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WHO??
Now for some real highlight:
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100122
George Hill!
Disagree. Gist will be forgotten,and quickly. Better for the Spurs to use their trade exception of Shawne Williams or Renaldo Balkman. Much, much better.
Hairston could make it in the league as a rotation 2. Handicapping from home, I'd say the he has about a 30 or 40% chance of making the team, wheras Gist is around 5 or maybe 10%.
2009 will be an exciting season because Pop will need to spend the first 2/3 of the season developing young players and acclimating new guys into the system. Duncan, Parker, Ginobli and Bowen will probably be right 28 minutes or so a game (Bowen maybe more like 33-35) until All Star break.
Austin will be fun to monitor with Hairston and possibly a young big (Gist, Benson). And wouldn't it be wild if Sandikze--the Keyser Soze of Georgian Basketball---emerged from the mist and played well in summer league. I'm not even sure he exists, but some people around here push him like the second coming. It's like a SpursTalk urban legand. "Once there was a skinny Goergian kid who played 15 minutes of great ball in Utah..."
WHO??
Now for some real highlight:
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100122
George Hill!
FOX Sports @ NBA pre-draft camp-
James Gist, 6-8, 223, SF/PF, Maryland, Sr.: Gist started off like gangbusters with 16 points in his first game on 5-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the line. Unfortunately, he hit a major cold spell from the field, going a combined 5-for-18 in the final two, averaging just 5.5 in those games. He's a freakish athlete and is the type of specimen that should be able to find a role in the league even if his offensive game never vastly improves (a poor man's Rodman).
From an aticle by Mark Selig of diamondbackonline-
If Gist does get picked or latches onto a team after the draft via free agency, he will likely have a much different role than the one he had with the Terps. In college, the 6-foot-9 Gist was a power forward whom his team relied on for scoring. In the NBA, he will probably shift to the small forward position and be used primarily as a defensive replacement.
"With his standout athleticism he can overcome the fact that he's a bit raw on the offensive end," Smith said. "I could see him as a specialist guy, a defensive stopper who comes in with great energy."
Smith (Aran Smith of NBADraft.net) compared Gist's style of play to Renaldo Balkman, a New York Knicks forward who uses hustle and energy to carve out his spot in the team's rotation.
Gist welcomes any role he can claim and realizes that he won't be a double-double threat like he was over the past couple of years.
"Coming into the NBA, I don't plan on playing a lot," Gist said. "They have their guys who can do a lot of scoring, and I don't look at my role as that. I'm a defender; I look to defend the [small forward position]. Come in and guard the Tracy McGradys of the league, the Kobe Bryants."
Gist's length and leaping ability lend to the notion that he could be a good defensive player in the pros. At the Orlando pre-draft camp - an event where top prospects assemble for measurements, interviews and exhibition games against one another - Gist displayed a 7-foot-4-inch wingspan and a 35-inch vertical leap. Both are impressive numbers for a potential NBA player.
Gist's shot was erratic during the exhibition games in Orlando, but according to DraftExpress.com, "he looked very active defensively in the passing lanes and did a great job getting out in transition, using his athleticism well around the rim ... The energy he brought to the floor was exactly what the doctor ordered for his draft stock."
If nothing else, you've got to love this kid's at ude. Potential Bruce Bowen replacement?
Possible. He's got the tools and the work-ethic.
His offensive game needs work, but I really think he could contribute right away with his defensive versatility and energy.
On the offensive end I'd play him next to a 4 that spreads the floor from the 3-point line. Allowing him to play close to the basket where he's more comfortable would really put him in position to utilize his strengths.(i.e. off. reb., put-backs, etc.)
No, James White might be Gist Lite.
fuk all you haters seriously
this guy has alot of potential......
a fukn bust hahahaha
Gist has the physical tools. He's a prime candidate for IR and Austin.
If he plays D on a string the way Pop likes it, then he is most def a candiate for the Inactive List and/or an assignment player. That has been a big IF lately with players understanding what the Spurs' defense requires.
