Gameblog: Preseason Game 6: Spurs vs. Wizards

[ElNono]

What would be awesome is to trade Bonner have Hairston develop in Austin and have Farmer on the big league team at the end of the bench ready to come in and score.

This is exactly what I'm thinking, at least while Manu is out. The reality is that probably Mason/Fin can man the SG position for 20-30/min game each and Farmer won't play. Kind of the same thing with TP/Hill.
But I'd love to have a guy like Farmer as insurance at the SG, while he learns from the pros.

[Manufan909]

Pop, just cut your losses and waive Bonner if no team will take him plus a couple grand for a future 2nd round draft pick, Hairston and Farmer have played the best out of all the unsigned IMO. But Tolliver already showed he's better all-around than Bonner.

[T Park]

Farmer and Hairston need to make this team to me. Tolliver has quick hands but that's about it. Being smarter than Bonner isn't really a plus, since my border collie seems to be more competent with a ball than he is. Willingness to shoot is nice and all, and it will distinguish you among this group that was determined to up fake all night, but Hairston is a far better defender, even against guys with a size advantage on him (anyone else thinking poor man's long three?), and Farmer just looks like the only chance the Spurs have of adding instant offense to the team. Once I found out that he's not as small as I thought he was, I was sold on him.

A couple of additional thoughts:

• The team's eggs are now firmly in the Mahinmi basket. If he doesn't pan out, Tolliver isn't going to help.
  
• Bye, Matt. Nice knowin' ya. I recognized that look he gave to the bench after his mistakes. Beno and Elson had it.
  
• Finley needs to find a workout program that fixes stupid. Lateral movement doesn't help you when you continue to sag away from your man on the perimeter and take half swats at shooters to give them an extra point.
  
• Ime needs his own personal plus minus board, because I can't keep track of his "brilliant play/bonehead play" count in my head.
  
• It would have been nice to see how Salim could play if his groin had allowed it. Too bad.
  
• I really think Duncan is going to have a monster year. He's putting up numbers at half speed. You look up and suddenly he's just had an impact on the game. Maybe my memory is fading, but it hasn't felt like he's been able to do that so effortlessly in a while.
  
• The Wizards are really terrible. As well as they shot and as badly as the Spurs played, you'd have expected the margin never to fall below 20.
  
• I think it's time for the "we need more offense" experiment to be abandoned in favor of the "we need to keep playing defense until the shots start falling again" strategy that won four championships. Farmer's worth a flyer for his ability to actually make baskets with no conscience without the defensive liability that goes
  along with it.

I have to respectfully disagree on Tolliver.

[Ice009]

It was more directed at the fact you had Bonner gone.

I understand where you are coming from though. Farmer is streaky and his game seems a little unorganized for our system. I know I said earlier in the week I was on the bandwagon for Farmer, but If I was absolutely forced to choose right now I would want Tolliver for now and Hairston for the future...mostly because Hariston seems to have the ability to develop a more well rounded game and he can play the 2 or the 3.

The thing is Farmer I think has the balls to hit shots in the playoffs. Big shots. Can you say that about any of the others? Even if Malik Hairston develops he may never have that in his game.

[T Park]

Pop, just cut your losses and waive Bonner if no team will take him plus a couple grand for a future 2nd round draft pick, Hairston and Farmer have played the best out of all the unsigned IMO. But Tolliver already showed he's better all-around than Bonner.

You wanna pay the salary it will cost to just "waive" him?

[T Park]

This is exactly what I'm thinking, at least while Manu is out. The reality is that probably Mason/Fin can man the SG position for 20-30/min game each and Farmer won't play. Kind of the same thing with TP/Hill.
But I'd love to have a guy like Farmer as insurance at the SG, while he learns from the pros.

Eh, I think there will be some nights where Finley is off and got nothing, Mason needs a blow and you need someone to rest him but need scoring, thats where Farmer would get his chance.

[tav1]

Is Roger Mason injured?

[T Park]

The thing is Farmer I think has the balls to hit shots in the playoffs. Big shots. Can you say that about any of the others? Even if Malik Hairston develops he may never have that in his game.

How the can you say that Hairston doesn't?

[T Park]

Is Roger Mason injured?

I don't think so, but IMO I think Pop knows what he has with Mase and is just resting him.

[Dex]

Farmer and Hairston need to make this team to me. Tolliver has quick hands but that's about it. Being smarter than Bonner isn't really a plus, since my border collie seems to be more competent with a ball than he is. Willingness to shoot is nice and all, and it will distinguish you among this group that was determined to up fake all night, but Hairston is a far better defender, even against guys with a size advantage on him (anyone else thinking poor man's long three?), and Farmer just looks like the only chance the Spurs have of adding instant offense to the team. Once I found out that he's not as small as I thought he was, I was sold on him. That was before he started pulling the trigger at the end of the game.

