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SlowMo should add some athleticism to his game like so many other NBA players have.
el nono showing he still has some left in the tank
SlowMo should add some athleticism to his game like so many other NBA players have.
That was pretty ing exhaustingSAGirl wasn't feeling well today, asked me to post this piece that she(?) has meticulously written and researched for all of you. You can thank her(?) later... I certainly wish a quick recovery to one of the better up and coming posters here, tbh...
Starters
Tony Parker: A year older, robbed of his speed, but still a virtuoso with the ball. He shouldn't have to carry much of the load scoring in this starting lineup and November Parker is a treat we all gleefully look forward to.
Danny Green: Expecting big things from him after a down year shooting-wise. His defense is going to be even more important now that we don't have a legitimate rim protector inside.
Kawhi Leonard: Entering his prime, Kawhi keeps surprising us with his development. This should really be the season where he takes the reigns of leadership and raises this team to another level.
LaMarcus Aldrige: One year into the system now, he should be more aware of where his shots are going to come from, and is another guy that will have to learn how to lead this team too.
Pau Gasol: Veteran presence, remains to be seen what's left in the tank for him and especially if he's going to demand touches, etc. Could be a huge addition or a hindrance in my humble opinion.
Bench
Patty Mills: Patty is coming off a solid Olympics showing, but he was good in international play the season before and stunk it up while with the Spurs. If his shot is going in (big if), he's a tremendous asset. Contract year for him, it's time to show the NBA what he's worth. I think he could excel spacing the floor when Kyle is dominating the boards.
Manu Ginobili: Well, most people thought he would retire alongside Duncan, but Manu is back for one more season, which is probably good news for all the young guys we have in the roster (which are many). Hopefully Pop understands that Kyle needs the ball more and Manu can take on more of a mentor role. But if that doesn't happen, it's Pop's fault.
That Dedmon guy: Not even sure what his first name is, but heard good stuff about him on Pounding the Rock, so I'm a bit puzzled, to be frank. In PATFO we trust.
Kyle Anderson: In perspective it is kind of sad that he was sent to summer league to work on some specific stuff but not knowing specifically what Pop wants. He has said players don't really know this early what role they will be asked to play during the season and from his own statements the game they showcase in summer league and what they do for the varsity team are very different games. It seems like at least the young players have to find out how the fit in around others and what roles Pop wants from them.
I think Kyle has been a real chameleon for the team, doing whatever the team needs at a given point to get himself time on the floor. He has definitely not been at liberty to play his game except when others are resting, injured, or the game was already decided either way. But considering our win record last season with him plugging holes in so many positions for injured players, the team expanding leads when the veterans sat, and winning most of the rest games, I think Kyle has earned some trust. Becky also raved about him being the best all around player in the summer and he is still just 22 years old. Even with all that, it's hard to say what Pop will do. Is he going to play mostly a 3 or a 4? I don't know.
It would be a shame to waste a year of his development when the team is likely to need him to play well in the postseason anyways and if he's not placed in positions to take shots of significance through the season, he won't reach the postseason with confidence, but it's hard to say. As I told you elsewhere, I place next season on Pop and they really should use Manu as support for the younger players at this point. At 39 he doesn't need to be carrying the bench and he can play off the ball very well with his shooting and perfect timing on his cuts. He played really well of Kawhi for example. For me, the entire thing, including Kyle's development is on Pop at this point.
He might play PF until Manu retires, but they have been growing him to make plays with the ball and I would expect to see him in that role more but not entirely yet.
For all the criticism he gets for not being an ideal off bail player, that was not his game coming into the league. It's not how he won his team's games. It's a credit to him how much he's added to his skills and how much he's worked on his shot bc he wasn't a prolific shooter. He wasn't a post up player either and maybe he's not great at right now, but he has improved a lot and is still getting better.
Bottom line, after thinking about it, I think he will be all over in positions again like last season bc he was already doing that when he was an inexperienced player with success. As he matures, and gets more saavy, why stop there? I bet it will allow Pop to play him with a variety of guys and lineups. He's versatile enough now having added 3 point shooting to fit in anywhere.
We will probably just see some growth, I am guessing, but I have tempered expectations on a breakout season bc Pop and his process likes to take the long road. Just look at Kawhi and how long it took him to take ownership of his role. It was a gradual growth over several seasons and Pop taking it easy and gradual was a big part of slowing that down. I expect the same gradual growth for Kyle and Dijon when it comes down to it. They all were drafted into a mature vet team while being very young which afforded the Spurs the ability to grow them into roles and let them develop at their own pace.
