Project Spurs: Bobby Simmons added to spurs training camp roster

[slick'81]

i think gee is a keeper but simmons could make thing more interesting

i also think temple roster spot is safe as the backup/3rd pg

[The Truth #6]

I haven't seen or heard much of Simmons since his Clippers days. It seemed like he parlayed a really strong season into a big paycheck and then vanished. From what I remember reading at the time, there was talk that he got lazy. But then again there was also reports of injuries. Who knows what happened and why he declined. I hope his recent motivation isn't too just get a final guaranteed contract. Yeah, Gist and Gee are obviously fighting to get a contract too but they want a future career as well. I'm not sold on Simmons being motivated longterm. Hopefully Pop can figure this one out correctly and keep the right player(s).

[duncan228]

Training camp profile: Bobby Simmons
Written by Nick Kapsis
Project Spurs

Trey Gilder, we hardly knew ye.

Last week it was reported the San Antonio Spurs had brought Gilder in for a workout, which led most to deduce he'd be joining the team for their 2010-11 training camp.

Not so much.

In what is at the very least coincidental and in the very likely correlation, the Spurs and Bobby Simmons are now in the courting phase.

Popovich and the Spurs have made no secret of their less-than-certain status behind Richard Jefferson at the small forward position. They've made no claims that they in fact know exactly how they plan to address the need and complete their roster's puzzle.

They're keeping an open mind and given the dearth of free-agent options, they're probably open to suggestion.

So it should come as no surprise what was believed to be a week ago, isn't the reality of today. Simmons simply wasn't on their radar, or at least wasn't believed to be attainable.

He is now.

Keep Reading...

[Obstructed_View]

They must have been phenomenal in practice...

[EricB]

Vaughn and van exel were brought in as 3rd strings but forced into action due to Udrih's ineffectiveness.....

[Mel_13]

Training camp profile: Bobby Simmons
Written by Nick Kapsis
Project Spurs

Trey Gilder, we hardly knew ye.

Last week it was reported the San Antonio Spurs had brought Gilder in for a workout, which led most to deduce he'd be joining the team for their 2010-11 training camp.

Not so much.

In what is at the very least coincidental and in the very likely correlation, the Spurs and Bobby Simmons are now in the courting phase.

Popovich and the Spurs have made no secret of their less-than-certain status behind Richard Jefferson at the small forward position. They've made no claims that they in fact know exactly how they plan to address the need and complete their roster's puzzle.o

They're keeping an open mind and given the dearth of free-agent options, they're probably open to suggestion.

So it should come as no surprise what was believed to be a week ago, isn't the reality of today. Simmons simply wasn't on their radar, or at least wasn't believed to be attainable.

He is now.

Keep Reading...

Nice article.

[EricB]

If he shoots as well as his numbers suggest, and is adequate on defense, and has a modi of athleticism. It wouldn't shock me a bit to see him take the starting 3 job, moving RJ to the bench where his skills would come in handy.

[Manu20]

I think Simmons is going to surprise people for the better, that is if you are a Spurs fan.

[ceperez]

I think Simmons is going to surprise people for the better, that is if you are a Spurs fan.

He may even be more effective than RJ at the SF position.

[Obstructed_View]

Vaughn and van exel were brought in as 3rd strings but forced into action due to Udrih's ineffectiveness.....

[rayray2k8]

Gist, because he sucks.

Bro, who's the chick??

[TJastal]

Agree. Simmons walks in with a better resume than anyone else, not named RJ, at the SF position. He need only concentrate being a consistent 3-ball shooter and committing himself on the defensive end. If does that, he would be the odd-on favorite to backup RJ - and a much better option than Bogans ever was, at that spot. Besides, we know much Pop loves players, who have a chip on their shoulder. I can't say I blame him, it makes for a motivated player.

Unless something unusual occurs during camp, I would assume that Gee is likely bound for a one-year stint in the D-League. Whatever happens, I just hope they don't give up on him. And I can't wait to find out what will become of Gist?

+1

I'll add that he actually might be a better fit than RJ in the starting lineup because of his shooting talents. RJ + Manu + Hill might just end up being our 2nd unit given their success last year. Throw Splitter into that lineup and that 2nd unit would really shine.

Just some forward thinking here.. this could potentially be the starting lineup:

Parker
Neal (or Anderson)
Simmons
Dice (Blair anyone?)
Duncan

If Neal (or Anderson) & Simmons can both reproduce their past successes (45-50% from long range) that would really open things up for Parker & Duncan. I also think Blair has a shot at supplanting Dice in the starting lineup.

[Man In Black]

Back in 04-05 I saw this about Simmons:

69. Bobby Simmons
Heart and soul of a Clippers team that could have won 45-50 games had they stayed healthy and/or Elgin Baylor realized you could make trades during the season. When they screw up and allow him to sign with a contender this summer – where he'll thrive, by the way, because he's a good guy and the ultimate fifth banana – I'm declaring war on Elgin, Donald Sterling and the entire Clippers franchise. I'm going to be like Stallone in "First Blood," when he has the knife to Brian Dennehy's throat: "You want a war? I'll give you a war you wouldn't believe."

