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Great write up, didn't get to watch game. The girlfriend was on Netflix and that sucks up all the wi-fi Lol
The Spurs looked sharp in their scrimmage a few days ago. In their first preseason game, nothing changed. San Antonio continues to play a surprisingly precise brand of basketball and Montepaschi Siena really never had a chance. When it was all said and done, the Spurs had posted a 106-77 victory over the European team that has won the last six Italian League championships.
Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan wore a bulkier knee brace than he did during the scrimmage (it looked like the brace he wore last season) but he was still moving with ease. He’s able to run the floor and is showing a burst to the basket. Even though he might be as skinny as ever, he did some good work in the low block against Siena’s physical centers (namely Benjamin Eze and Mario Kasun). Duncan absolutely looks ready for the regular season.
Manu Ginobili
Like Duncan, Manu Ginobili is showing no perceptible rust. He’s attacking the basket with ferocity, his timing on passes is nearly flawless and he’s showing signs of athleticism that weren’t always there last season. In recent interviews, Ginobili said that he made it a point to try to keep his basketball rhythm heading into training camp and it really is a noticeable difference. He, too, is ready for the regular season.
Tony Parker
The Big 3 is three for three in being ready for the regular season. Tony Parker was in attack mode from the opening tip. I’m surprised with how physical he has played in the two outings so far. Typically, Parker will wait for the games to count before he starts seeking out contact in the lane. This year, he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder from Day 1. I can’t say that I’m disappointed with that mindset.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard had some difficulty converting shots he usually makes but there was a lot to like about how he played -- particularly on the defensive end. He used his athleticism and length to alter shots and corral rebounds and other loose balls. On offense, besides missing those chippies, Leonard sometimes hesitated when deciding whether to attack or run the offense. But his ballhandling remains a positive and he didn’t let the miscues negatively impact his energy level.
Danny Green
Although he wasn’t exactly loafing, Danny Green didn’t play with as much vigor as is needed out of him. He also seemed frustrated when he missed his lone three-point attempt. (Until he knocks a few down, I’m sure those misses against the Thunder will haunt him.) Defensively, he was decent but could be a lot better. I’m personally hoping he can have a breakout game sometime during preseason so that any jitters he may be experiencing (be it from bad memories or trying too hard to live up to his new contract) can be purged before the real games begin.
Boris Diaw
One of the most exciting aspects of the game was how in shape Boris Diaw looked. Sure, he’s still a little chunky but he appears to be a lot skinnier than any point last season or during the Olympics. The lighter load has made him more mobile -- which in turn makes him even more dangerous as a ballhandler and facilitator. When you have a power forward who can grab a long rebound and head up the court with point guard level instincts, that’s extremely difficult for the opposition to defend.
Stephen Jackson
I thought Stephen Jackson looked more mobile than he did in the scrimmage. He was able to defend one-on-one against smaller players without much help. He also didn’t have any trouble getting up and down the court. His timing -- mostly in terms of dribbling and passing -- needs work, though. Interestingly enough, Pop didn’t call many plays but the few he called were almost all to post-up Jackson on the low block. It appears that utilizing Jackson as a post threat is going to be a go-to option for the second unit. I think that’s a good idea.
Gary Neal
As the scrimmage suggested, Gary Neal is the backup point guard right now. Neal, per usual, was a weapon as a scorer, made good passes on pick-and-roll sets and on the break, and was poor defensively. If anything, he’s being even more aggressive than usual. Neal knows his spot in the rotation is at risk and it’s evident that he refuses to relinquish his role without a fight.
DeJuan Blair
In his 15 minutes on the court, DeJuan Blair was a bowling ball of energy. It seemed like he hit the floor a dozen times tonight. On offense, he was constantly drawing contact. Defensively, he sacrificed his body repeatedly. Blair looks like he’s in the best shape of his basketball life and he’s trying to take advantage of his newfound agility. Sometimes he’s out of control but the Spurs can live with this version of Blair as long as he keeps playing hard. Probably the most positive difference so far is Blair’s ability to defend out on the perimeter. While he didn’t shoot a jumper, I liked what I saw from his free throw stroke. He’s doing a much better job of shooting a soft shot while making better use of his guide-hand.
