Nando de say it aint so

[TrainOfThought5]

Spurs motion offense is not fitting for Decolo to play pg, maybe sg but not pg....

This.

[Chinook]

So wait, according to you, the players are calling the shots here? lmfao

In a way, yes. If a player really doesn't want to be sent to the d-league, the team won't send them there. There's no upside to it. De Colo should have spent the whole year in Austin, or at least the parts when he didn't get playing time. But he clearly has too high of an opinion of himself to do that. If Joseph could see that he wasn't going to get minutes with the big club, you don't think Pop did as well?

He most likely sat them both down and explained what role he expected each one to play. As timvp said, he treats his players like men. Joseph wanted to do whatever he could to get better, while De Colo didn't. That difference goes a long way.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Although he shouldn't be saying all this while his teams up 2-0 in the WCF I respect that he cares that much and is frustrated I see where hes coming from Nando played 72 games this season while Cj played 28 and all of a sudden they tell Nando that hes going to be inactive and CJ is the backup pg. Nando says hes going to get better and work on his game and I think he will. Nando is a better basketball player than CJ tbh, Cj is just better for the Spurs system as of now. I love CJ hustle toughness that he brings so Pop made the right decision imo but I see where Nando is coming from.

[Chinook]

Really???

Jack was waived because and I quote Woj " Spurs believed that Jackson had started to have a negative impact on the team's younger players". That's a gazillion worst than De Colo saying to a newspaper than he isn't fine with not playing.

Jack was hurting the team. AFAIK, NDC isn't at all.

And men communicates. Spurs had a full week off between the Lakers and the Warriors series. It's not crazy to think that Pop should have taken a minute to say to De Colo: "I want to go with more experienced NBA players so you will be in a suit".

De Colo seems like a honest person (to a fault in this case) so I assume he meant what he said. But I imagine Pop did talk to De Colo to some extent. Someone on in the organization would at least tell him, especially if it was something as simple as, "Rookies don't play in the post-season." Even Udrih figured that out.

It could be a bigger issue with De Colo. There are real holes in his game that aren't covered up by his good qualities. That he's made so little progress in fixing those this season suggests there could be quite a large disconnect between him and the coaching staff.

[colargol]

As already said by bruno the traduction is awful.
i read it first in french and didn't feel NDC complaining, he was more upset and frustrated, but as any player with no playing time.
He never asked for anything
And as you can read, my french is, hopefully, better than my english

[Bruno]

De Colo seems like a honest person (to a fault in this case) so I assume he meant what he said. But I imagine Pop did talk to De Colo to some extent.

Well, you can imagine what you want but I will stick with Nando not being a liar and/or not being stupid. It happened like he is saying that is to say an assistant coach just told him he would wear a suit after the shoot-around and Pop didn't talked to him to "some extent".

De Colo is obviously wrong to whine to a journalist in the middle of the playoffs but I'm saying that Pop has also been wrong to behave like that.

It could be a bigger issue with De Colo. There are real holes in his game that aren't covered up by his good qualities. That he's made so little progress in fixing those this season suggests there could be quite a large disconnect between him and the coaching staff.

That's your view and I just disagree. De Colo has fixed some of his issues like turnovers and defense through the year.
Saying that, De Colo being put on the inactive list could also be a sign that Pop don't think he can be a worthwhile NBA player in the future. Pop is clearly wary of playing rookies in the playoffs but De Colo being that far in the depth chart isn't a good sign for his future with Spurs.

[crc21209]

I don't see what he's whining about, Joseph clearly outplayed him during the end of the regular season. Plus, he's a rookie. Get over it, sit on the bench and cheer for your teammates...

[Chinook]

Well, you can imagine what you want but I will stick with Nando not being a liar and/or not being stupid. It happened like he is saying that is to say an assistant coach just told him he would wear a suit after the shoot-around and Pop didn't talked to him to "some extent".

De Colo is obviously wrong to whine to a journalist in the middle of the playoffs but I'm saying that Pop has also been wrong to behave like that.

And I can understand that. But it's not like Pop is a costumer-service agent. There're only 15 players on the team, and there's supposedly always someone around to talk to. It's just weird that Pop would be playing keep-away with the truth. Pop has been brutally honest with players with both higher and lower standing than De Colo in the past. He's got a pretty clear track record. While De Colo may have a record of being honest and smart, he also has one of not really understanding the NBA in general and the Spurs' front office in particular. If what you think is true about rookies, it should be pretty obvious to him as well. Anyone on the team could have told him that if he's really been trying to figure it out. I'm sure Parker would have told him.

That's your view and I just disagree. De Colo has fixed some of his issues like turnovers and defense through the year.
Saying that, De Colo being put on the inactive list could also be a sign that Pop don't think he can be a worthwhile NBA player in the future. Pop is clearly wary of playing rookies in the playoffs but De Colo being that far in the depth chart isn't a good sign for his future with Spurs

Turnovers and defense aren't necessarily what I am as concerned about. It's really his lack of aggression. Joseph is a pest on defense (as opposed to just being solid) while having a good mid-range game, nice finishing ability and a decent three-point shot. I don't think De Colo is a bad player, but he doesn't bring anything to the team that it needs right now.

I don't think Pop has given up on De Colo (at least due to anything on the court). I think De Colo is Ginobili insurance more than a rotation player, just as Baynes is Splitter insurance. I think that Pop just doesn't see a need for his role with everyone healthy. I think if Ginobili were hurt, De Colo would jump ahead of Mills on the depth chart, just as Baynes jumped Blair.

