Is the bench better or worse than last year's?

[UNT Eagles 2016]

What is cojo better at than McCallum?

Dunking over Ibola, tbh... that's about it.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Defense and offensive scoring efficiency.

Can't use analytics to justify Cujo > McCallum, tbh... Cujo played for the Spurs while McCallum played for the Kings. Many of Cujo's minutes came with guys like Manu, Boris, Patty etc on the court... offensive wizards. Cujo was the guy that plugged up the offense because he couldn't shoot and his one-on-one scoring ability was limited to beating big ol' stiffs off the dribble, or else having to step back and take a horrible fadeaway or just passing it back to a competent playmaker. Cujo's defense was pretty good, I'll give you that, but he wasn't Andre Miller, i.e. his defense and playmaking was not good enough to make up for his lack of shooting and scoring ability (Miller also had that strangely efficient post game for a point guard and was the best alley-oop passer in the sport).

[AFBlue]

Can't use analytics to justify Cujo > McCallum, tbh... Cujo played for the Spurs while McCallum played for the Kings. Many of Cujo's minutes came with guys like Manu, Boris, Patty etc on the court... offensive wizards. Cujo was the guy that plugged up the offense because he couldn't shoot and his one-on-one scoring ability was limited to beating big ol' stiffs off the dribble, or else having to step back and take a horrible fadeaway or just passing it back to a competent playmaker. Cujo's defense was pretty good, I'll give you that, but he wasn't Andre Miller, i.e. his defense and playmaking was not good enough to make up for his lack of shooting and scoring ability (Miller also had that strangely efficient post game for a point guard and was the best alley-oop passer in the sport).

CoJo shot over 50% from the field, over 45% from mid-range and over 36% from 3. While the last number isn't great, here's the comparison to McCallum....less than 44% from the field, less than 33% from mid-range and less than 31% from 3.

You can blame some of his shooting woes on the "Kings" effect, but I don't see how you come to the conclusion he's better when those glaring stats are staring you in the face.

[Buddy Holly]

Cory Joseph hardly played. Are you dimwits rewriting history?

[Spurtacular]

He and Fredette have been vastly overrated on here.

a 30 page thread for Jimmer

You're undeserving of the treasure you've came into.

[Brazil]

we basically lost Cojo, Beli and Baynes and we got Boban and West not sure how it is even a question

[AFBlue]

we basically lost Cojo, Beli and Baynes and we got Boban and West not sure how it is even a question

Based on that response I honestly have no idea which way you're leaning. You're insinuating there's no question, but nothing of what you wrote is really telling. Thank you though for your statements of fact. BTW, you forgot McCallum, Jimmer and Simmons in the backcourt.

[Brazil]

Based on that response I honestly have no idea which way you're leaning. You're insinuating there's no question, but nothing of what you wrote is really telling. Thank you though for your statements of fact. BTW, you forgot McCallum, Jimmer and Simmons in the backcourt.

I also forgot Ayres thanks for pointing it out

West acquisition by itself would be enough to be an upgrade over losing Cojo, Beli and Baynes, you add Boban + Mc, Jimmer and Simmons... I'd say our bench is fine

[dweaver99027]

Thinner than 2015 or not, Mills/Gino/Boris/West is a of a playoff bench unit.

[AFBlue]

I also forgot Ayres thanks for pointing it out

West acquisition by itself would be enough to be an upgrade over losing Cojo, Beli and Baynes, you add Boban + Mc, Jimmer and Simmons... I'd say our bench is fine

Gotcha. But the question was about depth in general. West, in and of himself, can't plug the holes in the backcourt. CoJo and Beli were big contributors to the bench, so the Spurs have to address those losses somehow. I also think they'll be fine, but not just because of West.

[ceperez]

I think only Anderson will eliminate himself out. He will get chances to prove himself and also will be coached to improve. Spurs did not get a true backup SF other than him. Simmons can defend but his game and size is more of a SG. He is closer to 6'4 barefoot than 6'5 and does not have lengthy arms. Spurs played him in SL and in the D'league as a SG and sometimes as a PG (when Cotton was picked up by the Jazz), never as a SF. That was revealing to me. If the Spurs picked up a backup SF it would have to be a veteran that would not mind losing minutes to Anderson. If he breaks out like the Spurs hope he will, that vet will not play. It is one of the main reasons I think the Spurs were unable to pick up a backup SF in the vet bargain bin market.

Nobody wants to look at that aspect, but Anderson has improved and played really well. Rookies are known to struggle in their first year just in a general sense, not just him. Its likely he will be much better this year, and if he is, whoever else is in the 5th or a 6th wing has to be okay with that. Simmons is versatile and you can play him together with Anderson when Manu sits which makes it an even better fit in this roster. But make no mistake, Anderson will play.

Simmons is about the same size as Danny Green but lower reach. He's best as a SG.

I want to see KA succeed despite his athletic short comings. He however has a wingspan that almost as wide as Leonard.

[ceperez]

Why didn't we sign Mbah Moute? He is a nice 3&D player, long, athletic and can play 3 positions. He would be perfect in the second unit and was agreed to the vet min in Sacramento before they vetoed the signing..

3 and D??? Career .299 at the 3 point line, I don't think so.

[ceperez]

CoJo shot over 50% from the field, over 45% from mid-range and over 36% from 3. While the last number isn't great, here's the comparison to McCallum....less than 44% from the field, less than 33% from mid-range and less than 31% from 3.

You can blame some of his shooting woes on the "Kings" effect, but I don't see how you come to the conclusion he's better when those glaring stats are staring you in the face.

Cojo didn't even play in the playoffs.... that is despite Parker being injured!!! That just tells you how little confidence Pop has about Cojo's abilities.