Reading that Zach Lowe article on Manu was bittersweet in the part where the article remarks that initially Manu was reduced to playing off Tim standing in a corner waiting to take a 3pt shot if he got the ball from Tim. Manu wasn't happy about that, he wanted to make plays with the ball. But Manu was 25, a mature player who had already played internationally and professionally, and he had confidence in himself and his game. He resisted Pop and eventually won out due to his tremendous talent. But we have to remember, he wasn't so much molded by Pop as already coming to Pop as he is and just getting better as he entered his prime. Pop himself had doubts he could coach him.
In the playoffs, I think Spurs parked Kyle in corners to their detriment, specially in the OKC series where the bench needed help from anybody. For better or worse, he wasn't involved in what the bench was doing. Other guys were taking shots. I agree with you that they will need him to attack mismatches and get in the paint and draw fouls, as well as take his open 3s. I do expect him to have a good individual season, but as you see I too vacillate bc how many seasons did we expect Kawhi to take that step and he didn't (who is a bigger talent and had more guaranteed playing time, role and the coach's vouching for his upside). Instead it was gradual increases with Kawhi and continued improvement, so that is kind of what I expect, but it could be different.
What helps Kyle and Dijon bottom line is that the team Kawhi joined when he was 20 was a different team, with the big 3 in the backend of their careers but still producing at a high level and good two elite years from Tony. The team Kyle joined in 2014 was stacked and looking to repeat and even last season's team was extremely deep with too many quality forwards, pushing him to play as a guard at times.
This particular team is not that stacked in forwards, or guards. There are old guys at both spots, and the Spurs need to push their young players along. Its just really hard to say with Pop and his process and whether he intends to play Lee as part of the rotation or not.
Jonathon Simmons: He's just not very good, and I suspect he'll have a very short time to prove his worth with the amount of guards that are going to be waiting in the NBDL
David Lee: Seems like a nice guy to have a beer with, not sure anymore as an NBA player.
Anyways, tried to keep this short and to the point. I might elaborate a bit more on certain player's roles (ie: Manu, Kyle) as the season goes along, and don't forget this is just an opinion, nothing personal.
Enjoy!
Couldn't dare to read Kyle's analysis.
tr;dl (asian version)
Probably for the best. It's all over the place. It's different quotes from the Church of Anderson anyways. Sometimes I am too daring though.
The short version: let's hope for the best and that dude has a good season. Team likely needs him.
I can agree with thatProbably for the best. It's all over the place. It's different quotes from the Church of Anderson anyways. Sometimes I am too daring though.
The short version: let's hope for the best and that dude has a good season. Team likely needs him.
Great work, the only gripe I have is there is way to many paragraph spaces in Kyle's section. She usually posts large chunks of text with no spacing, making it impossible to read.
I want to read it as I think there is some quality opinion hidden, but it's just a complete mind wall of text without spacing.
Manu ElNono Ginobili peaking too soon in the season tbh gonna be gassed in January... dude should coast more in particular during offseason instead playing international compe ions for his country
January? December is more likely, tbh... but that's why we have fathead...
Dude is gonna linchpin that second unit...
which is a good thing because the more time he sees on the floor the better he gets as demonstrated by Chinook. Now Spurs just need to trust a third year Kyle Anderson (see I did not use Fathead, I try to avoid to be accused of sexism or trolling tbh) to lead dat bench that will put us into being a contender.
BTW and in reference to one your favorite also mentionned in OP, you should have used November
Manu is more of a highlight reel game here or there guy, tbh... its not just all physical anymore with him, IMO.BTW and in reference to one your favorite also mentionned in OP, you should have used November
It's just time to enjoy him while he's still around.
I was on the November Parker tbh
I know, but November Parker really is a physical issue...
"November Parker" sounds like the name of some faux angst-ridden Millennial singer.
Hoping Bertans is ready for action and healthy TBH. Reading Nono this nostalgic, I don't know, makes me uneasy.
Manu's swansong was bound to make Nono nostalgic. Me too, he's my favorite player now that TD is gone. Nostalgia, they say, is just a mild form of depression. But that will soon be forgotten if we play well come next month. (So soon!!!)
Hoping Bertans and all the Spurs are ready to go. Would love to see your boy Kyle make "the leap" this year. Would be very good for the Spurs, especially with Manu, probably close to done.
Manu close to done is better than Fathead.
Then as a true Spurs fan I know you want Kyle to continue to improve as it is good for the team.Manu close to done is better than Fathead.
As a true Spurs fan I know what is hurting my team. Thoughts of Kyle becoming more than 10th role player on a team is cancerous.
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