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I agree with a lot of this. We have a lot of complementary players but need a ball handler to be dominant to set everyone up and take pressure off Wemby. To me, that's a reasonable way to look at this.
4+8. Cody and Collier. And then shrugged.
I agree with a lot of this. We have a lot of complementary players but need a ball handler to be dominant to set everyone up and take pressure off Wemby. To me, that's a reasonable way to look at this.
Last night also showed the value of having players who can penetrate. Jalen Green and Whitmore, for all the serious flaws they have, really changed the game with their penetration. Getting by guys almost at will and then outmanuevering the bigs inside for an easy 2 is what this team is missing. This is why Collier works for this team. Currently no one does this.
Contrary to previous reports Topic won't play tomorrow game.
In their latest article, espn talked about a late March/early April comeback. Topic's team president also gave that timetable in an interview a couple of weeks ago. In that interview, he also said that there were torn ligaments and that they use some innovative methods to avoid surgery. We will see how this story end but it is looking more and more that this injury will hurt his draft stock. What also won't help him is that he shouldn't be able to participate at the now mandatory draft combine and medical exams because he will still play in Serbia with his team.
Topic's team president interview in Serbian:
https://sportal.blic.rs/kosarka/kk-c...22212314173550
For the record, Topic works too. IIRC, he seems to be a good finisher inside. Not in the same manner as Collier, but with finding angles and opportunities.
The last thing we want with this team is a dominant point guard.
That's terrible. How do you avoid surgery if it's needed and it's torn ligaments? Geez. What an awful situation.
I'd say there's not a single person on these boards that disagrees that we need a better PG, the issue is how the Spurs go about finding one: drafting one in this class -doesn't solve an immediate need-, trading for Trae -probably too costly-, trading for a lesser target -like Brogdon for instance- in the short term and waiting for the right guy to become available, etc.
well damn.
It has never been reported what ligaments were hurt in his knee. I know that some of these knee injuries don't always require surgery but I'm obviously not an expert on that subject.
What I fear in Topic case is that he was in a gray area and they decided not to have the surgery to preserve his draft stock.
I was addressing Body’s point about not needing a dominant point guard, which is why I said general and mentioned an example about how a point guard control the game and not just mesh with the other guys. My post had less to do with the theoretical point guard’s talent and more about the role they should have on offense.
One spin of the Tankathon Sim, and TOR jumped to #4 and we landed #6. Sheppard and Matas still on the board, and I took Matas even though I like Sheppard slightly better as I see forward as a bigger need than guard right now.
If I'm allowed to cheat... took me five Spins for the TOR pick to convey and we got #5 and #8. TAT had us taking Dilly and Matas, and that's what I would do as well.
TAT really wants TOR to get that top 4 pick
The team needs someone who can get in the paint and collapse the defense and set up others. They can't just pass to VW every second or watch Devin do his orchestrated routines even if mostly improved and successful.
Do you prefer a passive point guard who doesn't do any of those things?
Why do you think ball-dominant and a good slasher are the same thing?
One spin and I got the number 1 pick and 7th pick - Tankathon had us taking Sarr with first and Matas with the seventh pick
Well damn that is going to impact the draft mocks for sure
As far as I know, mandatory is mandatory. There isn't an exception for injury or for being on a team still playing when it comes to the evals. He won't be there during the combine, but he's still required to do them before the draft.
EDIT to paste in a link talking about the medical exams and combine rules in general.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/n...ed-per-report/Participation will include league medical examinations, sharing of medical history and biomechanical and functional movement testing, as well as strength and agility testing, shooting drills, performance testing and anthropometric measurements. Players will also be required to conduct team interviews, media circuits, player development sessions and other assessments, as determined by the NBA in consultation with the NBPA. Players will not be compelled to compete in five-on-five scrimmaging, which typically only a handful of first-round prospects elect to participate in.
There are exceptions to the requirements such as players who are physically unable to participate or for international players still competing or other extenuating cir stances, though medical components -- expected to be completed at a later date -- are still a requirement to be draft eligible.
Basically if Topic doesn't get checked out, he can't be drafted. He'll have to make the time. Given that we're hearing he might still play this year, I don't think it's going to hurt his draft stock in June.
Last edited by Chinook; 03-06-2024 at 01:07 PM.
In my spin the Spurs got the #2 pick behind Portland, but Toronto got #4 so it didn't convey.
Tankathon thinks Portland will take Sarr if they pick first, so I'd take Risacher at #2. A pretty easy decision.
Topic will find the dunker and the corner when he gets downhill.
My issue with him is his technique is all over the place. He just looks sloppy as . He makes up for it with what I like about him: his bent for leather at ude on attacking the basket, on cuts, and most of what he does.
I like Topic, Dillingham, and Risacher's compe ive levels a lot.
rolled the ole tankathon once for fun
spurs got the #2 pick and chose topic with risacher on the board, and then took buzelis at #7 with dillingham/sheppard on the board
good result as far as where we landed and who was on the board, but dont think those were the optimal picks. have to think risacher is #1 on their board, especially in a scenario where they know they have a second pick
out of curiosity i just them starting spamming the sim button and without fail, regardless of draft position or whether or not the raptors pick conveys, it has the spurs taking a PG with their top pick 100% of the time
Yeah, but when will the "right guy" be there? Will he ever be? And how long do you wait, passing on other options before realizing you find your perfect player and there's no other options? Is Luka the perfect guy, an ultra ball dominant, emotional PG, next to Wemby? Would he be available anyway?
Without arguing about the pertinence of trading for Trae, you don't end up naked, still keeping your own picks.
Not sure anyone is taking Topic in the lottery with his Achille issues right now. I was seeing him drop no matter what anyway. that's THE overhyped player of this draft IMO. His ball handling and technique are actually not that great if you watch his games. Not to mention, shooting... and defense. He's just another Teodovic/Micic to me, or a Nando to take a more familiar name.
I've laid out alternative scenarios about a thousand times: trade for Brogdon (2/3 SRPs should suffice), sign Tyus Jones, go for Donovan Mitc / Derrick White in '25 (ONE year). And if not, record shows a star guard becomes available just about every year (Lillard, Donovan Mitc , Jrue, Haliburton, Harden, Kyrie, Paul George -not really a PG but could fill the creator role- , even a rising SGA was traded), sometimes more than one (and once). The Spurs won't be contenders in the next 2 years no matter what they do (can't imagine them beating Boston, Denver, Milwaukee, or even a full strenth Philly team within that time frame), the focus should be in putting together a team capable of making the play in by next year, and the playoffs by one following (i.e., no more "hard" tanking). I don't think that necessarily requires a star in the short term.
Any sprain is going to see some tearing of the ligament. The question is if it is a complete tear or what degree of spraining. Looking like he will be there for the Toronto pick more and more.
It's called team athleticism, which the Spurs are lacking. They can't beat their defender and get to the rim. They often can't even finish on a fast break opportunity.
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