Gary Neal in the doghouse?

[DMC]

Neal can't handle the ball. The best he can do handling the ball is to dribble off screens (poorly) and shoot a contested jump shot, which to his credit he can make when he's on.

But, he rarely gets deep, clean penetration to the rim and he rarely sets up teammates for a clean, open look. He can get is own (contested) shot off, and he can penetrate somewhat and throw up that little floater shot.

Every once in a blue moon he'll set someone up for a shot, but it's rare.

Nando has the wits about him to set people up cleanly, but he suffers from being too meager on offense himself. I'm sure Pop has told Nando to look more for his shot when he's wide open (to keep the defense honest), and he's delivered (in the last few games at least).

I still like Gary as an off the ball role player if Danny Green, for example, is struggling from the field on any given night, but Gary Neal does not deserve back up point guard duties on this team. He's an awful back up P.G. unless he gets hot and makes 45-50% of his contested jumpers dribbling off picks/screens.

There was that one time.

[hater]

that wasn't clean at all from what I heard

[skulls138]

He's a shooting guard not a point guard. His effectiveness went down hill as soon as he changed positions. A point guard has to work alot harder, both mentally and physically and it took its toll on his game I think. I would love it if they found room for him and he found his touch again, right during the playoffs.

[jyra]

I hope that will be the case going forward.

[therealtruth]

It makes sense. We can't afford to have Neal leave someone like Derek Fisher open in an important playoff game. CJ plays defense and Nando at least can use his length.

[timtonymanu]

Hopefully this is legit. CoJo needs to be with the team now instead of at Austin.

[Bruno]

Baynes and Neal are inactive for the Jazz game.

Neal is in the doghouse.

[Obstructed_View]

So I wonder what all this is going to accomplish. Pop's just going to pout for a few more games until he relents and puts Neal into the game at some point? That man's ability to hold a grudge is legendary. I hope it doesn't cost the team, as Neal does have value.

[benstanfield]

Of course the game he holds Neal out we shoot like 39% from the field in the first half and score what, 38 points? The only role Gary Neal is suited to play in the NBA is that of instant hot shooting when the team needs offense.

[Bruno]

Post ASG, Neal FG% is .295.

While something likely happened on the sidelines in the Cavs game, Pop could just think that Neal, with his injuries, just isn't good enough to help Spurs. Some time off might help him to get healthier and turn back into a player that brings something positive on the court.

And if Spurs need some instance offense, Mills is a good option.

[Obstructed_View]

Neal looked the most like Neal a couple of games ago. Was it the same one where he was benched or the game before?

[saxman]

Good point regarding Mills being a good option to replace Neal...in the regular season. However, having Neal fully healthy would be a better option in the playoffs.

[romsho]

Of course the game he holds Neal out we shoot like 39% from the field in the first half and score what, 38 points? The only role Gary Neal is suited to play in the NBA is that of instant hot shooting when the team needs offense.

Right. While not a regular rotation player because of defense and inability to play the point, you might want that guy on the bench in case of a tough shooting night. Pop needs to decide between De Colo or Joseph at backup point...whoever he doesn't choose should be inactive. Not Gary Neal.

[UZER]

As predicted, Pop turned another good shooting 2 guard (and this one was clutch) into nothing but a pine riding scrub by insisting on playing out of position at back up point.

[Gagnrath]

As predicted, Pop turned another good shooting 2 guard (and this one was clutch) into nothing but a pine riding scrub by insisting on playing out of position at back up point.

I don't think so, I think that Neal is right about 85% right physically when it comes to his movement due to the plantar fasciitis. The problem is Neal is already borderline in the NBA physically when he is healthy. He's short for his position, and sorta slow. Now put him out of position against faster players, slightly hobbled and its just all sorts of bad news. Then add in pain throwing off shooting mechanics just a bit and its just all bad news for the guy.

I never played nor was around high level basketball, but I can tell you from directly experiencing fairly high level soccer, and being around pro-snowboarding that the difference between a third tier guy (which Neal is) and a guy watching in street clothes isn't that much, and that the same third tier guy with bit of an injury that a star could play through and still be effective isn't going to be compe ive. You also see it a lot in length of careers loosing a half a step when you are a half a step ahead of the other guys isn't bad, when you are already half a step behind and trying to get by on anticipation, grit and determination then you can't keep up.

[Bruno]

Neal played something like 80% of his minutes at the SG spot which is way more than last year. But, yeah, it's playing PG that screw him and it has nothing to do with his injuries...

That the same BS than for Mason who started to sucked 1 month before starting playing PG and whose has been bad since that with other teams. But, yeah, he started to suck because he knew he would play PG in the future and he has continued to suck with other teams because he is traumatized...

