He's a rook. If history is any indication, he'll learn from his mistakes and come back better.
He's not bigger than the avg. two guard. He's 6'3" w/out shoes.
Positions do matter if they can't defend the position you're slotting them at. It's harder to execute on both ends w/ inferior size. Only way they both can excel at SG is if they are playing a team that has 2 PGs on the floor.
Otherwise they'll be at an instant disadvantage.
It's like when Spurs played Mason/Hill at the 3 and 2 off the bench, that didn't go well.
In no way, shape or form is White an undersized two-guard.
He'll have a harder time executing on both ends at the two. He won't make it very far there imo.
The best spot for him to reach his full potential will be at back up PG.
Not everyone can be oversized for their position. White has demonstrated little ability to stay in front of guys this summer. It seems like it will be easier for him to guard guys his own size than it would it to keep up with small-more agile players.
Really disappointing summer league performance overall, with the exception of Forbes. He is showing he can play in this league. He knows he has to fight for his spot and looking to avoid the G league. I see him as a better version of Steve Kerr during the bulls championship years. The big men , among others are not being utilized. Cady Lalane, showed some brief flashes, and needs more run. I think Cleananthony showed nothing, along with Bentil. It's a shame, I think we know what we have in Bertans and Forbes, and they should have sat out like Murray. I really think Corey Jefferson night be pressing, and has shown some flashes. He posted up, attempted a few threes, and hustled and rebounded. Spurs NEED youth and athleticism in the front court. Enough with focus on combo guards.
Its tougher for him to be effective offensively with bigger, more athletic guys checking him. His effectiveness goes down in this aspect, like we are seeing in SL. His best game was the first one -- which was when he played PG the most.
He played PG the most in this most recent game, when team's starting PG wasn't there to take minutes from him. For some reason, you insist on classifying PG as the shortest player on the court. I can't think of a less useful definition. The Spurs can't control who guards him. If he's effective, he'll likely draw a wing, like Murray did against Boston. If he can't score on wings, he's not going to make it. You don't alter your roster to fit an 11th-man's game.
I was going to say, I'm actually pretty happy with Cady as well. I'm hoping Murray just has to settle in. I can't say enough how little I think of Hardy's ability as a lead coach, though.
I don't really see labels, I see skill sets. White has the skillset to have the potential to be a the lead guard/play-maker off the bench. I just don't think he has the burst, change of speeds, acceleration to excel at as much if he's up against bigger players on both ends of the floor. Size does matter and it limits effectiveness, especially if White is going up against bigger size that has better athletic ability. My assessment is that White will have the best chance to flourish as a back up lead guard/play-maker -- being the smallest guy on the court for the Spurs -- like Vasquez did with Memphis.
Vasquez was bigger than the two-guards he played with. His most common back-court partner in Memphis was OJ Mayo, who incidentally is smaller than White is (second-most common was Ish Smith, before you think I'm pulling one over on you). Vasquez has been the bigger guard for most of his career.
Mayo was the same size as White. Vasquez had his best years playing w/ Mayo. And Mayo was fine at the SG because he had the burst and acceleration offensively to turn corners vs. other wings. I don't see that with White, I think the size will bother him because he lacks the burst, acceleration needed to execute consistently offensively on the NBA level.
White has a better chance to succeed as back up PG next to Simmons or Hanga opposed to being the back up SG, playing next to Mills the next 4 years. IMO
If White is strictly getting minutes at the 2, I don't see him sticking long term. In retrospect, I personally liked James Anderson a lot more as a SG prospect compared to White as a SG prospect -- it's a shame James broke his foot.
Mayo is the same height with shorter arms. Regardless, Vasquez has pretty much never been the smallest guy on the court, like you suggested. I have to admit, though, the idea that SG takes more athleticism to play than PG argument is a new one. I definitely don't think Hanga is too good on offense to force teams to play PGs on White, though I guess Simmons might not be.
Could a White/Murray back court work in your eyes?
For smaller SGs it does take more athleticism than what White has. In this case, it takes more athleticism to execute consistently because he'd be going up against longer athletic players. At PG, he doesn't have to have great athleticism because he has the size to execute despite average athletic ability. Does that make any sense to you?
In regards to White, a White/Murray back court would work better than Mills/White.
Although, I am not enthusiastic about White as i am of Murray, I see the Spurs selection as looking long term, and present uncertainty with Ginobili, Simmons, and Green a free agent next year. WHITE has a ceiling of Green, if he puts on some muscle. Sometimes basketball IQ outplays athleticism and height, etc. From what I read and hear of white speak, he has the maturity, IQ, and determination to overcome athleticism and height concerns. But don't expect much this year except great stats in Austin.
To me, your argument is like saying Kyle is a better two-guard than PF because he's way taller and longer than the average SG. Size does make up for athleticism, but skill makes up for it too. White shouldn't be trying to take guys one-on-one, big or small. He'll need to learn to use his body coming off screens to seal his man.
Not really at all. There's context to it, Kyle has an array of skills and hesitation/acceleration at PF that gives him a slight edge there (since most PFs aren't as quick/athletic as wings are). He's actually more effective as a 4 than a wing because of this. He's more effective off close outs at the 4 when he's spotting up because he's being guarded by slower footed players. Not to mention, he's actually solid defending at the 4, because he's able to defend in space, switch PnRs well.
Again, White will be able to use his body more effectively against smaller guys.
Last edited by MaNu4Tres; 07-07-2017 at 09:46 AM.
Unless Gay starts at the 4, I expect Kyle to. And White has shown plenty of ability to get to the hole and finish. I think his size is a non-issue.
I think Gay starts at the 4. It's easy to assume that came up in negotiations. Its another contract year, he's only 30 years old, he took less money. Hard to imagine he'd be okay with back up minutes behind Kawhi when those minutes are very limited.
Nothing is ever promised, but Pop probably laid out that scenario with him at the 4 and Kawhi at the 3. He has to earn it, but it shouldn't be too difficult if he's healthy and right.
It's only an issue at SG because his athleticism is average at best imo. You need good size with avg athleticism or you can be like White's size but need more athleticism to really excel. IMO.
I think he is a PG who can move over to SG for a few minutes. But I think he will essentially make it or break it as a PG.
My thoughts as well.
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