Open Scrimmage Stats and Thoughts: Silver vs. Black - 10/3/18

- I don't understand why some seemingly thought White was a pure point. He's the definition of a combo guard (can play either on both sides of the ball). He'd be best alongside another guard that can make plays, so that he can get it on the catch/2nd side (where his pedestrian handle and lack of explosiveness aren't as big of a concern) and attack a scrambling defense.

- Unfortunately, since Mills, Belinelli and Forbes are all even less equipped to cause the initial breakdown and Walker will inevitably start out buried, they don't have that option.

- I don't understand why some are still pretending Cunningham ever had to make this roster. Even if you want to dismiss the role he's mostly played throughout his career, they gave him a portion of the MLE and have a severe lack of depth at his position.

- Pondexter, I strongly suspected would no longer have the lateral quicks to defend on the perimeter and since there's no other role he can morph into, that renders him a non NBA player.

- If they keep a 15th, Blossomgame makes the most sense. He's a live body and a legit SF/small ball PF. If he develops a reliable, spot up corner 3, he could be Tucker/Carroll lite. If he can't, he's not an NBA player.

Forbes is good and will have a solid season. It's funny that people are already using one scrimmage (a scrimmage where Forbes also played well nonetheless) to lament how Walker will "unfortunately be buried behind Forbes". Forbes looked like a poor man's Curry in last year's SL and his defense is pretty damn good when you don't put him on 6-7 guys like Klay Thompson. Should've never brought Belli back.

White too. One scrimmage doesn't make Walker a better player. White has done nothing but impress in almost every situation he's been thrown into--I think he'll be fine.

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Originally Posted by tmtcsc

Since when has Derrick White ever been a PG? I don't get it. He's not a play-maker on offense and doesn't have the handles to do the job. Spurs have enough issues with Murray and Mills trying to run point, they don't need another experiment.

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Who do you figure will be a back-up PG if there's foul trouble or injuries.

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

Who do you figure will be a back-up PG if there's foul trouble or injuries.

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DeMarr.

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Originally Posted by dbestpro

DeMarr.

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Yeah... should it come down to it.
There it is.

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Originally Posted by dbestpro

DeMarr.

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Good guess. With Forbes off the ball but nominally listed at PG.

Still I am hoping White gets it together with those handles. Dijon himself was extremely shaky with his handles b4 he settled in. It's possible the game is stilld developing too fast for White and he will improve that aspect.

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

Still I am hoping White gets it together with those handles. Dijon himself was extremely shaky with his handles b4 he settled in. It's possible the game is stilld developing too fast for White and he will improve that aspect.

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Yeah and DJ still hasn't really tightened up them there handles yet himself, tbh.

As long as Patty is coming off the bench you cannot play Forbes next to him. Their combined defense paired together is historically bad. There really just isn't a place for Forbes on the team. I expect pop to play him early but by January he will be the towel boy.

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Originally Posted by FkLA

Forbes is good and will have a solid season. It's funny that people are already using one scrimmage (a scrimmage where Forbes also played well nonetheless) to lament how Walker will "unfortunately be buried behind Forbes". Forbes looked like a poor man's Curry in last year's SL and his defense is pretty damn good when you don't put him on 6-7 guys like Klay Thompson. Should've never brought Belli back.

White too. One scrimmage doesn't make Walker a better player. White has done nothing but impress in almost every situation he's been thrown into--I think he'll be fine.

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Yep, a poor man's Curry. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. I think Bertans and Forbes on the court as starters stretches out the court for DeRozan, Murray and Aldridge to operate. In the last 2 games, Bertans has assisted on Forbes 3 point make, so they are playing well together.

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Originally Posted by Kobe'sAchilles

As long as Patty is coming off the bench you cannot play Forbes next to him. Their combined defense paired together is historically bad. There really just isn't a place for Forbes on the team. I expect pop to play him early but by January he will be the towel boy.