Neal sucks because he is injured. Mason sucked because he was a marginal player. Repeating the same BS that Pop broke them by playing them PG won't make it true.

Edit: after looking, it's 76.4% of his minutes at SG for Neal this season.

[Bruno]

Neal looked the most like Neal a couple of games ago. Was it the same one where he was benched or the game before?

It was the game before he got benched. The game where he got benched, he played 2 minutes, didn't take a shot and made 2 defensive mistakes.

[Mel_13]

Neal played something like 80% of his minutes at the SG spot which is way more than last year. But, yeah, it's playing PG that screw him and it has nothing to do with his injuries...

That the same BS than for Mason who started to sucked 1 month before starting playing PG and whose has been bad since that with other teams. But, yeah, he started to suck because he knew he would play PG in the future and he has continued to suck with other teams because he is traumatized...

Neal sucks because he is injured. Mason sucked because he was a marginal player. Repeating the same BS that Pop broke them by playing them PG won't make it true.

Edit: after looking, it's 76.4% of his minutes at SG for Neal this season.

People are attached to their agendas.

[callo1]

Leave Neal off the playoff roster and put Baynes on.

Not hating on Neal, but he isn't healthy and the Spurs need backup size, especially if they are going to face the Lakers in the first round. If Timmy or Tiago are gone for a game or two, the Spurs are done the way they sit now.

[callo1]

On second thought, leave Bonner off of the playoff roster since he pulls a Houdini after March anyway.

[will_spurs]

Neal is just a roleplayer, which means that if he isn't at 100% physically and at the top of his game in terms of confidence, focus and execution, he's just a fringe NBA player. And fringe NBA players usually don't get a lot of PT for contenders. As I've been saying before, I'm actually happy he's finally in the doghouse. It's better for the Spurs present, and for the Spurs future too.

[Mel_13]

Leave Neal off the playoff roster and put Baynes on.

Not hating on Neal, but he isn't healthy and the Spurs need backup size, especially if they are going to face the Lakers in the first round. If Timmy or Tiago are gone for a game or two, the Spurs are done the way they sit now.

The active roster can be adjusted game by game.

[therealtruth]

Neal is just a roleplayer, which means that if he isn't at 100% physically and at the top of his game in terms of confidence, focus and execution, he's just a fringe NBA player. And fringe NBA players usually don't get a lot of PT for contenders. As I've been saying before, I'm actually happy he's finally in the doghouse. It's better for the Spurs present, and for the Spurs future too.

I agree. He and Bonner were our weakest links defensively against OKC in the WCF. If those guys don't play their role players will have a much tougher time scoring.

[The Whopper]

I don't think so, I think that Neal is right about 85% right physically when it comes to his movement due to the plantar fasciitis. The problem is Neal is already borderline in the NBA physically when he is healthy. He's short for his position, and sorta slow. Now put him out of position against faster players, slightly hobbled and its just all sorts of bad news. Then add in pain throwing off shooting mechanics just a bit and its just all bad news for the guy.

I never played nor was around high level basketball, but I can tell you from directly experiencing fairly high level soccer, and being around pro-snowboarding that the difference between a third tier guy (which Neal is) and a guy watching in street clothes isn't that much, and that the same third tier guy with bit of an injury that a star could play through and still be effective isn't going to be compe ive. You also see it a lot in length of careers loosing a half a step when you are a half a step ahead of the other guys isn't bad, when you are already half a step behind and trying to get by on anticipation, grit and determination then you can't keep up.

these are my thoughts exactly. He's out of position, hurt, and limited to begin with. I speculate after Pop went off on him they agreed to sit him until hopefully he gets healthier and can play back in position in spots. Poor man's Craig Hodges.

[pikkiwoki]

Nice report, romsho.

I've looked back at the Cavs game and pictures confirmed that Neal got an earful from Pop. Neal got subbed by De Colo and sat at the end of the bench. Pop got there and start talking to him.

The play that put Neal on the bench was him going under a screen against Ellington who made a 3 pointer. I guess to warrant the benching, there were strict consigns of not going under a screen against Ellington. What also didn't help Neal was that he made a big defensive mistake earlier by letting Ellington cut to the basket. It's also possible that Pop didn't like Neal at ude or what he said after being benched.

Against GSW, Neal wasn't even on the 13 players active roster. Either it was a sanction or Pop wants to give Neal some time off to see if he can get healthier. It's possible Pop came to the conclusion that an hobbled Neal is quite useless.

It looked like when Pop was in Neal's face, Pop was pointing to the left defensive corner. Seems like he was mad about Neal's matador defense on Luke Walton, swiping at Walton as he drove by instead of moving his feet. Walton got in the paint and kicked out to Ellington for a three.