New Manu Article 9/27/18

It was easier to play than watch from the sidelines

SAN ANTONIO.- It's been a month since I announced I would stop playing. I've been retired for 30 days, although my last game was over 5 months ago, by far the longest I've been away from the orange ball since I was born. Never happened to me before. Just like I mentioned in my previous article, when I came back from vacations I grabbed the ball a couple of times, bounced it, smelled it, but it just wasn't the same. It might sound ungrateful to an object that gave me so much, but, so far, I don't miss it at all. I'll even double down, I'm more convinced now than a month ago that I made the right decision.

I didn't have enough time yet to get bored or miss things. The first week after retiring I kept a family routine taking care of my kids and school, and in the weeks after I also kept pretty busy with other things. Sincerely, the announcement was a bit of a chaos for a few days, then we made a quick honeymoon kind of trip with my wife. The kind we couldn't do for a long time. The week after some friends came to visit and immediately after, Pop and his assistants invited me to join them into what they call "coache's retreat", a 5 day trip where they get together for 7 or 8 hours a day, and debate how the season is going to be, how the team is going to train, discuss the players, system, etc. I had a great time and I learned a lot. Like I've been saying for a while now, I have no intentions in the immediate future to become a coach, but I do think you don't get an opportunity to learn so much and see basketball from a different angle every day, so I accepted the invitation with gusto and it was a great decision. I have big appreciation for the boss, and his assistants, all of which ave been friends for a long time.

A few days ago was Media Day, and it's the first one I missed since I've been in San Antonio. It was 16 times in a row that I participated in that activity, but there's no nostalgia about it. I have a great relationship with almost all the journalists that cover or covered the team all these years, and Media Day was never one of my favorite days of the season. A lot of similar questions, a lot of photos, announcements, and at that point all the players want to do is start training. Put on your shorts, start practicing with the new teammates and start removing the rust from so many months of inactivity.

And, in that context, it's good to point out that the season officially started yesterday. A lot of the players were in the city already the past few days (or weeks, in some cases) which allowed me to meet some of the new guys, since I went to the facility to do some weight lifting or just simply watch training. This week I'm going to be there training, and to help from the sidelines with the assistants. There's a lot of new guys that really want to adapt soon to the system, and with Tim (Duncan) we're here available trying to lend a hand in whatever we can. The idea is to help the players, Pop and the assistants so change is not so terrible and the team can speed up the transition.

There's been two days of Training Camp already and I feel that it was easier to play then watch from the sidelines. Being there 3 or 4 hours watching training without doing anything else definitely doesn't feel that great to me. It's just the the life of an athlete is either intensity or total rest. Now the activity is different. We kept looking at each other with Tim after 3 hours and we felt like starting to stretch or do something, because we were getting bored. The coaching career is definitely much more boring, and it's not a priority for me.

With only two days of work, there's not a lot of conclusions to draw. Everybody is moving and trying to fit it to the team's new configuration. The offense has to adapt to another focal player like DeMar DeRozan. We're going to be better offensively than last year. There's also some work started to try to diminish some potential defensive deficiencies, mostly because we lost some talented personnel in that aspect of the game. The team is adapting to the systems. Yet to be seen, for example, how Murray (Dejounte) works with DeRozan or DeRozan works with Aldrige (LaMarcus). We've seen some high intensity practice sessions and you can tell Forbes (Bryn), White (Derrick) and also Murray are doing really well. The veterans are picking up the slack slowly, but they know how to dose their energies at this time of the season.

After this week, I'll have more free time and slowly I'll start planning with Many our trip to Argentina. We're very excited to be able to spend our first family summer in the southern hemisphere after 20 years! We're looking forward to having a good time with our friends there. I'll finally have time without having to worry about training for a new season, a world championship or Olympics. Nico, Dante and Lucas are also happy. The youngest one, Luca, doesn't even remember Argentina and our house in Bahia Blanca, but the twins can't wait to travel and see their cousins and friends.


https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2175922-...costado-cancha

No coaching? :depressed

Hmmm “you can tell Forbes White and Murray are doing well”.... I am glad to read this but hmm... Makes me think of others not mentioned like Davis (not doing well?) and Forbes probably being in the rotation as a real possibility. Glad to see White is doing well tho, since not much has been leaked about him.


