you can justify playing branham if he's a "scoring specialist" who cant really score effectively right now

malaki is still 21 and has some visible skill on offense with his solid handling and his in-between game, but unless theyre willing to just bury him in austin i dont see a path for him to get the playing time he needs to improve. if he wants that opportunity, he's better off going to another team where he may have a path to minutes