Greyhound Bus of Dante Cunningham

[K...]

And the Spurs, with only the 37th pick, got Dejuan Blair. Not bad.

The 2009 draft was an automatic failure for the following reason: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Ayres 2 31 Jeff Pendergraph PF United States Sacramento Kings (traded to Portland)[D] Arizona State (Sr.)

[Scottstarbuck785]

Undrafted players
Ingles,Baynes,Matthews,

[boutons_deux]

SAS is his ninth team, now he's a starter

he shot no 3Gs until 16-17 season

cool head, lotsa hustle, no bonehead errors,

[RC_Drunkford]

Whoa, man. We got torched by Donkic earlier this week, who isn't even an elite SF yet.

I never said he's an elite defender. But usually the best defender on a team with one of the Top 5 ratings gets all-defensive considerations. Which in this case would be Cunningham unless they want to pick Aldridge

[Kobe'sAchilles]

If he plays like this against all of his former teams then I will be happy lol.

[Dverde]

Plus he’s patriotic!

[Chinook]

One thing Cunningham has been doing well is flashing for a midrange if he thinks his teammates need an outlet. It's not a really efficient shot, but if he's comfortable taking it, then getting him an open look from like 12 feet out seems like a good solution. I don't think the team can rely on him for consistent offense. He'll likely get most of his points on broken plays, and combining that with a couple of things he feels comfortable doing like that little pop can make him workable on that end. As I said before, he wouldn't have a place on better Spurs teams. Folks comparing him to high-level role-players like Bowen don't seem to realize how specialized Spurs role-players tend to be. Cunningham isn't (or at least hasn't been) an elite defender; he's not an elite rebounder or shooter. He's a generalist surviving in a roster of transition. Props to him for providing a needed edge to the team. Still consider a defensive forward a major need, though.

[cjw]

One thing Cunningham has been doing well is flashing for a midrange if he thinks his teammates need an outlet. It's not a really efficient shot, but if he's comfortable taking it, then getting him an open look from like 12 feet out seems like a good solution. I don't think the team can rely on him for consistent offense. He'll likely get most of his points on broken plays, and combining that with a couple of things he feels comfortable doing like that little pop can make him workable on that end. As I said before, he wouldn't have a place on better Spurs teams. Folks comparing him to high-level role-players like Bowen don't seem to realize how specialized Spurs role-players tend to be. Cunningham isn't (or at least hasn't been) an elite defender; he's not an elite rebounder or shooter. He's a generalist surviving in a roster of transition. Props to him for providing a needed edge to the team. Still consider a defensive forward a major need, though.

It’s all about not being an Andre Roberson where the defense can completely ignore you (or foul you if you get the ball!). Roberson shoots about 25% from both three as well as twos that aren’t at the basket. You can hedge away from that hard. Cunningham is a career 33% three point shooter, which isn’t great but is passable, and 35-40% on longer twos. Cunningham also takes 2x the number of shots per 100 possessions.

Cunningham isn’t the defender Roberson is but he’s not an offensive liability. He understands spacing and isn’t a total negative on that end.

[boutons_deux]

SAS is his ninth team, now he's a starter

he shot no 3Gs until 16-17 season

cool head, lotsa hustle, no bonehead errors,

[superbigtime]

Sean and Bill said dude has morphed into a 3 baller last 3 seasons. Love his 3 and D. If he plays like this, we won't be missing Danny at all.

[cd021]

Honestly, Spurs can find easily find cheap contracts from free-agency and convert them into useful assets. What the Spurs have not done is sign them long enough so they could get value on a trade. Imagine if Boban, Simmons, Dedmon were tradeable assets? The problem with PATFO is when a players value rises, they just let them walk instead of a trade one year before they walk.

In hindsight though, Spurs should have re-signed Belinelli instead of having him walk. That was a big time mistake that could have cost us 2015 championship.

Beli was let to walk to sign LMA. Same with Cojo who also turned into a valuable player, Baynes too but it was after several years that he really became good.

They did have the luck/foresight to get Forbes on a 2 year deal for about $6 million. If he were to win or is serious candidate for most improved then that suddenly become a good asset.

[playbonner15]

Dante looks like a leaner, D West lol

[Mirrornick]

Didn't know Cunningham can shoot 3s.

[TD 21]

I remember a highly intelligent and humble poster pontificating that he'd have a relatively significant role, when others thought he'd either be buried or have to make the team . . .

[KDKSpurs24]

I know for a fact that I said that he would have a bigger role than everyone expected. It was in the bold predictions thread.

[Coach X]

Dante and Pop demonstrating that including him in the starting five has been a good decision. Excellent game vs New Orleans, not only guarding, helping and hustling as usual but also hurting the Pelicans defense when his man doubled and hitting his threes.

If he can continue being the 3&D glue forward he's being 'til now, the Spurs can have a very good season.

[Chinook]

I remember a highly intelligent and humble poster pontificating that he'd have a relatively significant role, when others thought he'd either be buried or have to make the team . . .

Yeah, I was skeptical, but you gotta give RD2191 credit for that call. Dude's the undisputed best poster on this site (or at least 1b with timvp), but somehow still underrated.

[tonight...you]

Yeah, I was skeptical, but you gotta give RD2191 credit for that call. Dude's the undisputed best poster on this site (or at least 1b with timvp), but somehow still underrated.

True... true.
Props.

[TD 21]

Yeah, I was skeptical, but you gotta give RD2191 credit for that call. Dude's the undisputed best poster on this site (or at least 1b with timvp), but somehow still underrated.

No, it was someone who is tall, dark and handsome, not third world ugly.

[Chinook]

No, it was someone who is tall, dark and handsome, not third world ugly.

Here's Rob, just enjoying an evening at home:



Nothing "third-world" about that kind of class.

[DAF86]

I remember a highly intelligent and humble poster pontificating that he'd have a relatively significant role, when others thought he'd either be buried or have to make the team . . .

Cunningham was brought as a third string guy though, which it is obvious by the early games rotations. You made it seem like Cunningham was thought by PATFO as a starter all along, which clearly wasn't the case, tbh.

[Chinook]

Here's Rob, just enjoying an evening at home:



Nothing "third-world" about that kind of class.

Sorry, I forgot Rob's not gray anymore:

[TD 21]

Cunningham was brought as a third string guy though, which it is obvious by the early games rotations. You made it seem like Cunningham was thought by PATFO as a starter all along, which clearly wasn't the case, tbh.

No, he wasn't. He was always going to play a relatively significant role. He's 1 of 2 players capable of guarding threatening big wings and the other isn't known for his defense or durability at this point.

I'm surprised at how quickly they were willing to altogether bench Poeltl (especially considering the lack of perimeter depth), but my initial reaction to his acquisition was, unless they trade Gasol at some point during, he's going to have to way a year to play the role he should be playing because playing 3 C's in '18 is untenable.

[DAF86]

No, he wasn't. He was always going to play a relatively significant role.

I'm surprised at how quickly they were willing to altogether bench Poeltl (especially considering the lack of perimeter depth), but my initial reaction to his acquisition was, unless they trade Gasol at some point during, he's going to have to way a year to play the role he should be playing because playing 3 C's in '18 is untenable.

How is that when, even after all the injuries, he wasn't even part of the rotation. With Murray and White healthy he probably wouldn't even be part of the rotation right now.

[RD2191]