Grades: Spurs @ Suns - Oct. 31, 2018

[Mr. Body]

They're not tanking. They had a great crowd for their opening game and they have been pushing season ticket sales saying they're on their way back. They are just a fumbling mess.

I didn't realize how ty they are. I don't think Booker is nearly the player people say he is. Big time empty stats. They won't win games with him, either. The rest of the roster is trash. What a disaster.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Are the Suns tanking or do they just massively suck? I say they massively suck. One of the worst teams in a long time, even with Booker -- who is badly overrated to begin with.

didnt the suns gave this turd the supermax for a empty stat on a ty team, this clown outside of phoenix nobody knows him....

[skin27]

Are the Suns tanking or do they just massively suck? I say they massively suck. One of the worst teams in a long time, even with Booker -- who is badly overrated to begin with.

Booker is injured that’s why they suck..let’s wait until booker comes back and see if they can win some games

[Mr. Body]

didnt the suns gave this turd the supermax for a empty stat on a ty team, this clown outside of phoenix nobody knows him....

This is the trap of really bad franchises. Those high picks can get extremely expensive. If you have a borderline player, like Wiggins, for example, if you keep paying him his market value, it hurts badly if he's not a star. But then cutting him loose is hard to do. Booker is definitely not a supermax player. He's like the only good young player they have, but is he good enough to just keep them on a treadmill?

I don't think he factors at all, though. They lose just as many games with him as without.

[Mr. Body]

Booker is injured that’s why they suck..let’s wait until booker comes back and see if they can win some games

He's never won them games before. Why would he start now?

[HankChinaski]

Only caught the tail end of this game. Blow out Vic for thia years roster. I'll take it.

After catching some DVR replay. The defense seems to be improving towards an area we had hoped for with the loss of three possible rotation players.

DeMar is just nice to watch. He alone is saving this team with the variety of roles he is having to shoulder.

I'm convinced this is what the team will be courting game to game with the roster. White an Walker will get reacclimated an we may see a player from the G-League or a buyout victim to have picked up at the deadline.

[skin27]

He's never won them games before. Why would he start now?

maybe he got better this season than last year..who knows.

remember he’s only 22.

[Mr. Body]

maybe he got better this season than last year..who knows.

remember he’s only 22.

Dude's in his fourth year. If he hasn't figured out how to actually win games yet, he's not gonna.

[Mirrornick]

Dude's in his fourth year. If he hasn't figured out how to actually win games yet, he's not gonna.

DeRozan became an all star in his 5th season, ironically after Toronto traded Rudy Gay LOL and tbh Booker is way better than DeRozan was at 22. What made DD become an all star was his dedication and work ethic. You never hear about him going to the club after the game. Last year on new years eve while every nba player were partying and getting drunk, DeRozan was at the gym grinding. I think that's one main reason why coach pop loves DD

We never know with some of these players. Some times they peak at 22.

[Thunder1]

Thanx much for the grades!!!

[daslicer]

DeRozan became an all star in his 5th season, ironically after Toronto traded Rudy Gay LOL and tbh Booker is way better than DeRozan was at 22. What made DD become an all star was his dedication and work ethic. You never hear about him going to the club after the game. Last year on new years eve while every nba player were partying and getting drunk, DeRozan was at the gym grinding. I think that's one main reason why coach pop loves DD

We never know with some of these players. Some times they peak at 22.

You can say right now Ayton is better than what Tim Duncan was at age 19 but it's safe to say he will never reach Duncan's level of greatness once he gets older. This is why I never believe in doing age comparisons with players.

[Mirrornick]

You can say right now Ayton is better than what Tim Duncan was at age 19 but it's safe to say he will never reach Duncan's level of greatness once he gets older. This is why I never believe in doing age comparisons with players.

Fair enough. But it is impossible to compare Duncan and Ayton as Timmy didn't play in the NBA at 19.

[spurs10]

Thank you timvp for the grades and observations. I'm really enjoying the season and see our starters as an improvement over last season. Is there a good alternative to Cunningham starting? It seems he is indeed 'hustling' on defense.

[John B]

Thanks for the writeup. Ayton did not look like the number 1 pick. Playing b2b with Dallas, I can compare that Doncic is way ahead as nba ready and should be the ROY if Mavs figure out to use him as the facilitator. Ayton was slow and soft, indecisive and seemed lost. He’s not the dominant big I envisioned him. Demar, LMA and Gasol all dominated him. Only Forbes allowed his fastbreak layup got blocked (I thought Pops was gonna yank him out after that). Crawford also used to worry me, but got checked by Mills This was a fun game where I even got a chance to see Metu.

[superbigtime]

Thoughts:
1. Q Pon was a pretty decent ball handler, bringing the ball up in garbage time and had good control. Bowlegged as .
2. Belinelli needs to show up early and stay late at PRACTICE. Good lord so many misses.

[superbigtime]

Thanks for the writeup. Ayton did not look like the number 1 pick. Playing b2b with Dallas, I can compare that Doncic is way ahead as nba ready and should be the ROY if Mavs figure out to use him as the facilitator. Ayton was slow and soft, indecisive and seemed lost. He’s not the dominant big I envisioned him. Demar, LMA and Gasol all dominated him. Only Forbes allowed his fastbreak layup got blocked (I thought Pops was gonna yank him out after that). Crawford also used to worry me, but got checked by Mills This was a fun game where I even got a chance to see Metu.

Agree, Ayton looked like a lost puppy and pretty unimpressive, for now anyway. And yeah, Doncic is impressive.

[wildbill2u]

DDR is reminding me of one of our first stars from the ABA days, James Silas. Both are masters of the short jumper and they draw a lot of fouls and make the FTs/ Lately DDR is also taking the last clutch shot and making it. He may become Captain Late 2.0

[SpurPadre]

Bryn Scrubs continues to be graded way too highly...

[R. DeMurre]

I remember last season being frustrated when Danny Green and Kyle Anderson were on the floor together and it just seemed like neither one wanted to attack offensively... So often Aldridge was the only guy being remotely aggressive. DeRozan changes that dynamic so much. If Rudy holds steady and Derrick White returns and plays like he did in the summer league, the offense can really be potent.

[tbdog]

Spurs have plenty players now that are trigger happy. Having lma and being patient and kicking out from double teams, is a good balance to have. Just need Beli and Mills to hit their open looks. When White and Walker return, our A should improve a little more.