Belinelli is just as bad as Neal defensively..........

[KL2]

I have a hard time believing that, I think Marco can be an average defender in this system, wheras Neal had some of the worst defense I've ever seen. Not only was he a horrible defender but the dumb fouls he committed were out of control, the late charges, and 1's etc.

[Skull-1]

I have a hard time believing that, I think Marco can be an average defender in this system, wheras Neal had some of the worst defense I've ever seen. Not only was he a horrible defender but the dumb fouls he committed were out of control, the late charges, and 1's etc.

Good points.

[Hoops Czar]

Defense wins champ's but if one has no defense then some improvement in offense over an equally bad D player is better than nothing...

These players are mere images of one another right down to assists and turnovers. A healthy Neal is going to shoot a better % and play a smidge better defense. Belinelli might have a little more play making ability but regardless of how you slice it, they are one in the same. Belinelli isn't the upgrade people are making him out to be.

I guess you could say the only real major difference is that while Neal was a liability at SG, Belinelli will be one at both the SG and backup SF positions. Like I said, he'd better kick it up a couple of notches this year if he's going to make any kind of impact.

[Skull-1]

These players are mere images of one another right down to assists and turnovers. A healthy Neal is going to shoot a better % and play a smidge better defense. Belinelli might have a little more play making ability but regardless of how you slice it, they are one in the same. Belinelli isn't the upgrade people are making him out to be.

I guess you could say the only real major difference is that while Neal was a liability at SG, Belinelli will be one at both the SG and backup SF positions. Like I said, he'd better kick it up a couple of notches this year if he's going to make any kind of impact.

. As I feared. We are older. Didn't adjust. Didn't add anyone that improves us. Are going to suffer all season over Turnobili and his epic Game Six Rimjob.

[Holden_Caulfield]

come in handy

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

I saw a couple great contests against Dwayne Wades turn around jumpers on Friday night, they went in, but his hands were as close as they could get without fouling or falling on him. I don't think he's as bad as Neal defensively, no way, and also he's 2 inches taller and has a longer wing-span (I think).

[ace3g]

I kept laughing when the Heat commentators thought Neal was our back up SF.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

I kept laughing when the Heat commentators thought Neal was our back up SF.

I heard that as well. It's like he wanted to correct himself, but just kept talking.

[barakz21]

Neal IS the better, purer shooter. But BellyNelly's a lot more well rounded.

[Ice009]

These players are mere images of one another right down to assists and turnovers. A healthy Neal is going to shoot a better % and play a smidge better defense. Belinelli might have a little more play making ability but regardless of how you slice it, they are one in the same. Belinelli isn't the upgrade people are making him out to be.

I guess you could say the only real major difference is that while Neal was a liability at SG, Belinelli will be one at both the SG and backup SF positions. Like I said, he'd better kick it up a couple of notches this year if he's going to make any kind of impact.

I think he has got more defensive potential than Gary Neal because of his height. He can at least contest shots, instead of having players shoot over the top of him and not being able to do anything about it (like In Neal's case). He's also got much more potential on the offense side of the ball, as he has some play making ability. Gary Neal displayed almost zero play making ability. Having said all that, I agree that Marco will still have to prove it and take it up a notch on the court to reach that potential.

btw do you have something against Marco? It sounds like you do with nearly every post of yours.

[xmas1997]

These things don't happen over night. Beli has to learn the Spurs system. And that won't happen right away. To think that it will is very unrealistic. He played decent defense for the Bulls. Once he gets acclimated I'm pretty sure he will be a lot better than Neal was on defense, but it may take awhile to see this.
People have already explained his offensive advantages to Neal.

[Maddog]

I've always liked Beli when watching him play for other teams. that said, you tend not to notice a players fault as much.
A couple of thoughts-
And I guess it really comes down to a Neal comparisons
1. Offensively- neal is a better shooter, but Beli overall is a better offensive player
2. Defensively at this point is a wash, but beli can be a lot better. He seems a lot bigger than 6'5"
also younger than Neal

[Dex]

Beli has only been with the team a few weeks and is still learning the system. If no0b-Belinelli is on the same level as Neal was after years in the system...I'll take it.

[will_spurs]

I don't know Belinelli... just looking at the box score he had pretty much exactly the same numbers as Neal last year, except he needed a few more minutes to get them, and his scoring % aren't as good. Reading this thread it appears it's a wash, with maybe a bit more upside for Belinelli on the defensive end, but this will require quite a bit of time anyway and we might just never see it.

Right now Neal is being paid $500k more than Belinelli (both have a 2-year contract).

So... why did the FO replace a guy who knew the Spurs system by a similar player who doesn't just to save $500k per year over 2 years? Were they really so fed up with Neal that they thought they might as well sign his clone and hope for the best?

[barakz21]

Beli has only been with the team a few weeks and is still learning the system. If no0b-Belinelli is on the same level as Neal was after years in the system...I'll take it.

Thats the goods right there.

[barakz21]

Beli at least TRIES on defense and puts up a challenge. More often than not, Neal would just watch when his man blows by him and won't attempt to recover

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I don't know Belinelli... just looking at the box score he had pretty much exactly the same numbers as Neal last year, except he needed a few more minutes to get them, and his scoring % aren't as good. Reading this thread it appears it's a wash, with maybe a bit more upside for Belinelli on the defensive end, but this will require quite a bit of time anyway and we might just never see it.

Right now Neal is being paid $500k more than Belinelli (both have a 2-year contract).

So... why did the FO replace a guy who knew the Spurs system by a similar player who doesn't just to save $500k per year over 2 years? Were they really so fed up with Neal that they thought they might as well sign his clone and hope for the best?

Beli is a much better all around player than Neal. Getting him to sign for less than what Neal got was a very shrewd move. His shooting percentages will improve in the Spurs system.

[xmas1997]

Beli is a much better all around player than Neal. Getting him to sign for less than what Neal got was a very shrewd move. His shooting percentages will improve in the Spurs system.

As will his defense.

[look_at_g_shred]

Beli is a much better all around player than Neal. Getting him to sign for less than what Neal got was a very shrewd move. His shooting percentages will improve in the Spurs system.

Metal brethren?

[Dex]

Barry looked lost when he got here, too.

[xmas1997]

Barry looked lost when he got here, too.

So did Horry, Finley, even Timmy looked that way at first. It just takes time to adjust to a new system, and especially one as complicated as the Spurs is.
All the new coaching staff will have to adjust too.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Metal brethren?

Yep.

[look_at_g_shred]

Yep.

yeah lol

[Raven]

delusional tbh

[Ice009]

I don't know Belinelli... just looking at the box score he had pretty much exactly the same numbers as Neal last year, except he needed a few more minutes to get them, and his scoring % aren't as good. Reading this thread it appears it's a wash, with maybe a bit more upside for Belinelli on the defensive end, but this will require quite a bit of time anyway and we might just never see it.

Right now Neal is being paid $500k more than Belinelli (both have a 2-year contract).

So... why did the FO replace a guy who knew the Spurs system by a similar player who doesn't just to save $500k per year over 2 years? Were they really so fed up with Neal that they thought they might as well sign his clone and hope for the best?

Belinelli has more potential than Neal to be a better all around player. Why is it so hard for people around here to understand that?