Quick Thoughts - 2015 Summer League Game 6 (Spurs vs. Nets)

[picnroll]

If McCallum is as good a player as Simmons appears to be this will be a uva well rounded, deep team.

[AFBlue]

In spite of not having a highlight reel dunk (alley oop from KA wasn't bad though), I think this was Simmons' best all-around game. He brought the same effort and intensity as previous games, but he showed pretty much all his bag of tricks on offense. He continues to hit the spot-up 3, a must for Spurs role players, but his drive-and-finish ability went to another level. I saw a lefty drive, scoop and layup with English that was Manu-esque...only Simmons is a righty. I saw a euro-step in traffic with an easy finish at the rim. He had multiple straight-line drives to the right where he used his athleticism and strength to finish or draw contact. He bullied Hollins' kid, who actually played pretty well when Simmons was out, all night long on both ends. And that doesn't consider his crisp passing, which he flashed multiple times.

I know I already threw out Manu in this post as a comp, but his athleticism toggling between smooth and explosive while remaining in-control really reminds me of Kawhi. He's obviously not as skilled as either, but that's some exciting growth potential. If not for KA's emergence in the last few games, there's no doubt this place would be going bananas over Simmons.

[tatteredprince]

WE ARE GONNA ROCK AND ROLL

next season

yes!!!!

[tatteredprince]

we are the deepest team in the last 3 years, in my humble, humbler and humblest opinion

[Bruno]

Jean-Charles sprained in ankle with ASVEL in late May and didn't play the last couple of games of their season because of it. Provided it's the same ankle, this new injury might be related to the old one.

[TXstbobcat]

Thank you for the great writeup!

[Mr. Body]

Anderson/West pick and rolls will be interesting. ANderson locating the ball up to Marjanovich should be something we see often.

[exstatic]

I like the fact that simmons and ka leads spurs offense

the team looked lost on offense without one of them, i was skeptical about KA but last couple of games were good and it probably change the FO mind

The FO didn't need their mind changed on Kyle. They've been nothing BUT positive on him since before SL.

[SPURt]

The most positive aspect of having Anderson and Simmons on board is they've both played a lot in Austin and know the Spurs system.

[Spurtacular]

Something about Game 6 and Spurs vs. Nets that goes so well together....

[hater]

Anderson > ginobili

[100%duncan]

Excited with Simmons. But I always miss the gdamn game

[Biggems]

I like Davies a lot. He hustles his tail off. Unfortunately, like you said, he is weak. He needs to get into a strong weight program over the next two years, while also working on his low post and midrange game......If he could add strength and a bit more skill to his hustle and desire, I think it could turn him into a solid rotation guy in the NBA.

[TDomination]

Thanks for the write up Timvp

Its great to see that Anderson has been improving game to game. Whether its in summer league or NBA or wherever, if you're improving thats always a great sign that the individual is really focusing on getting better. Lets hope he keeps it up.

[Dex]

Good stuff. Simmons and SlowMo have me excited for Saturday's game.

[tatteredprince]

with timvp saying kyle can be our back up three

then, we are set!

deepest team in the NBA: go Spurs go!!!

[tatteredprince]

i can smell

Ginobili-Mills-Simmons-Marjanovic-West!

Ginnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooobbbbbbbbiiiiiiiiiiil llllliiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ceperez]

In spite of not having a highlight reel dunk (alley oop from KA wasn't bad though), I think this was Simmons' best all-around game. He brought the same effort and intensity as previous games, but he showed pretty much all his bag of tricks on offense. He continues to hit the spot-up 3, a must for Spurs role players, but his drive-and-finish ability went to another level. I saw a lefty drive, scoop and layup with English that was Manu-esque...only Simmons is a righty. I saw a euro-step in traffic with an easy finish at the rim. He had multiple straight-line drives to the right where he used his athleticism and strength to finish or draw contact. He bullied Hollins' kid, who actually played pretty well when Simmons was out, all night long on both ends. And that doesn't consider his crisp passing, which he flashed multiple times.

I know I already threw out Manu in this post as a comp, but his athleticism toggling between smooth and explosive while remaining in-control really reminds me of Kawhi. He's obviously not as skilled as either, but that's some exciting growth potential. If not for KA's emergence in the last few games, there's no doubt this place would be going bananas over Simmons.

What is extremely encouraging is that he goes left a lot of times! Watch the D-league highlight videos of him.

What is weird also is that Project Spurs is saying that he's a lefty.