Matt Bonner
Matt Bonner had some rebounds fall in his lap and otherwise did passable work on the defensive end but I didn’t like what he did on offense. He passed up a handful of open shots; he quickly moved the ball to the next teammate no matter how much space he had to fire. A Bonner who doesn’t shoot open shots isn’t worth much.
Patrick Mills
When he’s on the court with Ginobili, Patrick Mills is a terror on the fast break. He takes off as soon as the Spurs gain possession and Ginobili likes to make the long pass to him. It’s like the Southern Hemisphere’s version of Montana to Rice. Unfortunately for Mills, that’s about all he did well tonight. His defense was spotty, his ballhandling was iffy and he didn’t show much playmaking ability. If he’s going to win the backup point guard job, he’ll have to play much better.
Nando De Colo
Spurs fans have to be excited by what they saw out of Nando De Colo. What stands out the most is De Colo’s creativity. He’s crafty with his ballhandling and his passing shows a great amount of imagination. It’s truly a trait that can’t be taught. De Colo reads angles well and finds ways to deliver passes that the vast majority of other players simply can’t see. You don’t have to watch him long before you notice how special his vision is with the basketball in his hands. I also continue to be pleasantly surprised by his athleticism. Once he faces other NBA compe ion, we’ll get a true sense of his skill level. I believe in his creativity and his athleticism. The question I have is his overall skill level and whether he can be efficient enough when going against the best of the best.
Cory Joseph
He didn’t play in the first half but I thought Cory Joseph did really well in the third and fourth quarters. Defensively, he had a few fantastic sequences. He was by far the best defensive guard on the court tonight. His transition defense was wonderful and he was constantly around the basketball. On the other end, Joseph’s jumper looked smooth and he was able to knock it down off the dribble. He had a few forays to the hoop and exemplified much improved athleticism over last season. I also liked the pace at which he ran the show and his execution, even with deep reserves on the court, was a plus. It’s going to be next to impossible for him to earn a spot in the rotation out of training camp but this was a step in the right direction. At the very least, this was further proof that the 21-year-old is a legit NBA prospect.
Josh Powell
Josh Powell was the best training camp invitee in the scrimmage and he was the best invitee tonight. He really is playing some of the best basketball I’ve ever seen him play. His defense is solid and he’s controlling the glass. Powell’s overall athleticism is better than I’ve seen it. On offense, he had a few beautiful moves on the block. As it stands, the Spurs would be hard-pressed to cut him.
Eddy Curry
Speaking of difficult to cut, Eddy Curry gave the Spurs brass a lot to think about tonight. His three baskets were all notable. Two of the field goals were as a result of quick moves that beat his man to the basket. When someone as large as Curry is beating his man to the rim … that simply can’t be ignored. His third basket was a swift yet powerful dunk following an offensive rebound. We’ll see if he can keep this up as the preseason progresses. If he can, I’m not sure how a Spurs team that is desperate for size could let him go. Then again, Curry’s not exactly known for consistency and this might have just been a lucky night against inferior talent. Stay tuned.
Derrick Brown
Ugh. I like Derrick Brown and what he could theoretically bring to the table but tonight was ugly. He looked like the worst type of tweener: a forward with not enough perimeter skill to play outside of the paint and not enough size to play in the paint. Brown is regarded as a top-flight athlete but none of that was on display. His hands and instincts were poor. He didn’t show much fluidity on either end and even his jumping -- typically his bread and butter -- was nothing special. Brown is going to have to turn it up quickly or else he may be the next player waived.
Wesley Witherspoon
I don’t understand how Wesley Witherspoon averaged only 7.2 points per game as a senior at Memphis. In warm-ups and out on the court, he looks like a prototypical NBA small forward. He’s long, athletic and coordinated. He needs a lot more polish but he’d be a quality investment for the Toros.
Tyler Wilkerson
I would like to see more out of Tyler Wilkerson. He only got to play the last three minutes of the game and it was impossible to draw even a premature conclusion. I like his work in summer league and his skillset could be useful. In the next few games, hopefully he gets an extended look.
