Shooting Guard

[Mel_13]

Last year, one player I watched a lot was Khris Middleton... he went from being a second round draft pick/bench player to a starter with surprisingly good all around numbers. One of the players I've been especially keeping an eye on this year is Nick Batum. After a bad year last season, he's had a bounce back year with Charlotte. His all around numbers are also pretty good-- 16.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, & 6.6 rpg. He's a free agent next summer and obviously has a bunch of ties to the Spurs: he was teammates with Aldridge & Mills in Portland, and on the French National team with Boris & Tony.

As far as this sort of thing goes, it can be imagined more easily than most. In addition to everything in your post, a S&T featuring Green would send Danny back to North Carolina.

[ceperez]

Last year, one player I watched a lot was Khris Middleton... he went from being a second round draft pick/bench player to a starter with surprisingly good all around numbers. One of the players I've been especially keeping an eye on this year is Nick Batum. After a bad year last season, he's had a bounce back year with Charlotte. His all around numbers are also pretty good-- 16.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, & 6.6 rpg. He's a free agent next summer and obviously has a bunch of ties to the Spurs: he was teammates with Aldridge & Mills in Portland, and on the French National team with Boris & Tony.

I'm actually surprised with Batum's performance. He got dumped by Portland and sort of expected that his play would decline having been traded to a non-contending team in the east. The Spurs appeared to have wanted to draft him and he has always indicated wanting to be with the Spurs. His tweet about LMA going to the Spurs and him going to Charlotte just says it all about his frustration.

I however don't think there's cap room to sign Batum with Aldridge as an albatross on the salary cap.

[Kawhitstorm]

The fast-break was really bad. The three wasn't. He shot that ball from behind the backboard because Parker made a bad pass. It's a miracle when those shots even catch iron when you think about the physics involved.

It was difficult to see from the camera angle to definitely tell but there was 13 second left on the shot clock so why would he jack up a 3 IF he was behind the backboard in the 1st place?

[Kawhitstorm]

I'm actually surprised with Batum's performance. He got dumped by Portland and sort of expected that his play would decline having been traded to a non-contending team in the east. The Spurs appeared to have wanted to draft him and he has always indicated wanting to be with the Spurs. His tweet about LMA going to the Spurs and him going to Charlotte just says it all about his frustration.

I however don't think there's cap room to sign Batum with Aldridge as an albatross on the salary cap.

Batum was injured last season & suffering like Porker. The only way the Spurs acquire Batum via a sign-&-trade for Danny but I don't see why the Hornets would make that deal considering they already have another offensively incompetent wing defender in MKG & Batum is the same age/better than Danny. Maybe Danny being from North Carolina & part of the Jordan brand might sway Jordan to make that deal.

[Chinook]

It was difficult to see from the camera angle to definitely tell but there was 13 second left on the shot clock so why would he jack up a 3 IF he was behind the backboard in the 1st place?

I think he got excited. They had fouled on his previous attempt, which he drained after the whistle. And did you really want him holding the ball while trapped in the corner? I mean, that would probably have turned out worse than that play in the Houston game.

[Kawhitstorm]

I think he got excited. They had fouled on his previous attempt, which he drained after the whistle. And did you really want him holding the ball while trapped in the corner? I mean, that would probably have turned out worse than that play in the Houston game.

Ever heard of swinging the ball? Something Danny rarely does now-a-days b/c he's working on his driving game. He turned down a drive when a defender was running at him & swung the ball once last game which resulted in a wide open 3 for Kawhi.

[Chinook]

Ever heard of swinging the ball? Something Danny rarely does now-a-days b/c he's working on his driving game. He turned down a drive when a defender was running at him & swung the ball once last game which resulted in a wide open 3 for Kawhi.

How often do you see people swing the ball FROM the short corner? Think about it for a second. It's very rare, especially deep in the corner. You just don't have the passing angle. I mean, maybe Green should have tried, but he wasn't really put in a good position.

