Hairston's passing has improved dramatically from what I've seen so far, even in his NBA garbage minutes..
That was one of his main flaws as a player last year, he was a horrible passer..good to see that he's improved that part of his game..
The Toros are on a five game win streak. Ironically, they play small ball exclusively.
Tonight is the first weekend game in God knows how long; it was pretty close to being sold out last week. The schedule sucks ass this season.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday they are playing in the new Cedar Park Event Center. Should be really nice, even though tolls and parking are going to put you back about $12 before even walking through the door.
At least their small ball players (Gee, Hairston, and even Jerrells) can rebound...probably the biggest issue with the Spurs' "smalls".
Has anyone been to or seen games that can tell me how Jerrells is playing? I see the stats (20+pts, 5+asts), but they can only tell you so much. Most importantly, I'd like to know how he's doing running the offense and picking up the system.
Any insight?
Piece on Jerrells from Hoopsworld today.
Curtis Jerrells: Learning in Austin
By: Alex Kennedy
Curtis Jerrells is a coach's best friend. He's a listener, a learner, and someone that will always do what is asked of him. Throughout his basketball career, that has meant many different things.
At Del Valle High School in Austin, Texas, it meant dominating the ball and leading his team to victory each and every night. At Baylor University, it meant adjusting to a three guard lineup in which he handled point guard duties but was once again asked to carry the scoring load.
But now that Jerrells is trying to turn his dream of playing in the NBA into a reality, it means running an offense, getting other players involved, and proving that he can be a true point guard.
"I've always been viewed differently. I've always tried to do what my team needed me to do. In the past, that has meant scoring. That's kind of been the thing, now people want to see if I can run a team, be a leader, set up an offense, and get other guys involved," said the point guard. "That's one of the things I'm trying to focus on doing but it's in my nature to score the ball."
Last September, the San Antonio Spurs signed Jerrells to their training camp roster. While the Spurs came away impressed, the Texas native is hard on himself when looking back on the experience. "I was playing tight and trying to be mistake free," he says. "I didn't feel like myself. I was uptight rather than playing my game and being confident."
While he didn't make the team, the Spurs saw his potential and offered him a spot playing for their NBA Development League team, the Austin Toros. Jerrells has used this opportunity as a chance to show the Spurs just how effective he can be when comfortable and playing his game. He is averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 steals and his stellar play is the main reason the Toros currently hold the second seed in the West.
However, it's not just his numbers that have been impressive. Jerrells is putting in extra work with Toros' head coach Quin Snyder who has helped him further adjust to being a true point guard.
"I realize that at the next level, they're not going to need me to come in and score twenty points," says Jerrells. "I'm going to have to come in and get guys, who are the real scorers, the ball where they want it."
While he understands that teams want to be sure he can run an offense, he lists his defense as his biggest strength. The Spurs praised his defensive effort and strength during camp and he says it helps separate him from other point guards. "I'm a bigger guard, not in terms of height but I've got a bigger body and I'm strong which helps me defend guys at my position. I loved Chauncey Billups [growing up] because he's big and physical, sort of like myself. I see a lot of myself in Chauncey, I'm just the left handed version," he says with a laugh.
After San Antonio offered him a spot in the Development League, Jerrells knew he had to take the opportunity rather than head overseas.
"Every time I play and step onto the court, I'm auditioning for every team. My main reason [for choosing the Development League] is this is something I really want to do. I love the game. I didn't just run off and take the money right now. I sat down and thought about it and right now my family is well enough so I don't have to go run out and make some cash as soon as possible," he explains. "I just wanted to give myself a chance. Teams can watch tape of you while you're out there but I feel like if you're out of sight, you're out of mind so I just wanted to stay here, give myself an opportunity, and just learn."
One difficult aspect of playing the Development League is seeing other players called up. While you're happy for the player and wish them luck, it's always frustrating when you're name isn't the one called.
"Everything happens for a reason. I'm happy for those guys, we're all in the same position and we're all trying to get to the same place. Del Demps, our general manager, always tells me that you can't get caught up in that kind of stuff. There's going to be times where a guy gets called up and you think, 'Man, how did that guy get a call-up' or 'How did he get called up and I didn't?' But you can't go through that because if you do, you start losing focus in what you're trying to do. To the guys who have gotten call ups, I hope they make the best of their opportunity and I congratulate them. I'm just going to keep working because my time will come," says Jerrells.
Austin has had the most call-ups in Development League history, accounting for over sixteen percent of players who have successfully made the jump to the NBA, so Jerrells is in the right place. Once he gets that opportunity, he's not going to let it slip away again. He has learned his lesson
"I don't know when I will get called up. That's up to God," he says. "But I still feel like I can [be an elite point guard] and when I get that chance, when I get there, I'm going to be me and play my game."
