PTR: David West doesn't fit with the Spurs' second unit

[sasaint]

I think you're wrong if you're just looking at the 2nd unit as a group that only plays with one another. Some critics and fans like yourself make it seem like Pop subs players out in groups -- that is never the case. Staggered minutes in inevitable and I believe the bench players blend really well w/ the starters in terms of fit -- and that is what we should be looking at IMO. I.E: You'll see a lot of TD/Diaw or West/ Kawhi or Green/ Manu/ Mills line ups to start the 2nd quarter in compe ive games.

Some starters will play w/ bench & some bench will play w/ starters from the 6-5 minute mark of the 1st til halftime -- then from 6-5 minute mark of 3rd quarter til 6 minute mark in 4th.

The bench won't play exclusively with one another and that's why that article is silly & irrelevant to a degree. IMO

West will play more w/ Duncan or Aldridge, same w/ Diaw.

You hit the nail on the head. This ain't hockey, yet. But with all of his options, Pop may eventually get there.

[Dingle Barry]

We had ing Bonner and Blair protecting the rim for the second unit just a few years ago. I ain't going to spend one second worrying about Diaw and West. At least these guys are legit NBA talents.

[Birn]

PTR tries to incorporate analytics into their articles but they fail miserably in their interpretation. Their analytics tell them that Ayers is a better fit than West and they actually write that with a straight face. They just don't know how to use analytics. You don't need analytics to tell you that a proven nba all star would fit your team. They make the ridiculous assumption that we plan to play the same system. They fail to understand that coaches like Pop adjust to their personnel to maximize the potential of the team. I expect Pop will be experimenting with a ton of lineups given the fact that we have so many new players.

The way they interpreted their analytics the following players would also be a bad fit:

Blake Griffin
Draymond Green
Paul Millsap
Zach Randolph
Joakim Noah

Case closed. PTR is a joke.

[Birn]

PTR tries to incorporate analytics into their articles but they fail miserably in their interpretation. Their analytics tell them that Ayers is a better fit than West and they actually write that with a straight face. They just don't know how to use analytics. You don't need analytics to tell you that a proven nba all star would fit your team. They make the ridiculous assumption that we plan to play the same system. They fail to understand that coaches like Pop adjust to their personnel to maximize the potential of the team. I expect Pop will be experimenting with a ton of lineups given the fact that we have so many new players.

The way they interpreted their analytics the following players would also be a bad fit:

Blake Griffin
Draymond Green
Paul Millsap
Zach Randolph
Joakim Noah

Case closed. PTR is a joke.

[SAGirl]

Not many but you do see a good number of small forwards and guards who use their driving game to get their shooting night started. After they hit a couple of lay-ups or pull up bunny shots then they are feeling it and become dangerous.... Which is why you want a fairly strong rim protector on the floor most of the time. It also helps the perimeter players alot on defense if you can funnel a drive into your friendly local big. While Splitter wasn't really a shot blocker he contest pretty well on help D and Baynes isn't bad at it. I'm actually looking forward to baynces having a bit of a break-out in detroit.

I look forward to watching some of both Baynes and Cojo. I read an intervew of Van Gundy saying that he's seen Baynes play a more significant offensive role in international play with the Australian team and he feels that Baynes may have been limited to a degree in San Antonio, playing a smaller role for a deep team with better big man options than him. However, Van Gundy will have him in a different and featured role in the bench, funneling some plays through him. I really liked Baynes TBH, he had a lot of grit. I think Pistons fans will love him.

[DMC]

Not that I think West is a bad addition to the team at all, but bringing up concerns with the bench's balance is very valid. The Spurs have depended on their second unit extending leads. If there are major defensive and rebounding problems, it's a big deal, especially since the team has no way of addressing them. There are plenty of ways this next season's roster can implode or at least underachieve, and discussing those isn't stupid or ungrateful. SA is the favorite to win it all, but if they disappoint, it's pretty easy to see how that's going to happen.