Tiago Splitter
Tiago Splitter is still sidelined with back spasms. He attended the game and he’s supposedly going to be ready to begin practicing again on Monday. We’ll see.
Pop
Not only do a majority of players look ready for the regular season, Pop’s rotation in the first half was unexpectedly similar to what we’ll see in November. It appears as if Diaw is going to start next to Duncan and Green is going to start at shooting guard, with Ginobili once again playing the sixth man role. Right now, Neal is the backup point guard with Mills the third option and Joseph the fourth option. De Colo is being played strictly at shooting guard. Pop also played Parker at shooting guard for a stretch (with Mills at point guard). Perhaps that’s an alignment we’ll see more of this season. With Splitter out, it’s impossible to tell who he plans to play between Bonner and Blair.
Viktor Sanikidze
The Spurs drafted Viktor Sanikidze in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft. After all these years, they still own his rights and it’s still possible that the 26-year-old will one day end up in silver and black. Sanikidze started for Siena and will be one of their main players this season. I actually liked what I saw out of him, even though it wasn’t what I was expecting. The last I saw of Sanikidze, he was mostly a hustle player who relied on his athleticism as an Andrei Kirilenko type small forward. Now, Sanikidze has bulked up and he’s a stretch power forward who relies mostly on skill. The added bulk has taken away some of his athleticism but he’s a much better basketball player. He’s a very good rebounder with an effortless stroke form the NBA three-point line. He’s also quick enough to defend the pick-and-roll surprisingly well and he’s not timid when it comes to mixing it up in the paint. He has long arms and is a fast leaper (I saw him block Leonard twice even though he only got credited for one total block). Since the Spurs can always use stretch power forwards, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they look at him in a year or two. He needs to work on his offensive game to become more well-rounded and it looks like he could still get stronger but he’s a worthwhile prospect who should be monitored closely.
Mario Kasun
Mario Kasun is known for dating porn stars. Whichever porn star he is currently dating sat a couple seats away from me. Even though he had an underwhelming performance, her enthusiasm was admirable -- even if not always authentic. Unfortunately, a Google search doesn’t bring up a name so I guess this is where the scouting report must end.
Great write up, didn't get to watch game. The girlfriend was on Netflix and that sucks up all the wi-fi Lol
Thanks a lot for the writeup.
I think it's the same brace except that he is covering it with a knee sleeve. He is doing it for games because referees are asking him to soften the sharp hard corners of the knee brace that can hurt other players with a hit.
As long as the Spurs are ready to bring the nasty every game of the regular season and playoffs, it's all good.
How about retaining Josh Powell?
Its hard to find any YouTube highlights of Powell.
Thanks for the game thoughts - were you sitting behind the opp time bench?
My thoughts on the game:
Stephen Jackson: His 3-ball looks better than ever, but I am worried he is going to have a lot of "quick foul" games where he comes in and picks up a couple quick ones. He has lost a lot of athletic ability and he relies on using his hands and arms and strength to really defend. That's fine by me and it works, but it will depend on what the ref crews allow on a given night. Something to watch on my end I guess.
Blair: Couldn't agree more about his free throw stroke. I was amazed at how sharp and smooth it was. Stood out to me and definitely a great sign going forward. He still had trouble grabbing def rebounds though. He has a lot bounce off his hands and go to the other team or out of bounds. He used to be a black hole on def rebounding and now it's not a sure thing and that scares me.
Diaw: I thought Diaw looked great as well. His ability to board and push the ball up the court is truly a weapon. Same with Kawhi. In our presumed starting line up (Duncan, Diaw, KL, DG, TP) we now how a lot of damn talented players who when they board can instantly push the ball up the court.
I loved CJ tonight. I thought he had a phenom stint during his time tonight and I was really impressed. His corner 3 looks a lot like TP's IMO. He takes his time, has his feet kind of close together and his form looks somewhat similar (at least tonight it did to me). But he seems to have much better touch from 3 (more arc) than TP. I was very impressed and honestly as of right now (even though it wont happen) he looks like the best back up PG on the team.
