Game Blog: Preseason Game 3 - Spurs vs. Pistons

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[tp2021]

Bonus coverage.

[Obstructed_View]

What do you think about Pop's choice of ball handlers today?

If Parker's nicked up, I want Vaughn on the roster. I don't care how good the other guys look. Hill looks like a great defender, and he can shoot. I don't want him running point for 35 minutes a game just yet.

[Obstructed_View]

Completely forgot about him. Anybody think he's got a chance if he plays this week?

No.

[mystargtr34]

The injury to Ian is a huge setback for him and the team. Obviously, he lost a chance to become part of the Spurs rotation. Pop simply isn't going to throw him in the rotation without sight unseen. Once the season starts, there's little to no time to show his stuff. I wonder how long this will set him back?

Hopefully theres some blowouts early on in the season.

[Obstructed_View]

Here's to hoping Hill, Hairston, and either Farmer or Green to make the team. Out of the last 2, who looked better tonight?

Farmer was the player of the game on the Pistons broadcast. Don't you have to give him the nod just on that basis?

[HarlemHeat37]

the thing about Vaughn..I don't really buy into his "smart veteran" perception..Vaughn has made A LOT of terrible decisions over the years, and he isn't exactly a guy I fully trust as the main PG neither..I just don't see the point in having him on the 12-man roster anymore..he doesn't give us anything that can't replaced..

you're absolutely right that Hill isn't ready to run the PG position yet, but I'd rather have Mason running the point than Vaughn..

I would be happy with this 15(assuming they continue to play well as time goes on)..maybe it's just me though..

PG Parker/Hill/Vaughn..
SG Mason/Ginobili/Finley/Farmer..
SF Bowen/Udoka/Hairston..
PF Duncan/Bonner..
C Thomas/Oberto/Mahinmi..

obviously Farmer and Hairston are hopefuls for me..and I would also hope that Mahinmi can show enough to be considered a backup, and Bonner dropping out of the 12..

Tolliver is kind of irrelevant to me at this point, although I may be selling him short too early..

[SenorSpur]

If Parker's nicked up, I want Vaughn on the roster. I don't care how good the other guys look. Hill looks like a great defender, and he can shoot. I don't want him running point for 35 minutes a game just yet.

Remember Vaughn was scheduled to be our 3rd PG when he was brought aboard. It was a combination of Beno's suckiness and Vaughn's hustle, defense and professionalism that tpushed JV up the hierarchy. He's been there ever since.

I hope you all are correct in that Hill looks like he'll be the primary backup. It sounds like he's made great strides since summer league.

[tp2021]

OH MY! thats a poster!
Rajon rondo alley to tony allen, who caught the ball out of the defender's hands and flushed it on him.

[DPG21920]

If Parker's nicked up, I want Vaughn on the roster. I don't care how good the other guys look. Hill looks like a great defender, and he can shoot. I don't want him running point for 35 minutes a game just yet.

I was just messin' with ya. If Parker goes down, it does not matter if Hill or Vaughn in running the point, we are screwed.

[Obstructed_View]

I was just messin' with ya. If Parker goes down, it does not matter if Hill or Vaughn in running the point, we are screwed.

Well I damn sure don't want Udoka running the point. That's for sure.

[DPG21920]

Well I damn sure don't want Udoka running the point. That's for sure.

I would rather have Mason to be honest.

[tav1]

What I love about the various projected rosters is that the Spurs can play Parker off ball and that Manu won't have to be a part time ball handler. That alone will open up the offense.

[ElNono]

Spammer alert on the Pistons forum...

[benefactor]

Watkins and Gaines role is starting to become obvious...keep Oberto and Duncan from playing too many minutes.

Besides Hill, there seem to be no real diamonds in the rough so far. Hairston has good skills both offensively and defensively, but he is probably high level D-League at this point. Tolliver doesn't seem to want the job that Bonner is desperately trying to give him. Farmer has scoring ability but doesn't really feel like a system player and Green will likely be gone after Cleveland. All that said...the positives in Hill basically override everything for me, though it would be nice to have a back up big man prospect.

