Game Thoughts: Spurs Scrimmage

[SenorSpur]

"Go Spurs Go time?"
-Somebody told Luke Zeller that he's a three-point shooter. That person is a liar. Zeller was about 0-for-5 from deep and none of the shots were close. It's safe to say he's the next player to get waived. Then again, he's a 6-foot-11 forward who likes to bomb three-pointers and not play defense, so he may have very well helped his cause during the scrimmage. I've given up trying to figure out what this front office wants.

You know that Pop has evolved his philosophy in that now he requires ALL his bigs to be prolific 3-pt shooters. If Duncan had helped architect 4 les, Pop probably would've shipped his ass outta here because he can't step back beyond the arc and bomb away. I hope Ryan Richards is practicing his downtown shots.

[iminol]

any box-score (point leaders)?

How Gani Lawal looked like on the floor? Should Spurs sign him?

[GSH]

I was watching the live feed. After the game, some of the players were in the crowd signing autographs. I'm not certain, but I could swear that DeJuan Blair ate a small child in the second row. Okay, maybe not. It just looks like he didn't go two hours without a meal all summer.

The old guys weren't the only ones looking gassed by the end. It looked like as a joke someone finally did "put a lid on the basket". Lots of short-arming going on in the last few minutes. Lots of conditioning to be done in just 6 days' time.

[ChumpDumper]

You know that Pop has evolved his philosophy in that now he requires ALL his bigs to be prolific 3-pt shooters.

Zeller is like 6-15 from the arc for the Toros. In his case it's the only thing he can do on a basketball court.

[BanditHiro]

what was RJ doing on the Black team?

[SenorSpur]

Zeller is like 6-15 from the arc for the Toros. In his case it's the only thing he can do on a basketball court.

Wow. I guess things like rebounding, blocking shots and interior defense are a lost art for some of the incoming bigs.

[Libri]

Wow. I guess things like rebounding, blocking shots and interior defense are a lost art for some of the incoming bigs.

There aren't many who like to do the dirty work.

[ChumpDumper]

Wow. I guess things like rebounding, blocking shots and interior defense are a lost art for some of the incoming bigs.

He's not incoming.

[Bill_Brasky]

Is no one else a little disappointed that the Spurs traded Hill to move up for their highest draft pick since Duncan and that Kawhi doesn't look more impressive? Maybe it's because I desperately wanted him to be great so the Spurs had a shot at regaining their defensive prowess, but for such a big move from the Spurs, I was expecting more of an impact guy immediately. As of now, Leonard has more downside than I initially gave credence. Not that he'll be a bust, but that there is more potential for that than I imagined.

I get the feeling that JA is gonna make us forget about Hill pretty quickly.

[MannyIsGod]

Is no one else a little disappointed that the Spurs traded Hill to move up for their highest draft pick since Duncan and that Kawhi doesn't look more impressive? Maybe it's because I desperately wanted him to be great so the Spurs had a shot at regaining their defensive prowess, but for such a big move from the Spurs, I was expecting more of an impact guy immediately. As of now, Leonard has more downside than I initially gave credence. Not that he'll be a bust, but that there is more potential for that than I imagined.

Really wasn't a big move.

[spursince#99]

James Anderson

[Fireball]

I can't really blame Tiago Splitter for getting dominated by Duncan early. Duncan was on his game and Splitter didn't have much of a chance. But to the Brazilian's credit, he got much better -- especially in the second half. On offense, he showed a good amount of patience in the post and his plus passing skills were on display. Defensively, after halftime he did a much better job of protecting the rim. Even during his struggles, Splitter's high basketball IQ was impressive throughout.

Tiago really did not stand a chance, but he was able to draw (I guess) 3 fouls from Timmy. Splitter is really good at that. But on the other hand I also think some of Timmys fouls were pretty cheap - don't think he would have done that in a real game.

[dbestpro]

RJ and Blair should be made to play one on one for about 8 hours every day until they get a little fire for the game.

[Fireball]

I get the feeling that JA is gonna make us forget about Hill pretty quickly.

That might be the case, but we could have had Anderson and Hill on the team. Hopefully it will be Kawhi who will make us forget about George ...

[GSH]

Is no one else a little disappointed that the Spurs traded Hill to move up for their highest draft pick since Duncan and that Kawhi doesn't look more impressive? Maybe it's because I desperately wanted him to be great so the Spurs had a shot at regaining their defensive prowess, but for such a big move from the Spurs, I was expecting more of an impact guy immediately. As of now, Leonard has more downside than I initially gave credence. Not that he'll be a bust, but that there is more potential for that than I imagined.

I'm up on the ledge with you as far as the Spurs go. But to be fair, nobody (that I remember) was convinced that Hill would be any good after only one pre-season game. Mostly people were screaming about the other good players who were left when the Spurs drafted him. Leonard has some great athletic ability. It's going to be hard for him to match Hill's at ude, or willingness to play D, but it's way too early to tell.

Still, we knew what we had with Hill - probably the biggest bright spot for the future. It's hard seeing that replaced with an unknown quan y. If Leonard doesn't live up to what Hill does in Indy, it's going to be a bitter pill to swallow.