Edit: I’ve seen in many interviews already Manu expressing no interest in coaching. This just adds to that collection.

Thanks for the translation :tu

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Originally Posted by Manu

We've seen some high intensity practice sessions and you can tell Forbes (Bryn), White (Derrick) and also Murray are doing really well.

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The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues :lol

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Originally Posted by timvp

Thanks for the translation :tu



The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues :lol

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That's terrific news because Mills has been killing me.

I have a great relationship with almost all the journalists that cover or covered the team all these years, and Media Day was never one of my favorite days of the season. A lot of similar questions,

In other words, he can't stand Jabari.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Thanks for the translation :tu



The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues :lol

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Positive development, if true. He's still a defensive liability though, which makes him hard to play, unless he's gained on that end as well.

He simply got lost too much last year. I'm hopeful though.

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

Hmmm “you can tell Forbes White and Murray are doing well”.... I am glad to read this but hmm... Makes me think of others not mentioned like Davis (not doing well?) and Forbes probably being in the rotation as a real possibility. Glad to see White is doing well tho, since not much has been leaked about him.


Edit: I’ve seen in many interviews already Manu expressing no interest in coaching. This just adds to that collection.

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Forbes, Murray, and White play Manu's position - thats why he spoke about it. Davis doesn't play the same spot as Manu

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Originally Posted by RenaldoBalkman

Forbes, Murray, and White play Manu's position - thats why he spoke about it. Davis doesn't play the same spot as Manu

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And, besides that - Davis has been doing well in pro basketball for years as opposed to the three young guards.

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Originally Posted by RenaldoBalkman

Forbes, Murray, and White play Manu's position - thats why he spoke about it. Davis doesn't play the same spot as Manu

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Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.

I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).

Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.

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Originally Posted by skookumchuck

And, besides that - Davis has been doing well in pro basketball for years as opposed to the three young guards.

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that's relative.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Thanks for the translation :tu



The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues :lol

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Dex might have to change his avatar after all. ;)
In all seriousness tho, the question is whether he can do that in games but it looks like he will get opportunities.

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.

I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).

Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.

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Prepare yourself for the token Mills minutes mate.

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

Dex might have to change his avatar after all. ;)
In all seriousness tho, the question is whether he can do that in games but it looks like he will get opportunities.

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https://media1.tenor.com/images/438b...itemid=4656331

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Originally Posted by Dex

https://media1.tenor.com/images/438b...itemid=4656331

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I know!
:lmao

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Originally Posted by tmtcsc

That's terrific news because Mills has been killing me.

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Forbes "killing it" won't affect Mills' minutes one bit. White would be the one relegated instead.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

Thanks for the translation :tu



The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues :lol

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There you go Mugen. Your starting SG :lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.

I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).

Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.

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Forbes actually making a mini-leap could make Mills expendable, allowing the Spurs to use his salary in a trade. While the years left on his salary are a bit worrying, his actual salary isn't bad for his production. Adding in Toronto's pick (or the Spurs' own) could allow the Spurs to get back a very useful player.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.

I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).

Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.

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The guard rotation is in the equilibrium. Remove Derozan from the guards. He has to play SF. If its the Pippen point forward role, so be it, but he is starting at the 3 and playing the 3.

Murray, Mills, White, Walker are your points.
Mills, Beli, Forbes, White, Walker are your off guards.