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I don't like that pairing either. Some are predicting Mills will be traded. I doubt it very much.

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Originally Posted by TD 21

- I don't understand why some seemingly thought White was a pure point. He's the definition of a combo guard (can play either on both sides of the ball). He'd be best alongside another guard that can make plays, so that he can get it on the catch/2nd side (where his pedestrian handle and lack of explosiveness aren't as big of a concern) and attack a scrambling defense.

- Unfortunately, since Mills, Belinelli and Forbes are all even less equipped to cause the initial breakdown and Walker will inevitably start out buried, they don't have that option.

- I don't understand why some are still pretending Cunningham ever had to make this roster. Even if you want to dismiss the role he's mostly played throughout his career, they gave him a portion of the MLE and have a severe lack of depth at his position.

- Pondexter, I strongly suspected would no longer have the lateral quicks to defend on the perimeter and since there's no other role he can morph into, that renders him a non NBA player.

- If they keep a 15th, Blossomgame makes the most sense. He's a live body and a legit SF/small ball PF. If he develops a reliable, spot up corner 3, he could be Tucker/Carroll lite. If he can't, he's not an NBA player.

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- It's not about whether people thought White was ONLY a PG. It's about whether he can play PG at the NBA level. I think he can, and Pop and RC built the roster seemingly with that in mind. They didn't get him legit competition or help on the bench. Now it looks like he might not even be in the rotation. Weird, but I'm not going to harp on it yet again. The point is that White being unable to be a PG really limits what he can do. Combo-guards are a dime a dozen. White's ability to run the offense was supposed to set him apart.

- I thought it was the LLE (and there is still dispute on that despite what Pincus said)? Anyway, yeah, DC doesn't have to make the roster unless he is really bad for multiple games while others are really good. He still has work to do to beat out Forbes or White for a rotation spot, though. Looking at the rotation so far, I think he's on the outside, but we'll see how Pop plays him going forward.

-The question is whether Pop will understand this or if he thinks Pon's experience makes him worthy of a spot.

-I agree. Blossom should get it, especially with Huestis not part of the equation. They can always cut him later. No reason to go short into the season.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

- It's not about whether people thought White was ONLY a PG. It's about whether he can play PG at the NBA level. I think he can, and Pop and RC built the roster seemingly with that in mind. They didn't get him legit competition or help on the bench. Now it looks like he might not even be in the rotation. Weird, but I'm not going to harp on it yet again. The point is that White being unable to be a PG really limits what he can do. Combo-guards are a dime a dozen. White's ability to run the offense was supposed to set him apart.

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Not sure what their backup plan is at this point since they have never put anyone in this position and not followed through. I think White is the backup point for the foreseeable future.

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- I thought it was the LLE (and there is still dispute on that despite what Pincus said)? Anyway, yeah, DC doesn't have to make the roster unless he is really bad for multiple games while others are really good. He still has work to do to beat out Forbes or White for a rotation spot, though. Looking at the rotation so far, I think he's on the outside, but we'll see how Pop plays him going forward.

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Cunningham is a lock for the rotation. They wouldn't have signed him for any other reason.

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-The question is whether Pop will understand this or if he thinks Pon's experience makes him worthy of a spot.

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Seems like kind of a charity case; the kind of player one gives a chance to prove himself again in the G-League.

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-I agree. Blossom should get it, especially with Huestis not part of the equation. They can always cut him later. No reason to go short into the season.

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Don't see anyone else getting the second two-way at this point.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Pretty

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Spurs are in dire need of players that can create their own offense.

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Originally Posted by Chinook

- It's not about whether people thought White was ONLY a PG. It's about whether he can play PG at the NBA level. I think he can, and Pop and RC built the roster seemingly with that in mind. They didn't get him legit competition or help on the bench. Now it looks like he might not even be in the rotation. Weird, but I'm not going to harp on it yet again. The point is that White being unable to be a PG really limits what he can do. Combo-guards are a dime a dozen. White's ability to run the offense was supposed to set him apart.

