Has Danny Green improved at all?..

[Malik Hairston]

I've always been called a Danny Green hater, I'll admit that from the start, tbh, my opinion is slightly biased..

However, has he displayed any improvement from last year?..

He's still useless from anywhere inside the 3-point line..he has virtually no ability to create his own shot..his pull-up J is non-existent..he often blows chances at the rim..

At this point, he's just a spot-up shooter that plays above average defense against certain types of players..he's also fresh off a choke job against OKC, I assumed he would have had a chip on his shoulder during the Summer..

It is quite disappointing that the Spurs' supporting cast has not shown any improvement from last season..their improvements should have negated any decline from the big 3, at the very least, tbh..instead, Leonard has regressed, and Green is the same flawed player..

[timvp]

Pretty harsh, tbh.

First off, Leonard hasn't regressed. It's possible to say he hasn't lived up to the high hopes of some Spurs fans ... but before he got hurt there's no way to say he was a worse player than last year.

As for Green, he's gotten a lot better at finishing at the rim. Last year, he was a disaster in the paint. This year, he's still below average finishing but he's creeping up into the acceptable range.

He's shown some slight improvements in areas -- mostly to do with patience and understanding the game. To be worth his contract and to be worthy of a starting spot, he had to get back to how he ended last year in the regular season. I think he's done that. It'd be great if he could take another big step forward but I just don't think he's that type of player. He can fit in a system and he can become really good in his niche ... but I don't think he's capable of becoming much more than he is.

All that said, the shooting guard position is extremely weak in the NBA these days. Even though Green is a role player and 99.99% chance always will be a role player, a case can be made that he's an above average starting shooting guard. To have pulled that off the scrap heap and then re-sign him to a reasonable deal was a great job by the FO and coaching staff.

[crc21209]

I think he's improved. Last year he was mainly a 3 point shooter who couldn't put the ball on the floor or finish at the rim much. Now he's a more polished overall offensive player. He's also a decent defender for his position. He's also moving without the ball, getting back door cuts, etc. this year that he didnt show very much last season...

[Splits]

Green is not the most gifted athlete and he's never going to make an all-star team, but he never takes a play off and always finishes the play. He makes mistakes like other young players and has room for improvement, but it is tough to expect that much more growth from him than we've seen in, like, 11 months.

[TDMVPDPOY]

danny green has improved alot especially creating for himself running off from the screen for a sweet jumper...rip hamilton style...

[Sean Cagney]

Leonard regressed already? Are you serious? Give him this year atleast to say that. Danny has improved some too IMO, time will tell though atleast give it half a year till you say this. This is what 11 games into year year? Relax.

[Richie]

Your expectations are way, way too high. If you're expecting role players like Green and Neal to pick up the slack for ageing Hall of Famers then you will always be disappointed. There's a reason these guys bounced around the D-League and Europe, they're decent players but don't ask too much of them.

This team will only go as far as Tim, Tony and Manu takes them, don't blame the role players for not having superstar games when one of the big 3 doesn't show up.

[G-Dawgg]

Danny Green is still a scrub.. How is he even in our starting lineup?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Green has improved - he looks more competent and confident all over the court to me. He's a fine 6-8th player, and we obviously only start him because Manu fits better from the bench.

Why people expect guys like Green to be superstars is beyond me - he's a ROLE PLAYER, and he plays his role very well a lot of the time.

[therealtruth]

All they really need from Green is defense and not to be useless on offense.

[BatManu20]

He's never going to be anything more than a 3 pint shooter. That's just what he is. anytime he puts the bal on the floor he just looks uncomfortable. And his defense leaves a lot to be desired. But, he'll knock down big 3's when we need them (minus the WCF) and furthermore, what do you suggest we do, get rid of him? He's our best bet at the position so what's your point.

[TD 21]

I don't know why you don't like Green. Prototypical 3D role player. Every team needs them, especially the good ones.

I think he's made some incremental improvements, but despite being young, he basically is what he's going to be and was last season. I'm not sure why you'd have expected anything different from him. He's never going to be a dynamic creator or finisher.

He's easily worth his contract though and frankly has received too much criticism for his atrocious shooting in the WCF. He was on an incredible role shooting the ball and at some point he was going to cool off. Keep in mind, it was his first time in the playoffs and he performed well through two rounds, so it's way too soon to draw any conclusions about whether he can perform under pressure or not.

