Game Grades: Spurs Versus Heat (2 of 2) 8-3

[wildbill2u]

Thanks to Chinook and Helicopter (may I call you Helicopter?) for their long takes. That's the kind of basketball tallk we need more of on this site. Note, it isn't about the grade scores which are subjective to everyone, it's all about the analysis of what the individuals are contributing to the team effort.

I really can't improve much on yall's analysis per individuals, but the team seemed to be totally out of sync or focus. That can happen on the road, but they stepped up the defense and rebounding and that saved them. No one particularly excelled, but no one had a really bad game. We saw a stronger team pull out a win on the road, and that's what playoff contenders are supposed to do.

[Hoops Czar]

Manu looks perfect in a 15 MPG role, so far..on nights where he's off and Green is on, I wouldn't mind lowering it to 10, too..he's at the point where the more he plays, the worse he looks, which is natural at this point in his career..

Ideally, Tony would only play 20 MPG, too, but there's no alternative..as I've been saying since last year, you can hate him all you want, but this roster is built to have him play a major role..

Well, Tony is the pg so naturally he's going to impact games to some degree but, he hasn't had a major role since 2014.

[Cry Havoc]

The Spurs clearly need a lineup for when the other team is getting extremely physical. Maybe something like Leonard Green Simmons Dedmon LMA.

[SAGirl]

Thanks for the grades Chinook... much appreciated.

I missed this game, but I'll comment on your observations about the bench.

I feel like the bench with Dedmon and Lee will always tend to struggle in the half court sets. Both bigs like the paint and notwithstanding the very occasional jumpshot they take, they don't camp away from the basket with the intention of shooting. The ability to hit a very, very occasional jumpshot is not enough unless it happens on a nightly basis.

Simmons is not a jumpshooter either so that complicates matters more. He is shooting just 18% on the 3 and he rarely takes a midrange shot unless it is to bail out a possession. He ideally wants to get to the basket and the team needs that, but he's better in transition when he has a step on his defender and sometimes even if they deter him in transition, he has become skilled at passing when he draws two guys, thus giving someone else in that group the advantage for a shot before defenses are set.

Against set defenses the bench has had to resort to some Manu heroics saving possessions with crazy 3 pt shots. Manu is shooting 46% on the 3 himself, and one wonders if that is sustainable with the kind of shots he has been taking. So it's a concern that if Manu comes down to a more average %, the bench will struggle.

Aside from Simmons shooting just 18% on the 3, Dedmon is also shooting just 44% on his shots and 85% of those looks are right at the basket or within 3-10 ft, and include a good amount of Oboards and putbacks he's had in games earlier in the season. I am sure if we took those putbacks out, his % would plummet even more. That is problematic. He affects the game defensively for sure, but on offense he hasn't been good enough. He also still has the fouling problems, the moving screens, the lack of skill as a passer, etc. He might be better paired with a shooting big but we will just see how it goes.

Which brings us to Anderson. He's hit a wall. One can't call it a regression when he was never a volume 3 pt shooter to begin with. It's more like the development as a shooter that I hoped to see from the summer hasn't materialized. He is shooting well on limited attempts but teams have realized that they can neutralize him easily if they just give him some space, bc he's not an aggressive shooter that they need to close out that aggressively, and if they give him space he's not going to blow by past them. He's proven that if they leave him wide open he can shoot and if they play him very close getting into him, he can get to the basket and get a layup or dish... So if I were him, I'd realize that the cir stances are not ideal but that becoming a more aggressive shooter is a wall he he has to overcome and it will really open up his game. I don't know if he's capable of climbing that wall, but he needs to for his long term career. I'd even ask for a dleague assignment to play strictly as a sniper to work on that mentality.

[024]

Was a little worried about Pau but after a string of good games, it looks like he was just had a slow start. Pau still looks gassed all the time though.

LMA still looks out of shape. He's scoring in the career lows and shooting the worst FG% of his career. LMA also started out of shape last season so there's still hope he can get things together and stop missing shots 2 inches from the basket.

These two need to be more involved in the offense so we can see less Kawhibe isos. Pau started out passively but seems to be progressing. LMA is still getting his shots but is pretty inefficient. They'll need to pick up the slack. Also would like to see the two dominating the boards. With a Gasol, Aldridge, and Leonard front court, the Spurs should be at least top 5 in rebounding rate.

[ceperez]

Which brings us to Anderson. He's hit a wall. One can't call it a regression when he was never a volume 3 pt shooter to begin with. It's more like the development as a shooter that I hoped to see from the summer hasn't materialized. He is shooting well on limited attempts but teams have realized that they can neutralize him easily if they just give him some space, bc he's not an aggressive shooter that they need to close out that aggressively, and if they give him space he's not going to blow by past them. He's proven that if they leave him wide open he can shoot and if they play him very close getting into him, he can get to the basket and get a layup or dish... So if I were him, I'd realize that the cir stances are not ideal but that becoming a more aggressive shooter is a wall he he has to overcome and it will really open up his game. I don't know if he's capable of climbing that wall, but he needs to for his long term career. I'd even ask for a dleague assignment to play strictly as a sniper to work on that mentality.

Sigh... there's enough tape on him now that every team seems to know how to neutralize him.

Fortunate though for Simmons is that he's got NBA level athleticism to be useful.

Bertans either has been also exposed or Pop his keeping in reserve as a surprise weapon.

[SAGirl]

Sigh... there's enough tape on him now that every team seems to know how to neutralize him.

Fortunate though for Simmons is that he's got NBA level athleticism to be useful.

Bertans either has been also exposed or Pop his keeping in reserve as a surprise weapon.

Nah, I think Pop wants to play Bertans, but he hasn't been good setting screens to free himself so far, and the reality is that there has been very little garbage time as it is and I am sure Pop is nervous about playing untested guys. I am surprised there was a dleague game today and Kyle wasn't on it. I am telling you he needs to be more aggressive shooting.

[Snaq O'Meal]

I have not seen this game but the stats are fine for TP : 11pts 6 AST 3 Rb in 25 mn and +/- +15. It's not bad. I know that stats are only ... stats but TP seems to be more efficient. Do you have an explanation ? or perhaps you are very distracted !

Looks like an A grade to me.