- I thought it was the LLE (and there is still dispute on that despite what Pincus said)? Anyway, yeah, DC doesn't have to make the roster unless he is really bad for multiple games while others are really good. He still has work to do to beat out Forbes or White for a rotation spot, though. Looking at the rotation so far, I think he's on the outside, but we'll see how Pop plays him going forward.

-The question is whether Pop will understand this or if he thinks Pon's experience makes him worthy of a spot.

-I agree. Blossom should get it, especially with Huestis not part of the equation. They can always cut him later. No reason to go short into the season.

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White hasn't been the full-time PG with Austin, but he's played point both in Austin, Summer League and US Basketball. Given the Spurs don't have real point guards, he's going to be the designated one.

I worry though about Spurs not having a true point guard. I remember when Beno Udrih was destroyed by the Pistons. This is a glaring weaknness that could be exploited by other teams.

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Originally Posted by ceperez

White hasn't been the full-time PG with Austin, but he's played point both in Austin, Summer League and US Basketball. Given the Spurs don't have real point guards, he's going to be the designated one.

I worry though about Spurs not having a true point guard. I remember when Beno Udrih was destroyed by the Pistons. This is a glaring weaknness that could be exploited by other teams.

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Beno was up against one of the best full court harrasses at the time. I think it was Lindsey Hunter. The Spurs made a rule as the series progressed, that whoever Hunter was marking, does not bring the ball up.

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Originally Posted by tbdog

Beno was up against one of the best full court harrasses at the time. I think it was Lindsey Hunter. The Spurs made a rule as the series progressed, that whoever Hunter was marking, does not bring the ball up.

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Yes, but Beno never played after that trouncing. Although, it should always make sense that you don't force the offense against the best defender. Teams for example have left Kawhi in an island by having whoever he defended hanging out in one corner. You don't want to see Kawhi roaming around the defense looking for opportunities.

White can execute a pick and roll for a multitude of passes or call his own number for a shot off the dribble or drive to the rim. That's more than anyone else on the bench can execute, and probably more than Murray as it is

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Originally Posted by Chinook

- It's not about whether people thought White was ONLY a PG. It's about whether he can play PG at the NBA level. I think he can, and Pop and RC built the roster seemingly with that in mind. They didn't get him legit competition or help on the bench. Now it looks like he might not even be in the rotation. Weird, but I'm not going to harp on it yet again. The point is that White being unable to be a PG really limits what he can do. Combo-guards are a dime a dozen. White's ability to run the offense was supposed to set him apart.

- I thought it was the LLE (and there is still dispute on that despite what Pincus said)? Anyway, yeah, DC doesn't have to make the roster unless he is really bad for multiple games while others are really good. He still has work to do to beat out Forbes or White for a rotation spot, though. Looking at the rotation so far, I think he's on the outside, but we'll see how Pop plays him going forward.

-The question is whether Pop will understand this or if he thinks Pon's experience makes him worthy of a spot.

-I agree. Blossom should get it, especially with Huestis not part of the equation. They can always cut him later. No reason to go short into the season.

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- I think White can play as a nominal PG too, but as I've said, no one on this roster is equipped to play as the lone ball handler on a unit. What sets him apart from most combo guards, is how well rounded he is. There's plenty of undersized shooter/scorer types and a decent amount of big, play making types, but there's not many who encompass both.

- Yeah, it was the BAE. The point is, you don't use an exception on a player who has to compete to make the roster. It doesn't matter how Cunningham plays, he's a stone cold lock. He'll likely generally be outside the rotation, save for obvious match-ups. He's more so in competition with Poeltl and Bertans than he is Forbes and White.

- According to Pincus, Pondexter has a partial guarantee of $150,000, with the standard fully guaranteed date of January 10th, for $2.165,481. So he's not a lock to make the team, but it's safe to say he has the inside track. Odds are slim he lasts the season though.