Grades: Spurs vs. Lakers - Jan. 1, 2021

[Collins21]

Poetl was also switching onto their wings and guards. You think he can do that as well as Poetl?

Poetl has looked just as bad on defense as Aldridge. If davis would have did to LMA what he did to Poetl last night yall would crapping on him. Aldridge when he gets healthy and starts hitting his shots are going to make a lot of yall look foolish for actually believing that Jak is better.

[KobesAchilles]

Poeltl is like Kyle Anderson. If you don't pay and keep him, you have absolutely jack .

No one wants Patty Mills and people like you need to also understand that what he contributes to the culture of the team is absolutely vital. Maybe you play a ton of PlayStation, but that's not how things work nor how this franchise views its players.

Rudy Gay is second to Mills in that regard, but also important at this point to team culture. He's also not someone you can trade for better players, not at this point.

I'm still unsure whether LMA can be traded. The team's floor drops considerably this year if he's traded, and I don't know what the market is, but they should look around.

Clearly the problem going forward is young front court talent. I don't know how to solve the problem at this point.

We didn't lose jack by losing Anderson so I don't really see your point unless you're saying that losing Poetl wouldn't have been a big deal.

I haven't played playstation in years tbh. just got too complicated for me. I'm not saying that I dislike Patty and I'm not denying the culture part, but if either him or Gay end up with more FGA per game then their "culture" is counterproductive.

Also not moving Gay bc of culture issues is pretty dumb. It's not about bringing in better players, I would take a worse player tbh bc at least they would understand where they are in the pecking order. 3 out of the top 4 shooters (as far as attempts) on our team are our vets while the other is the point guard. That needs to change during the year and idk if Rudy will be okay with that change.

The only way to solve that problem is to sign Collins and draft a young athletic big man. I would be ok with re-signing DDR as well. He solves a lot of issues on our team that people don't want to admit. Like free throws attempts (I don't even want to know how many a game we would average if he wasn't on our team), being able to dribble the basketball, and setting up teammates.

[Sugus]

Who were we competing with about Poetl? Why did they think he was worth $9 million a year?

This was a drama filled signing. Wonder if the local press will cover that aspect. I've heard bits and pieces but Poeltl had multiple teams after him and it's not a coincidence that the deal was done like five minutes before he was free to sign an offersheet elsewhere

There's another post by timvp detailing he was offered signing sheets that would've put the Spurs over the cap had they tried to match them, but didn't. Couldn't find it.

[GreekSpursfan]

Gay was asked to do more in the absence of LA and when that happens don't expect good results especially when White isn't 100%. I really like where this team is heading but we're missing the true alpha which is the most important thing unfortunately. Lets hope we find him in the near future. Go Spurs Go

[Mr. Body]

We didn't lose jack by losing Anderson so I don't really see your point unless you're saying that losing Poetl wouldn't have been a big deal.

We need Kyle Anderson right now. Without Poeltl, we'd have Eubanks and jack without LMA. You need to think these things through, dude.

[Sugus]

We could use a PnP PF kind of like this right now too... Wonder if he'll make an appearance once we play lesser stakes games.

[Dejounte]

Gay was asked to do more in the absence of LA and when that happens don't expect good results especially when White isn't 100%. I really like where this team is heading but we're missing the true alpha which is the most important thing unfortunately. Lets hope we find him in the near future. Go Spurs Go

Keldon will develop into one.

[Dejounte]

We could use a PnP PF kind of like this right now too... Wonder if he'll make an appearance once we play lesser stakes games.

I wonder... if the Spurs truly still have hope for Luka and are legitimately putting him on a 3 year plan, that we'll see him play towards the end of this season and see what he's got. If he does well Keldon-style, I wonder if there would be major minutes in store for him next year. Obviously a lot of dominoes for this needs to fall...

The Spurs' plan for Luka is SO mysterious but maybe already so obvious that we're just in denial. I can't decide between the two.

[r0drig0lac]

I wonder... if the Spurs truly still have hope for Luka and are legitimately putting him on a 3 year plan, that we'll see him play towards the end of this season and see what he's got. If he does well Keldon-style, I wonder if there would be major minutes in store for him next year. Obviously a lot of dominoes for this needs to fall...

The Spurs' plan for Luka is SO mysterious but maybe already so obvious that we're just in denial. I can't decide between the two.

