Quick Grades: Spurs vs. Bulls - March 6

[Obstructed_View]

In defense of Bonner it was SJax and Manu who had 3 quick turnovers that lead to the Bulls scoring. Maybe you should watch game closer.

While we're suggesting to other posters to watch more closely, it was Bonner's entrance into the game in the FIRST quarter where the Bulls went from nine points down to two points up.

[Arcadian]

I don't mind Tim dominating the ball. I think he's earned the right. I liked the assertiveness. He certainly made some nice passes too.

[TheyCallMePro]

Was anybody else surprised that Nando hardly played at all? I mean I've always thought he was very average and he simply lacked the unique skillsets that Neal, Cojo, and Mills bring to the table but still. He's French. This wont sit well with Parker when he comes back.

[TheGoldStandard]

Bonner was the only Spur last night with a negative +/- with -9

[TheGoldStandard]

Was anybody else surprised that Nando hardly played at all? I mean I've always thought he was very average and he simply lacked the unique skillsets that Neal, Cojo, and Mills bring to the table but still. He's French. This wont sit well with Parker when he comes back.

First season with the team, no real defined role and still trying to figure out his skill set. He shows flashes but who knows might make for good trade bait down the line.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

I would have gave patty a B tbh, he saged off his man way too much on D. He must have gave up at least 3 or 4 3s in the 2nd quarter alone.

[024]

i don't mind no more game thoughts. you should combine it with quick grades by making the grades a little longer.

[MR-Clutch]

Can someone post the video of kawhis dunks? There's only one on nba.com. How all 3 didn't make the top 10 is beyond me.

[MR-Clutch]

Nm found them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwuATcZEPDk

[Southwest Texas Fan]

Kawhi is dunking with his left hand effortless, it's so freaking nice to see it.

I haven't checked the scorebox, but Cojo looked good to me. He can bring the ball and initiate the offense without much problem, even with pressure on him. He has good ball-handling skills and his defense always looks good, against small/quick guards (like Nate or Teagye) or against bigger guards (Marco).

In my opinion he defended Belineli better than Green and Manu in the 2nd half.

His jump-shot still needs some work, but I like what I see so far. The time he spent with the Toros paid dividends and I am very happy about it.

I think Tiago struggles a bit to defend 4s that can shoot the mid-range. OKC explored Splitter a lot by setting pick & pop plays with Westbrook/Ibaka against Tiago and Chicago did the same. He doesn't look really comfortable guarding players outside the post. Depending on the matchup, I think Pop will have to pair Boris with Timmy. I think Boris played really well and did an outstanding job defending Boozer.

As for Ginobili, he committed some silly turnovers but he took over the game, so I can't complain. It was vintage Manu Ginobili. I hope Parker's injury is a blessing in disguise and I hope we can see this type of Manu in the playoffs.

Overall I liked the game. The only disgusting part was watching the lead disappearing with the Turd Towers in only a few minutes. Our opponets see Matt Bonner as a huge avenue to be explored. It seems funny to say it, but it looks like Bonner is a boost that our opponents need to play better. Don't wanna see his face in the playoffs 1 single second seriously.

I think Cojo may be our answer to Eric Bledsoe.

[EricB]

Spurs have Baynes, but Pop still playing Bonner/Blair. Hopefully Pop will not play the turd towers in the playoffs, 3 bigs rotation is good enough

Baynes is not a competent experienced player...

[EricB]

Where is this "experienced back up big" the spurs are passing on and not getting?


waiting for names...

[Kidd K]

I'm glad the Spurs finally pulled the trigger on using Corey Joseph as the backup PG. De Colo is not a real PG imo. Joseph looks so much better, it's not even funny. I realize all that D league time was a big plus for him though. . .so maybe they held him out for the perfect amount of time to blossom into what he is now.

Joseph's going to be a solid backup PG for years to come imo. Much better handles than De Colo, and seems more agile and less sloppy overall too.

[Captivus]

In defense of Bonner it was SJax and Manu who had 3 quick turnovers that lead to the Bulls scoring. Maybe you should watch game closer.

Thats what happens when your team has 1 less player.

[Pasta Batman]

I'm glad the Spurs finally pulled the trigger on using Corey Joseph as the backup PG. De Colo is not a real PG imo. Joseph looks so much better, it's not even funny. I realize all that D league time was a big plus for him though. . .so maybe they held him out for the perfect amount of time to blossom into what he is now.

Joseph's going to be a solid backup PG for years to come imo. Much better handles than De Colo, and seems more agile and less sloppy overall too.

Nando's biggest problem is time. CJ has 2 years on him, where they focused nearly exclusively on his game. Nando raw is better than CJ's raw, but Nando needs one more summer. Honestly, Austin would be a good place to get a jump start, but injuries have definitely put pressure on keeping a bigger roster. His shot has definitely improved since the beginning of the season, but a summer with Chip is mostly needed. That and working out with their strength coach chad forcier

[Aztecfan03]

Nando's biggest problem is time. CJ has 2 years on him, where they focused nearly exclusively on his game. Nando raw is better than CJ's raw, but Nando needs one more summer. Honestly, Austin would be a good place to get a jump start, but injuries have definitely put pressure on keeping a bigger roster. His shot has definitely improved since the beginning of the season, but a summer with Chip is mostly needed. That and working out with their strength coach chad forcier

You mean CJ has 1 year on him? This is only CJ's second season.