Mario Kasun
Mario Kasun is known for dating porn stars. Whichever porn star he is currently dating sat a couple seats away from me. Even though he had an underwhelming performance, her enthusiasm was admirable -- even if not always authentic. Unfortunately, a Google search doesn’t bring up a name so I guess this is where the scouting report must end.
Is this her?
Essentially these articles say: "Mario Kasun and his pregnant fiancee Rakel Exposito" Seen the name also spelled as Raquel Blanco Exposito and Raquel Exposito. He could be with someone else now since these articles are from 2011.
http://www.index.hr/sport/euro2008/d...anak&id=550078
http://www.tportal.hr/showtime/estra...l#.UHHBLlGz5EI
http://www.vecernji.hr/scena/trudna-...-clanak-348211
thanks for the writeup, guys
DPG21920 what did you think of Sanikidze
Time for a new girlfriend? Just kidding....I don't think it was on anywhere...
Thought he looked rather unathletic now with the exta weight. Overall it was a very ho-hum performance from him - but to be expected now that he is playing an NBA team as their PF. Had a nice 3 pointer but other than that, nothing made me believe he will ever be a Spur.
Last edited by DPG21920; 10-07-2012 at 05:02 PM.
Thanks for the write-up Timvp. Your skills too seem as sharp as ever.
I'm surprised not many more responses here tbh, maybe the poll was sabotaged.
Sanikidze will never be a scorer in the league but has worked enough on his jumper to where you can't leave him to double another player. His main impact will be hustle stats (rebounds, blocks, steals, etc). Plus hopefully playing PF for Siena has improved his post game.
We need to start our search for a SJAX replacement and would still like the Spurs to carry 3 true SFs on the roster. We lack depth when Kawhi and/or SJAX gets into foul trouble. I was hoping Brown would be that guy but his ball handling isn't impressive, had trouble catching passes, and jumper isn't ready yet. Granted he hasn't got much playing time yet and it is early still, but I would like to see him get 15-20 minutes in a few games in the preseason along with Wilkerson.
Coming in, I thought Brown was the favorite (and he probably was), but I always thought Powell would be his compe ion and unless something drastic changes awfully soon, I think Powell beats him out.
In addition to him outplaying Brown, what also helps is the fact that Splitter has shown yet again how fragile he is. Having more depth at C (Powell really should be utilized as strictly a PF, but you know how the Spurs operate) is a greater need than at SF, where at least they've got a quality third option, in Green.
Maybe. But I think they'll give him a longer look than he may deserve, because they were probably more intrigued with him than any other invite beforehand, so they probably don't want to jump to a conclusion so soon.Derrick Brown
Ugh. I like Derrick Brown and what he could theoretically bring to the table but tonight was ugly. He looked like the worst type of tweener: a forward with not enough perimeter skill to play outside of the paint and not enough size to play in the paint. Brown is regarded as a top-flight athlete but none of that was on display. His hands and instincts were poor. He didn’t show much fluidity on either end and even his jumping -- typically his bread and butter -- was nothing special. Brown is going to have to turn it up quickly or else he may be the next player waived.
Over/under on the next paper cut? I'll set it at 3 weeks . . . and take the under.Tiago Splitter
Tiago Splitter is still sidelined with back spasms. He attended the game and he’s supposedly going to be ready to begin practicing again on Monday. We’ll see.
A possible Bonner replacement? Not in terms of stepping in as the third big and playing 20 mpg, but just as far as having a second stretch four. If they see him as being NBA caliber, then it should only make the decision on whether to guarantee Bonner's contract next off season that much easier.Viktor Sanikidze
The Spurs drafted Viktor Sanikidze in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft. After all these years, they still own his rights and it’s still possible that the 26-year-old will one day end up in silver and black. Sanikidze started for Siena and will be one of their main players this season. I actually liked what I saw out of him, even though it wasn’t what I was expecting. The last I saw of Sanikidze, he was mostly a hustle player who relied on his athleticism as an Andrei Kirilenko type small forward. Now, Sanikidze has bulked up and he’s a stretch power forward who relies mostly on skill. The added bulk has taken away some of his athleticism but he’s a much better basketball player. He’s a very good rebounder with an effortless stroke form the NBA three-point line. He’s also quick enough to defend the pick-and-roll surprisingly well and he’s not timid when it comes to mixing it up in the paint. He has long arms and is a fast leaper (I saw him block Leonard twice even though he only got credited for one total block). Since the Spurs can always use stretch power forwards, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they look at him in a year or two. He needs to work on his offensive game to become more well-rounded and it looks like he could still get stronger but he’s a worthwhile prospect who should be monitored closely.
