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

[Chinook]

Anderson had a very slow start to the SL... dominant wouldn't be the word to use to describe him. Now, I admit I missed the last game, so I'll take another look tomorrow.

But, in a way, this is why I thought he was disappointing with his early showings: he already has a season within "the system", and he didn't really look that much different from a year ago.

He actually has another NBA player next to him, and he isn't being weighed down by Bertans' sinking ship like he was in Utah. In Vegas, he got paired with two guys he had chemistry with in Eddie and Simmons. That really improved his game, since he didn't have to try to figure out what they were doing when he was on the court. Actually, the talent around him was just better all-around.

He was (still is?) extremely ball dominant though, which I think it's the main reason it didn't work out with Manu last season (same thing happened with Cory). I actually still don't see a solution to this, as he's not been very good off the ball, and as far as posting him, it would be difficult to justify when you have West and Boris out there on the floor... tbh, trying to fit Kyle on our bench still gives me a headache... Simmons it's easier, he can penetrate and finish, play the pick and pop with Boris/West, or kick out... I envision his role closer to Gino's role as a two guard earlier in his Spurs career.

I feel like Anderson has shown that he can share the ball and still be effective. He's not a great shooter, and Manu, while a good shooter, isn't really a lethal spot-up guy. But if Anderson and Manu can operate like Anderson and Simmons have so far, I don't see why it wouldn't work. I actually agree with you that Simmons' skill-set seems like a better fit if it translates. Jonathan can do a lot of the things Beli did (off-ball cuts and making open shots) while also being more athletic and a better slasher. Then obviously, his defense would be welcome. But I have no reservations about Anderson being the backup three on his own merit. I think by the end of the year that second unit could be deadly.

[ElNono]

He actually has another NBA player next to him, and he isn't being weighed down by Bertans' sinking ship like he was in Utah. In Vegas, he got paired with two guys he had chemistry with in Eddie and Simmons. That really improved his game, since he didn't have to try to figure out what they were doing when he was on the court. Actually, the talent around him was just better all-around.

I'm gonna try to watch tomorrow's game... I basically tuned in to the Utah games to watch Kyle, and was thoroughly disappointed. Simmons was a complete surprise out of the left field. Overall, I stopped watching because the basketball played was pretty ty, and the weather is too nice here right now to stay in for such shows

But I'll take your word that it's been better.

I feel like Anderson has shown that he can share the ball and still be effective. He's not a great shooter, and Manu, while a good shooter, isn't really a lethal spot-up guy. But if Anderson and Manu can operate like Anderson and Simmons have so far, I don't see why it wouldn't work. I actually agree with you that Simmons' skill-set seems like a better fit if it translates. Jonathan can do a lot of the things Beli did (off-ball cuts and making open shots) while also being more athletic and a better slasher. Then obviously, his defense would be welcome. But I have no reservations about Anderson being the backup three on his own merit. I think by the end of the year that second unit could be deadly.

I look at this from the perspective of what the Spurs did when Manu basically lost his athleticism and stopped being effective penetrating. We basically moved to a crisp motion, quick passes, good shooters, off the ball cuts and movement, etc. No sticky ball and "everyone is a threat". Losing Beli hurts that a bit, but gaining West means we can actually go more to the pick and roll and pick and pop, a variant that was limited to P&R with Tiago. With Simmons I feel we go back to breaking down defenses with penetration.
With Kyle I just don't see how he fits on those scenarios, other than "spot up shooter". I think there's a lot of overlap with current Gino if you want to play both together in the back court (both slow, both not great shooters right now, both need the ball to create and be effective). I just get the feeling this is going to be Cory-Manu part deux. Kyle will probably play better when Gino is off the floor, but Gino is still the craftier vet and better defender to put him below Kyle in the pecking order.

I'm sure glad it's not me having to try to figure this out.

[Russ]

I'm sure glad it's not me having to try to figure this out.

Pop will definitely earn his money this year.

[GSH]

Thanks for that. Great write-up, as always. You said a couple of things I really like hearing from one of your reports

Anderson -The difference in Kyle Anderson's game from the start of summer league until now is night and day. 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.

Simmons - He can maneuver quickly around screens. He draws offensive fouls. He knows his responsibilities team-defense wise.

I'm always a fan of a guy who can draw whistles. For one thing, it says that they are paying enough attention to him to foul him. It's always a big asset to have a guy who drives aggressively, and draws defensive attention. If he's quick enough to get around screens, he might have enough value to score a roster spot. As much as I like having crafty old vets, it would be nice to have a young energy guy to throw in as a change-up.