[mando6599]

Nando's biggest problem is time. CJ has 2 years on him, where they focused nearly exclusively on his game. Nando raw is better than CJ's raw, but Nando needs one more summer. Honestly, Austin would be a good place to get a jump start, but injuries have definitely put pressure on keeping a bigger roster. His shot has definitely improved since the beginning of the season, but a summer with Chip is mostly needed. That and working out with their strength coach chad forcier

This, I agree with. IIRC, many here were fervently questioning the drafting of CoJo two years ago. Development takes a while with younger guys, esp. considering most don't stay a full 4 years in college, a la Duncan. TP took a while to really develop, he wasn't a born star overnight. Give Nando a Summer league or two, and I feel he'll be at backup level by then, too. His instincts with the pass are incredible, from what I've seen this year. His shot does need work, but like Pasta said, working with Chip will help immensely.

[Obstructed_View]

I would have gave patty a B tbh, he saged off his man way too much on D. He must have gave up at least 3 or 4 3s in the 2nd quarter alone.

That's only the ones that went in. Robinson missed at least two that were wide open. It was shocking how many open threes the Bulls guards got on Mills.

[Obstructed_View]

Baynes is not a competent experienced player...

If you intend the implication that Blair and Bonner are both "competent, experienced players", then Baynes has shown that he's competent. How does he get experience sitting behind the bench in a suit? This is the same bull you said about Splitter too.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

That's only the ones that went in. Robinson missed at least two that were wide open. It was shocking how many open threes the Bulls guards got on Mills.

His Sagging was kobe level bads.

[Obstructed_View]

Nando's biggest problem is time. CJ has 2 years on him, where they focused nearly exclusively on his game. Nando raw is better than CJ's raw, but Nando needs one more summer. Honestly, Austin would be a good place to get a jump start, but injuries have definitely put pressure on keeping a bigger roster. His shot has definitely improved since the beginning of the season, but a summer with Chip is mostly needed. That and working out with their strength coach chad forcier

Do people just not know that Joseph was a McDonald's All American coming out of high school? The only reason talking heads criticized Joseph in the draft was because he came out too early and they said he wasn't "NBA ready". There wasn't anyone who didn't think he had NBA talent. Many of them said that he could be a good player for a team that picked him and took the time to develop him. Who does that sound like to you?

This is going to sound more critical than I intend it to, but Nando's 4 years older and has played pro basketball for several years. He's had exactly the same number of training camps as Joseph has with the Spurs. CJ played in Summer League while Nando was playing in the Olympics. Nando said he didn't come here to play in the D League, and Joseph has gone and played his ass off every time he's assigned. So far, Joseph's the better shooter, better defender, better rebounder, and has been less prone to turning the ball over.

[Obstructed_View]

His Sagging was kobe level bads.

I called it "Finleyesque" in another thread.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

I called it "Finleyesque" in another thread.

[BlackSilver]

Welcome back Swarming Defense. That 4th quarter was a beautiful sight with folks going all Edward Scissorhands on the Bulls. Bowen-esque tbh.

[Pasta Batman]

Do people just not know that Joseph was a McDonald's All American coming out of high school? The only reason talking heads criticized Joseph in the draft was because he came out too early and they said he wasn't "NBA ready". There wasn't anyone who didn't think he had NBA talent. Many of them said that he could be a good player for a team that picked him and took the time to develop him. Who does that sound like to you?

This is going to sound more critical than I intend it to, but Nando's 4 years older and has played pro basketball for several years. He's had exactly the same number of training camps as Joseph has with the Spurs. CJ played in Summer League while Nando was playing in the Olympics. Nando said he didn't come here to play in the D League, and Joseph has gone and played his ass off every time he's assigned. So far, Joseph's the better shooter, better defender, better rebounder, and has been less prone to turning the ball over.

You can be raw but have talent. There are all americans who don't make it into the NBA. CJ had one year of college ball to help refine his skills. The NBA and best foreign leagues are on another level though. I'm not saying that CJ was crap. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been drafted by the Spurs, but there is a reason why no one really expected him to get taken in the first round.

Nando has years on him, but he's played overseas. In some ways it gives advantages (solid compe ion), but his background is all overseas. It takes time to adapt. See Tiago Splitter for that. He was hampered by injures a lot and the lockout didn't help anyone, but it still takes time. Spurs system ain't that easy too.

There are a lot of things going against the Spurs players. There's a good reason why Spurs pick up smart players. They adapt quickest. As far as Nando, saying "i didn't come here to play in D-League", he sort of is right. It's actually a step back on compe ion compared to overseas. The big advantage, if he did play there would be coaching staff working with him closely. That's about the only thing. I'm sure he'd be fine with going if they asked him too. I doubt the Spurs are scared to send him, but health has been up and down. I'm more than sure he'll be busting his butt during the summer.

CJ should have the NBA/system advantage because he's lived and breathed it longer. But then both are slightly different players too. Spurs can use both of them for the future.