Grades: Spurs @ Timberwolves - Feb. 6

[Mal]

This Bynes dude is already being used as part of rotation ?

[look_at_g_shred]

I actually agree with most of these grades. Baynes is looking fine, imo, for being as new as he is out there. And one the best things he does that the offense hasn't had since the days of Oberto and Nesterovich is play pulling guard. He sets great blocks for the guards making the runs to the basket. That can prove invaluable to our point and shooting guards who have been continually getting pounded as the 'go to the rim'. And if we don't get people going to the rim, we won't open up the three pointers, so that is a real plus for the team. I know he's going to get a lot of fouls called on him because he is new. He just has to be out there to do it. I foresee a second unit with Baynes and Diaw on the court at the same time as a good back up to the starting lineup with Splitter and Duncan.


And I am really pleased with DeColo. He looked confident to me, was finding open guys, made a few mistakes but so did everybody else out there. That's okay, he's a better back up than anyone other than Ginobili, imo, and I'm glad he is getting the burn in his first year to make him better.

I was glad that Green made his threes, and we needed them. But man, that man is the worst finisher on fast breaks in the history of basketball. He can blow a layup, a pull-up, a floater, etc. etc. His three has to be good for him to be on the team, imo.

And even when he doesn't block the shot, his presence is felt by the player driving to the rim and it alters their shot.

[dbestpro]

so what was the excuse with the airball 3ft from the ring?

Reminds me of the quotes out there when Tiago first joined the team. The answer is it takes time, and for Bonner and Blair, time is up.

[Paranoid Pop]

The offense looks like with De Colo running the point tbh. Cojo and Mills could probably do better. De Colo has a nice potential at SG, too bad the Neal-Green combo is blocking everyone else at that position.

Didn't Bud play Mills more than Pop IIRC? Probably surpassed the master already tbh.

[silverblackfan]

Thanks for the quick grades. Very interesting game, but it seemed like the Spurs had only to focus to get the game back under control. They have been doing that lately.
Tony is really taking his game to the next level. He has become so consistent on his mid-range shot that he is really unguardable when a good screen is set. Baynes is providing those screens and is looking very good at boxing out the lane for Tony to get to the rim. , banging against Pec is no easy task, but for a rookie to hold his own without fouling out in 5 minutes...
Got to love the Spurs FO for finding these guys.

[Embedded]

I agree with Mr. Baynes being developed quickly. The night where Bonner and Blair suffered knee "effusion" was a ruse, imho. Mr. Baynes will take some of the pounding off of Mr. Duncan and Mr. Splitter.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i really wanna see baynes shoulder screen some clown into the stands...

if we can get another big like that, we have ourselves the version of oakley/mason to clear out players

[temujin]

Ginobili called Danny Green "Dverde"

Paisaje de Catamarca
con mil distintos tonos de GREEN......

[TDMVPDPOY]

with decolo, how much can u guys allowed him to be passive on the offensive end which is scoring...or you clowns ok with him as long no stupid and creating plays, since the depth of the bench scoring wise is 2nd to none in the league....

[timvp]

I think the grading should be based on the context. SAy like, Green's 3-pointers in the rout against Bobcats in their home court is just one of hot-hands of the team.

But tonight, each and every one of his 3-pointers is much needed. This game was written as a losing trap game all over the place. More often than not, nobody other than Tony can create anything. And the momentum was totally shifted to Timberwolves in many occasions in 4th quarter alone. But each time, Green's timely 3-pointer brings Spurs back into the game.

Actually not only his shooting, he has a few very impressive assists. One is in early 4th quarter, when the Spurs were in offense drought, he had one very neat pick-n-roll assist to Tiago. That play is rarely seen outside of Tony and Manu. Another one is toward the end of 4th quarter, he set up Tony beautifully with a cut to secure the victory.

Granted, he leaves a lot to be desired in this game, as the 5 seconds timeout (or even less?) by Pop after only 2-and-half-minute can attest for that. But overall, this win largely owes to Green's performance, and I think he deserves an A-.

Good post but I don't understand why you think the grades aren't "in context". Regarding Green, as I typed, his threes made the difference. Without them, the Spurs probably don't win (or at least it's a lot more difficult).

But part of the reason the Spurs were struggling was Green and his poor decisions. Off the top of my head, his poor decisions including:

-Playing Rubio for the shot instead of the pass to begin the game ... even though Rubio would struggle to score in an empty gym. The result was Rubio assisting on Minnesota's first four baskets. Without Rubio's assists, the T'Wolves would have struggled to score against the Spurs starting lineup.

-Picking up a second foul less than six minutes into the game by needlessly reaching in on Rubio near halfcourt. That's a bad decision because: 1) Ginobili was out so Green can't afford to get into foul trouble 2) Again, defending Rubio close makes no sense because he can't shoot.