Here is Ginobili:

25. Manu Ginobili
If I could be any NBA player, I would probably choose Manu if it wasn't for the whole "There's a 90 percent chance my parents would get kidnapped" thing. Instead, I'll choose Mike Miller for the fifth straight year. I just want his jump shot for a week.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...s/050408&num=0

I hope that the ultimate 5th banana thing pans out.

[EricB]

So Udrih started the year as the backup just for the balls of it and for no reason was shuffled back to the third spot?

Right.

[ace3g]

Spurs' small forward search starts on defense

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...104054874.html

[lefty]

If he shoots as well as his numbers suggest, and is adequate on defense, and has a modi of athleticism. It wouldn't shock me a bit to see him take the starting 3 job, moving RJ to the bench where his skills would come in handy.

[duncan228]

The Spurs’ wing situation, training camp predictions
by Timothy Varner
48 Minutes of

The Wing Situation. Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?

Earlier this month, R.C. Buford listed upgraded shooting as a primary objective for the Spurs this season. In the same breath, Buford said the Spurs wanted to find a “wing defender.”

Keep reading →

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs’ wing situation, training camp predictions
by Timothy Varner
48 Minutes of

The Wing Situation. Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?

Earlier this month, R.C. Buford listed upgraded shooting as a primary objective for the Spurs this season. In the same breath, Buford said the Spurs wanted to find a “wing defender.”

Keep reading →

Hey 228,
Always love the timely updates and information. Just can't get enough. Keep it coming!

[ace3g]

I don't really agree with Kirk Penney making it on the finals roster at one of the SF spots; he is what 6'5? I know he can shoot, but still (just never liked the idea of any of the SF being 6'5; no more Bogans/Udoka types)

[benefactor]

Finding Bruce Bowen’s replacement is a seemingly impossible task.

Correction...it IS an impossible task. This obsession with a Bowen replacement has to stop and emphasis on better team defense has to start. It is a necessity if the Spurs are planning on being contenders like they say they want to be.

It again makes me wonder if the defensive system was ever that good in the first place. Spurs defense seems to be merely a byproduct of having the arguably the best perimeter and post defenders of their era.

[dunkman]

Correction...it IS an impossible task. This obsession with a Bowen replacement has to stop and emphasis on better team defense has to start. It is a necessity if the Spurs are planning on being contenders like they say they want to be.

It again makes me wonder if the defensive system was ever that good in the first place. Spurs defense seems to be merely a byproduct of having the arguably the best perimeter and post defenders of their era.

The problem is that the Spurs want to find a Bowen's replacement for the cheap or with a second round pick. Finding a new Bowen in that way isn't going to happen.

But there are many good wing defensive players. Various are also all-nba players, those go for max contracts only. The best defensive specialists in their prime command around MLE long term contracts.

[Bruno]

I'm surprised to see McDonald putting Gist in the fight for the SF spot while he has played PF his whole career. Either he has some inside info on that or he is clueless.

It's nice to see Pop saying that defense will be the main factor to pick the backup SF spot. Gee has a good shot at making the team over Simmons.

[rjv]

I'm surprised to see McDonald putting Gist in the fight for the SF spot while he has played PF his whole career. Either he has some inside info on that or he is clueless.

It's nice to see Pop saying that defense will be the main factor to pick the backup SF spot. Gee has a good shot at making the team over Simmons.

in turkey there were times when gist played the 3 spot but my understanding was that he never really fared all that well in the position, especially on the defensive end.

[Obstructed_View]

So Udrih started the year as the backup just for the balls of it and for no reason was shuffled back to the third spot?

Right.

For no reason? There was a reason, but it's not because he was ineffective, it's because he didn't go the entire season without a turnover.

[The Truth #6]

Gist is probably the longest shot to make the team. Yet, his defense could be the most useful. Obviously not like Bowen, who could guard 1-3, and sometimes 4. But Gist is the only one of the three, and possibly the team, with the potential to guard the very mobile power forwards of the league - I don't see Duncan or Bonner being able to...Dice possibly for stretches in the playoffs...and it's too early to say about Splitter, but my from what I've seen he looks more like a low block player. And definitely not Blair. So, if defense is the goal I think Gist has the most upside. His basketball smarts will be the biggest issue. I don't think he needs to score but he needs to be able to understand the system and where to be and how to set a solid pick and those sort of things.

Simmons looks more like a shooter than a defender at this point. However, I've read that he has a decent low post game, which may not be what Pop is looking for, but outside of Tim and Splitter, I don't see many players on this team with ANY post up game. So who knows...that could be possibly useful.

I'd like to see Gee get a chance on this team, but I don't see him getting minutes ahead of Anderson, even with the injury. Honestly, I just don't see Gee getting much of a shot this year, but hopefully that's not the case. His potential for scoring will probably seduce Pop at some point.

Anyway, all these options are better than Bogans in my opinion so it's a good conversation to be having.