[Darkwaters]

For as absolutely terrible as Anderson looked in Utah, he has really turned it around with consistently solid play in Sin City. I really didn't expect it - but it's obviously a welcome sight! I thought he was a year away but he deserves a long look during preseason and the early season. It's nice to see him finally making some shots. Hes not going to fool anyone into thinking hes a great shooter, and he was simply atrocious shooting the ball last year in the NBA. So the improvement we've seen lately is tremendous. Of course, the NBA is still a totally different level from SL, and hes already underwhelmed at that level. But I really do hope they give him some long burn to see if he can push through any early struggles he might have like he did with the early struggles he had in Utah. I'm rooting for you Kyle!

Jonathon Simmons continues to be just remarkable. Whats great about him is that he literally got off the midnight plane to Vegas and has just been electric from the first. Hes definitely got a more traditional skillset relative to Anderson as the more typical athletic slasher prospect. But his game is actually much more broadly defined and seasoned than I could have ever hoped for a D-League call-up. His play in Vegas has been so good that had the Spurs not pounced on him so quickly I'm certain somebody else would have. So even if he totally fails in the NBA this is still an amazingly quality gamble. Hopeful it works out for the best.

Cady Lalanne looked really intriguing through his first game or two but has definitely fallen off. Still - he shows enough that I haven't lost interest at all. But a year in Europe is in the best interest of both parties at this point. I'm really hoping he doesn't become this year's Jack McClinton.

[ceperez]

I'm wondering if anyone else noticed Jonathon Simmons prior to Spurs signing.

Nobody seemed to have commented that he wasn't on the Spurs roster even though he was a Austin Spurs player for the past two years.

Did he all of a sudden just jump the shark and become really good?

Last year we were all talking about Jamychal Green who showed a lot of promise even in SL, but we never heard of this guy.

Are the Austin Spurs become a real factory of NBA ready players? Jamychal Green was signed by the Grizzlies (hope this signing doesn't come to haunt the Spurs)

[ElNono]

I'm wondering if anyone else noticed Jonathon Simmons prior to Spurs signing.

Nobody seemed to have commented that he wasn't on the Spurs roster even though he was a Austin Spurs player for the past two years.

Did he all of a sudden just jump the shark and become really good?

Last year we were all talking about Jamychal Green who showed a lot of promise even in SL, but we never heard of this guy.

Are the Austin Spurs become a real factory of NBA ready players? Jamychal Green was signed by the Grizzlies (hope this signing doesn't come to haunt the Spurs)

It's a long and complicated topic, tbh... The Spurs approach the NBDL and their picks very differently than other ballclubs...

Simmons could be another case of somebody that took a while to figure what kind of work he needed to do to make it into the league (like Danny Green before him), and eventually they get it.

I say "could" because I don't think even right now he's a lock to stick. But he's gotten a chance, and I think so far he's made the most out of it.

[SnakeBoy]

Cady Lalanne looked really intriguing through his first game or two but has definitely fallen off. Still - he shows enough that I haven't lost interest at all. But a year in Europe is in the best interest of both parties at this point. I'm really hoping he doesn't become this year's Jack McClinton.

Cady is a project for sure but I think he could be another 2nd round gem in a couple of years. I hope he makes it, it would be a great rags to riches story...

http://www.expressnews.com/sports/sp...witter-premium

[SAGirl]

I'm wondering if anyone else noticed Jonathon Simmons prior to Spurs signing.

Nobody seemed to have commented that he wasn't on the Spurs roster even though he was a Austin Spurs player for the past two years.

Did he all of a sudden just jump the shark and become really good?

Last year we were all talking about Jamychal Green who showed a lot of promise even in SL, but we never heard of this guy.

Are the Austin Spurs become a real factory of NBA ready players? Jamychal Green was signed by the Grizzlies (hope this signing doesn't come to haunt the Spurs)

I think he just didn't stand out enough. He didn't have a niche. Athletic guys his size are a dime a dozen in the d'league. He can shoot the 3, but he is not a prolific shooter like Eddie. He doesn't have a quick release and needs to be wide open, much like KA in that respect. He was also horribly TO prone, check his assist to TO ratio. He was not a prolific scorer. While athletic, he is not a super quick guy. Even in the d'league there were more athletic and quicker guys, better shooters or better passers/ballhandlers. His strength, as I see it now, is that while he was not the best in the d'league at any of these things individually, he brings a little bit of everything, which makes him a lot more of a complete player even if he is never going to be elite at any one thing. Teams that have lottery type talent who are younger and can already do what he does would not even consider him as his ceiling bc of his age and growth path seems lower.

[Dex]

The most famous of those trade rumors was Gary Payton for Tony Parker. The Sonics GM at the time (Wally Walker, IIRC) watched TP's first summer league game and within hours made the trade offer. Considering that Payton was an All-Star the previous seven seasons, that was a pretty damn impressive offer for one game of summer league.

Considering TP would torch GP just a few years later in the playoffs....I think the Spurs were right to stick to their guns.