-A fake backdoor cut that resulted in Splitter throwing the ball out of bounds. Green didn't acknowledge the mistake ... maybe because he doesn't know that's a mistake. Pop benched him, told him not to do that and sent him back in.

-On a one on four fast break, he pulls up for a long two-pointer. Air ball. The play there was to drive it all the way in or wait for his teammates. The Spurs had the lead and didn't need such a low percentage shot when they were trying to stop a T'Wolves rally. Parker yells at him. Pop benches him.

-Spurs up 7 early in the fourth. On an inbounds play, Green inexplicably doesn't defend JJ Barea in the corner. He just lets him stand there wide open. Barea gets the inbounds pass and drains a three-pointer that ended up sparking an 8-0 run.

There were other incidents where he'd leave his man on D for no reason, make freelance cuts on offense that hurt the spacing and otherwise were Green just didn't play smart, fundamental basketball. If he played smart throughout, the Spurs probably don't need him to catch fire from deep.

Overall, I think it was a good game for him. He got to learn on the job. Pop let him play through his mistakes. And then he got to experience what it feels like to come up clutch in the fourth quarter. I don't think he played great but this game should help him out going forward.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Is that Argentinian for something?

Argentinian? You mean Spanish?

[roycrikside]

Good post but I don't understand why you think the grades aren't "in context". Regarding Green, as I typed, his threes made the difference. Without them, the Spurs probably don't win (or at least it's a lot more difficult).

But part of the reason the Spurs were struggling was Green and his poor decisions. Off the top of my head, his poor decisions including:

-Playing Rubio for the shot instead of the pass to begin the game ... even though Rubio would struggle to score in an empty gym. The result was Rubio assisting on Minnesota's first four baskets. Without Rubio's assists, the T'Wolves would have struggled to score against the Spurs starting lineup.

-Picking up a second foul less than six minutes into the game by needlessly reaching in on Rubio near halfcourt. That's a bad decision because: 1) Ginobili was out so Green can't afford to get into foul trouble 2) Again, defending Rubio close makes no sense because he can't shoot.

-A fake backdoor cut that resulted in Splitter throwing the ball out of bounds. Green didn't acknowledge the mistake ... maybe because he doesn't know that's a mistake. Pop benched him, told him not to do that and sent him back in.

-On a one on four fast break, he pulls up for a long two-pointer. Air ball. The play there was to drive it all the way in or wait for his teammates. The Spurs had the lead and didn't need such a low percentage shot when they were trying to stop a T'Wolves rally. Parker yells at him. Pop benches him.

-Spurs up 7 early in the fourth. On an inbounds play, Green inexplicably doesn't defend JJ Barea in the corner. He just lets him stand there wide open. Barea gets the inbounds pass and drains a three-pointer that ended up sparking an 8-0 run.

There were other incidents where he'd leave his man on D for no reason, make freelance cuts on offense that hurt the spacing and otherwise were Green just didn't play smart, fundamental basketball. If he played smart throughout, the Spurs probably don't need him to catch fire from deep.

Overall, I think it was a good game for him. He got to learn on the job. Pop let him play through his mistakes. And then he got to experience what it feels like to come up clutch in the fourth quarter. I don't think he played great but this game should help him out going forward.

I dunno, LJ. First off, he already experienced being clutch in the fourth quarter last year in that regular season win at OKC where he went nuts.

But I'm starting to think Green is like a rich man's SG version of Bonner. He's not very athletic for his position, he's incredibly uncoordinated dribbling and driving to the basket, he can't even finish off his dunks half the time, his basketball IQ is terrible, especially on defense, and against OKC in the playoffs he choked.

I guess for the money he's making we should be happy with Green, but I don't trust him, not for a second. He's a tease and the second we take him playing well for granted he'll let us down.

[Paranoid Pop]

The thing is Pop and Tp seem to like him very much so it feels like its useless to even talk about it, he's a lock to start for a long time, we just have to hope for the best.

[ElNono]

Good post but I don't understand why you think the grades aren't "in context". Regarding Green, as I typed, his threes made the difference. Without them, the Spurs probably don't win (or at least it's a lot more difficult).

But part of the reason the Spurs were struggling was Green and his poor decisions. Off the top of my head, his poor decisions including:

-Playing Rubio for the shot instead of the pass to begin the game ... even though Rubio would struggle to score in an empty gym. The result was Rubio assisting on Minnesota's first four baskets. Without Rubio's assists, the T'Wolves would have struggled to score against the Spurs starting lineup.

-Picking up a second foul less than six minutes into the game by needlessly reaching in on Rubio near halfcourt. That's a bad decision because: 1) Ginobili was out so Green can't afford to get into foul trouble 2) Again, defending Rubio close makes no sense because he can't shoot.

