2016-17 Training Camp Thread

[phxspurfan]

He's back!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BK6IeZTBTYk/

[tonight...you]

TGY you don't look at the entirety of the situation. In the playoffs it wasn't Kyle's role to score, first of all he played very little and didn't touch the ball at all most of the time. He wasn't involved unless he was wide open which didn't happen often bc no one in that bench was drawing a double team and they were manhandled in the paint. It's been discussed ad nauseaum elsewhere so will just leave it at that. You have to look at Mills and Dwest, even Manu, guys who did have the ball and were taking shots and supposed to run the offense.

Simmons needed to work on being solid. That's not arguable. It's basically what Pop said. He was prone to mistakes under pressure at inopportune times and wasn't reliable on defense. This is a new season and he has a new chance to prove he can be those things. It's on him. Dude hasn't shown yet he can do these things, which is why it surprised me Pop put him on the same level as Kyle, who did show he could be relied on. But Pop sees these guys in practice and maybe Simmons is indeed more solid now, and if he is, it's for the best. Simmons is not a rookie anymore. I wish him to do well and have stated that everywhere. Now obviously I do expect Pop to be more strict bc that is the only way the dude will really progress further from where he's at. He won't get better by being comfortable with what he's been doing so far.

Hmmm... I can't recall Pop ever chewing Kawhi out, on the court. I do remember him going nuclear on young Tony Parker almost every game his first few years.
I am of the belief that Pop knows what his players need as far as coaching. Everyone is an individual and succeed according to their own desires and stimuli that works for them.

[Chillen]

He's back!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BK6IeZTBTYk/

Interesting, he's probably just hanging out showing the newcomers the ropes, but I wouldn't be shocked if he suited up again in a Spurs uniform at some point this season. Perhaps not, but if he feels the itch and the body feels good, go for it. Retirement is retirement, he can always retire again. Of course he'll join all other pro athletes that can't make up their mind with retirement, like Jordan.

[tonight...you]

Interesting, he's probably just hanging out showing the newcomers the ropes, but I wouldn't be shocked if he suited up again in a Spurs uniform at some point this season. Perhaps not, but if he feels the itch and the body feels good, go for it. Retirement is retirement, he can always retire again.

I don't believe he can, this year even if he wanted to, due to retirement rules, but I could be wrong.

[Brazil]

That is true, though. Simmons is extremely coddled. No way would he survive the Green treatment. Anderson doesn't get the Green got, but he's still not nearly as babied.

Pop sent Simmons 7 times to the toros sometimes for 24 hours last year they both saw some DNPs some games at 15 mn the game after at 5... Then Simmons is much older, he probably does not need to be yelled at, he is a hard worker who made it to the NBA the hard way. I'm sorry he does not strike me as a guy lacking of confidence needing being babied especially considering his personnal experience. He is not entering in the league young as full of himself need to be humbled, he has already been humbled or a guy who needs to be yelled at to get the best out of him. This is quite different of being coddled.

Just another random popcorn idea throwing out there to see if it sticks... I guess

[dabom]

Chinook got some really bad ing takes tbh. Just throwing that out there.

[Chillen]

I don't believe he can, this year even if he wanted to, due to retirement rules, but I could be wrong.

So does anyone know for sure if Duncan is eligible to unretire and sign with the Spurs this season if say he had that itch back?

[Brazil]

How has Simmons been babied or coddled? He got left out of the rotation even though he produced more than Kyle while he was on it. He's had to go to Austin. He's had to wear suits on game day.

Kyle was the one STILL getting minutes all the way up to game 7 against OKC even though he averaged 2.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 0.7apg on 32FG% and 33% from three oh, and a 7.7 PER

Those are called mandatory minutes. Not earned.

pretty much that...

wtf with this simmons is cobbled and kyle anderson takes all the and is tough.... W...T...F really... mind blowing

[dabom]

Fathead so slow. Went from pg to pf in 2 years.

[tonight...you]

pretty much that...

wtf with this simmons is cobbled and kyle anderson takes all the and is tough.... W...T...F really... mind blowing

Yeah... I don't get that at all. Is this some new meme trying to break out? Pop does what he deems necessary for each player in their respective situations. If he feels like he needs to bust a jaw, he does it. To any of them.
How many times have we heard over the years of Pop chewing out Duncan in front of everybody so they all know they aren't safe if Timmy isn't?

Nobody is being coddled, imo.

[dabom]

I have not seen one ing example of Pop cuddling Simmons at all. Unless you try that slurp slurp.

[tonight...you]

So does anyone know for sure if Duncan is eligible to unretire and sign with the Spurs this season if say he had that itch back?

