So Anderson is the new bench energy guy, tbh?

Looks like Pop had enough of Juice being a non-factor 3/4 of the season in... isn't a bit late for that though?

Or is it just a temporary visit to the doghouse?

It's only temporary...until he's cut in the offseason.

Anderson's style of play wouldn't bring energy to a YMCA pick up game featuring 60 year olds reliving the glory days of high school.

Alright this is a new enough thread to express a few thoughts after giving the game a re-watch. I rarely do that with loses, but I've heard a lot of people discussing the game and wanted to be clear about a few things. First of all this was a tie game with 3 minutes left in the third quarter and very winnable. Basically several standout mistakes and missteps happened to close the 3rd and that would be the game. Patty missing fts at a crucial time in the game made it a 5 point game and no one got back in transition defense against Curry's easy basket off the Lee strip made in a 7 point game.

Lee's offensive foul call was a big kick in the crotch too. It looks like they should have counted the basket, Green's hands were in the cylinder and Lee got hacked. Our bench play starting the 4th cemented the deal. There was no energy guy. Manu played hard, but was getting no help from Patty who had an especially bad game. When Dedmon played, who many have criticized, we were doing fine. I don't hang too much on +/- but he was our only player with a +5 outside of garbage time. Our bench lost this game and I wonder if it would have been better with 'El Juice' myself. Patty had such a poor game it's hard to assess much from the bench. We do need more shooting threats when they double Kawhi so I hear the argument about Pau over Dedmon with the starters, but out starters did alright and we will miss Dedmon's D.

So so my thoughts were Patty will step it up, Dedmon wasn't so bad, our starters against GSW is better than I thought, and we need an 'energy guy' with the bench. Most of our deficits were with the second unit which is one of the better benches in the NBA.

Now after rewatching this I think I'll go put my hand over an open flame for more fun. :lol

Both Patty and Manu were poor in the GSW game. They didn't shoot it well, they TO the ball and couldn't generally guard their man either. That loss wasn't on Kyle.. geez.

Anyways, Kyle played his minutes well and he really played well against Cleveland. It doesn't mean much, but he played well when he started the last game against GSW too (their stars didn't play but Kyle was fantastic).

Anyways, I don't think Simmons is going to be benched personally, it's more of a match up thing. We can't forget Durant plays in GSW now and Kyle in the few, very few minutes he played against OKC in that series against them last season did a decent job with Durant. If Pop intends to play him in that eventual scenario (however unlikely guys think the odds are they get to that point, etc.) for a few minutes, he needs reps as much as anyone with the bench group. Since Pop switched Pau there, Kyle hasn't played much with the bench, and just like everyone else guys need chemistry with him and him with others. What this tell me is Simmons and Anderson may be situational, depending who they have to match up with, and Pop is likely to have a short leash with both.

It may end up making Simmons better bc since Pop started giving opportunities to Kyle and he has played well, Simmons has improved his play. If he didn't clean up his act, he was going to be out of the rotation for sure. He has played much better in the last few games so I tend to think this is Pop getting Kyle reps and minutes to be ready in case they need him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SAGirl

Both Patty and Manu were poor in the GSW game. They didn't shoot it well, they TO the ball and couldn't generally guard their man either. That loss wasn't on Kyle.. geez.

Anyways, Kyle played his minutes well and he really played well against Cleveland. It doesn't mean much, but he played well when he started the last game against GSW too (their stars didn't play but Kyle was fantastic).

Anyways, I don't think Simmons is going to be benched personally, it's more of a match up thing. We can't forget Durant plays in GSW now and Kyle in the few, very few minutes he played against OKC in that series against them last season did a decent job with Durant. If Pop intends to play him in that eventual scenario (however unlikely guys think the odds are they get to that point, etc.) for a few minutes, he needs reps as much as anyone with the bench group. Since Pop switched Pau there, Kyle hasn't played much with the bench, and just like everyone else guys need chemistry with him and him with others. What this tell me is Simmons and Anderson may be situational, depending who they have to match up with, and Pop is likely to have a short leash with both.

It may end up making Simmons better bc since Pop started giving opportunities to Kyle and he has played well, Simmons has improved his play. If he didn't clean up his act, he was going to be out of the rotation for sure. He has played much better in the last few games so I tend to think this is Pop getting Kyle reps and minutes to be ready in case they need him.

---

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the loss wasn't on Kyle. I thought he played like he should have had everyone else played like they need to in the second unit. I also think you are right that Pop was giving Kyle playing time on purpose. Would Kyle have started the fourth quarter in the sixth game of the WCF's? Would Simmons?