-A fake backdoor cut that resulted in Splitter throwing the ball out of bounds. Green didn't acknowledge the mistake ... maybe because he doesn't know that's a mistake. Pop benched him, told him not to do that and sent him back in.

-On a one on four fast break, he pulls up for a long two-pointer. Air ball. The play there was to drive it all the way in or wait for his teammates. The Spurs had the lead and didn't need such a low percentage shot when they were trying to stop a T'Wolves rally. Parker yells at him. Pop benches him.

-Spurs up 7 early in the fourth. On an inbounds play, Green inexplicably doesn't defend JJ Barea in the corner. He just lets him stand there wide open. Barea gets the inbounds pass and drains a three-pointer that ended up sparking an 8-0 run.

There were other incidents where he'd leave his man on D for no reason, make freelance cuts on offense that hurt the spacing and otherwise were Green just didn't play smart, fundamental basketball. If he played smart throughout, the Spurs probably don't need him to catch fire from deep.

Overall, I think it was a good game for him. He got to learn on the job. Pop let him play through his mistakes. And then he got to experience what it feels like to come up clutch in the fourth quarter. I don't think he played great but this game should help him out going forward.

You're a hater, apologize to Danny Green right now...

[Spur|n|Austin]

This Bynes dude is already being used as part of rotation ?

Tim's out.

[Mel_13]

Didn't Bud play Mills more than Pop IIRC? Probably surpassed the master already tbh.

Nah, didn't happen.

Patty's playing time in three games under Bud:

DNP-CD
4:16
DNP-CD

And he wasn't the PG for those 4 minutes. He played off the ball next to Manu.

[Paranoid Pop]

Nah, didn't happen.

Patty's playing time in three games under Bud:

DNP-CD
4:16
DNP-CD

And he wasn't the PG for those 4 minutes. He played off the ball next to Manu.

Compared to what? Two one minutes games?

Also Manu is never the PG, he might be the playmaker but I'm not sure how you can't argue that at this point zzzZZZzzz.

[Bruno]

Yeah, it seems that De Colo is passing Mills in the rotation. Mills played more early in the season but in December/January/February, Mills has played 241 minutes while De Colo has played 341 minutes.

Right now, Pop PG depth chart seems to be:
Parker.........................Neal...........De Colo..Mills................................Joseph

[Mel_13]

Compared to what? Two one minutes games?

Also Manu is never the PG, he might be the playmaker but I'm not sure how you can't argue that at this point zzzZZZzzz.

Your agenda was, and is, showing.

[Blake]

Jack's air ball three from the corner in the 4th quarter was brutal.

I think Sean touched on his hand still being an issue.

If that's true, I don't need to see him shooting threes, especially in the 4th.

[BRs.Ganso]

Baynes was horrible on ofense

he lost the ball on post game to RIDNOUR... lol

[Slippy]

Like what i saw out of Kawai. Keeps on getting better on both ends. When he was out, I saw him as as the missing link on what the Spurs wanted to do on defense and now it's showing. Those "middle of the pack" rebounds of his were huge and on offense his confidense is building.

Grades and comments are spot on.

[PingPong]

I think Baynes did well against the satyr Pekovic. Even if he didn't in offense. This game was a more realistic demonstration from Bane and he can improve a lot, since he's raw. But he will be a reality in 2014-15, not right now. Until that, he will be the 4th or 5th big.

[TD 21]

Yeah, it seems that De Colo is passing Mills in the rotation. Mills played more early in the season but in December/January/February, Mills has played 241 minutes while De Colo has played 341 minutes.

Right now, Pop PG depth chart seems to be:
Parker.........................Neal...........De Colo..Mills................................Joseph

It's all situational. Injured Ginobili = De Colo ahead of Mills, in order to make up for some of the lost play making (and as an added bonus, to get Neal off the ball more). Healthy Ginobili = Mills ahead of De Colo, because he's a more adept spot up shooter. More of the latter could be coming, as Pop is clearly losing patience with Neal and has an aversion to a Ginobili/De Colo back court, which leaves Mills by default.

I understand why he didn't, but more and more it's looking like he should have went away from Neal earlier and at least given Mills and De Colo a 4-5 game stretch each as the primary backup. Instead, with the deadline two weeks away, they still don't have an answer and barring a trade, they're probably not going to for the remainder of the season.

[Strategic]

Yeah, it seems that De Colo is passing Mills in the rotation. Mills played more early in the season but in December/January/February, Mills has played 241 minutes while De Colo has played 341 minutes.

Right now, Pop PG depth chart seems to be:
Parker.........................Neal...........De Colo..Mills................................Joseph

This is the one position the Spurs don't have anyone to fill in big minutes if the starter goes down.