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Then what do you suggest? Compete with Anderson or Simmons as the main bench guys? Its always been an uphill battle. Ginobili is just the best option at this point.
Ceiling: More disciplined Westbrook
Floor: Point guard who can't pass and makes dad decisions, shooting guard who can't shoot.
Then what do you suggest? Compete with Anderson or Simmons as the main bench guys? Its always been an uphill battle. Ginobili is just the best option at this point.
neither is a hybrid. LMA is a pure pf and Pau is a pure C, the fact that Pau was able to win while playing the pf spot, is just a testament to his skill level. They are as old school a pairing as you can find. What you can argue about, is that they will not be fast in transition defense and in general we will have to be an old school team.I know that is the position he has mostly played (hence, the). (However he did play significant minutes at C last season.) But sarcasm aside, my point is really about the fact that Pau (and, really LMA) is a hybrid - a point center. Unless the Spurs rarely play LMA and Pau together (which Pop won't do), then the team's only "true" center is a bust. That state of affairs will not take the team very far. Lee is tweener - a short big with no midrange game. If LMA, Pau and Lee are the Spurs' top 3 "bigs" regardless of the Program listing of position, then the team is in trouble.
To take your point one step further, Anderson does not have a skill set that makes him a stand-in for Manu, either. Both really need the ball and want to facilitate, but their manner of setting up teammates is very different. Kyle will never be the driver/slasher that Manu was nor the PnR player. Just as Diaw was not a good stand-in for Manu, neither is Anderson. It was really Simmons that PATFO hoped might become the Manu stand-in, I believe. And as much as I have rooted for the feel-good story that is Simmons, he is washing out completely.
In the '14 Finals, Diaw led the team in assists. For the whole series.
Manu may be the best option in the short term for a majority of games. But he can only play limited minutes and limited games and is likely to get injured or run out of gas by the playoffs. I have doubts that Simmons even makes the RS roster. Anderson should get the early season nod to either make it or break it. It is time to fish or cut bait with the guy. All of the debate about Anderson on ST is close to the end - one way or another. (Get ready for the Murray debate to replace it.) Granted, the offense will be a lot different with Anderson, but the Spurs need to transition away from the Manu era somehow - even if it means a trade.
However you view those two players, my point is that the Spurs are going nowhere with LMA, Pau and Lee as the top 3 "bigs".
A more disciplined Westbrook would be a HoF candidate. I don't really see that happening. For all his chucking and ball dominance, Westbrook still makes a lot of assists. You think Dijon has the court vision for that? Honest question - I don't know.
He (Westbrook) makes a lot of assists but isn't any exceptional passer. Murray (if he hits his absolute ceiling) may be able to do that if he pulls in defenders like Westbrook. But please also note I said Dijon's floor is a PG who can't pass. So, obviously, I don't know either....
does lee count at all?
I agree; it is kind of paradoxical. Just being a defender magnet is obviously the key, but he still makes the plays. I think the tough love that Pop has shown Dijon is good for him and the team. It worked well on Tony, who became an immediate starter (fingers crossed). Not so good on Beno...He (Westbrook) makes a lot of assists but isn't any exceptional passer. Murray (if he hits his absolute ceiling) may be able to do that if he pulls in defenders like Westbrook. But please also note I said Dijon's floor is a PG who can't pass. So, obviously, I don't know either....
Is that a rhetorical question? You call it.
If David Lee was so good as a Maverick then why didn't they re-sign him? They had tons of caproom.
Maybe they realized he was garbage on the court. A desperate move in season that they washed their hands of in the off season. Just like the Spurs did with Gooden.
Pop needs to go full-on Melissa McCarthy on Murray.I agree; it is kind of paradoxical. Just being a defender magnet is obviously the key, but he still makes the plays. I think the tough love that Pop has shown Dijon is good for him and the team. It worked well on Tony, who became an immediate starter (fingers crossed). Not so good on Beno...
Throw the toaster, Pop. Throw the toaster.
Last edited by BillMc; 10-09-2016 at 04:14 PM.
Pop needs to go full-on Melissa McCarthy on Murray.
Throw the toaster, Pop. Throw the toaster.Thanks a million! Too funny! Do you have that broken into clips? Can't wait to see the toaster meme the first time a Spur gets burned this season...
Don't have the clips. Closest meme I could find was this:
Not as good, but it will work.
Hope this works...Not as good, but it will work.
Last edited by toki9; 10-10-2016 at 12:51 AM.
HaHa! Good job!Hope this works...
Cool!Hope this works...
I mostly lurk.HaHa! Good job!
You're welcome. ;-)Cool!
Agreed. I am ready to watch him play somewhere else if a trade improves the team but it won't be a straight up dump. It has to be something that really improves the team. He showed up for games when they needed him this past season, so the hope is not unfounded. Right now it just feels but like there are so many issues elsewhere that Pop will figure him out later. There's no point if they don't figure out other pressing needs.
Bottom line for me, I think Dedmon and Lee for bigs don't make the bench better than if they went with a perimeter line-up that featured Bertans instead of one of them and did involve Anderson in more of a playmaker role, instead of playing the floor spacer role which has been a weakness (and again I hope his 3 pts shooting improves through the season).
What happens when Manu rests its anyone's guess. That's when I think Pop has to bust out his "figuring out" chops and do place him in positions and roles that are good for him, and give him more of a green light. Otherwise, they won't really know what they have there.
I think Lee has to play as a center offensively but can't defensively. I tend to think as a 4 there are effects caused by his lack of shooting that make it difficult for everyone else playing together with him. He may have an ok individual line stats wise but still be an overall negative bc his presence eliminates driving lanes for others (like JSimms if he was a viable player...) and even Anderson bc he does like to get to the hoop, it's indisputable and he's effective doing it, either picking his spot or passing to someone. None of that is there playing with Lee as a 4 though.
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