He seems to be the kind of guy that revels in defense, rebounding and other assorted "dirty work" type of assignments. If he has not only the willingness to do these things but also a propensity to excel at them then I say hes worth an IR slot.
The fact that Gist has no offense isn't such a big deal. , Bruce didn't either when he came here. Yet he worked to become an accomplished defender first, then added his offense later.
I'll say this for Gist, if he continues to exhibit the same willingness to defend and a good, eager at ude, and assuming he works hard, the Spurs should be give him as long a look to develop as they did Bruce.
The skills and at ude that he has exemplified so far are not normal for your run-of-the-mill, everyday NBA prospect hopeful.
I agree... just because he was our last pick does not mean he should be destined for the Toros if he does a great job in the summer league. He could be Bowen 2.0... we will need someone to be able to replace Bowen once he retires in a couple of seasons... he could come on board and learn from Bowen and the Spurs system while he gets help with his shooting...
Gist is long and athletic. Ditto for Hill. Based on the playoffs, those are not bad qualities. Add Mahinmi to the mix and slowly, but surely, the Spurs are adjusting their supporting cast to today's NBA.
Pop knows what he is doing... in Pop we trust...
If some of these other young guys can score some points, then maybe the Spurs don't repeat last season's problem of going into the tank offensively for long stretches. If that happens, then maybe Pop allows two guys on the roster that play defense first without much offense, one of them being mentor to the other. I think the time in Austin would still be good for him.
No question about it. He will certainly need time there to hone his skills and gain confidence. If he does stick, though, I'd love to see him ply his craft against the big boys some time later this season.
Someone needs to try and slow down David West. No one else seems to be able to do so.
David West has as good a midrange jumper as there is in the league. That makes him a tough matchup, even if that's all he does. That it isn't just makes him harder to defend.No question about it. He will certainly need time there to hone his skills and gain confidence. If he does stick, though, I'd love to see him ply his craft against the big boys some time later this season.
Someone needs to try and slow down David West. No one else seems to be able to do so.
Speaking of which . . . how have we managed to go this long without Jim coming in here and gracing us with the Terp fight song?
yeah - someone else will have to bring out the fight song....
for year one, thats all im expecting.
I'm a Duke fan and I hated Gist at Maryland, so he must be doing something right.
Unlike Bowen though, I think Gist would be able to contribute on the offensive-end right off the bat.
He's got the type of tools that should allow him to do his damage without a play ever being called for him. Have him come in and be that glorified "garbage man" untill he develops his offense. Allow him to use his energy/effort/athleticism for hustle-plays that change momentum, get the crowd involved, and his teammates hyped.
I'm pretty optimistic about Gist and Hairston. They're both guys I was hoping the Spurs would take a look at in the 2nd rd., or as undrafted free-agents. Hopefully they're able to impress in Summer League, which I'm actually looking forward to for a change.
Unlike Bowen though, I think Gist would be able to contribute on the offensive-end right off the bat.
He's got the type of tools that should allow him to do his damage without a play ever being called for him. Have him come in and be that glorified "garbage man" untill he develops his offense. Allow him to use his energy/effort/athleticism for hustle-plays that change momentum, get the crowd involved, and his teammates hyped.
I'm pretty optimistic about Gist and Hairston. They're both guys I was hoping the Spurs would take a look at in the 2nd rd., or as undrafted free-agents. Hopefully they're able to impress in Summer League, which I'm actually looking forward to for a change.
Same here. Very excited - even. With the potential addition of maybe a FA swingman, like Pietrus, I wont sweat much losing both Barry and certainly not Finley.
I'm thinking we need to keep Barry, if for no other reason to play the S.Kerr role.
I'm all for the youth, but we need a guy like Barry on the bench. If a young fellas shot should falter in the playoffs, Barry's a nice insurance-policy to have.
Plus he's a great locker-room guy, and capable of playing the point in a pinch.
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