Who guards the scoring wings?

Hopefully porter, Beal, Wiggins, butler, or maybe Fournier.

Is the wind blowing? I thought I heard something

Kyle Anderson. Whoops.

Cunningham seems like he can switch onto all positions

Sad thing is that if we were able to sign Brewer for the vet min he would easily be the best wing defender and he’s not even that great of one.

DeMar, Rudy, and Dante. Maybe BP3 improves in his 2nd season in the system and gets some PT this year (doubtful). I'm ready for the season to start already so I can see what this group looks like together. Gonna be interesting. It's going to be a loooong 3 months before the reg season starts.

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Originally Posted by Gordy58

Cunningham seems like he can switch onto all positions

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That's certainly valuable. But being able to put up some defense against perimeter players isn't the same thing as being able to go up and down the court with them. Two completely different defensive roles, akin to a coverage MLB rather than a corner in the NFL.

Our first preseason game is Oct. 5th against Detroit. Exactly two and a half months away.


Correction*: Our first preseason game is September 30th. Play Miami at home.

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Originally Posted by BatManu20

Our first preseason game is Oct. 5th against Detroit. Exactly two and a half months away.

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Looking forward to it. Last season was just not fun to watch. It never felt like our season had started because Leonard didn't come back without restrictions. It wasn't even a farewell tour for manu and parker. It just felt lost. But I did enjoy watching good old school big man basketball again with LMA dominating. That was fun to watch.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

That's certainly valuable. But being able to put up some defense against perimeter players isn't the same thing as being able to go up and down the court with them. Two completely different defensive roles, akin to a coverage MLB rather than a corner in the NFL.

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i dont think there are many of those kind of defenders in the league, the ones that stick to their man like glue, you have the Bradley’s, Beverly’s, Tony Allen’s, all the “good” defenders are the ones that can switch and not consistently get blown by on defense and have great steal and block instincts. It’s really difficult to find a great man to man defender, I don’t think Danny Green or even Kawhi were great man to man defenders, it’s their instincts that made them great defenders. You just have to limit the blow by’s and play good team defense. I think DeRozan has the athleticism and speed to at least not by a liability on defense,

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Originally Posted by BatManu20

Our first preseason game is Oct. 5th against Detroit. Exactly two and a half months away.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU9JoFKlaZ0

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Originally Posted by objective

Who guards Durant? LeBron? Kawhi? Harden? Booker? George? Giannis? Mitchell?

Nobody on this team can guard wing scorers.

Only hopes are an elderly, Manu if he doesn't retire, a 6-4.5 White who will probably be getting his share of DNP-CDs, and Rudy Gay who can't move his feet on the perimeter anymore.

DeRozan, Marco, Forbes and Mills trying to guard the best of the best ...

They could have skinny Dejounte moved off of point guards, but that comes with negating a real Spurs strength by having Mills and Forbes get roasted by Paul, Westbrook, Lillard, etc.

Is Bertans going to slide and stumble on those extra long legs trying to cover guys?

Maybe past his prime Dante Cunningham, a big combo forward non-defensive specialist can play some? Maybe?

Maybe Keith Bogans can return as the Centerpiece.

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Funnel them baseline and hope the ghost of David Robinson blocks the shot.

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Originally Posted by Gordy58

i dont think there are many of those kind of defenders in the league, the ones that stick to their man like glue, you have the Bradley’s, Beverly’s, Tony Allen’s, all the “good” defenders are the ones that can switch and not consistently get blown by on defense and have great steal and block instincts. It’s really difficult to find a great man to man defender, I don’t think Danny Green or even Kawhi were great man to man defenders, it’s their instincts that made them great defenders. You just have to limit the blow by’s and play good team defense. I think DeRozan has the athleticism and speed to at least not by a liability on defense,

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:lol

I still wonder with metu showing range is summer league if he is being looked at as a wing player