I guess the point here is about the 'energy boast' of the bench. Kyle might not appear high energy, but he has a lot more vision and smarts than many. Always thought of Kyle as methodical and Simmons as reactionary.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spurs10

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the loss wasn't on Kyle. I thought he played like he should have had everyone else played like they need to in the second unit. I also think you are right that Pop was giving Kyle playing time on purpose. Would Kyle have started the fourth quarter in the sixth game of the WCF's? Would Simmons?

I guess the point here is about the 'energy boast' of the bench. Kyle might not appear high energy, but he has a lot more vision and smarts than many. Always thought of Kyle as methodical and Simmons as reactionary.

---

He's capable of momentum swinging plays on defense frankly but didn't have them in this game. However as you noticed Patty and Manu both not playing well may be too hard to overcome. They both have the hall a lot and consume too many bench possessions plus thr got lit up.

Kyle got a couple of baskets in that close game between the 3rd and the 4th. He was in the corner when the TO happened and he took off but having been in a corner and Curry almost half court when it happened it wasn't his assignment. He's obviously not the fastest guy either but it should have really been one of Patty or Manu who had to keep track of Curry.

Juice may have made some plays or he could have been making mistakes and fouling guys. He's really unpredictable that way and Kyle getting this chance probably arose from his own good play and Simmons floundering for a couple of months already.

I do agree with Nono, if Pop wanted to switch them up and bench Simmons he should probably have done it earlier. Which is why I don't think this game was about that (coupled with what I stated above. It's likely KA has to stay ready just in case they need him and for that he needs reps too).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Keepin' it real

until he's cut in the offseason.

---

This is what dreams are made of

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Keepin' it real

It's only temporary...until he's cut in the offseason.

---

This sucks because Simmons had just found his 3pt shot recently too. Guess we won't get to ever see what postseason JSimms could've been.

Lets look at Kyle's playoff numbers (12.9 MPG):
2.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 0.7apg, 0.4TO, 32FG%

I'm not playing the blame game, tbh, Just pointing out Simms got into the doghouse after fouling Lebron under the basket and Kyle took basically his minutes the last two games. I just thought it's kinda late for the switch once you've been riding Simms for 3/4 of the season...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

I'm not playing the blame game, tbh, Just pointing out Simms got into the doghouse after fouling Lebron under the basket and Kyle took basically his minutes the last two games. I just thought it's kinda late for the switch once you've been riding Simms for 3/4 of the season...

---

I'm so sick of Pops shit like this. Pull a guy for a couple of possessions, maybe the rest of the game. But Pop just never ever cares about rhythm or momentum from game to game, hell even minute minute. It's his way of ruling with a iron fist.

He's recently started this "Kawhi rests to start the fourth" no matter what the game situation is. How many games have we've seen slip at the beginning of the foruth whether we're ahead or not (miami 2013 is the biggest one). I hope he doesn't carry that into the playoffs. But knowing Pop, he'll do it because he can do it.

Slowpoke did hit shots and briefly gave hope to an otherwise dark depressing game. How is a black man that slow a runner?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

I'm not playing the blame game, tbh, Just pointing out Simms got into the doghouse after fouling Lebron under the basket and Kyle took basically his minutes the last two games. I just thought it's kinda late for the switch once you've been riding Simms for 3/4 of the season...

---

Yes and I kinda agreed with you, it's late to be doing lineup changes. Spurs10 went off topic a bit with his impressions on the game and I engaged him but to answer your topic, despite Simmons unspectacular season Pop persevered with him and I don't think he will be benched. I could be wrong of course.

I think it's just more likely that Pop foresees a scenario where he needs KA to play and in that case he needed to get him ready too quite frankly.

Kyle doesn't work against GSW. All those guys can go at him 1v1. He is a good help defender/weak side defender. Simmons is a good 1v1 defender. He can play off the switches good. Simmons is better suited vs gsw. Fathead might be decent vs the cavs..

Not exactly an energy guy, but a guy who is capable of making a couple plays defensively. Outside of Simmons chase downs and Manu doing his thing defensively when he can, there aren't a lot of guys on our 2nd unit who have quick hands defensively to make plays.

He's just so hesitant on the offensive end, and gets caught in the air too often in no mans land. I think depending on the flow of the game he could get some minutes. He and Simmons bring 2 very different things to the table. It's a real shame neither have become the 3 point threat the 2nd unit needs.

Just because he plays with a chip on his shoulder and gets up for teams like GS, I'd rather see Simmons having dibs on the rotation spot come WCF

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

I'm not playing the blame game, tbh, Just pointing out Simms got into the doghouse after fouling Lebron under the basket and Kyle took basically his minutes the last two games. I just thought it's kinda late for the switch once you've been riding Simms for 3/4 of the season...

