I do like the work he is putting in but you know it's not going to be a one season turnaround. Will take at least 2 or 3 years like Parkers mid range.
Printable View
how many teams have 2 top 10 mvp canidates
spurs have 2!
The problem isn't 3-point shooters in general (Mills, Belinelli, Bertans, Forbes, probably White), it's the lack of 3-point shooting among what's likely to be their 4 minute leaders (DeRozan, Aldridge, Murray, Gay).
Yeah, I'm really interested to see how the lineups shake out.
If you go strictly by talent, the obvious choice is Murray/Demar/Gay/Aldridge/Poetl. But goddamn, there is absolutely no reliable 3-point shooting in that lineup, and the defense ain't much to write home about either.
They could boost the shooting by doing something like Murray/Demar/Beli or White/Aldridge/Gasol...but that makes the defense look even worse.
I want Poetl to start...but I also want to see how works with Manu in the P&R.
Gay seems like a solid starting candidate but would be sharing shots with DMD and LMA, so he'd probably have more freedom in the 2nd unit.
White deserves good minutes, and perhaps a shot at cracking the starting lineup.
Lot of different ways things could break down over the season.
This really needed a new thread
In no particular order:
The Warriors : Durant(1), Curry(2)
The Rockets: Harden (3), CP3 (4)
Westbrook (5), Kawhi (6), Lebron (7), Davis (8), Giannis (9), Kyrie (10), Embiid (11)
also,
https://247sports.com/nba/los-angele...4/#120075384_7
I don't see anyone who plays for the Spurs...
It's the deadest part of the offseason, the Kawhi thread is dead, and half of the other posts on the front page are fucking dabom posts. What the hell else are we supposed to talk about?
I think Gay will be crucial to our success, but you're right about our lack of 3pt shooting in the obvious starters if Murray/ DD/ and LMA are out there...as someone else said make Gay the 6th man. Maybe play 3 guards with Mills starting. Or have Beli play SF in the starting lineup.
And yeah...what the hell is there to talk about? An NBA fans longest month of the year is coming!
Reminded me of this...though I'm not sure we should be so kind.
https://media1.tenor.com/images/288a...itemid=9945439
A Murray-Aldridge-Poeltl troika would be elite defensively, even with Gay and DeRozan on the wings (mediocre and poor as they are respectively, at least they're not physical liabilities).
As long as Aldridge-DeRozan-Murray remain the core, I doubt Poeltl ever starts. A finishing C isn't tenable offensively next to those 3, plus sooner than later Aldridge won't be able to get by even part time defending PF's.
Whether starting or not, Gay will play some with Aldridge and DeRozan and when he does, he's going to have to function mostly as a spot up 3-point shooter.
The Spurs got rid of Kyle Anderson, Green and Parker. This year they added DeRozan, Belinelli and more Gay, Davis, and maybe White. I think the consensus is the offense will be better and the defense worse. DeRozan averaged 27 ppg year before last. Look who he is replacing- Anderson or Green. Either way that is a massive upgrade in terms of scoring power.
Another way to look at it if you're only looking at 3pt shooting. The Spurs lost only Green as a 3pt shooter and they added Belinelli. Big loss in defense but not in shooting. Also I think Bertans is due to break out as a 3pt shooter. He can get his shot off in the NBA and once he gets confidence I think he will improve.
The common thread in all this is improving offense while sacrificing defense. Only the addition of Poeltl can be seen as s defense upgrade. He had monster defensive stats and is young. I hope he gets minutes.
Yep...Gay will need to be a 3 pt threat. That's why expect to see Beli and/or Mills out there with those two.
Poetlt will really benefit from playing with "The Manu," who should be announcing his triumphant return any day now. I haven't seen White enough to know about his pick'n roll skills.
Murray's lack of a 3pt shot is the glaring issue. If he could come up with one it would be huge. Even if he's just a guy who has to be wide open at one of his spots, he would make the spacing better for the whole team. With both Aldridge and DeRozan working the mid-space the Sours need guys to stretch the floor. Look for Belinelli to get minutes. Manu can still hit a 3. Marco and Manu together. Who needs defense in today's NBA? Popovich is adaptable and they might be building a different team.
White has the makings of a great court general for the Spurs.......
What are you talking about? The Spurs are full of consistent shooters. They are consistently inconsistent.
Completely agree... But it couldn't be helped. Suspect some of those one trick ponies shooters will end up playing more than they are currently projected. I expect Pop to rely heavily on guys like Forbes and Marco. My hope really is Davis takes a small leap but at his age, ?? Not sure how much better he can be really. Derozan, Aldridge and Gay are already what they are. Murray is the only one that can be at least team MIP... We shall see.
Spurstalk is one of the best forums on the planet.
Derrick White will be one of the best shooters in the NBA next year. > 40%
Mills, Belinelli and Bertans, will likely play relatively significant minutes, but I don't see it with Forbes. He's likely behind White, who's already probably going to get somewhat squeezed (not really because he'll likely play relatively significant minutes when any non C isn't available and that's a common occurrence leaguewide).
Now that they're essentially forced to give Bertans a consistent role, I think he can and will be markedly better.
I think Bertans has much better potential than what we saw last year. He never really saw consistent minutes and nobody on last year's team (especially off the bench) knew who they were going to be playing with on any given night). With more consistent and predictable rotations and playing time Bertans should see a marked improvement. (i.e. Manu was 25 when he came in to the NBA). He made his style fit today's NBA and Bertan's style is what the whole NBA is trying to go for. Too bad he is missing a finger and has TRex arms.
Yeah, I think Bertans game was hurt by lack of regular minutes and undefined role. See the good impact continuity had on Kyle Anderson. I expect Davis to play more and more often this season. He's good enough shooting to improve his % consequently.
Obviously, looking at the roster, 3pt shooting won't be the team's stronger weapon but there are reasons to refrain from being pessimistic.
I think the main reason for the low % from last season was that players weren't making their shots. It was too hard to get a clean open three, everybody was playing above his role trying to make the play.
This season, shooters won't have to create all the space for their shots as there are more players able of breaking the defense. DeRozan verticality will make other teams help and sharing the court with Aldridge will improve the spacing, compared to any other starting lineup from last year. Murray will shoot slightly better from 3 but the big improvement should be an increased ability to drive and kick out for others. Our second unit looks much better offensively as well. Patty, Marco, Manu, even Gay, Aldridge and Gasol should hit more of their shots if they are open. White, Cunningham, and Forbes should be at least decent outside shooters.
Also, have a look to this. I believe DeMar can benefit from Spurs system (passing, spacing) and not necessarily being the #1 option all the time. He should find better positions and hit more of his threes.
So we won't be a fantastic 3pt team but we should be fine. Defense is more worrying to me.