Grades: Spurs @ Pistons - Jan. 7, 2019

[GreekSpursfan]

Good stuff as usual.

[Mugen]

Obviously Kawhi is two tiers above Demar as an overall player. I put a healthy Nephew as firmly top 3 and Demar as anywhere from Top 25 to Top 30.

But there's something to be said about Demar just being a much better fit as a culture guy within the organization. On a team that just lost Manu/Porky, is paying 12mil a year for a backup PG to be a leader, and with Lamarcus Aldridge as their 1b guy, I really can't stress the importance of having one of their best players be a really, really good teammate.

The Demar being a great playmaker is a little overrated since Kawhi wasn't as bad in that regard as some people made him out to be. But even DD's passes just seem to have chemistry better behind them as stupid as that sounds

I don't know what I'm trying to imply honestly but the '14 team's biggest strength was their chemistry and I really haven't seen that same freeflowing chemistry/culture since until the last 15-20 games and I think Derozan and his presence in the locker room, the bench, on planes, etc. isn't some insignificant part of that tbh.....

[look_at_g_shred]

Obviously Kawhi is two tiers above Demar as an overall player. I put a healthy Nephew as firmly top 3 and Demar as anywhere from Top 25 to Top 30.

But there's something to be said about Demar just being a much better fit as a culture guy within the organization. On a team that just lost Manu/Porky, is paying 12mil a year for a backup PG to be a leader, and with Lamarcus Aldridge as their 1b guy, I really can't stress the importance of having one of their best players be a really, really good teammate.

The Demar being a great playmaker is a little overrated since Kawhi wasn't as bad in that regard as some people made him out to be. But even DD's passes just seem to have chemistry better behind them as stupid as that sounds

I don't know what I'm trying to imply honestly but the '14 team's biggest strength was their chemistry and I really haven't seen that same freeflowing chemistry/culture since until the last 15-20 games and I think Derozan and his presence in the locker room, the bench, on planes, etc. isn't some insignificant part of that tbh.....

The biggest difference in a Kawhi pass vs a DD pass is one is passing you the ball because he needs to and the other because he wants to. Which pass would you rather receive?

[RC_Drunkford]

They don't because they clog the lane and reduce the space that DeRozan (and White) can operate.

That's true for LA/Poeltl but LA/Pau should work since Pau loves to shoot jump shots and is a 3-point threat.

[BackHome]

DEROZZ is setting guys up I never saw KY doing that

[TimmyBuckets]

DEROZZ is setting guys up I never saw KY doing that

He's clearly a better playmaker. Kawhi is the better overall player, but this year's Kawhi is not the same monster he was 2 years ago on both ends. He's doing far less defensively and not working as hard. This might sound weird, but this team is way more fun to watch than the one with Kawhi on it. Granted he brought championship hope, but the ball movement now is just beautiful, and idk the synergy is just way better. Who knows, one slip up by GSW or some other team luckily knocking them out, and this year's Spurs are ring-bound. Anything can happen. I don't think that's that unrealistic. I really enjoy watching this team.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

He's clearly a better playmaker. Kawhi is the better overall player, but this year's Kawhi is not the same monster he was 2 years ago on both ends. He's doing far less defensively and not working as hard. This might sound weird, but this team is way more fun to watch than the one with Kawhi on it. Granted he brought championship hope, but the ball movement now is just beautiful, and idk the synergy is just way better. Who knows, one slip up by GSW or some other team luckily knocking them out, and this year's Spurs are ring-bound. Anything can happen. I don't think that's that unrealistic. I really enjoy watching this team.

The Spurs offense looks a lot more crisp with Demar than it did with Kawhi. The offense kind of sat around waiting on Kawhi to make his move when he was on the team. I notice that in Toronto now. There's definitely some chemistry issues with Kawhi and Lowry. Lowry seems to drift off when he's not touching the ball enough.

[BackHome]

I agree the trade has worked out very well for both teams and all players. The trick will be if Toronto can keep KY in the Cold Tundra??

[ceperez]

He's clearly a better playmaker. Kawhi is the better overall player, but this year's Kawhi is not the same monster he was 2 years ago on both ends. He's doing far less defensively and not working as hard. This might sound weird, but this team is way more fun to watch than the one with Kawhi on it. Granted he brought championship hope, but the ball movement now is just beautiful, and idk the synergy is just way better. Who knows, one slip up by GSW or some other team luckily knocking them out, and this year's Spurs are ring-bound. Anything can happen. I don't think that's that unrealistic. I really enjoy watching this team.

Let's not forget that the previous 2 years also had both Manu and Parker. That's a lot of corporate wisdom that doesn't exist in today's team.

This streak hasn't been tested since the Spurs have been blowing out teams. I want to see how well they do in tight games. Before, Spurs would come out ahead because of shear experience. We can't tell yet if that'll happen with this team.

[TimmyBuckets]

Let's not forget that the previous 2 years also had both Manu and Parker. That's a lot of corporate wisdom that doesn't exist in today's team.