This might help:
63. What are the rules for retired players? What if the player suffers a career-ending injury?

There's nothing binding about a player announcing his retirement. The player can still sign a new contract and continue playing (if he's not under contract), or return to his team (if he is still under contract) and resume his career.The only exception to this is when a player is still under contract, wants to quit, and his team doesn't want to let him out of his contract. Under these cir stances the player can file for retirement with the league. The player is placed on the league's Voluntarily Retired list (see question number 79), forgoes his remaining salary, and cannot return to the league for one year.

[HarlemHeat37]

Excited to see Kyle Anderson at the 4, tbh, it's probably his optimal position IMO..he had a pretty decent RS with some stretches that displayed nice flashes of basketball..unfortunately, he was a disaster in the playoffs..

His defense has progressed far better than his offense, so far..to be fair, his style of play is difficult to master as the potential point-forward mismatch..

[SAGirl]

Hmmm... I can't recall Pop ever chewing Kawhi out, on the court. I do remember him going nuclear on young Tony Parker almost every game his first few years.
I am of the belief that Pop knows what his players need as far as coaching. Everyone is an individual and succeed according to their own desires and stimuli that works for them.

Kawhi is on another level of excellence at this point. When he was younger I did see Pop getting on him on occasion, obviously we are not saying Simmons is on Kawhi's level right?

[TD 21]

I can't think of a situation where a 25 year old would allow himself to be relegated to old man minutes regardless of cir stances. I suspect kawhi, sat down with the coaching stuff to address this issue as it was clear that in the later half of the season last year, kawhi played more minutes even in blowouts.

I can't see Aldridge playing more than he did last year considering the team is looking to test out and possibly extend bench big minutes in situational cases..specially to start the season.

There is no way Green should be playing less than 29 at this point, imo.

I have hard time readind Parker and Mills..i mean id love for parker to play less and mills more..but I dont know if pop shares the same sentiment.

I think the assumption stems from Aldridge unwillingless to play the center position. Makes dedmon a better fit if he really doesnt want.

I don't disagree with a lot of this, but I think you're conflating what you want with what's likely to happen.


Pop on Lee: "He'll be somebody that's important to our rotation for sure".

Pop on Anderson: "It's pretty obvious that I need to play him more".

Neither is a surprise, but this likely means that Dedmon will be more of a fringe rotation player to start.

[HarlemHeat37]

Jesus, David Lee wearing a Spurs uniform

[Maddog]

So does anyone know for sure if Duncan is eligible to unretire and sign with the Spurs this season if say he had that itch back?

This might help:
63. What are the rules for retired players? What if the player suffers a career-ending injury?

There's nothing binding about a player announcing his retirement. The player can still sign a new contract and continue playing (if he's not under contract), or return to his team (if he is still under contract) and resume his career.The only exception to this is when a player is still under contract, wants to quit, and his team doesn't want to let him out of his contract. Under these cir stances the player can file for retirement with the league. The player is placed on the league's Voluntarily Retired list (see question number 79), forgoes his remaining salary, and cannot return to the league for one year.

I don't see it happening. I sincerely believe he became frustrated the second half of the season. Remember in that interview with his friend how he said it wasn't fun anymore.

[SAGirl]

People do realize that the Gasol signing was so huge, the timing was perfect. If Duncan retired and Spurs signed nobody to fill that void, the Spurs could be looking at struggling to make the 8th spot in the West with the team currently constructed. Gasol isn't replacing Tim, you can't, he is just filling the void.

Spurs have potential to be either the #1 seed or the #3rd now.

Pau is gonna have a great season, he seems motivated.

Thanks. Yea I think it was a huge signing all things considered. I do think LMA alone in the frontcourt with some run of the mill center wasn't going to get it done.

[TheGreatYacht]

TGY you don't look at the entirety of the situation. In the playoffs it wasn't Kyle's role to score, first of all he played very little and didn't touch the ball at all most of the time. He wasn't involved unless he was wide open which didn't happen often bc no one in that bench was drawing a double team and they were manhandled in the paint. It's been discussed ad nauseaum elsewhere so will just leave it at that. You have to look at Mills and Dwest, even Manu, guys who did have the ball and were taking shots and supposed to run the offense.

Simmons needed to work on being solid. That's not arguable. It's basically what Pop said. He was prone to mistakes under pressure at inopportune times and wasn't reliable on defense. This is a new season and he has a new chance to prove he can be those things. It's on him. Dude hasn't shown yet he can do these things, which is why it surprised me Pop put him on the same level as Kyle, who did show he could be relied on. But Pop sees these guys in practice and maybe Simmons is indeed more solid now, and if he is, it's for the best. Simmons is not a rookie anymore. I wish him to do well and have stated that everywhere. Now obviously I do expect Pop to be more strict bc that is the only way the dude will really progress further from where he's at. He won't get better by being comfortable with what he's been doing so far.

