Game Thoughts: San Antonio @ Denver 11/27/15

[cariocaz]

Thanks for the write up!

[Lostwingman]

Wasn't able to watch the game last night, really enjoyed the write up. Thanks!

[Keepin' it real]

LMA also is a disappointment. He doesn't have the speed or skills that I expected for a max player. In fact, I would say that a guy like Diaw is more valuable in today's game than a guy like LMA.

In a world of pretend GMs, I would love to field a team against yours.

There's a feeling out there that the Spurs are hiding their true weapons come playoff time.

Out "there"? What are you talking about?

[ceperez]

In a world of pretend GMs, I would love to field a team against yours.



Out "there"? What are you talking about?

Here:
http://basketball.realgm.com/analysi...he-NBA-Shrinks

[sasaint]

Agreed. Don't want him to become LeBron-era Bosh, where he just floats outside and sometimes fails to get a rebound all game. Love the d and boards. Even if we're still waiting on the shots to fall, he's a HUGE upgrade over Tiago. (And I really liked Splitter).

LMA is a Go-to offensive threat, which Tiago never was. That puts a lot of additional pressure on opponents' D. I was never a big Tiago fan, so I agree: LMA is a HUGE upgrade, and he will only get better as he becomes better acclimated to a new system and new teammates.

[SAGirl]

Simmons had a good game. But he spends too much time standing around on the weak side 3 pt line waiting for a pass that isn't going to come to a rookie. It looks like he's deferring too much to the vets who are iso on the strong side and winds up alone. He'll have to prove himself to be a reliable 3pt shooter. If he'd keep moving without the ball I think he'll have more passes come his way as he attacks the paint.

We can't be too harsh on Simmons' aggressiveness at this point, due to his lack of experience and regular play time with the team. He is a roleplayer, still developing his game. Pop would be really upset if all of a sudden Simmons started heroballing out there. With his current skill level and experience, it would probably result in more TO than the ones he had (5), and would make him look like the wreck he appeared to be in all the preseason games, when he looked really marginal as an NBA player and turned it over almost every time he wanted to get real aggressive.

He's just not ready to be freelancing a whole lot out there at this point. 4 of his 5 baskets were assisted by Kawhi. He's terrific running in transition because of his athleticism, and he's a good cutter bc he's got burst. He made 1 three that everyone stood up and cheered for. That is exactly how Pop would like him to play at this point, I think.

By the way, he's added a spin move, that I never saw him use in the dleague or SL. That seems to me like something he's worked on with the Spurs coaching staff. So I am sure he's still working behind closed doors on his shot, his ballhandling and his moves.

[YGWHI]

He's fun to watch. I really hope he finds a solid role.

He has such great speed and body control. I'd really like to see him learn to defend like Green

Agree. Also, it's nice to see the Spurs have other guy who can run a fast-break and finish with agility...

[sasaint]

We can't be too harsh on Simmons' aggressiveness at this point, due to his lack of experience and regular play time with the team. He is a roleplayer, still developing his game. Pop would be really upset if all of a sudden Simmons started heroballing out there. With his current skill level and experience, it would probably result in more TO than the ones he had (5), and would make him look like the wreck he appeared to be in all the preseason games, when he looked really marginal as an NBA player and turned it over almost every time he wanted to get real aggressive.

He's just not ready to be freelancing a whole lot out there at this point. 4 of his 5 baskets were assisted by Kawhi. He's terrific running in transition because of his athleticism, and he's a good cutter bc he's got burst. He made 1 three that everyone stood up and cheered for. That is exactly how Pop would like him to play at this point, I think.

By the way, he's added a spin move, that I never saw him use in the dleague or SL. That seems to me like something he's worked on with the Spurs coaching staff. So I am sure he's still working behind closed doors on his shot, his ballhandling and his moves.

Interesting that Kawhi racked up so many of his assists with Simmons. I guess they do like playing with each other. That has to help Simmons on a lot of levels.

I felt sure he flashed the spin move once or even twice in SL.

[SAGirl]

Interesting that Kawhi racked up so many of his assists with Simmons. I guess they do like playing with each other. That has to help Simmons on a lot of levels.

I felt sure he flashed the spin move once or even twice in SL.

I don't recall seeing it before. I saw it in his past game for the first time and it was a flash that specifically surprised me bc I don't recall him doing that before, not that I am infallible or anything.

[YGWHI]

By the way, he's added a spin move, that I never saw him use in the dleague or SL. That seems to me like something he's worked on with the Spurs coaching staff. So I am sure he's still working behind closed doors on his shot, his ballhandling and his moves.

IIRC he showed that move in the two games against Denver, sadly, the last time he got blocked but still looked solid... I guess the three young guys, Kyle, Simms and Ray, are working with Chad Forcier and Becky trying to develop their games.

[exstatic]

V

Thanks for the thoughts!!




IMO... back to back.

Not to mention 5 in 7, including Denver.

[SAGirl]

IIRC he showed that move in the two games against Denver, sadly, the last time he got blocked but still looked solid... I guess the three young guys, Kyle, Simms and Ray, are working with Chad Forcier and Becky trying to develop their games.

Yup. He showed that move in the last game we saw him prior to this one (can't recall the team), and he converted. I think he has more hops than he used on his move last game. We know he can really, really jump, but on the other hand, he might be afraid of committing a charge. I think its an experience thing.

Kyle apparently works a lot on his post ups. He's a tremendous mismatch for most guys on the perimeter, particularly in lineups that have both him and Kawhi, bc the best wing is bound to defend Kawhi and Kyle often has guards or guys 6'6'' and below defending him. He doesn't attack those mismatches bc the game is not about him, he's there to defend and pass, maybe make a shot if he's open, but both Kyle and Simmons are complimentary players at this point.

I am not sure what Ray is working on. We have seen him so little that it is a bit concerning. He's a mystery. I like his hustle on D a whole lot, and he has a very quick trigger on his shot, is athletic and all, but he lacks court vision, and I am not sure Pop knows what to do with him at this point. He's a true question mark.