---

This part alone may have turned the tide against the Dubs. Not playing what has been a huge weapon against them was weird. Or maybe CIA.


Nonetheless Kyle hasn't been terrible lately. Just needs a more consistent jumper and he will be what Lonzo Ball is right now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spurs10

Alright this is a new enough thread to express a few thoughts after giving the game a re-watch. I rarely do that with loses, but I've heard a lot of people discussing the game and wanted to be clear about a few things. First of all this was a tie game with 3 minutes left in the third quarter and very winnable. Basically several standout mistakes and missteps happened to close the 3rd and that would be the game. Patty missing fts at a crucial time in the game made it a 5 point game and no one got back in transition defense against Curry's easy basket off the Lee strip made in a 7 point game.

Lee's offensive foul call was a big kick in the crotch too. It looks like they should have counted the basket, Green's hands were in the cylinder and Lee got hacked. Our bench play starting the 4th cemented the deal. There was no energy guy. Manu played hard, but was getting no help from Patty who had an especially bad game. When Dedmon played, who many have criticized, we were doing fine. I don't hang too much on +/- but he was our only player with a +5 outside of garbage time. Our bench lost this game and I wonder if it would have been better with 'El Juice' myself. Patty had such a poor game it's hard to assess much from the bench. We do need more shooting threats when they double Kawhi so I hear the argument about Pau over Dedmon with the starters, but out starters did alright and we will miss Dedmon's D.

So so my thoughts were Patty will step it up, Dedmon wasn't so bad, our starters against GSW is better than I thought, and we need an 'energy guy' with the bench. Most of our deficits were with the second unit which is one of the better benches in the NBA.

Now after rewatching this I think I'll go put my hand over an open flame for more fun. :lol

---

The officiating to end the 3rd quarter was beyond awful. Lee got screwed again and again. Patty fouled on a 3 could've been a huge momentum swing till he missed 2 of 3. I think Kawhi missed one also. As many layups as they got they also took some low percentage shots even for them. We can beat these fucks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SAGirl

Yes and I kinda agreed with you, it's late to be doing lineup changes. Spurs10 went off topic a bit with his impressions on the game and I engaged him but to answer your topic, despite Simmons unspectacular season Pop persevered with him and I don't think he will be benched. I could be wrong of course.

I think it's just more likely that Pop foresees a scenario where he needs KA to play and in that case he needed to get him ready too quite frankly.

---

I did use this thread to talk about the game in general. It was perplexing watching a second time and the absence of Simmons had me wondering. I can certainly see us needing KA and Simmons in different scenarios. This particular game was an odd one to bench Simmons from the outside looking in. Whether it was a doghouse issue or a CIA issue who knows. I'm leaning more with Pop just seeing what he has.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Horse

The officiating to end the 3rd quarter was beyond awful. Lee got screwed again and again. Patty fouled on a 3 could've been a huge momentum swing till he missed 2 of 3. I think Kawhi missed one also. As many layups as they got they also took some low percentage shots even for them. We can beat these fucks.

---

Right on! :ihit

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElNono

I'm not playing the blame game, tbh, Just pointing out Simms got into the doghouse after fouling Lebron under the basket and Kyle took basically his minutes the last two games. I just thought it's kinda late for the switch once you've been riding Simms for 3/4 of the season...

---

Pop could be trying to devalue him so the Spurs could sign him to a below market deal in the offseason or maybe KA isn't the only player with a big head. All dat D-Wade swag on the court is fooling a lot of people into thinking he has the "it" factor. There's a reason that Wade is a hall of famer and Simmons is a D-league scrub. It's possible he needs to be taken down a peg until he realizes that he's absolute trash of a basketball player that shouldn't be any significant part of a championship roster, but because of lack of alternatives and salary cap restraints, here he is.

Simmons is not in the doghouse per Pop.
As I suspected, Kyle has played recently just well enough for Pop to give him some reps and experience with the current bench in case he's needed.
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...popovich-says/

He's been player better, but needs to be more aggressive...

Never use Anderson and energy together in the same sentence.

I don't think Simmons is in the "dog house", so much as they view them as roughly equal and since neither has any equity built up, that means both are always on a short leash.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TD 21

Never use Anderson and energy together in the same sentence.

I don't think Simmons is in the "dog house", so much as they view them as roughly equal and since neither has any equity built up, that means both are always on a short leash.