[ceperez]

The FO didn't need their mind changed on Kyle. They've been nothing BUT positive on him since before SL.

If the Spurs can be confident that KA can be in the court come playoff time, then that fills a glaring weakness. The 2nd team looks like this:

West
Diaw
Anderson/Simmons <--- These two aren't veterans. They seem to know what to do in SL, can this translate to playoff ball?
Ginobili
Mills

[TMTTRIO]

Anderson > ginobili

The way it should be. Manu should just enjoy his last ride to a ring this season and let the other guys carry the bench.

[spurs10]

Thanks for the Quick Thoughts! My faith is a bit restored with KA playing like a different person since hat game 1. Simmons has a lot of energy and seems like he will be a good athletic addition to our bench. On to the Quarter-finals!

[EVAY]

Thanks, Timvp! Always great to read your thoughts.

[DPG21920]

timvp - while I share your optimism on KA's progress, I don't share it with regards to impact minutes. My concern with him is role and fit. KA seems to be a guy who needs the ball to be effective and will he have that on the bench? With his shot not yet consistent, defense still a question mark (especially against SG/SF) & playmaking not quite as good as advertised (still, really solid there though) - how does he fit off the ball?

o He's not a hired gun with his shot (especially from 3) not being consistent, so that's not his role
o He won't be the best playmaker/ball handler on the bench unit, so that's not his role
o He's not some defensive ace you can sick on people, so that's not his role.

While he's shown all the things you've mentioned, will that translate to the role he's asked to play? I see him more as a guy who's out there helping units function effectively (advance stats will show the units he's in being effective) while not having big numbers with the exception of the occasional outburst because he's talented.

It's not a bad thing to have that, but I am not sure about fit.

Unlike with Simmons, you can see his role and how that might really, really make an impact if he turns out legit.

[ceperez]

timvp - while I share your optimism on KA's progress, I don't share it with regards to impact minutes. My concern with him is role and fit. KA seems to be a guy who needs the ball to be effective and will he have that on the bench? With his shot not yet consistent, defense still a question mark (especially against SG/SF) & playmaking not quite as good as advertised (still, really solid there though) - how does he fit off the ball?

o He's not a hired gun with his shot (especially from 3) not being consistent, so that's not his role
o He won't be the best playmaker/ball handler on the bench unit, so that's not his role
o He's not some defensive ace you can sick on people, so that's not his role.

While he's shown all the things you've mentioned, will that translate to the role he's asked to play? I see him more as a guy who's out there helping units function effectively (advance stats will show the units he's in being effective) while not having big numbers with the exception of the occasional outburst because he's talented.

It's not a bad thing to have that, but I am not sure about fit.

Unlike with Simmons, you can see his role and how that might really, really make an impact if he turns out legit.

What separates an NBA player from a D-Legue player is consistency. If both Anderson and Simmons can show consistency. If they can show consistency in this SL elimination playoffs, then they can definitely at least play in ther regular season. The bigger question though is whether they will be good enough to play minutes in the playoff rotation. They have a training camp and the regular season to develop their game.

Simmons progress in the last two years in outstanding.

Kyle Anderson is 21 years old and plays with a lot of maturity for his age. He understands his limitations and is working on moves to compensate for that. He can see the game that only a few can see and that is worth a lot in the NBA.

[DAF86]

-The difference in Kyle Anderson's game from the start of summer league until now is night and day. At first, it seemed like everything was happening too fast for him on both ends of the court and he was constantly making questionable decisions. In the last three games or so, Anderson has become a maestro out there and is clearly the most polished player on the court at all times. Sure, he still moves slowly but it seems like each of his movements are calculated. On defense, he has improved greatly by getting back to the basics: staying in a defensive crouch, not reaching on the perimeter and using his length to bother shots. He's never going to be a great defensive player but he has gone from terrible to average in summer league. On offense, his combination of craftiness, patience and length has been deadly. And then when the other team shows him too much attention, he flashes his passing skills. Becky Hammon has been playing him a lot at power forward in the last two games and Anderson has flourished even more. There's simply not a summer league power forward who can even think about guarding him. On top of that, having one more shooter surrounding him allows him to operate freely. Bottomline: Anderson not only looks like a legit NBA player, it's now a no-brainer that he should be the team's backup small forward. His playmaking and basketball IQ will be a perfect match for the bench unit. If he can knock down three-pointers at even 34-35 percent, I expect him to have a successful sop re season and should be a fixture in the rotation.

Where does this phrase rank among the biggest hyperboles of all-time?