Preseason: Spurs vs Hawks -- 10/14/15 -- NBATV -- 7 PM CST

[Kawhitstorm]

Williams is terrible on defense, really really bad, slow unathletic and just bad.

Williams on defense is no better than the real James Harden.

[Chinook]

It will be interesting the last few games to see who makes it. Even after not so great performances I might lean Jimmer. My reasoning is when I watch the offense...even when he isn't hitting his shot, His man really plays him. Other guys don't get that. He takes up a space. He could suck next game but in the realm of suckiness tonight I thought he was ok.

we have a pretty sad bottom of the team. I mean the coach literally doesn't care to watch. That is too funny.

Jimmer could easily make it because of his salary. I honestly think that he, Butler and Simmons may be in compe ion for two spots. Maybe you'd have to add Bonner into the mix, as Butler has been playing PF exclusively, I think. But anyways, Jimmer and Butler show better intangibles, which is to be expected with Jonathon being a rookie. But honestly, Simmons looks completely overmatched at this level, and I don't know of that he'll get better. He also might have confidence issues, as he was on the verge of quitting basketball until last season if the story is correct.

Here's how I see it.

Absolute locks to make the team (1.0):

Parker, Green, Leonard, Aldridge, Duncan, Mills, Ginobili, Anderson, Diaw, West

Functional locks (.99 - .95):

McCallum, Marjanovic,

Near-locks (.94 - .8):

Simmons, Bonner

Likely (.79 - .5):

Fredette

Great chance (.5 - .4):

Butler

Some chance (.39 - .03):

Thomas, Ndoye, Wiliams

No chance (.02 - 0):

Sykes

[Kawhitstorm]

Outside of Green and Leonard, this team defends the three very poorly. That's a problem considering the Spurs only have two three point specialists of their own (Mills, Green) and if one or both go into prolonged slumps, this team could get clowned from behind the arc.

Kawhi/Danny are going to be working OT unless Simmons somehow figures it out before he gets cut.

[Gladney to see you]

I think Thomas will be on an NBA team this year.

[Chinook]

I think Thomas will be on an NBA team this year.

He and Ndoye deserve serious minutes with the big guns to show what they can do.

[BillMc]

/rofl
you got me BillMc

All in fun!

[Gladney to see you]

He and Ndoye deserve serious minutes with the big guns to show what they can do.

Totally agree...they have exploitable NBA skills.

[Spurtacular]

He and Ndoye deserve serious minutes with the big guns to show what they can do.

No, they don't. Thomas did okay tonight though.

[Kawhitstorm]

Anderson is most effective on pick n rolls, and on the block. Outside of that he dribbles too much on isolation plays and not very good then.

The issue w/ the scrubs is that none of the perimeter players can play off the ball nor can the big guys roll/catch thus the ball handlers keep trying to do too much off the dribble since they don't trust their teammates.

[Kawhitstorm]

No, they don't. Thomas did okay tonight though.

Thomas is supposed to be a stretch 4 but he can't make an NBA 3. He also sucks at rebounding but is always seemingly chasing offensive rebounds instead of getting back on defense...he is also not a good defender either besides having quick hands. I'm not sure he's a better rebounder/defender than Bonner let alone shooter, he is just more mobile.

[apalisoc_9]

Thomas is supposed to be a stretch 4 but he can't make an NBA 3.

his shot is so flat

[BillMc]

his shot is so flat

Truth.

[Chinook]

No, they don't. Thomas did okay tonight though.

Both are much better than Jimmer. This we know.

[SAGirl]

My take from tonight's game:

Manu, Duncan and Patty look great!

Kawhi looks amazing also, but needs to stop forcing things at times.

Bonner sucks.

Parker needs to settle down a bit, but looks like he is taking on that distributor role a lot of y'all want him to take.

Green's shot will come around, defense is good.

West is going to be a really good player off the bench for of us if he can knock down those mid range shots, like he has against us in the past. Him and LA are going to get those open all game long.

I have been impressed with Boban against the Kings and Hawks game especially defensively. I think when he gets more used to the NBA speed, I think he will calm down a bit and his hands will get better on offense.

Anderson is most effective on pick n rolls, and on the block. Outside of that he dribbles too much on isolation plays and not very good then.

McCallum needs to settle down a bit also, but like how he gets to the rim.

Simmons has been disappointing.

Butler may have the advantage over Jimmer because he is bigger need, and plays better defense but Butler didn't shoot too great tonight, and Jimmer made a few nice plays getting to the basket even if he traveled on the last play

Reggie Williams looks like he is the only one deep on the bench that can knock down a NBA three, and can score so he will probably make the team based on that.

Ndoye, Sykes and Thomas are probably going to be the first three that get cut.

Nice take. Thanks for your nice basketball feedback, no trolling!!! Agree with most of the stuff here.

About Kawhi, still developing this part of his game, the taking command superstar part. We are bound to see some boneheaded plays from him, specially because Pop is asking him to make stuff happen and be aggressive and force issues if need be. He will hopefully clean these up in games that matter I think, since he has been inefficient. He's been saved however, by the foul draw rate having increased. Its apparent he was told to be aggressive and force the issue at times, and will have his moments when it won't be pretty. (same as Tony had his moments when forcing things didn't look pretty either, and hopefully the times where he has to force things on his own are behind him). I guess at some point, Kawhi will transcend the level where the forced things end up horrible and will be nice most of the time and will wisen up and will rise above to an NBA MVP level.