---

Which is dumb. Simmons has been the better player over the long run in the past 2 seasons ( and I'm not that high on Simmons). Simmons gives the Spurs a higher ceiling and given his better play over the long run, I find it silly how Pop is playing this short leash game. Kyle has played well as of late, but he's always had a good game or a good stint in a season over a few games the past 3 years. The problem with him is he's not good enough to remain consistent and its inevitable for him to regress from his current good play in the short stints he's receiving.

Pop is playing the short run with the two players like they are good enough to sustain all of a sudden because of the sense of urgency or short leash... I find it stupid tbh...

https://gifyu.com/images/FatHeadDunk.gif
https://media.tenor.co/images/b4f3e3...b3a8/tenor.gif

During the month of March, Kyle has really been the better player.

PLAYERS	GP	MIN	OFFRTG	DEFRTG	NETRTG	AST%	AST/TO	AST RATIO	OREB%	DREB%	REB%	TOV%	EFG%	TS%	USG%	PACE	PIE

Kyle Anderson	12	13.6	103.2	93.1	10.1	17.0	4.75	32.3	2.2	20.0	11.3	6.8	58.6	59.9	11.3	95.96	13.0
Jonathon Simmons	17	14.2	100.3	93.8	6.4	14.4	1.83	20.0	1.8	9.0	5.5	10.9	45.5	50.5	16.6	96.07	5.6

He's been "solid" tbh..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Which is dumb. Simmons has been the better player over the long run in the past 2 seasons ( and I'm not that high on Simmons). Simmons gives the Spurs a higher ceiling and given his better play over the long run, I find it silly how Pop is playing this short leash game. Kyle has played well as of late, but he's always had a good game or a good stint in a season over a few games the past 3 years. The problem with him is he's not good enough to remain consistent and its inevitable for him to regress from his current good play in the short stints he's receiving.

Pop is playing the short run with the two players like they are good enough to sustain all of a sudden because of the sense of urgency or short leash... I find it stupid tbh...

---

Really, take a gander at these

http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/players...&season=career
and
http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/players...64&season=2016

I will give you that Simmons scores more points...

also, look at the career trajectories.
http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/players/1464-kyle-anderson
and
http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/players...nathon-simmons

Anderson keeps getting better. Simmons is flat (to be generous)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dabom

Kyle doesn't work against GSW. All those guys can go at him 1v1. He is a good help defender/weak side defender. Simmons is a good 1v1 defender. He can play off the switches good. Simmons is better suited vs gsw. Fathead might be decent vs the cavs..

---

Disagree.Think KA is the ideal defender against Livingston. And he played Green a couple times on switches.

And I think his length can disrupt Durant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by offset formation

Disagree.Think KA is the ideal defender against Livingston. And he played Green a couple times on switches.

And I think his length can disrupt Durant.

---

Durant? :lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dabom

Durant? :lol

---

:lol these fathead fans smh

Durant in the first game of the season when Fathead was his primary defender:
27/10/4/2/2 on 61.1FG%

also LOL at "ideal defender against Livingston"
Dubs second unit is Livingston, Thompson, Iggy, Draymond/Durant, West

.... if Mills won't be on Livingston, who else can he hide on? :lol

i'd rather he be on the court than parker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Which is dumb. Simmons has been the better player over the long run in the past 2 seasons ( and I'm not that high on Simmons). Simmons gives the Spurs a higher ceiling and given his better play over the long run, I find it silly how Pop is playing this short leash game. Kyle has played well as of late, but he's always had a good game or a good stint in a season over a few games the past 3 years. The problem with him is he's not good enough to remain consistent and its inevitable for him to regress from his current good play in the short stints he's receiving.

Pop is playing the short run with the two players like they are good enough to sustain all of a sudden because of the sense of urgency or short leash... I find it stupid tbh...

---

The metrics indicate there's good reason for this. Also, having Gasol as a much needed third floor spacer on the second unit makes it easier to play Anderson, since the former opens up cleaner driving lanes for the latter to meander through.

I agree that if both are at their best, Simmons' athleticism and aggressiveness makes him the better, more useful player though.

Pop is probably just hoping they can collectively cobble together bits of decent enough play, but neither is good enough and with Ginobili's impending retirement, it's only going to be exacerbated. I know they'll be hard pressed to create the flexibility for an Iguodala (probably re-signs) or Evans, but somehow, someway, they've got to find a third wing.

No coincidence we blew out the warriors who had Durant with Simmons playing significant minutes....the only person kyle can guard is Livingston... pop keeps messing up rotations...part of why the warriors are great is consistency, and the freedom to play loose without having to worry about being benched for ten games