[Chinook]

If by role player, one means someone who can be a reliable starter, play big minutes and be an integral part of a team's success, but who can't be relied on to carry a team, then yes, Green is always going to be a role player. But if one means a player who sits on the bench and whose only job is to eat up minutes and not fail while the starter is on the bench, I think calling Green a role player is selling him short. If Ginobili were to retire after this season, I for one do not believe that the Spurs need to find a starter-caliber shooting guard and move Green to the bench. He plays his role well, and when he's on, he often looks like one of the best shooting guards the Spurs have had besides Ginobili over the last decade.

Green may never develop a wider offensive repertoire, but if he can improve his consistency he can become an impact player on both sides of the floor. As timvp pointed out last year, Green was possibly the most impactful team defender on the roster. He also played good man defense at times (like on Paul in game 4 vs the Clippers), and he has the skill to improve even more in that area. As he matures, I believe he learn to pick his spots on defense, his shot selection will improve, and he will become a better finisher and cutter with more patience. In other words, I believe Green can eventually learn to do the things he's already good at even more efficiently than he is doing them right now. If that happens, he'll be one of the better shooting guards in the league.

[Spurs da champs]

Why people expect guys like Green to be superstars is beyond me - he's a ROLE PLAYER, and he plays his role very well a lot of the time.

Asking him to make open layups & make pull up jumpers is asking him to be a superstar?

Dude is overrated big time, especially his defense!

[rascal]

Green is a role player and not any type of difference maker. Don't expect anything special from him in the playoffs when the stars step up.

[rascal]

But if one means a player who sits on the bench and whose only job is to eat up minutes and not fail while the starter is on the bench, I think calling Green a role player is selling him short.

This sums up what Green is. He will hit some shots and have some good games during the regular season like most role players.

[Chinook]

This sums up what Green is. He will hit some shots and have some good games during the regular season like most role players.

Those types of role players are not defensive difference makers. It's easy to look at Green after a bad game and think he's easily replaceable, but he was as big of a part of that 20-game winning streak last year as anybody. He's not going to be a star, but there's no reason why he can't become more consistent at what he already does well. Averaging almost 14 points per 36 is more than respectable, seeing as that's not his role on this team. He's top-15 in all defensive categories, and he showed last year that he can be even better than he is this year. I'm very happy with Green, all things considered. With good coaching, he'll be the starting shooting guard for at least the next three years.

[DesignatedT]

Leonard has some difficulties shooting the long ball in 8 games and "he's regressed"

In the short sample size of this season, Leonard has improved in every single category IMO. So he started off the season shooting 35% from three instead of last years 38%. He will get that number up. His defense has been spectacular this season IMO.

[KaiRMD1]

I'm more surprised at the notion that Leonard has regressed

[ata]

Green is pretty solid, as he was last regular season. Of course he can improve, however big improvement from him is expected in PO

[Sean Cagney]

Leonard has some difficulties shooting the long ball in 8 games and "he's regressed"

In the short sample size of this season, Leonard has improved in every single category IMO. So he started off the season shooting 35% from three instead of last years 38%. He will get that number up. His defense has been spectacular this season IMO.

I agree, Spurs fans are such knee jerk reaction types it's rediculous. LOL 8 games and he is regressing.

[ChuckD]

danny green has improved alot especially creating for himself running off from the screen for a sweet jumper...rip hamilton style...

This. I don't know what games the OP is watching but Green is noticeably better on O this year. As stated above they have him running screen and roll to score inside the arc, which he NEVER did before, and his three point range has increased as well. He was one of the Spurs who shot almost on the line, making it easier for defenders who dig down in the post to recover. Now he's letting go from Bonner/Jack land.

[ChuckD]

Leonard has some difficulties shooting the long ball in 8 games and "he's regressed"

In the short sample size of this season, Leonard has improved in every single category IMO. So he started off the season shooting 35% from three instead of last years 38%. He will get that number up. His defense has been spectacular this season IMO.

Not to mention that Kawhi shot high20s low30s for a month or more last year before he clicked.

[elemento]

Leonard has some difficulties shooting the long ball in 8 games and "he's regressed"

In the short sample size of this season, Leonard has improved in every single category IMO. So he started off the season shooting 35% from three instead of last years 38%. He will get that number up. His defense has been spectacular this season IMO.

This

Not to mention his FT shooting. From 77% last season to 94% this season. Just shows how Leonard works very hard and how bad he wants to improve his game.

[FkLA]

Green has actually looked decent on midrange pull-ups when the defense runs him off the 3 point line. Finishing on drives will always be a weakness of his though, that little two handed runner he throws up looks so awkward...still a bargain at 3 yrs/11.3 mill though imo.