Thunder @ Spurs - Game Grades 1/31

[RD2191]

Danny should've got an F. He was straight trash last night.

[GSH]

I think he mostly came out of his slump two games ago. He was making everything to start the Dallas game, but the first few didn't count for one reason or another. He missed a lot of the ones on record, but that's just probability. Last night was something similar.

As far as open shots go, NBA.com has both open and wide-open shots as categories. Green is shooting over 50 percent on open attempts, but he's shooting just over 35 percent on wide-open attempts. I'm not quite sure why that's the case. It's possible that wide-open attempts are at the end of the clock or when his feet aren't set or something. The open attempts are the ones you expect him to get and make within the flow of an offense. Open shots come off forced rotations, while wide open shots come off broken defense.

We used to laugh all the time about Danny's dead-ball 3P%. He'd be 0-for-everything, but he'd have three makes that all came right after a whistle. After a while, that can't be coincidence. The same goes for his lower percentage on wide-open shots. After a while, it's not a coincidence.

I don't know that I've ever seen a basketball player in greater need of a sports psychologist. At the very least, and I said this last year, they need to leave him at home for a week with Chip, and make him shoot 3's until he's dreaming about them at night. When you're missing more wide-open shots than semi-contested shots, it's because you're thinking too much. I think every person here sees that Danny looks like a deer in the headlights when he's got one of those wide-open 3's. He used to go looking for them. This team really needs him to get that swag back.

[ElNono]

Of course, it's his one good game for every six, that's why I called it fools gold. It wont be reliable in the playoffs. I'm not saying he shouldn't play, I'm just saying the leash should be very short if he's hurting the team, but Pops track record with him says otherwise.

Who is 'reliable' in the guard's rotation? Love Simms, he seems to be coming on his own, but he's far from the model of consistency. Patty can be great or really ugly. Tony I think meshes better with Pau, and he already plays quite a bit of minutes.

I agree about the leash, but 20 mins isn't even half the game. He's averaging 19-something mins this season, lowest in his career. He basically has ~15 mins to make any kind of impact. Defensively, after Green, he's our 2nd best defender at the SG/PG position, at 39 years old. FWIW, he's been benched at the end of playoff games since the Clippers series two seasons ago, so he's not untouchable either.

The reality is that this team is built in a different way. It's gong to be LMA/Kawhi taking us somewhere or nowhere. You get what you can from the rest.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Good grades, thanks Amused.

Man I wish Dedmon could control is fouling; he's not improving there.

[UZER]

Who is 'reliable' in the guard's rotation? Love Simms, he seems to be coming on his own, but he's far from the model of consistency. Patty can be great or really ugly. Tony I think meshes better with Pau, and he already plays quite a bit of minutes.

I agree about the leash, but 20 mins isn't even half the game. He's averaging 19-something mins this season, lowest in his career. He basically has ~15 mins to make any kind of impact. Defensively, after Green, he's our 2nd best defender at the SG/PG position, at 39 years old. FWIW, he's been benched at the end of playoff games since the Clippers series two seasons ago, so he's not untouchable either.

The reality is that this team is built in a different way. It's gong to be LMA/Kawhi taking us somewhere or nowhere. You get what you can from the rest.

Of course LMA/Kawhi will take us there.

But Manu is the rare breed that is either helping your team, or literally helping the other team with his turn overs and dumb fouls and constant gambles on defense like he's 25 years old. There is no middle ground. He plays the same way for good or bad. At this point it's more bad.

Sometimes reliable just means maintaining possession of the ball to get a good shot off during the playoffs.

[UZER]

Simmons may still turn the ball over, but he's not as reckless as Manu, plus his athleticism still allows him to make impact plays like the chase down block he had last night.

[Drom John]

1) I thought Lee told the ref "No blood, no foul."

2) As to the missing PG minutes:
For the last four minutes of the 2nd, Simmons subbed in for Mills and covered Westbrook, while Leonard was point forward on offense.
For well less than a minute at the end of the 3rd, Green subbed in for Mills for a defensive possession and covered Westbrook.
After Murray was pulled for Dedmon (that was weird), Anderson was PG for the last minute.

[Phenomanul]

Bertans with the highest plus minus despite only two points... He's becoming Bonner 2.0... (a better, faster, more athletic version)

[wildbill2u]

Considering his physical abilities at this stage of his career, how could you not give David Lee an A- at least. He's such a great addition, playing whatever minutes he is given with great at ude and skills that can surprise us since he has sorta bounced around the last few years. Gotta love this guy.

[Arcadian]

Hey, looks like Pop finally found the right starters and bench rotations.

Even when Pau returns, he should start Dedmon.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Bertans with the highest plus minus despite only two points... He's becoming Bonner 2.0... (a better, faster, more athletic version)

exactly what I was thinking

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Considering his physical abilities at this stage of his career, how could you not give David Lee an A- at least. He's such a great addition, playing whatever minutes he is given with great at ude and skills that can surprise us since he has sorta bounced around the last few years. Gotta love this guy.

I had him at an A- originally, but his defense can be a bit spotty. I could've given him an A-, I was thrilled with him last night.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Hey, looks like Pop finally found the right starters and bench rotations.

Even when Pau returns, he should start Dedmon.

I would love for that to happen but Gasol was inexplicably promised a starting spot all season.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Bertans with the highest plus minus despite only two points... He's becoming Bonner 2.0... (a better, faster, more athletic version)

Unlike Bonner (who probably was an underrated defender to an extent) you really felt Bertans defensive impact out there. Bonner's +/- was always surprising but with Bertans, despite missing a lot of shots, it really felt like the team was playing really well when he was on the floor.

[SnakeBoy]

I'm late to the party but great write up Amused.

[pgardn]

The team D was really good. Even if we get a bunch of blocking fouls on Westbrook before the bonus it's good stuff. Westbrook has to know he WILL take contact with his deep set running back mentality.

KL and LMA on offense with others stepping up depending on the opponent and the night. This is our team offensively it appears. If LMA can hit the boards and get easy put backs, added bonus. Pau, Lee, Bertans, Mills, Simmons can all have their nights in various ways. Tony has got to be fast and steady. Danny has got to harass like he did last night. Dedmon could be very important against certain opponents. We definitely could have used him against OKC last year in the playoffs. Manu gives us some leverage with lineups as he can play with almost any group as an extra ball handler. But he can't be expected to score or "force create".

Thanks for the write up.

[TheDoctor]

Good set of grades OP. Thanks for the write up!

[spursistan]

For this write-up, OP has earned his rights back to open a game thread and cripple few Spurs

[TheDoctor]

For this write-up, OP has earned his rights back to open a game thread and cripple few Spurs

As long as those players are named Tony I won't mind tbh

[Amuseddaysleeper]

For this write-up, OP has earned his rights back to open a game thread and cripple few Spurs

thanks but the Raptors game was my last one of the season.