Simmons must be looking great because I don't see how Pop can get him a bigger role. Dedmon/Lee will be the backup bigs with Kyle at the 3. You already know Manu will be the backup SG... How will he get more minutes? Don't see it unless Kyle is a stretch 4 and Simmons becomes Kawhi's backup.

If I had to guess, this is all just a smoke screen and he's probably just trying to increase Simmons and Anderson's trade value to Philly tbh

Now, to get to your other point. You said Kyle would improve if he had the ball more, and I think you're probably right. Buuuut from what I saw last year I don't see any way he outperformed Simmons. One just happened to be a rookie and Pop doesn't trust rookies.

[tonight...you]

Kawhi is on another level of excellence at this point. When he was younger I did see Pop getting on him on occasion, obviously we are not saying Simmons is on Kawhi's level right?

No, don't put words in my mouth. I was asking a question as I could not recall Pop getting on him, on the court. I remember them talking in front of the bench when he would pull him for one reason, or another, but I cannot remember him going after Kawhi like a Danny, or a young TP. Savvy? And levels of excellence should not be how a coach coaches an individual. It's the individual himself that determines how a coach coaches him.

[SAGirl]

I don't see it happening. I sincerely believe he became frustrated the second half of the season. Remember in that interview with his friend how he said it wasn't fun anymore.

Yea, and I contrast that with Ginobili, who said he had so much fun last season, he felt well, he was healthy, he was able to be productive in his role, etc. They just had very different experiences last season. It was time for TD.

[SAGirl]

No, don't put words in my mouth. I was asking a question as I could not recall Pop getting on him, on the court. I remember them talking in front of the bench when he would pull him for one reason, or another, but I cannot remember him going after Kawhi like a Danny, or a young TP. Savvy? And levels of excellence should not be how a coach coaches an individual. It's the individual himself that determines how a coach coaches him.

savvy? lol ok yea I got you.
When you typed savvy, I pictured a Pirates of the Caribbean voice. That made me laugh regardless lol

[Dex]

People do realize that the Gasol signing was so huge, the timing was perfect. If Duncan retired and Spurs signed nobody to fill that void, the Spurs could be looking at struggling to make the 8th spot in the West with the team currently constructed. Gasol isn't replacing Tim, you can't, he is just filling the void.

Spurs have potential to be either the #1 seed or the #3rd now.

Pau is gonna have a great season, he seems motivated.

Agreed on all points...except maybe the #1 seed. Barring any unforeseen complications, Warriors probably have that wrapped...they are just too talented and deep. They could play 3 of their big 4 every game and still probably be favorites for the #1 seed. I do still think we have a shot to beat them in a 7-game series, though.

That being said, signing Gasol seemed to be an extremely underrated move. That was probably because it was overshadowed by Durant going to the bay. Any other year, the Spurs would be looking like the darlings of free agency with another "oh they did it again" move.

Duncan leaving is sad...especially since I feel like he had one more good year in him. However, nobody knows what he went through both before and after games to prepare and heal his body. Timmy said he would go until the wheels fell off, and unfortunately...that time finally came. However, I'm not sure I could think of a better replacement for Duncan than Pau. Both are highly skilled, intelligent big men with championship pedigrees. It will definitely make the transition smoother.

Sure, getting Pau two years ago would have been great. We are getting a lesser version now of the same player he was then...but I think the degree of that may be exaggerated. Like Tim, Pau's game isn't predicated on crazy speed or athleticism...he has aged well and still has solid footwork, good basketball IQ, and a crisp jumper. We saw that as recently as the Olympics when he carried Spain to the bronze.

Also to be considered...if the Spurs had landed Pau two years ago, there is no way in we get Aldridge last year. There simply wouldn't have been enough money or minutes for him to come. Going under the assumption that Tim still retires, that means that we would have been left with only the 2016 Gasol going into this season. The way things turned out is definitely a much better scenario for the Spurs next era.

[tonight...you]

savvy? lol ok yea I got you.
When you typed savvy, I pictured a Pirates of the Caribbean voice. That made me laugh regardless lol

I was typing with Jack Sparrow's voice, by the by...

[SAGirl]

Jesus, David Lee wearing a Spurs uniform

You are trying to dampen my mood Harlem!
lol
I know you don't, but talking saavy, I am in a good mood.

I guess I am excited about the season.