This streak hasn't been tested since the Spurs have been blowing out teams. I want to see how well they do in tight games. Before, Spurs would come out ahead because of shear experience. We can't tell yet if that'll happen with this team.

True plus they've mostly been home games. They were closing out close games early this season though with Derozan. I don't think anyone is fully convinced, but the turnaround is still remarkable.

[Mirrornick]

This is not a secret. Demar was always the better playmaker.

[SpursDynasty85]

He's clearly a better playmaker. Kawhi is the better overall player, but this year's Kawhi is not the same monster he was 2 years ago on both ends. He's doing far less defensively and not working as hard. This might sound weird, but this team is way more fun to watch than the one with Kawhi on it. Granted he brought championship hope, but the ball movement now is just beautiful, and idk the synergy is just way better. Who knows, one slip up by GSW or some other team luckily knocking them out, and this year's Spurs are ring-bound. Anything can happen. I don't think that's that unrealistic. I really enjoy watching this team.

Agree.

[TD 21]

That Aldridge clip is an all-timer.

Thanks for the grades son.

Don't you think that, in nights where Gay is missing, starting Gasol makes more sense than starting Poeltl? Jakob and Aldridge get in each other's way, while Gasol actually knows how to play alongside LaMarcus.

I couldn't watch the game, but it didn't surprise me that the Spurs started slow seeing the starting lineup.

Of course. Not only that, but it would allow Poeltl to stay with the bench. The same bench that's been blowing the doors off the league since it formed. It should go without saying, but Aldridge-Poeltl should never play together.

Gay's being gimpy and the trickle down effect when he's out (either having to play too big or small in non Bertans minutes) only underscores the need for another credible two-way big wing/forward.

Obviously Kawhi is two tiers above Demar as an overall player. I put a healthy Nephew as firmly top 3 and Demar as anywhere from Top 25 to Top 30.

But there's something to be said about Demar just being a much better fit as a culture guy within the organization. On a team that just lost Manu/Porky, is paying 12mil a year for a backup PG to be a leader, and with Lamarcus Aldridge as their 1b guy, I really can't stress the importance of having one of their best players be a really, really good teammate.

The Demar being a great playmaker is a little overrated since Kawhi wasn't as bad in that regard as some people made him out to be. But even DD's passes just seem to have chemistry better behind them as stupid as that sounds

I don't know what I'm trying to imply honestly but the '14 team's biggest strength was their chemistry and I really haven't seen that same freeflowing chemistry/culture since until the last 15-20 games and I think Derozan and his presence in the locker room, the bench, on planes, etc. isn't some insignificant part of that tbh.....

I wouldn't. Doesn't have the most important superstar trait, particularly for a perimeter player, which is making teammates better via play making for others. He's also no longer in peak defensive form and though leadership can be overstated, I do think there's a certain presence that a best player on a champion must have, that he lacks. I give him top 8.

Maybe in the sense of his not being a Harden, James, etc., caliber one, but in comparison to s bag, he might as well be. S bag is not only every bit as bad as he's made out to be, I'd argue he's even worse. In recent years, there's been a push from a bunch of ass kissers in the media to pretend he's better than he gets credit for, but there's no evidence supporting that and if you really know the game (not literally you, but in general), you'd know he's only capable of making the most basic of reads.

[sasaint]

Let's not forget that the previous 2 years also had both Manu and Parker. That's a lot of corporate wisdom that doesn't exist in today's team.

This streak hasn't been tested since the Spurs have been blowing out teams. I want to see how well they do in tight games. Before, Spurs would come out ahead because of shear experience. We can't tell yet if that'll happen with this team.

Great point. During Timmy's tenure, with Manu as a closer, I never doubted the outcome of a close game. Tim was totally rock-solid, and Manu was going to get buckets down the stretch or get to the line. Game over.

[silverblackfan]

He's clearly a better playmaker. Kawhi is the better overall player, but this year's Kawhi is not the same monster he was 2 years ago on both ends. He's doing far less defensively and not working as hard. This might sound weird, but this team is way more fun to watch than the one with Kawhi on it. Granted he brought championship hope, but the ball movement now is just beautiful, and idk the synergy is just way better. Who knows, one slip up by GSW or some other team luckily knocking them out, and this year's Spurs are ring-bound. Anything can happen. I don't think that's that unrealistic. I really enjoy watching this team.

[wildbill2u]

Team is maturing on the fly as we watch. I didn't think this would be likely, maybe impossible, but these young new guys are really stepping up with Pop giving them a chance to finish the 4th quarter in a game that could have been lost. White and Forbes looked like stone cold veterans at the foul line when Detroit kept fouling the rookies.

Props to these guys and to POp for making the decision to let them win it or lose it.

[playbonner15]

-Nitpicky but kinda weird that the starters were in with 3mins left in a blowout game. Other than that plus the token minutes for Pau last night, I think Pop is in the best stretch of coaching he's had in 3-4 years.

Pop really wanted to win