[kaji157]

He lost his spot for two reasons.
1. He was playing awfull by the end of march, the second unit was awfull and he was the PG of that unit.
2. Cory Joseph turned into a very good defensive backup and Ginobili regained his playmaking skills. So DeColo was not needed anymore to create, and he doesn´t defend as wel as Cory nor creates better than Manu.

He better shuts up or goes back to france, i don´t care.

[mudyez]

I still hope we will keep him...Ship Neals ass and get rid of T-Mac...that should open up some minutes for Nando and Patty.

CoJo > Patty > Nando > T-Mac > Neal

[Bruno]

It's just weird that Pop would be playing keep-away with the truth. Pop has been brutally honest with players with both higher and lower standing than De Colo in the past. He's got a pretty clear track record.

I think Pop just thought it wasn't necessary to explain De Colo while he was inactive. Part of the coaching job is knowing your personal. De Colo has an history of complaining when he is in the doghouse whether it is with the FNT or when he was in Spain. He is a also a rookie from a foreign country so you can't expect him to go directly ask Pop why he isn't playing. Knowing that, Pop should have adjust the way he communicates with his players and explain De Colo his choice.

At the end, I really don't think it's a big deal. As colargol said, De Colo is just disappointed and frustrating by not playing. This story will be solved by a single talk with Pop where Pop will say to De Colo:
- STFU, we don't want you to talk like that to the medias especially in the middle of the playoffs.
- why he is inactive for these playoffs.
- that they will have an extended talk at the end of the season during his exit interview about his future with Spurs and what kind of role he would have next season.

[pad300]

Charlie Sheen's a bitter, drunk old man, who doesn't understand the roles on the team...

At the PG spot, we go as far as Parker takes us - no else on the team has the ability to carry us if he goes down. So what's the backup PG for? To let Tony take a breather. So the backup PG's job is to hold the fort and not lose the game. This is why Cojo is the backup PG - he's the best defender among the backup PG's, and he makes relatively few turnovers (as tesseractive posted: http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/show...=1#post6592991 ). He's also been decent to good offensively during the run so far.

Manu and Green are of course better SG's.

Kawhi's a better SF, (as is Manu - which is why Manu's getting some minutes at 3).

Anyone else on the playoff roster needs to bring a special skill of value. T-Mac has size at the 3 - he can defend a big 3/small 4 much more effectively (than the rest of our scrubs). Mills and Neal are both high volume scorers who can rescue a game going bad if they are hot. While De Colo is a better overall player than Mills or Neal, but he is simply not in their league when it comes to getting hot and pouring in points... So De Colo wears a suit and should practice his shooting...and hope for a trade if he wants a lot of PT.

[ducks]

maybe pop thought tp would explain to him he is a rookie

[KL2]

maybe pop thought tp would explain to him he is a rookie

All the blame goes on TP for not making his countryman a better player, TP is a terrible leader. It's too bad Nando isn't from Argentina, cause then he'd be able to learn from Manu, the true leader of the Spurs.

[pgardn]

D

With limited TO's on offense.

Stronger and much faster.

Nando has a long way to go if he does not realize this.

[milkyway21]

If the Spurs can advance to NBA finals (I don't know if Neal can be a factor in that), if not, bring Bertans in the summer work him out, if he can fit in the system, keep De Colo over Neal.

[Whisky Dog]

The way Neal has looked this season I'm thinking he doesn't land a big contract at all. lle money or a bit more but he's such a liability on defense and his hit has looked terrible for stretches during the season and all playoffs

[freetiago]

Nando isnt spur material
just another french got

refused to go to the d-league and now complains when hes been trash all season
cant believe they wasted all that money on his signing

[SpursIndonesia]

Nando doesn't deserve minutes in front of CoJo who has proven his worth as a playoff performer, but he certainly has some case against Gary Neal who doesn't play defense, with shaky ball handling, and ty outside shooting. Coach Pop plays Neal simply out of reputation, not really on merit.

[Obstructed_View]

Ya blabbed, Nando. Ya blabbed about Mars.


Seriously: bye, Nando.

[HarlemHeat37]

None of the backup guards on the team are impressive, tbh, they all have severe flaws and a low ceiling..

Joseph has been better than expected in the playoffs, so I don't have a problem with Pop's choice..

I understand why De Colo would be upset, though..not even due to Joseph's PT advantage over him, but rather Neal's, tbh..if I was an NBA player and I had to watch Gary Neal play ahead of me, I'd immediately request a trade, tbh..I can only imagine how McGrady feels..

[Obstructed_View]

Beno Udrih had a thousand times more talent than Nando De Colo and couldn't make it as a Spur with an en led at ude. Guys who don't try hard and think something is owed to them don't win, and certainly don't stick in San Antonio. Beno's probably content putting up 10 and 6 for a 20-win team. Nando will be there soon enough.

[SenorSpur]

It's very early, but it would appear to me that Joseph will rank ahead of Nando because of his emerging overall development and his defensive prowess. That said, I just don't think there is a place for him in an already-crowded backcourt. I believe Nando best value to the Spurs would be in the way of offseason trade fodder, perhaps as a chip to swap places with another team in the draft.

[100%duncan]

He's a ing scrub.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Get the outta here De Colo. Everyone wanted you to take command and own your role on the team, but you played scared 55% of the time so sit your ass down on the bench and shut the up.