I don't see a plan, they drafted the potential waiting for a home run, the problem is that from what I saw about Luka, I don't see a middle ground in his future in the NBA, or he will be very good player or he will be out of the league.

[Dejounte]

I don't see a plan, they drafted the potential waiting for a home run, the problem is that from what I saw about Luka, I don't see a middle ground in his future in the NBA, or he will be very good player or he will be out of the league.

I think they're going to put him in the gleague and make a final decision immediately after based on if he's dominating there or not. He has to show some kind of improvement. Luckily, I kept an eye on him last year so I'll be able to compare. Theoretically, Luka SHOULD give everything John Collins is supposed to give us.

[phxspurfan]

Wow. Is this bump really implying Kyle ing Anderson would have saved us from being curbstomped by the Lakers/Refs? Come on, get a grip. This team is nowhere close to beating the Lakers. They were giving 60% effort and used their random ties to take wet poops on us.

And btw, their end of bench s who beat us (Wes Matthews, Kuzma) are better than 90% of our team. Getting slow ass fathead back wouldnt have changed .

[Chomag]

I ain't even mad if we get swept because our guys competed . If these 2 games were called fairly we would be talking about our 2 wins. We got some promising players but no Star player that can put us past going 5 on 8 because of the refs and pull out the win despite them.

If it wasn't for my love of our Spurs team I would be so done with the NBA, such a product the league has now become, thanks Silver!

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Lamarcus has been averaging 3 less rebounds a game than Jak in 5 more minutes per game this year

He's been least interested in boxing out and fighting for rebounds out of all of our bigs and it's so plainly obvious watching the games it makes me wonder if someone saying he would keep LA off the boards is actually paying attention or just going off his reputation from 4 years ago. Also- it is 2021, we don't need to be calling post ups for our Centers when all the evidence statistically and anecdotally around the league says its the least efficient form of offense. Even Jokic creates most of his offense from the arc, choosing to face up and get position down low or taking open shots. I know there's a lot of people who miss 4 down being the only thing you had to run but it's not the game anymore, and especially not the game when your bigs are Jakob and old man Aldridge.

Rebounding was definitely a problem, but when you have Keldon and Demar responsible for keeping one of Gasol or Davis off the glass it's gonna be trouble no matter who is playing center.

I just don't think there was any one problem that resulted in the loss. Patty missed a bunny, Drew missed a couple of bunnies, Jak missed 4 free throws, the team missed a total of 8 free throws. We had 16 less shot attempts than the lakers. They were able to create offense and find quality shots in the 4th while we stagnated and resorted to long 2s and lazy offense. The Lebron post up on Dwhite. Lakers getting away with murder on screens grabbing everyone and getting open shot after open shot.

I hope LMA gets traded ASAP, he's regressing at an alarming rate and he's soft as .

[tbdog]

I hope LMA gets traded ASAP, he's regressing at an alarming rate and he's soft as .

By game 30, he'll be our best player.

[Mr. Body]

Wow. Is this bump really implying Kyle ing Anderson would have saved us from being curbstomped by the Lakers/Refs? Come on, get a grip. This team is nowhere close to beating the Lakers.

Lol, they were literally one minute from beating them. Two plays did it.

Anyone -- ANYONE -- able to corral a couple more defensive rebounds and the game was won.

[XDT76]

I wonder... if the Spurs truly still have hope for Luka and are legitimately putting him on a 3 year plan, that we'll see him play towards the end of this season and see what he's got. If he does well Keldon-style, I wonder if there would be major minutes in store for him next year. Obviously a lot of dominoes for this needs to fall...

The Spurs' plan for Luka is SO mysterious but maybe already so obvious that we're just in denial. I can't decide between the two.

They probably still have hope, the Spurs just activate the team option for him for next year.

[Slippy]

This is starting to become a major concern for Lonnie imo. It's like he has his mind made up what he is going to do the moment he gets the ball, and doesn't take what the defense is actually giving him.

I know this new offense is predicated on drive-and-kicks generating open looks, but Lonnie has turned down multiple wide open lanes where he could challenge the rim and just tosses the ball back out.

That's great if it leads to a wide open three-pointer, but more often than not it just resets the offense and forces someone else to try to get the same advantage that Lonnie just gave up.