[Kawhitstorm]

How often do you see people swing the ball FROM the short corner? Think about it for a second. It's very rare, especially deep in the corner. You just don't have the passing angle. I mean, maybe Green should have tried, but he wasn't really put in a good position.

He had TWO Option but Danny as ALWAYS panics & has a brain fart when he forced to make a decision.
-take one dribble to the side & shoot
-How often do you see people swing the ball FROM the short corner? Fathead says "Hi" TWICE on one play:


Chinook: Do you have any more excuses?

[Chinook]

He had TWO Option but Danny as ALWAYS panics & has a brain fart when he forced to make a decision.
-take one dribble to the side & shoot
-How often do you see people swing the ball FROM the short corner? Fathead says "Hi" TWICE on one play:


Chinook: Do you have any more excuses?

Pretty sure the short corner with no pressure is a different situation from the deep corner with a man in your face, but whatever.

[Chinook]

Do you see the obvious pass in this situation? He has five and one ideally, but all five's man has to do is face-guard him, and then it's an instant double with Danny's man, pinning Green against the corner.

First, you wanted to say that Green missed an easy corner-three. Then, when you saw that it was a pretty impossible angle wanted to blame him for not passing. Then, you saw the passing angle wasn't there, you wanted to pretend like standing about six feet closer to the rim facing no pressure and having your feet set was the same thing. Did I get that right?

[dabom]

Pretty sure the short corner with no pressure is a different situation from the deep corner with a man in your face, but whatever.

KA was 1 foot away from the baseline.

[Chinook]

KA was 1 foot away from the baseline.

You have a very interesting definition of a foot

[Kawhitstorm]

Pretty sure the short corner with no pressure is a different situation from the deep corner with a man in your face, but whatever.

If Danny ever learned the existence of a touch pass & had any sort of court vision maybe he won't need 5 seconds to read the floor before making a pass. Marco used to do it all the time when he wasn't stepping in for a long SWISH & Gary Neal had the sidestepping 3.

[Mr Bones]

The only way the Spurs acquire Batum via a sign-&-trade for Danny but I don't see why the Hornets would make that deal considering they already have another offensively incompetent wing defender in MKG & Batum is the same age/better than Danny. Maybe Danny being from North Carolina & part of the Jordan brand might sway Jordan to make that deal.

True, but another option would be trading Green & maybe another piece for a viable back up player to a team with cap room, creating space to sign Batum. I'm not advocating this (yet), but it's definitely interesting. Batum, in theory, could log minutes at SF, SG, and PG. A Batum/Mills back court is viable in a way that a Green/Mills back court isn't, due to Batum's ability to handle the ball & pass. He's no prime Ginobili, but he's in that mold.

[sasaint]

Batum was injured last season & suffering like Porker. The only way the Spurs acquire Batum via a sign-&-trade for Danny but I don't see why the Hornets would make that deal considering they already have another offensively incompetent wing defender in MKG & Batum is the same age/better than Danny. Maybe Danny being from North Carolina & part of the Jordan brand might sway Jordan to make that deal.

The primary motivation for Charlotte is fear of losing Batum in free agency next summer without any compensation. But on our side, I think Danny is a Spur until he decides to move on. (I think he is one of Pop's faves, hence his attempts to make him a "more complete player" this year.) Danny signed a contract that was widely perceived to be below market to stay with the Spurs. Hard to see our dealing him less than 6 months later. Fairly similar to the DWest deal, but not quite as absolute an immunity.

[Kawhitstorm]

True, but another option would be trading Green & maybe another piece for a viable back up player to a team with cap room, creating space to sign Batum. I'm not advocating this (yet), but it's definitely interesting. Batum, in theory, could log minutes at SF, SG, and PG. A Batum/Mills back court is viable in a way that a Green/Mills back court isn't, due to Batum's ability to handle the ball & pass. He's no prime Ginobili, but he's in that mold.

If Pop traded George Hill then it is possible he would trade Danny if he doesn't figure out how to play w/ LMA & Batum isn't asking for a MAX contract. If Porker could pull it off then he would be all forgiven on ST.