I was kind of disappointed to see Finley not playing tonight. He played in the last game but since it wasn't televised it's hard to know just how much better he is moving after shedding the extra weight. Hopefully he plays in Cleveland...and its televised.

[Darkwaters]

Watkins and Gaines role is starting to become obvious...keep Oberto and Duncan from playing too many minutes.

Besides Hill, there seem to be no real diamonds in the rough so far. Hairston has good skills both offensively and defensively, but he is probably high level D-League at this point. Tolliver doesn't seem to want the job that Bonner is desperately trying to give him. Farmer has scoring ability but doesn't really feel like a system player and Green will likely be gone after Cleveland. All that said...the positives in Hill basically override everything for me, though it would be nice to have a back up big man prospect.

I was kind of disappointed to see Finley not playing tonight. He played in the last game but since it wasn't televised it's hard to know just how much better he is moving after shedding the extra weight. Hopefully he plays in Cleveland...and its televised.

I think you're pretty well on point here. I like Farmer a lot, but I have doubts about how well he'd belong. Hairston might be the better guy to keep here. Although I disagree about your sentiment with Watkins. I think he is a fringe NBA player right now and with some development might be able to be a 4th or 5th big in the rotation instead of just an IR guy. Regardless of who they choose to keep between Farmer/Hairston/Watkins I'd like to see any of those guys that get discarded to be signed up for the Toros and kept close (a la Marcus Williams) in case we change our minds throughout the season.

[SenorSpur]

the thing about Vaughn..I don't really buy into his "smart veteran" perception..Vaughn has made A LOT of terrible decisions over the years, and he isn't exactly a guy I fully trust as the main PG neither..I just don't see the point in having him on the 12-man roster anymore..he doesn't give us anything that can't replaced..

you're absolutely right that Hill isn't ready to run the PG position yet, but I'd rather have Mason running the point than Vaughn..

I would be happy with this 15(assuming they continue to play well as time goes on)..maybe it's just me though..

PG Parker/Hill/Vaughn..
SG Mason/Ginobili/Finley/Farmer..
SF Bowen/Udoka/Hairston..
PF Duncan/Bonner..
C Thomas/Oberto/Mahinmi..

obviously Farmer and Hairston are hopefuls for me..and I would also hope that Mahinmi can show enough to be considered a backup, and Bonner dropping out of the 12..

Tolliver is kind of irrelevant to me at this point, although I may be selling him short too early..

Here's my projected (desired 15)

PG - Parker/Hill/Vaughn..
SG - Mason/Ginobili/Finley
SF - Bowen/Udoka/Hairston
PF - Duncan/Bonner/Tolliver
C - Thomas/Oberto/Mahinmi

Though I've not seen him play, I like what I hear about Watkins and really feel that his skills could be valuable to the Spurs in a conference full of big frontline players. I would hope they can get tab him for assignment to Austin, until such time as they can rid the roster of Bonner.

[benefactor]

I think you're pretty well on point here. I like Farmer a lot, but I have doubts about how well he'd belong. Hairston might be the better guy to keep here. Although I disagree about your sentiment with Watkins. I think he is a fringe NBA player right now and with some development might be able to be a 4th or 5th big in the rotation instead of just an IR guy. Regardless of who they choose to keep between Farmer/Hairston/Watkins I'd like to see any of those guys that get discarded to be signed up for the Toros and kept close (a la Marcus Williams) in case we change our minds throughout the season.

I don't really dislike Watkins. I actually think that with a little work he might be a decent backup big. But Pop has already forgotten his name in that article and from him getting mostly garbage time tonight I feel like his is just around to spell the other bigs. That something that has always kind of annoyed me about Pop. He seems to make his mind up about a player and not much changes it...whether he thinks the player is good and is not or vice versa.

[Russ]

I don't really dislike Watkins. I actually think that with a little work he might be a decent backup big. But Pop has already forgotten his name in that article.

CIA Pop. Numbers game and we are scrambling the signals.

[Manufan909]

Damn, I wanted Watkins to have a good chance. Looks like Pop already tossed him mentally, hopefully Spurs get some blowouts like someone already said, and Ian shows up big in garbage time.