He's doing well with pick and rolls with Dwayne Jones, and he does a good job getting his own shot. Could do better directing players. I'm disappointed in his defense; he keeps getting lit up by opposing point guards, even though he scores as many or more points.
Another 30 for Hairston tonight..
*sigh*.........
How many more 1-6 games does Pop need to see form Bogans to finally make a switch to Malik?...
I don't know why the Spurs wouldn't want to bring him back...especially with Parker down and the wings getting PG time
Pop seems to think if Bogans scores three points a game that it makes him a defender. He had Bruce for so many years he's taking it for granted.How many more 1-6 games does Pop need to see form Bogans to finally make a switch to Malik?...
The thing is, Hairston IS a better defender than Bogans..the only time I've seen Hairston get beat defensively in his NBA time was when he was guarding Deron Williams off the ball, which is obviously a really tough matchup..
Hairston simply has better physical tools than Bogans does..he's much quicker and much more athletic..Pop obviously plays him for his age/experience in the NBA..
Hairston could easily play a role similar to the '05 Devin Brown, 7-8 pts a game and inject alot of life and athleticism esp into the fast break/up tempo game.
Another thing many might overlook is the fact that Hairston is shooting 52% from three point range.
Spurs were short handed on the perimeter against Grizzlies but Spurs are really careful with calling up Hairston given that they can do it only 3 times per year.
It is bot a bad and good news for Hairston:
- Spurs not using every opportunity to give playing time to him is a sign that they don't count on him for this year.
- Spurs obviously care about his development and want to let him improve his game in Austin instead of spending his time on the IL because everybody is healthy and he has already been send 3 times in D-League.
Malik will likely get a legit shot next year. Spurs have invested a lot of time and money on him.
Nah, he'll still be buried on IR or end of the bench. If he's lucky he might get Finley's role as an occasional off the bench player. Bogans will be the new Finley and play until he's 40 years old.
I predict 5 years from now if Pop is still coaching we will be all joking about Pop's man crush on 35 year old Bogans and talking about "needing more athleticism" and watching Pop's latest draftees trying to crack the rotation and failing because of said man-crush.
Hairston will be long gone and starting on some other team and averaging 16 pts a game.
Hairston's D, as well as that of all the Toros, wasn't all that great tonight. It was kind of funny when Malik was put on LA's 5'7" guard.
Yeah, it's a little disappointing to me that he's not concentrating more on his defense. Whether or not anyone thinks he's a better defender than Bogans isn't going to get Hairston a shot with the Spurs if he's not making a case with the Toros.
Boxscore of fridays game:http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/box...eId=2020900179
Wow, Hairston is such a beast in D-league. He's LBJ or Wade of D-league.
Whichever one he is, Coby Karl is the other.
Toros’ Jones and Gee Named D-League All-Stars
by Andrew A. McNeil
Two Austin Toros were named D-League All-Stars on Tuesday. Center Dwayne Jones, who averages 17.8 points per game and leads the D-League with 15.2 rebounds per game and 21 double-doubles, and guard Alonzo Gee, averaging 20.6 points per game, were each named to the team.
Per the press release:
“The NBA D-League All-Star game is not only a fantastic opportunity for the fans in Dallas to see an exceptionally talented group of NBA prospects compete in person,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “It is also a great chance for our players to showcase their skills for NBA team personnel who will gather for the All-Star festivities.”
A pair of Austin Toros, Alonzo Gee and Dwayne Jones, and a trio of Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Antonio Anderson, Joey Dorsey, and Mike Harris will make Texas fans proud when they travel to Dallas to headline the West team. Jones, a veteran from St. Joseph’s (PA), has played in 80 NBA games, and leads the NBA D-League with 15.3 rebounds per game and field goal percentage (62 percent), while Gee, a rookie out of Alabama, is sixth in the league in scoring (21.0 ppg).
It’s a bit of a surprise that Gee was named to the All-Star team instead of Toros point guard Curtis Jerrells. Jerrells is averaging 21 points per game (which is second on the team to Spurs assignee Malik Hairston’s 30.3 ppg), 4.5 rebounds per game, and 5 assists per game, in addition to quarterbacking the team to a 15-9 record. The Toros are currently riding a six-game winning streak.
However, guard Sundiata Gaines was named an All-Star from the Idaho Stampede. Gaines was recently called up, and signed for the remainder of the season, by the Utah Jazz, so he will be replaced. It’s possible that Jerrells could take Gaines’ spot on the All-Star roster.
Starters and replacements for the All-Star game will be named by each head coach before the game on Saturday, February 13. The two head coaches are Rio Grande Valley head coach Chris Finch and Iowa head coach Nick Nurse for the East and West, respectively.
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