Gary Neal at backup PG spells disaster over the long haul. He is a small SG, not a ballhandling PG. If you're not going to have a true PG as backup, then I'd rather have Manu there than GNeal. Sheesh, I sure hope CoJo gets some solid PT before TP comes back. We have plenty of others to provide "O". Perhaps there will be times in the playoffs CoJo and GNeal can play together, but the team is better off with CoJo and his "D" than GNeal's "O".Pretty obvious to me that, barring injury, Gary is the backup PG on this team. Don't think theres anything Cory can do about it outside of playing like a superstar for the next couple of weeks.
If Boris Diaw knocks down his open 3's, our offense is suddenly really dangerous.. The problem is he's a streaky 3-point shooter, so if his first attempt doesn't go in, he usually won't shoot it again. The defense then plays off of him and clogs the lanes. He needs to knock down that shot. It's huge for us.
4-4 from 3? A
Agreed, CoJo can provide defense vs Westbrick/Bledsoe/Curry, he should be the backup PG...
I still believe Mills will get some minutes at backup PG during the playoffs to cut into Neal's minutes. De Colo will get garbage time and Joseph will be our cheerleader.
Come on, man. Green's second-half defense was great. I don't know if he allowed a bucket in the fourth outside of Westbrook's uncontested fast-break near the end of the game. Green was the third-leading scorer, the second-leading assist-disher, tied for first in steals (and should have had five) in addition to shooting 67 percent. It's a legitimate argument that he was the second-best player on the Spurs tonight.
I thought OKC playing Durant at the 4 would be an issue and prevent us from playing Duncan/Splitter, but Pop was able to let Splitter shadow their worst offensive player (in the stretch I remember, Fisher) and leave Kawhi on KD. If Splitter or help defenders can essentially prevent his man from getting off open threes, it's such an advantage on the other end of the floor where Durant is forced to body up TD/Tiago.
Now when it comes to Miami, Lebron's just a different animal playing at the 4. But we can worry about that when the time comes.
AND
guess what play is #1 on Sportcenters Top 10
I don't have a problem with PMills getting some backup PG minutes. I think it hurt them that the all wise and powerfull Oz (i.e., Pop) didn't give him minutes in last years playoffs, esp after those last two super regular games he had at the end of last year. But if CoJo continues to perform well while TP is out, I see Pop trusting him enough to give him the backup PG spot. Like Burnodf said, he can provide the "D" vs. other teams' backup PGs.
It is so damn beautiful to watch! I ing love this kid
Theres something to be said about staying out of the way of a good thing and thats what Duncan did, and should be considered when grading him.
Thanks for the grades.
I don't know if Neal or Mills should be playing point guard, especially when Joseph is playing pretty solid ball. OKC had a good first quarter but over all he played quality minutes, especially in the 4th quarter. Give him a few more games and we will know for sure, but CJ seems to be the most complete, and weird as is sounds, experienced point guard.
We are a bigger team that's why we have to keep pounding to athletic teams like OKC instead of overly looking for open 3's. Baynes >>> Blair to guard the paint and hurt people attempting layups. Let them think twice. Also making them guard Kawhi and make him attack the rim every time. Great win.
2-0 against OKC when Kawhi plays
Pop: "If you don't play good defense, you're nothing in this league."
Translation: I made a mistake in the last couple seasons
Critical Juncture in the Game: Westbrook's re ed 42 foot chuck late in the 3rd, with 18 on the shot clock, & when they had the lead cut to 3...
how dare Splitter make a grave mistake like this
i could see why Pop was so angry and didnt play him
putting Neal on westbrook was a key to the game as it caused him to go hero thinking he had an easy matchup
i like Leonards all around game and wanted him being a midrange shooter the day they drafted him
but with Parker he will camp in the corners while Parker has the ball
dont see pop giving him any plays or taking the ball out of his hands
so he needs to start knocking down his 3s
missed 2 wide open ones at the end of the game that Green had to be switched in his position for
Overrated? He's just awful. My jaw dropped when I saw how passive he was on Tiago's first post-up. Ibaka's like Camby...just comes out of nowhere for a spectacular help defense block. His block of Tiago's layup in the pick and roll later was real nice. His 1 on 1 pathetic D was a revelation.
Yup...and you can be damn sure Pop will exploit that to the fullest if we meet OKC in the playoffs.
I knew once he was "healed" Neal would be back in the rotation stinking it up at the PG spot. He's so predictable, can't dribble and picks up the ball way to quickly and gets trapped easily. What a liability in the playoffs if he's at the PG spot instead of coming off the bench for a few bubble screen 3s. The guys just a better version of Roger Mason Jr.
Kawhi is showing finishing capabilities in the open court, penetration abilities, a crossover to be reckoned with, defends the opposing team's best wing, it's incredible.
I like the "medium 3" nickname.
His pull up jumper has been impressive to say the least. He is no longer a spot up shooter in the corner. He gonna be a Deng (from the Bulls) but better if everything goes right.
Once you lower that shoulder, and lean into him he can't do a thing. Collison is the best defender (and big man) on that team IMO.
I think there was a stretch in the 2nd quarter where Splitter was also floating around "guarding" Fisher. I noticed a couple of possessions late where the defense was just ignoring him completely. Man, he was useless out there.
But to your point of Pop not playing small when Brooks puts KD at the 4, that was my biggest takeaway from this game. And I sure as hope it continues if we get to the WCF.
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