I'm not opposed to trading Danny for George Hill, tbh.

[Chinook]

If Danny ever learned the existence of a touch pass & had any sort of court vision maybe he won't need 5 seconds to read the floor before making a pass. Marco used to do it all the time when he wasn't stepping in for a long SWISH & Gary Neal had the sidestepping 3.

I don't get how that means that he had an easy pass or even a driving lane.

[Kawhitstorm]

I don't get how that means that he had an easy pass or even a driving lane.

The worst option was shooting the ball from behind the backboard while wide open w/ 13 seconds on the shot-clock & that's what he chose to do out of sheer panic.

[Chinook]

The worst option was shooting the ball from behind the backboard while wide open w/ 13 seconds on the shot-clock & that's what he chose to do out of sheer panic.

He wasn't wide open. That's the entire point of the discourse. Anderson in your gif is wide open, with his feet set, and in a makeable scoring position. If Green had the ball in those situations (especially the second one), that's a shot or at least a drive and dish.

[Kawhitstorm]

He wasn't wide open. That's the entire point of the discourse. Anderson in your gif is wide open, with his feet set, and in a makeable scoring position. If Green had the ball in those situations (especially the second one), that's a shot or at least a drive and dish.

So far this season, it would have been a brick or a drive & turnover. Fathead knows his limitation & has the Bball IQ to make the right play; even Simmons has a better offense Bball IQ than Danny.

Besides, Danny was wide open when he caught the pass so it wasn't like he was cornered & had a defender pressuring him. Although he would have been trapped if he decided to hold the ball & asses the floor for 5 seconds b/c of his lack of floor vision. Pop should put him in a drill where he has to swing the ball EVERY time w/ a defender running at him (no shooting allowed) b/c dude clearly doesn't know where his teammates are until he catches the ball. He could also work on his sidestep 3s (since you are anti-long 2s) although I've seen him do it a couple of times; much better than his kamikaze drives which end up in a jump pass being intercepted.

[dabom]

So far this season, it would have been a brick or a drive & turnover. Fathead knows his limitation & has the Bball IQ to make the right play; even Simmons has a better offense Bball IQ than Danny.

Besides, Danny was wide open when he caught the pass so it wasn't like he was cornered & had a defender pressuring him. Although he would have been trapped if he decided to hold the ball & asses the floor for 5 seconds b/c of his lack of floor vision. Pop should put him in a drill where he has to swing the ball EVERY time w/ a defender running at him (no shooting allowed) b/c dude clearly doesn't know where his teammates are until he catches the ball. He could also work on his sidestep 3s although I've seen him do it a couple of times; much better than his kamikaze drives which end up in a jump pass being intercepted.

Dude has really bad tunnel vision.

[Kawhitstorm]

Dude has really bad tunnel vision.

He's a willing passer (as evident by his turnovers) but he panics & ball watches on offense instead of observing where all the chess pieces are on the court.

[dabom]

He's a willing passer (as evident by his turnovers) but he panics & ball watches on offense instead of observing where all the chess pieces are on the court.

The Iceman needs to give him some ing pointers.

[Mr Bones]

I think Pop has really challenged both Green & Kawhi to expand their games this year. Kawhi has responded well, but unfortunately Green hasn't. At some point in the second half of the season, I could see Pop having Green go back to being a primarily 3 & D guy. I applaud the experiment, whether it works or not... it was worth the effort even if it ultimately doesn't pan out...

[Kawhitstorm]

I think Pop has really challenged both Green & Kawhi to expand their games this year. Kawhi has responded well, but unfortunately Green hasn't. At some point in the second half of the season, I could see Pop having Green go back to being a primarily 3 & D guy. I applaud the experiment, whether it works or not... it was worth the effort even if it ultimately doesn't pan out...

Pop badly wants the LMA/Danny PnR to be a thing after he saw how Wes Matthews had success, except he's trying to make lasagna w/ spaghetti. Close but not quite the same.