[Allanon]

PG - Parker/Hill/Vaughn..
SG - Mason/Ginobili/Finley
SF - Bowen/Udoka/Hairston
PF - Duncan/Bonner/Tolliver
C - Thomas/Oberto/Mahinmi

Duncan will play 30-32 minutes a game this year. Can you really handle 10-12 minutes of Bonner/Tolliver? I'd take Watkins/Gaines over Tolliver for more of an inside presence. Sure Tolliver can hit the 3 but man is he streaky.

I don't think Thomas will start because he's a 36 year old big, Pop's gotta save him for when it counts.

The rest looks good. Too bad about Ian,

[Obstructed_View]

I don't really dislike Watkins. I actually think that with a little work he might be a decent backup big. But Pop has already forgotten his name in that article and from him getting mostly garbage time tonight I feel like his is just around to spell the other bigs. That something that has always kind of annoyed me about Pop. He seems to make his mind up about a player and not much changes it...whether he thinks the player is good and is not or vice versa.

I got the same feeling. I like him, but I don't think he has a chance to make the team. Actually I don't mind the idea of returning to Smallball© if all the guys can defend like this group of kids can.

[Manufan909]

I hope Watkins gets the cut over Tolliver, Pop should know that he needs a big athletic guy over a big shooter, but for whatever reason he'll go for Tolliver. The Spurs already have one big throwing up bricks, they don't need another.

[duncan228]

Final: Spurs 86, Pistons 64

FOURTH QUARTER

Ime Udoka played point guard during the pivotal stretch of the game, Desmon Farmer was an offensive force and the Spurs were drilling 3-pointers as they rolled to an 86-64 preseason road victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Farmer led the Spurs with 13 points. Tim Duncan had 10 points in the first half and sat out the second half.

The Spurs went 10 of 24 from 3-point range. Farmer made 2 of 4. Rookie point guard George Hill, who started, hit 2 of 3 in the first half and sat the second half. Regular point guard Tony Parker got the night off.

The Spurs got off to a slow start to the fourth quarter after leading by 25 points. Devin Green made their first basket of the quarter on a 3-pointer and the Spurs led 75-55.

THIRD QUARTER

Udoka hit three baskets including a 3-pointer in the final minutes of the third quarter and the Spurs finished the period with a 69-46 lead.

The Spurs made a 21-2 run in the quarter. Udoka played point guard most of the quarter and Desmon Farmer is up to 12 points.

Jacque Vaughn, Matt Bonner, Malik Hairston and Farmer scored two points each in an 8-0 run that put the Spurs in front 56-44. Farmer is up to 10 points.

SECOND QUARTER

Duncan nearly recorded a double-double in the first half. He had 10 points and eight rebounds and the Spurs took a 48-35 halftime lead.

The Spurs' George Hill and Farmer had eight points each and Anthony Tolliver had seven. The Spurs were hot from the outside, hitting seven 3-pointers in the half.

Matt Bonner and Farmer hit 3-pointers early in the second quarter as the Spurs extended their lead to 13 points. Farmer's second 3-pointer of the quarter put the Spurs in front 35-21.

FIRST QUARTER

The Spurs clicked even with a hodgepodge starting lineup and subs ution rotation to finish the first quarter with a 26-18 lead.

Duncan had six points and Hill and Bruce Bowen had five each.

Bruce Bowen was the third Spurs starter to hit a 3-pointer as they took a 19-8 lead.

Hill and Tolliver hit early 3-pointers as the Spurs jumped out to an 11-0 lead.

PREGAME

Rookie George Hill started at point guard for the Spurs. He took the court with Ime Udoka, Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan and Anthony Tolliver.

The Spurs' Tony Parker, Michael Finley and Roger Mason Jr. have the night off.

The Spurs take on the Detroit Pistons today at 6 p.m. in a preseason game played in Grand Rapids, Mich.

This game provides some of the new Spurs more playing experience in the Spurs system. For the youngest Spurs players, it's another opportunity to show they belong as a member of the team or are worthy of landing a job somewhere in the league.

[tp2021]

I hope Watkins gets the cut over Tolliver, Pop should know that he needs a big athletic guy over a big shooter, but for whatever reason he'll go for Tolliver. The Spurs already have one big throwing up bricks, they don't need another.

+1