I hope we can keep SJax at least until the end of the year. At that point he can decide if he wants to resign for whatever is offered; he may be feeling cash friendly if the season result is the same as the last time he played a full season as a Spur.
If needed Green and Ginobili can fill in at SF spots and this will open up playing time for Neal and Mills. I think the goal will be to get Kawhi lots of minutes so between him and Sjax and 6 fouls a piece that position should be fine. Plus, if they do get in foul trouble it will probably be against the better SF players. If there was some third stringer I doubt Pop would put that player in against Lebron, KD and whoever else this applies to.
Aside from this, if Curry keeps up his production and toughness I hope we can keep him. Tiago is the second best big on the team right now, having to compete with Curry could help light a fire under Tiago, help teach Tiago a few new moves, add toughness and the option of another tough big if the Spurs need it such as the occasional Tiago meltdown or injury.. Someone like Curry demands attention and this is exactly what Tony is going to need when he is penetrating, especially during the playoffs. If Tony dumps it to Curry Tony can be sure that Curry is going to slam that ball down if given the opportunity. At some point Tony will be asked to step up and finish a game. Management should do its best to give him the best options possible so Tony can depend on his teammates to finish that game.
Manu comes in at #8 for Top 10 plays
I was at that game and I was pretty impressed with Powell. Good effort overall except he would jog back on defense. He made a nice sort of off balance shot.
Corey Joseph looked GOOD. Was underwhelmed with de Colo.
Blair and Diaw both looked really good. Leonard, the Big 3 looked great.
Green not so great. Hope his confidence is more solid than Bonner's.
Curry looked a little slow and committed dumb fouls one after another. But at least he's big haha.
If Sanikidze is still little more than a project for the NBA at 28, then he'll never be ready. His career is almost at the declining period. We'd do better with some new guys like Witherspoon, Wilkerson, Brown and Powell. Or some other guy we haven't heard about as draft bait.
He is only 26
Officially.
I have little faith about the birthdates of these Georgian players.
Thanks for the write up. With Joseph looking good, I wonder how we are going to get Curry and either Powell or Brown on the roster. Someone would have to go. How do people see all this unfolding? I've been thinking Joseph goes to Austin with Neal, Mills, and possibly Nando being looked at as the backup point.
Nice post. I agree with a lot of what you said. I especially want the Spurs to keep SJax for the whole season and see if he wants to resign at the price they ask for. If they are going to trade him, then it better be for a darn good player that can perform in the playoffs. There is too many guys that go soft come playoff time, so the Spurs should consider that also, but then again if Jack asks for too much money then I am not sure what the Spurs should do. I guess it also depends on how he plays. I think he will bust his butt on the court though and play very hard.
Here is a quote from racm in another thread about the Spurs' winning percentage with Jack in the lineup last season :
After seeing that I was a little curious about what the Spurs' winning percentage was with Jack in the lineup going to back to the closing run in the 2002/2003 Championship season. The Spurs went 41-9 to finish the regular season and 16-8 in the playoffs that season. Our winning percentage between last season and the closing run in 2003 with SJax on the roster is just insane. It's .792 if you include playoffs and 0.849 in the regular season games.
Makes sense. In the videos I saw he already has grey hairs coming in.
Good point. I forgot about the rule that all braces need to be covered. It must have not been enforced in the scrimmage.
Yeah, the Spurs should really look to take advantage of having so many ballhandlers. For an old center, even TD is pretty damn slick with the ball.
I'm trying to hold in my excitement for CJ but he's looking really legit right now.
I don't want to bust the guy but the chick I'm talking about was blonde . . .
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