A couple of additional thoughts:

• The team's eggs are now firmly in the Mahinmi basket. If he doesn't pan out, Tolliver isn't going to help.
  
  
• Bye, Matt. Nice knowin' ya. I recognized that look he gave to the bench after his mistakes. Beno and Elson had it.
  
• Finley needs to find a workout program that fixes stupid. Lateral movement doesn't help you when you continue to sag away from your man on the perimeter and take half swats at shooters to give them an extra point.
  
• Ime needs his own personal plus minus board, because I can't keep track of his "brilliant play/bonehead play" count in my head.
  
• It would have been nice to see how Salim could play if his groin had allowed it. Too bad.
  
• I really think Duncan is going to have a monster year. He's putting up numbers at half speed. You look up and suddenly he's just had an impact on the game. Maybe my memory is fading, but it hasn't felt like he's been able to do that so effortlessly in a while.
  
• The Wizards are really terrible. As well as they shot and as badly as the Spurs played, you'd have expected the margin never to fall below 20.
  
• I think it's time for the "we need more offense" experiment to be abandoned in favor of the "we need to keep playing defense until the shots start falling again" strategy that won four championships. Farmer's worth a flyer for his ability to actually make baskets with no conscience without the defensive liability that goes
  along with it.

[Ice009]

The problem for Stoudamire is that we already have 3 PG's under contract. It's kinda crowded out there. And when Manu comes back we wont even have room at SG either.

I just don't want both Vaughn and Stoudamire. You trade or cut Vaughn then I will welcome Stoudamire to the team.

[ElNono]

I'll tell you guys right now, in case nobody read it yet, that Manu said in his column that I translated earlier, that he thought Tolliver is a lock.

[tav1]

I don't think so, but IMO I think Pop knows what he has with Mase and is just resting him.

Why would he need rest?

[ElNono]

I just don't want both Vaughn and Stoudamire. You trade or cut Vaughn then I will welcome Stoudamire to the team.

Hate to tell you, but Vaughn is not going anywhere. So if Salim is going to make it, it's going to be as the 4th PG.

[Obstructed_View]

I have to respectfully disagree on Tolliver.

I understand that you like him, I just don't understand why. Hairston has put up better numbers, is a better defender, ball handler, (statistically a better shooter) and actually plays bigger than Tolliver does despite giving up a couple of inches in height. If summer league shooting were so important, Hill probably wouldn't even have been invited to camp.

[T Park]

I understand that you like him, I just don't understand why. Hairston has put up better numbers, is a better defender, ball handler, (statistically a better shooter) and actually plays bigger than Tolliver does despite giving up a couple of inches in height. If summer league shooting were so important, Hill probably wouldn't even have been invited to camp.

I like Hairston, but like others have said hes not ready for the roster.

I think Tolliver has shown the shooting ability and hustle ability at the 4 thats been missing since Malik Rose 2003.

[Manufan909]

You wanna pay the salary it will cost to just "waive" him?

If was a millionare who has constantly got money back cuz his team is stingy, then of course.

[T Park]

Why would he need rest?

Cause hes gonna play the most minutes of his career in the upcoming season.....

[Dex]

who is this Jacque Vaughn that you speak of?

[Obstructed_View]

You wanna pay the salary it will cost to just "waive" him?

At this point, it's sure looking like the Spurs would be better off trying to negotiate a buyout than let him waste a roster spot. That's probably an overreaction since he seems to have had a couple of good games that I didn't see. I can't shake the feeling that he's destined to be traded for nothing anyway, and he probably would see the logic in being bought out before he got ground into a fine paste like Beno did.

[Manufan909]

who is this Jacque Vaughn that you speak of?

[T Park]

At this point, it's sure looking like the Spurs would be better off trying to negotiate a buyout than let him waste a roster spot. That's probably an overreaction since he seems to have had a couple of good games that I didn't see. I can't shake the feeling that he's destined to be traded for nothing anyway, and he probably would see the logic in being bought out before he got ground into a fine paste like Beno did.

Traded will happen. But the Spurs aren't a rich enough team just to be buying out 3 million dollar contracts though.

[Ice009]

Hey I like Malik. Farmer's a better shooter though. That's not even up for debate.

[tp2021]

I understand that you like him, I just don't understand why.

[Obstructed_View]

I like Hairston, but like others have said hes not ready for the roster.

I think Tolliver has shown the shooting ability and hustle ability at the 4 thats been missing since Malik Rose 2003.

It's not exactly shooting ability if the ball doesn't go in. If all you want is hustle, Bonner can do that. Hairston can step in and defend NBA guys right now, and he can handle the ball. I'd like Tolliver on this team if you can figure out a way to make Bonner go away.