[DPG21920]

Really wasn't a big move.

Disagree.

My statement wasn't geared so much towards his level of play this pre-season per say, but more towards the way he looks as a player. The difference between Hill and this is even when Hill was struggling to me he still looked like he belonged. I'm not focusing too much on the box score but I've been a little taken back at how limited Leonard is in some areas based on the fact of where he was drafted and expectations. To put it another way, when he was drafted based on what little I could find on him and what pundits were saying, I expected him to be a little more polished and have a few more flashes of tremendous upside. I knew he would have some widely reported flaws, but I'm surprised I guess at how many I've seen in this limited time.

[manufan10]

I'd have to wait until we actually see Leonard play in games that matter before we can even say that the FO screwed up by trading Hill. Watching a few minutes of a preseason game and an intrasquad scrimmage cannot really give us the whole picture of a player. It will give us a glimpse, but that is about it.

[jjktkk]

That might be the case, but we could have had Anderson and Hill on the team. Hopefully it will be Kawhi who will make us forget about George ...

Don't forget Neal. I didn't want to trade Hill, but given the Spurs backcourt depth, it was a good trade for a potential lockdown defender at sf position in Leonard.

[lefty]

I like the feedback on Kawhi Leonard, especially on the defensive end.

Bowen wasn't great offensively either, so I don't have a problem with the lack of O.

[MannyIsGod]

Disagree.

My statement wasn't geared so much towards his level of play this pre-season per say, but more towards the way he looks as a player. The difference between Hill and this is even when Hill was struggling to me he still looked like he belonged. I'm not focusing too much on the box score but I've been a little taken back at how limited Leonard is in some areas based on the fact of where he was drafted and expectations. To put it another way, when he was drafted based on what little I could find on him and what pundits were saying, I expected him to be a little more polished and have a few more flashes of tremendous upside. I knew he would have some widely reported flaws, but I'm surprised I guess at how many I've seen in this limited time.

Leonard really doesn't have to impress much to make the trade a good one. Hill was a good 6th man, but good 6th men aren't exactly that hard to find in the NBA. Considering that Hill was likely to get overpaid in a couple of seasons, moving him was a no brainer. Even without that involved, I don't think a trade that doesn't even move you up to the lottery and involving a bench player can be considered that big.

Leonard was impressive when I saw him play agasint the Lobos last year but thats NCAA play so I don't read TOO much into it. We'll see.

[Interrohater]

I don't really think it's to difficult to see the reasoning behind the deal with Hill and Leonard. Leonard has all of the tools and the abilities to have a huge career. Hill was a sometimes exciting player that will probably have a nice, well-paid and long career, but will never be seen as the number 1, 2, or even 3rd option. He's a great luxury to have on a team with his tweener size, but Leonard has the potential to be a game changer.

[Nathan89]

That might be the case, but we could have had Anderson and Hill on the team. Hopefully it will be Kawhi who will make us forget about George ...

Hill had to be traded. We just have too much talent at the sg position to keep Hill. It would be a waste of talent to only play him behind Tony.

Trading for Kawhi fills a void in backup sf with someone who could be force defensively. Can he help this year? Maybe, but he doesn't have to be as good as Hill. The loss of Hill minimized by Anderson,Neal,and Ford. Kawhi is an attempt to fill another hole in this team.

The only question for me is if we traded him for the right player or even the right position.

[Fireball]

Hill had to be traded. We just have too much talent at the sg position to keep Hill. It would be a waste of talent to only play him behind Tony.

I am totally with you. I just wanted to point out hopefully Kawhi Leonard turns out to be the player the Spurs thought he would be. Because he was traded for George, not James Anderson ...

[DPG21920]

Leonard really doesn't have to impress much to make the trade a good one. Hill was a good 6th man, but good 6th men aren't exactly that hard to find in the NBA. Considering that Hill was likely to get overpaid in a couple of seasons, moving him was a no brainer. Even without that involved, I don't think a trade that doesn't even move you up to the lottery and involving a bench player can be considered that big.

Leonard was impressive when I saw him play agasint the Lobos last year but thats NCAA play so I don't read TOO much into it. We'll see.

I agree 100% with that. I think the trade is fine regardless of whether or not Leonard pans out unless Hill takes some major step forward. My statement wasn't about that but just Leonard the player in isolation. With regards to mentioning Hill it was more about losing a rotational player, not about how great Hill was/will be. But with regards to Leonard I'm just a little surprised at how much downside he has. I just haven't seen even a glimpse of the tremendous upside some pundits were touting and have seen a lot more holes than I anticipated from essentially a lottery pick. I'm not making a judgement on him yet, but these are the things that have surprised me to date.

[Interrohater]

The only question for me is if we traded him for the right player or even the right position.

I agree with one part. I have every confidence that Kawhi is going to be something special and somebody that we're going to meme like crazy when he goes off, but maybe we could have traded for a young big man to develop. I don't know, I don't watch college ball so I'm not even sure if there were any young PF/C worth the 15th spot.