They depended on their 1st unit bailing their asses out, not "extending leads". That's because the 1st unit was lethargic as and Tony didn't make things any better. LMA on the floor changes everything as long as Tony doesn't go hero, but he should have some open lanes and if he's not a total bag this season, he'll capitalize on all the attention Kawhi and LMA will draw. he might even pass the ball.

The 2nd unit will be fine. It's Manu and Patty out there, they will up the tempo and if West can get back on offense, he's going to have all the scoring he can handle. Manu to West on the PnR or PnP is going to be epic. I mean, Blair had to finish at the rim, couldn't do anything 10' out. West will flat out destroy you from 20' and in, especially with how open he'll be on those double back screens.

The caveat isn't anything PtR touched on. It's going to be LMA and DW out of position on both ends of the floor for much of the season. That's going to cause limited playing time for West even though Pop will still force the issue. West is a 1 year guy, Pop isn't going to build an offense around him. LMA is the future if he doesn't do something selfish and stupid.

[turb0time]

I've learned to stay away from PTR the past few years. The writers (and even some of the posters) think they are cut from the same winning cloth as the Spurs themselves. I bashed on TP during a Finals live game thread and almost got banned for it.

[kaji157]

I strongly disagree. With Splitter gone the second unit will need a pick and roll/pop guy. Manu has always needed, in order to create for other, a good pick and roll bigman to call the atention of the defense. Whenever we had that the second unit started everything smothier, Blair, Baynes, even Splitter had this role.
Remember how the second unit suffered last season when Splitter turned into Vagina and Manu had no pass to the inside man, it destroyed our motion.

[GSH]

People who write articles should learn how to properly analyze stats.

First, the writer makes a big deal out of West only having one season with a 20+ DRB%. Well no . He was playing PF (one season listed as SF), and he was on the court with guys like Tyson Chandler and Emeka Okafor. They were playing the C position. So, gee, do you think they got a higher percentage of the available defensive rebounds, compared to West? Not only that, but West AVERAGED 19.1 DRB% for his entire career. He has always been the second best rebounder on his teams, next to the C's. Just like you would expect. The truth is, West's DRB% compares pretty closely to Serge Ibaka, and is a lot better than, say, Fabricio Oberto.

Second, West has started every game he's played going back to the 95-96 season. The writer doesn't have a clue how West will fare against a steady diet of backup bigs. He's just making up, like pretty much everyone else. He's just not very good at it.

Third, the writer makes a big deal out of West's lack of 3P range. The Spurs have got 3P shooters coming out their ass. West has one of the best mid-range games in the league. One of the things they say in basketball is that "you can't teach height". Well you also can't teach an in-between game apparently, because there just aren't many good ones in the NBA. This dumb writer mentions that West has a deadly midrange jumper, and then acts like it's not that big of a deal. My favorite comment was, "For the Spurs, however, three-point shooting from a rotation big is a skill that is missing." Seriously? That's what the Spurs are missing? A rotation big that shoots the 3? If only the Spurs had signed Charlie Villanueva or Channing Frye, they'd be a shoo-in for 6, I guess. Probably one of the most ignorant takes I've seen in a while, and I've read a lot of ignorant takes.

The article also complains that West has shot "only" 192 3-Pointers in a 12 year career, and has made only 25% of those. Kevin Garnett is usually listed as one of the best 3P shooting bigs. In the last 12 seasons, he's shot 208 3P's, and made 23%. Somehow Garnett managed to be an All-Star for 9 of those 12 seasons, even though he shot the 3 worse than David West.

But other than all that - really, really first-rate article.

[LittleCriminal]

I mentioned this threads topic to a friend... He said he has the same problem on 2k..
Wtf??

[Mikeanaro]

PTR tries to incorporate analytics into their articles but they fail miserably in their interpretation. Their analytics tell them that Ayers is a better fit than West and they actually write that with a straight face. They just don't know how to use analytics. You don't need analytics to tell you that a proven nba all star would fit your team. They make the ridiculous assumption that we plan to play the same system. They fail to understand that coaches like Pop adjust to their personnel to maximize the potential of the team. I expect Pop will be experimenting with a ton of lineups given the fact that we have so many new players.