Essentially Beli and Forbes would strictly play the 2. Both don't have the penetration of a point of the defense abilities to defend the 1's.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

The word I've heard is that Forbes has been "murdering everybody" the last three weeks or so. It's difficult to imagine that but I won't complain if that continues :lol

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I hope that means shooting lights-out from 3 and perhaps being a net neutral on defense.

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Originally Posted by Seventyniner

I hope that means shooting lights-out from 3 and perhaps being a net neutral on defense.

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I expect he looks like Steph Curry in practices.

Pop has joked around with it, and Chip raved about Forbes shot in the past, saying he's the shooter with the best pure form he's coached. Anyways, I think Pop is hoping Forbes develops into a special kind of shooter. The kind that is so dangerous you have to stick to them and not lose an inch. Some hoped he'd turn into a JJRedick type player. I think Pop and Co still have hopes he develops. It remains to be seen if practice highlights translate, but I bet Pop will try.

Forbes has worked out a ton this summer and looks bigger. He's been showing off his dunks on social media, too. I think we will be seeing a much more athletic player than last year. This will only help his game.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.

I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).

Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.

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Mills will get traded....

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

I expect he looks like Steph Curry in practices.

Pop has joked around with it, and Chip raved about Forbes shot in the past, saying he's the shooter with the best pure form he's coached. Anyways, I think Pop is hoping Forbes develops into a special kind of shooter. The kind that is so dangerous you have to stick to them and not lose an inch. Some hoped he'd turn into a JJRedick type player. I think Pop and Co still have hopes he develops. It remains to be seen if practice highlights translate, but I bet Pop will try.

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Yeah, I'd be careful about prioritizing only form. Jeff Van Gundy said at least once that Steve Novak was the best shooter on the planet, but that only got him a bit role in the NBA: he was overmatched in basically ever other aspect of the game.

I know it will never happen, but can Mills get traded already?

And can White/Lonnie turn Belinelli into 2003 Steve Smith?

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Originally Posted by coachmac87

Mills will get traded....

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Doubtful. They just lost 2 big time locker room voices/presences, I don't see them moving the longest tenured guy, and someone the team really respects.

He should have a bounce back year, he won't be relied upon in the same manner he was last year, a lot of times he was still learning being a ball handler/play maker more.

I don't want to overblow open gym, but if Forbes shows marked improvement, it's hard to believe he won't see regular minutes.

The presumption and concern by many, has been that it'll come at White's expense. But unless he struggles mightily, I can't see it, given the lack of another play maker on the 2nd unit.

That leaves Bertans. Mills or Belinelli will likely sub for Gay mid 1st and 3rd, but rather than Gay subbing back in for DeRozan late 1st and 3rd, he could sub for Aldridge instead. Forbes would then sub for Mills or Belinelli early 2nd and possibly 4th.

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

Doubtful. They just lost 2 big time locker room voices/presences, I don't see them moving the longest tenured guy, and someone the team really respects.

He should have a bounce back year, he won't be relied upon in the same manner he was last year, a lot of times he was still learning being a ball handler/play maker more.

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Right now, I agree. But if Forbes, who's already significantly younger and cheaper than Mills and Belinelli, to begin with, can prove to be even close to as good as them, how could they not eventually shop one? They had no problem shopping a more important role player, in Green and moving on from a franchise icon, in Parker. I get that Mills is the last one left, but drawing the line at him would be insane.

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Originally Posted by TD 21

I don't want to overblow open gym, but if Forbes shows marked improvement, it's hard to believe he won't see regular minutes.

The presumption and concern by many, has been that it'll come at White's expense. But unless he struggles mightily, I can't see it, given the lack of another play maker on the 2nd unit.

That leaves Bertans. Mills or Belinelli will likely sub for Gay mid 1st and 3rd, but rather than Gay subbing back in for DeRozan late 1st and 3rd, he could sub for Aldridge instead. Forbes would then sub for Mills or Belinelli early 2nd and possibly 4th.