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Originally Posted by Gordy58

i dont think there are many of those kind of defenders in the league, the ones that stick to their man like glue, you have the Bradley’s, Beverly’s, Tony Allen’s, all the “good” defenders are the ones that can switch and not consistently get blown by on defense and have great steal and block instincts. It’s really difficult to find a great man to man defender, I don’t think Danny Green or even Kawhi were great man to man defenders, it’s their instincts that made them great defenders. You just have to limit the blow by’s and play good team defense. I think DeRozan has the athleticism and speed to at least not by a liability on defense,

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Green and Leonard were absolutely great man-to-man defenders in their years with SA. You could totally put them on a great scorer to render that player a neutral or negative part of his team's production. The Spurs didn't used to play a switch-heavy defense during the Medium Three years. That was something that came with Messin's "Wall" scheme.

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Originally Posted by palangi

I still wonder with metu showing range is summer league if he is being looked at as a wing player

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I definitely don't think they'll look at him as a wing. The best he can hope for in that regard is being a solid modern four, which is a need just as much if not more than a three anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gordy58

i dont think there are many of those kind of defenders in the league, the ones that stick to their man like glue, you have the Bradley’s, Beverly’s, Tony Allen’s, all the “good” defenders are the ones that can switch and not consistently get blown by on defense and have great steal and block instincts. It’s really difficult to find a great man to man defender, I don’t think Danny Green or even Kawhi were great man to man defenders, it’s their instincts that made them great defenders. You just have to limit the blow by’s and play good team defense. I think DeRozan has the athleticism and speed to at least not by a liability on defense,

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well you're wrong so ok

I wonder if the fouls, especially on the bigs, go way up this year.

If the wings can't keep anybody in front of them, it will be open season on the rim.

Argue about Kawhi, Green and Anderson all you want, but they were rarely beat, though Anderson was vulnerable but used space and his length well.

Thinking about Marco and his particular brand is no-resistance defense paired with Forbes and Mills just gives me a headache.

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Originally Posted by objective

I wonder if the fouls, especially on the bigs, go way up this year.

If the wings can't keep anybody in front of them, it will be open season on the rim.

Argue about Kawhi, Green and Anderson all you want, but they were rarely beat, though Anderson was vulnerable but used space and his length well.

Thinking about Marco and his particular brand is no-resistance defense paired with Forbes and Mills just gives me a headache.

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Mills/Murray/White will stay in front of players. Not so much with Forbes, and depends if Beli and Manu play the 3, they too would stay in front of lots of players. The issue is that they will be shot over. Players can find their spots because they don't have the strength or height to prevent them from getting the ball or push them out. I think we are going to see a lot of double teams and passing lanes filtering this season as our defensive strategy, rather than straight up man to man defense and switching. Spurs cannot even afford to switch heavy and have LMA guard the 3 point line because we may only have Beli and Gay trying to box out players for rebounds.

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Originally Posted by dabom

We didn't have one last year and our defense was still good. Expect better Offense though.

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Green and Anderson were two great defensive wings.

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Originally Posted by DAF86

Green and Anderson were two great defensive wings.

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They sure as hell didn't stop anyone last year. Or else Pop would have kept them. :lol

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Originally Posted by dabom

They sure as hell didn't stop anyone last year. Or else Pop would have kept them. :lol

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They actually did, that's why their individual defensive metrics and the Spurs overall defense were elite.

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Originally Posted by DAF86

They actually did, that's why their individual defensive metrics and the Spurs overall defense were elite.

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Yeah, they both got elite ass rapings by the warriors.

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Originally Posted by DAF86

They actually did, that's why their individual defensive metrics and the Spurs overall defense were elite.

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Great Defensive players get kept. You're on some bull shit narrative that doesn't make sense. And DG was breaking down by the end of the season and Fathead can't stay in front of anyone. That doesn't scream stopping anyone. :lol

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Originally Posted by dabom

Great Defensive players get kept. You're on some bull shit narrative that doesn't make sense. And DG was breaking down by the end of the season and Fathead can't stay in front of anyone. That doesn't scream stopping anyone. :lol

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The Spurs wanted to keep Anderson, they just couldn't afford him. And Green is a casualty of Kawhi's bitchness.