The way they interpreted their analytics the following players would also be a bad fit:

Blake Griffin
Draymond Green
Paul Millsap
Zach Randolph
Joakim Noah

Case closed. PTR is a joke.

Lol, does PTC think Miami was in hesitation mode when Lebron and Bosh were going to play for them? ¨oh no man, Im not sure if Bosh and Lebron can play together, wow now GayRay wants some Cheat too, mmm I think his shooting form is not gonna fit here¨

[Mikeanaro]

I mentioned this threads topic to a friend... He said he has the same problem on 2k..
Wtf??

Then we need to wait until PTC patches the game.

[dunkman]

Pop will manage the bigs minutes to minimize the risk of the Diaw-West line-up, for the few teams that could actually exploit that. Objectively, the Spurs have one of the best bigman rotations in the NBA and on top of that Kawhi can play PF very effectively.

[Russo21]

These writers are dead s tbh. Just because he is in the second unit doesn't mean he'll only be playing with Diaw anyway. Duncan will most likely be first to be benched then either Diaw or West will come in and play next to LMA. LMA goes to the bench for a rest, Duncan comes back on to play next to Diaw or West. It's not like they will be on the court all the time together just because they start the game from the bench. It's called rotations and Pop will figure that out.

[Ice009]

I look forward to watching some of both Baynes and Cojo. I read an intervew of Van Gundy saying that he's seen Baynes play a more significant offensive role in international play with the Australian team and he feels that Baynes may have been limited to a degree in San Antonio, playing a smaller role for a deep team with better big man options than him. However, Van Gundy will have him in a different and featured role in the bench, funneling some plays through him. I really liked Baynes TBH, he had a lot of grit. I think Pistons fans will love him.

I liked Baynes too, but after he was humiliated by both Matt Barnes and Blake Griffin, I couldn't even look at him after those plays. Last year's team didn't show enough physical toughness out there. I really hope that is rectified this season. I love the David West signing in that regard. The moment I first heard that David was interested in coming here, I really, really wanted the Spurs to go after him hard. I'm real happy they got him.

[JeffDuncan]

... I love the David West signing in that regard. The moment I first heard that David was interested in coming here, I really, really wanted the Spurs to go after him hard. I'm real happy they got him.

You and me, too, and everybody who has any sense at all. I'm really looking forward to watching West play for the Spurs.

[TrainOfThought5]

Quality Article. ty ST opinions.

If Pop keeps giving Boban the splitter treatment we wont get past the second round.

[TrainOfThought5]

Not that I think West is a bad addition to the team at all, but bringing up concerns with the bench's balance is very valid. The Spurs have depended on their second unit extending leads. If there are major defensive and rebounding problems, it's a big deal, especially since the team has no way of addressing them. There are plenty of ways this next season's roster can implode or at least underachieve, and discussing those isn't stupid or ungrateful. SA is the favorite to win it all, but if they disappoint, it's pretty easy to see how that's going to happen.

Chinookstradamus with high bbiq goods.

[TheGreatYacht]

Pounding the

D West proving tonight and recent weeks that he's the man.

[steeledl]

Pounding the

D West proving tonight and recent weeks that he's the man.

Yep.. most of the board sold out in this dude after like 10 games. Sad, tbh. He has looked great.

[TheGreatYacht]

Yep.. most of the board sold out in this dude after like 10 games. Sad, tbh. He has looked great.

Yup. Just usual vet rust, tbh. This guy was cut out to be a Spur and he's showing it

[TheGreatYacht]

Pounding the

D West proving tonight and recent weeks that he's the man.

[Raven]

cool story bro

[Mikeanaro]

Yes, the article was rushed with no fundaments at all, those writers should pound their s each other.

[timtonymanu]

Pounding the is the non-trolling version of hater.

Jeff Errors fans