Right now, I agree. But if Forbes, who's already significantly younger and cheaper than Mills and Belinelli, to begin with, can prove to be even close to as good as them, how could they not eventually shop one? They had no problem shopping a more important role player, in Green and moving on from a franchise icon, in Parker. I get that Mills is the last one left, but drawing the line at him would be insane.

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,
I don't think they wanted to let go of Green, but Toronto wanted him and they had to get rid of Kawhi. Parker was due to his role, I mean we have a ton of guards, TP wasn't getting much time.

I just don't see it with so much change happening. If Forbes is amazing and Patty isn't good, it'll be interesting to see how it pans out. But IMO a trade is unlikely unless he's like TP and doesn't see himself getting much time and requests out for himself and the team

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Originally Posted by bklynspursfan

,
I don't think they wanted to let go of Green, but Toronto wanted him and they had to get rid of Kawhi. Parker was due to his role, I mean we have a ton of guards, TP wasn't getting much time.

I just don't see it with so much change happening. If Forbes is amazing and Patty isn't good, it'll be interesting to see how it pans out. But IMO a trade is unlikely unless he's like TP and doesn't see himself getting much time and requests out for himself and the team

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They were supposedly shopping Green for about a year according to Lowe. Whatever hope he had of being re-signed vanished with the Walker pick, since they'll likely want to clear a path to a rotation spot for him by next season (by ridding themselves of Gasol and either moving Gay back to PF or signing some other starting caliber big wing).

Parker was due to role, but Mills could be too. They won't bench him, but as I alluded to, if Forbes is too good to not be a rotation player, what sense would he make? Culture shouldn't outweigh logic and isn't worth rotational gymnastics.

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Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres

Forbes actually has the same skillset as Patty and he's better off defending opposing back up PGs than wings. Therefore, Forbes in my eyes plays Pattys position.

I don't see how Pop can find minutes for Forbes, White, Patty, Marco, DeRozan, Murray, and possibly Walker ( if he earns it).

Something has to give if Forbes, White, and Murray keep playing really well. Murray could possibly see 30-32 mpg this season.

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Belinelli and DeRozan will get a lot of minutes at SF, Walker will mostly be G league. The main rotation will be.

Murray - Mills
Forbes - White
DeRozan - Belinelli
Aldridge - Gay
Poeltl - Gasol
I think the Spurs will use a lot of the 3 gaurd and 2 bigs line up.

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

that's relative.

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Everything is. Bertans been a pro since 2010, while Murray, Forbes and White have 5 years of professional basketball between them. You don't get courted by top Euroleague clubs nor do you get drafted if you're not doing well or showing good promise.
Murray has risen especially fast, but White and Forbes have none of the accolades or experience in pro ball that Bertans does.


My point here is - even if Manu wasn't just referring to the young guards in rotation, he certainly knows of Bertans Euroleague background as it is significant to himself.

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Originally Posted by skookumchuck

Everything is. Bertans been a pro since 2010, while Murray, Forbes and White have 5 years of professional basketball between them. You don't get courted by top Euroleague clubs nor do you get drafted if you're not doing well or showing good promise.
Murray has risen especially fast, but White and Forbes have none of the accolades or experience in pro ball that Bertans does.


My point here is - even if Manu wasn't just referring to the young guards in rotation, he certainly knows of Bertans Euroleague background as it is significant to himself.

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That’s your interpretation and won’t and can’t take that away from you. The reason I said is relative is that the only things that matters for Spurs purposes is how he’s doing this season. Whatever he did in the past is in the past he’s not in a point in his career where he can take success for granted. He said so himself in his interview when he said you can’t relax and not play as best as you can in preseason bc things can change quickly which I take to mean he could be initially project s for X role and minutes, not quite cut it and someone else end up being the guy taking the role.

Adios amigo

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

That’s your interpretation and won’t and can’t take that away from you.

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Quite. And it doesn't really matter, as I think Manu just wanted to stress how guys suppossed to play his position have progressed.