I've said it before, but he plays way too passive for a guy with his abilities.

Agree, he's in premeditated mode. Yesterday game it was all about dribbling and kick outs.. One drive, he had a path to the basket,no defenders in front and still kicked it back out.. you look back to his first season.. he showed none of that. His offensive game has been natured. He seems to be overthinking it. Coaches probably in his ear.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

By game 30, he'll be our best player.

Then we will finish bottom 3 in the west

[rankingtear]

Poetl has looked just as bad on defense as Aldridge. If davis would have did to LMA what he did to Poetl last night yall would crapping on him. Aldridge when he gets healthy and starts hitting his shots are going to make a lot of yall look foolish for actually believing that Jak is better.

Based on what? LA 's Def Rating is 125 good for second to last among rotational centers. Poeltl in the LAL last two games is at 102, 94 for the season second only to Marc Gasol.

[Slippy]

Who the cares about his defensive rating when one game he cant stay on the court and then next game lays an egg. .

Second to Marc Gasol. Wow

[Sugus]

Who the cares about his defensive rating when one game he cant stay on the court and then next game lays an egg. .

Second to Marc Gasol. Wow

I do - because defense wins you games, Center is the most valuable position to have a plus defender at, and the rest of the team is more offensive-oriented with several neutral-to-lousy defenders, especially in the SL....?

0 point games aren't acceptable, but they're still one game. Bad FT shooting is not acceptable. Ticky-tacky fouls are not acceptable (though if you watch the games, it's as much on Jakob as the officiating that's gotten ridiculously bad). That all doesn't mean that we can't look at advanced metrics to see the real value of a player, despite their flaws. I see naive posters here dismissing all the work Jakob does on the court, or wondering if he "truly has any elite skills"... I'm convinced people don't really watch the games, at this point.

Being the second best defensive rating big in the league is a great thing. I'd be wary of such a metric for now though, due to sample size, but it's objectively something to care about.

[daslicer]

Wow. Is this bump really implying Kyle ing Anderson would have saved us from being curbstomped by the Lakers/Refs? Come on, get a grip. This team is nowhere close to beating the Lakers. They were giving 60% effort and used their random ties to take wet poops on us.

And btw, their end of bench s who beat us (Wes Matthews, Kuzma) are better than 90% of our team. Getting slow ass fathead back wouldnt have changed .

Matthews is garbage. You are off on that one.

[Sugus]

Matthews is garbage. You are off on that one.

and Kuzma isn't? Garbage take all around, not just on Matthews, tbh.

[Sugus]

I wonder... if the Spurs truly still have hope for Luka and are legitimately putting him on a 3 year plan, that we'll see him play towards the end of this season and see what he's got. If he does well Keldon-style, I wonder if there would be major minutes in store for him next year. Obviously a lot of dominoes for this needs to fall...

The Spurs' plan for Luka is SO mysterious but maybe already so obvious that we're just in denial. I can't decide between the two.

The only people who think the Spurs have lost hope in Luka are roaming this God-forsaken board, tbh. It defies all critical analysis. Why would the Spurs take an Euro (so already noticeably slower to get up-to-speed on NBA basketball as compared to college players), 19-year-old, tweener and bodily-underdeveloped, big man (also slower to come into their game than guards), who'd they been scouting for years (so his developmental curve is no question mark) -- only to "lose hope" on him in his second season? The guy literally has yet to play two consecutive NBA games, and they've lost hope?

Posters would rather hate on him than think critically. I'm not saying he won't turn out to be a bad player, we don't really know, but trying to extrapolate Luka's lack of playing time as anything more than his body and mind not being ready for NBA level basketball is stupid. Especially since he got his only fair opportunity recently (the bubble game) and, far from stinking it up or looking out of place, put up double digit points and made a couple 3's. But now, less than 4 months after that "debut", and not even having played another NBA game, the Spurs have "lost hope"....? I don't know, chief.

I'd easily bet you (well, not you, my man, I know you're a believer deep down) that we see Luka play once we start playing easier opponents. As Ex pointed out, the games we've played so far have barely even had "garbage time" for him to soak up.

[daslicer]

and Kuzma isn't? Garbage take all around, not just on Matthews, tbh.

Kuzma is a solid player. I wouldn't call him garbage but Matthews is definitely trash.