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I'd say he's already a better all around player with the potential to be much more given good minutes in the Spurs system, as long as he can stay out of Pops doghouse.
Calling Beli a clone of Neal proves that you haven't seen Beli play. He actually looks to work within the offense rather than just jack up shots all night. Neal can get away with that to a degree due to his crazy high shooting % but Beli will actually make the team better rather than just hitting shots now and then.
I'd say he's already a better all around player with the potential to be much more given good minutes in the Spurs system, as long as he can stay out of Pops doghouse.
signing Beli over Neal was one of the few decisions that I really liked this offseason. I can't wait to see him grow in this system.
I hope you guys are right...
I have nothing against Belinelli and wish him all the best. My problem is the way people are perceiving him. We're talking about a player who's played for 5 different teams in 7 years. A guy that the offensively challenged Bulls didn't even want back for the minimum. It's real easy to say Belinelli's better because he's here now and Neal's gone but actual data doesn't support that claim.
His saving grace at this point is his ability to be that second playmaker the Spurs desperately need with the second unit and the ability to get into the restricted area, and draw fouls. It remains to be seen if he can do this on a consistent basis. If he continues to settle for long jumpers like he has throughout most of the pre-season, then Belinelli will never reach his full potential in a Spurs uniform. I would rather see him drive and dish on every possession 10 times out of 10 times rather than watch him shoot the Spurs out of games with his long range, man in his face, off balance three point prayers. They already have Ginobili for that.
Last edited by Hoops Czar; 10-21-2013 at 03:16 PM.
I used to worry Parker and his heroball mentality would rub off on Ginobili. Now I have to fear Manu will rub off on Belinelli? Great.
For real? Wow I didn't know that until just now. But to be fair, I didn't even know Timmy existed until the 01 season. Obviously, that's when I became a TD and Spurs can lol
The man's got a point. That was actually my initial thought when I heard about he signing. Was concerned why he played on 5 teams in 7 years. Everyone knows he's good offensively, and he doesn't look terrible character wise, but you gotta wonder..
It took a while for Timmy and David to learn the best way to play together as the Twin Towers, it was an adjustment not only for Tim, but for David too, yet before long they were tearing up the league.
I think Beli is a step ahead on the Spurs versus his previous teams, Pop has learned from Manu to let players like this make their mistakes. Beli knows this and should acclimate here faster than on his old teams.
As we have all see, the Spurs' system make it possible for players to play to their full potential. To me, 5 teams in 7 years doesn't mean much. We've seen players come through here, that have been on the butt end of a teams rotation, and shine. I don't see why that can't be possible with Marco.
It was possible for Diaw and Green to name two current Spurs.
Until Nelli does something like win us a Finals game (like Neal did in game 3,cause that sh*t was going sideways till Neal started shooting lights out,Green did most of his damage after Neal broke it wide open) or the buzzer beater that tied game 5 vs the Grizz in '11 he aint nobody yet sorry.
We lost a big time shooter and I hope Belli can live up to it but I got a feelin' we're gonna miss Gary's quick release and no fear
Let me know the next time Belinelli loses Mike Miller (who is missing a shoe) for a big 3 or doesn't try to contest a Mario Chalmers buzzer beater to end 3rd quarter in game 7 of the Finals which instead of being up 2 put us down 1...
Neal it was scoring or bust when he was in the game....Belinelli even on bad shooting nights you won't be like (for the most part) "why is he still on the floor" because he can make an impact other ways besides scoring (assists, rebound, etc).
This is true. People want to compare Neal at the need of last year to Belli. If you look back to Neal at the beginning of two years ago, Gary was his own special brand of awful.
Neal had balls of brass no doubt but his bballiq and awareness is pretty bad. Mills too for what thats worth.
Belinelli averaged 2 assists and 2 rebounds per game in 25 minutes last year.
Neal averaged 2 assists and 2 rebounds per game in 21 minutes last year.
Belinelli's going to have to play A LOT better than he played AT ANY POINT in his career to really be better than Neal. It could happen. Odds say it won't.
If Belinelli can defend a guy with one shoe on he's already better than Neal.
............
ace3g with the goods, tbh. Beli is a significant upgrade over Neal. Neal was a decent scorer but he almost always felt out of sync with the offense taking bad shots and overall bad decisions with the ball. Neal was also a crap defender with basement level awareness. Addition by subtraction, tbh.
I don't think you can include Tim in that list. For starters, the system was still developing as Pop hadn't even coached a full season yet. Pop's first full season was Tim's rookie season, and Tim became the go to guy halfway through his rookie season. He was that good, and it didn't take Tim long at all. David, very graciously, stepped aside when he saw how good Tim was. The system was built around David and Tim as they learned to play together. Tim didn't walk into an already established system that he had to learn. He was a part of making the system what it is today.
Man, the Spurs had a few chances, yet made some silly mistakes that turned into great fortune for the Heat. I actually forgot about Neal leaving a shoeless Miller open for that three. I guess I have blocked out most of the finals apart from the end of game 6. Some of Neal's lapses/stupidity cost us big time. I was so mad when he left Miller open for that three and also for not contesting that Chalmers shot. Before Chalmers hit that shot, I was yelling that we cannot let them hit a bull shot here, and what do you know, Gary Neal the bed again and allowed him to get a good look off. Surely, Belinelli won't make stupid mistakes like that?
Umm,yeah but the REAL stats don't back up any of what you say..sorry
per NBA.com career avg's
NEAL 9.7ppg,2.2 rbds,1.7 assts
NELLI 9ppg,1.8 rbds,1.5 assts
Neal also has better FT and 3pt percentage and FG percentages so exactly in what aspect of the game statistically is Nelli an upgrade please?!?
It's fine to be emo about it but it doesn't make it true
Oh and the list of players far more talented than Neal and also burned by Mike Miller is well.... he's Mike Miller and he was on the Heat for a reason
you missed the point of about 20 posts here.....(reading would help)
Beli will be an upgrade, because even as an average defender that he is, he will be much less of a liability than Neal was.
and you also ignored the fact that we are not talking about prime Mike Miller. we are talking about rusty Mike Miller on one shoe. that's like losing a stock car race against a 1980 Buick on a flat tire.
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