He wasn't any good and he's gone. Deal with it!

[AFBlue]

Cojo didn't even play in the playoffs.... that is despite Parker being injured!!! That just tells you how little confidence Pop has about Cojo's abilities.

He wasn't any good and he's gone. Deal with it!

CoJo didn't play because Patty was better. Simple as that. But, if CoJo wasn't better than your average third string PG then he wouldn't have signed an above-MLE deal.

deal with it

Deal with what? I've maintained all along that the Spurs having someone the quality of Joseph as their third option was a luxury not a necessity tbqh. McCallum is worse on paper in every statistical category. But that doesn't matter. As long as Parker and Mills are healthy, they won't need him to be CoJo. And if he surprises, great. So I don't really know what there is to deal with tbqh.

[ceperez]

Gotcha. But the question was about depth in general. West, in and of himself, can't plug the holes in the backcourt. CoJo and Beli were big contributors to the bench, so the Spurs have to address those losses somehow. I also think they'll be fine, but not just because of West.

Cojo was non-existent come playoff time. Belli had a couple of moments though.

The hole that needs to be plugged in the nerves of steel shooting that Belli would on occasion exhibit. Who knows... maybe Jimmer is that guy.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

CoJo shot over 50% from the field, over 45% from mid-range and over 36% from 3. While the last number isn't great, here's the comparison to McCallum....less than 44% from the field, less than 33% from mid-range and less than 31% from 3.

You can blame some of his shooting woes on the "Kings" effect, but I don't see how you come to the conclusion he's better when those glaring stats are staring you in the face.

The Kings have had one of the worst offenses in the league for quite awhile now. It's either dump it down to Cousins to shoot a hook shot over 2-3 defenders in the lane, or one of the perimeter guys (such as Gay) would dribble for 17 seconds around the perimeter, dribble in a few feet, step back and jack up a long contested 2 with the clock running out. Their offense closely resembles that in a pick-up game, honestly.

[AFBlue]

Cojo was non-existent come playoff time. Belli had a couple of moments though.

The hole that needs to be plugged in the nerves of steel shooting that Belli would on occasion exhibit. Who knows... maybe Jimmer is that guy.

Playoffs aren't the only time that matters tbqh. The Spurs get so much out of their core in the playoffs by riding their deep bench during the season. CoJo started 14 games and averaged 18MPG. If Parker and Mills are healthy, McCallum won't have to do that. But they will count on him to some degree tbqh.

[AFBlue]

The Kings have had one of the worst offenses in the league for quite awhile now. It's either dump it down to Cousins to shoot a hook shot over 2-3 defenders in the lane, or one of the perimeter guys (such as Gay) would dribble for 17 seconds around the perimeter, dribble in a few feet, step back and jack up a long contested 2 with the clock running out. Their offense closely resembles that in a pick-up game, honestly.

Sometimes the guy dribbling around and jacking up long contested jump shots was McCallum tbqh. Can't say on one hand it was the Kings dysfunction and then credit the dude for how well he runs an offense. Doesn't work like that tbqh.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Sometimes the guy dribbling around and jacking up long contested jump shots was McCallum tbqh. Can't say on one hand it was the Kings dysfunction and then credit the dude for how well he runs an offense. Doesn't work like that tbqh.

McCallum was lights out during the first few games or so of the season when they got off to that hot start (7-2 IIRC?) then they had that loss @ Memphis that they went emo over, Cousins went down and their season went straight into the toilet from there.

McCallum had far less control of the ball than Gay or the other featured perimeter players, tbh. Also, Patty Mills was cut by the Blazers for being the "worst" point guard out of Steve Blake/Sergio Rodriguez/Rudy Fernandez/Mills/ whoever else, so you don't know what you've got until you've got him on a good team IMO.

[AFBlue]

McCallum was lights out during the first few games or so of the season when they got off to that hot start (7-2 IIRC?) then they had that loss @ Memphis that they went emo over, Cousins went down and their season went straight into the toilet from there.

McCallum had far less control of the ball than Gay or the other featured perimeter players, tbh. Also, Patty Mills was cut by the Blazers for being the "worst" point guard out of Steve Blake/Sergio Rodriguez/Rudy Fernandez/Mills/ whoever else, so you don't know what you've got until you've got him on a good team IMO.

That's why I said he was worse than CoJo on paper tbqh. Maybe he surprises and breaks out with the Spurs. And if that happened, I'd be exstatic. I'm just not going to buy this "CoJo was overrated and Ray is easily better" narrative when it's not backed up with facts or stats to-date.

[dweaver99027]

Go look up Patty's stats with the Blazers people...

[UNT Eagles 2016]

That's why I said he was worse than CoJo on paper tbqh. Maybe he surprises and breaks out with the Spurs. And if that happened, I'd be exstatic. I'm just not going to buy this "CoJo was overrated and Ray is easily better" narrative when it's not backed up with facts or stats to-date.

Joseph's efficiency is going to be awful with the Raptors, even though they're an average playoff team (for East standards).

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Go look up Patty's stats with the Blazers people...

Just read them... like 2 and 5 ppg the two years he was there, tbh. Also, shot worse from 3 than any other year except this last year.

[AFBlue]

Joseph's efficiency is going to be awful with the Raptors, even though they're an average playoff team (for East standards).

Agree to disagree.

[2centsworth]

We will miss Beli somewhat, but that's it. Healthy Patty, LA & DW more than offsets the loss of our 3rd string PG, Splitter and Baynes. Silly how much importance people place on the 10th-12th spots. Purely luxuries for old teams, but best players are 30 and under now. New era...