Anderson, has potential. Youngest guy in the team and has looked good with good teammates and bad with the scrubs. He is even further behind on the learning curve than any other youngsters we have, so I think Pop throwing him to the Hawks top dogs, is a humbling learning moment to get over himself. Also, has to improve decision making, pick his spots, et. al. Cannot let the pressure of the moment make him take all these crazy dribbles for example. If there are injuries, who is to say he doesn't have to start a few games that matter? IMO he needs moments like this.

McCallum very crazy, bad decisions, taking it to the rim against rim protections not a good idea. I like his spirit, and aggressiveness but just no. Had a few boneheaded plays too. Very much a work in progress.

Manu the Gawd!!!

Reggie can shoot, that is about all that can be said about him.

Butler is a vet, plays within himself. Had a bad shooting night, but can shoot.

Bonner, I get it. He's not getting cut, but he can't play. You can't even hide him with the starters and that is bad to me. I think you could have hidden other guys in this list with the starters and they would be ok, but Bonner doesn't. I don't expect the team to do well any time he plays, that is how bad it is. Last season whenever he started, the team could not score. The trend continues. He's cold shooting, but bc he doesn't add anything else its a problem. Kyle comes up with a rebound, a steal or a deflection here or there. Other guys will give you something, anything. Bonner at this point is not adding anything basketball wise. 7 mins and O, just 1 def rebound. First game he played 5 mins and got 0, nothing, nothing recorded, no rebounds, not a thing. I don't want to bash him anymore bc he's such a high character likeable guy, but he's not even guilty of doing too much, bc he doesn't do anything..... grr you get my point.

Simmons I sort of knew would not translate exactly as he looked in SL bc of his ballhandling, and his dependence on dribble drives. His stats in SL were boosted by a lot of finishes at the rim that are not available in the NBA. I still like things about him though. His does have a talent to pass, and he has tools to defend well. I think he can be hidden in good lineups very well. The most concerning at this point is that he can't shoot. Hasn't made jumpshots and reluctant to let it fly from range. I do hope he makes the team.

[ElNono]

Feel bad for Simmons, tbh... had a horrible game and on top of that he had to play extended minutes with Jimmer... hopefully it won't cost him a potential NBA career...

[Gladney to see you]

Bonner will retire and become part of the front office.

[ace3g]

[Kawhitstorm]

Simmons I sort of knew would not translate exactly as he looked in SL bc of his ballhandling, and his dependence on dribble drives. His stats in SL were boosted by a lot of finishes at the rim that are not available in the NBA. I still like things about him though. His does have a talent to pass, and he has tools to defend well. I think he can be hidden in good lineups very well. The most concerning at this point is that he can't shoot. Hasn't made jumpshots and reluctant to let it fly from range. I do hope he makes the team.

If Tony Allen can be a starter for a contending team then Simmons can definitely be a 3rd string guard if he plays in the right situation. He needs a PnR partner for his dribble drive game & Ndoye isn't helping him whatsoever since he can't catch, roll nor do defender respect his finishing abilities. Playing w/ high IQ guys Diaw/West/Manu/Kyle might help him since they will find him if he's slashing or they will get out of his way & be at the right spot when he's driving so the floor is spaced appropriately. Even though he's struggling you still can see that he has great floor vision.

[tmtcsc]

Simmons will benefit from playing with better players. I still think he'll be ok. Playing alongside scrubs didn't help him tonight. As for Jimmer, he deserves to be among the first cut but will probably get an extended look because of the guaranteed money.

[SAGirl]

...so the only position of need is a wing defender (Simmons/Reggie); Deshaun/Jimmer are as good as gone. Ndoye is a decent project player but he has no touch around the rim & is terrible at setting picks.

Think Ndoye is probably a good project big for Austin. He's been poor, but has athleticism, agility and hustle. Definitely has defensive potential. I would take Simmons over Reggie, but who knows what Pop is thinking. Reggie can shoot and Simmons cannot, so we'll see what Pop decides.

[spurraider21]

kawhi's talent is undeniable, but i dont like when offense just becomes kawhiso

[TheDoctor]

As you all said, Simms looked horrible vs NBA compe ion but also he was the only "playmaker" or at least the only one trying to set up players in a line-up full of scrubs. In SL obviously there was much less compe ion and most of the time he played along KA.

Simms will definitely benefit from playing next to players like KA, Boris, etc.

[Kawhitstorm]

Think Ndoye is probably a good project big for Austin. He's been poor, but has athleticism, agility and hustle. Definitely has defensive potential. I would take Simmons over Reggie, but who knows what Pop is thinking. Reggie can shoot and Simmons cannot, so we'll see what Pop decides.

It's not like any of them are going to be rotation players this upcoming season. CoJo used to play garbage minutes when both Patty/Tony were healthy so as long as Manu can stay healthy Butler/Kyle should be sufficient. Whoever hustles most in practice & is well liked is most likely going to make the team.

[TheDoctor]

kawhi's talent is undeniable, but i dont like when offense just becomes kawhiso

Preseason. Once the regular season starts, there will be more offensive options. Tho the KaMarcus dupla should dominate the ball. For now I don't mind his ISOing. Needs to practice his shots in real games cir stances.

[daslicer]

Can't wait for the preseason games to end. These games have been garbage to watch.