From today's column (see the link for the clips sequences)
8. Derrick White's high-IQ game
Quin Snyder once described a smooth, anticipatory player to me as having "a good nervous system." I always liked that. (Please ignore that the player was Trey Lyles.)White has a good nervous system. He is always on his toes on defense, sliding and bouncing, but never out of balance. He moves his feet in almost exact concert with ball handlers, like a mirror image of them.He can start, stop, and change direction on a dime. He tracks everything at once, so he rotates on time -- with the flight of the ball.
Dallas loves that "Spain" action, with Dwight Powell screening for Luka Doncicand Tim Hardaway Jr. lurking in the paint to slam Powell's guy -- LaMarcus Aldridge -- before veering out for an open 3-pointer. A lot of teams coach their two guards -- the guys on Doncic and Hardaway -- to switch.
You almost never see any pair pull it off with the timing and synchronization White and Bryn Forbes show here.It's tempting to say White plays at his own pace, but we usually attach that phrasing to slower guys. White is explosive in tight spaces. He's good slow andfast. He plays at whatever pace serves him.
It looks like the Mavs have switched when White scoots around this crunchtime pick from Aldridge. White isn't sure. He keeps going, scanning the floor and stutter-stepping side-by-side with Aldridge -- until Powell panics and sinks back inside, revealing the open jumper White suspected might materialize. That is old man savvy.White makes simple, correct plays. He passes when he should pass, and launches 3s with confidence when defenses concede them. He often defends the best opposing wing scorer. He has a chance to be really good.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...absurd-scoring
Last edited by spursistan; 03-15-2019 at 09:50 AM.
Said it in the other thread..this dude could be the closest thing this team might get to another Manu Ginobili..
He is already a superior decision-maker under normal and pressure situations to an established "star" like Derozan, let alone the unproven, loose handles of the IG Baller to whom some want to hand the key of the offense back next year..
I didn't know a lot about him coming out of CU, but he's been awesome. A really great draft choice by the Spurs and he's evolving into a guy that will likely be part of the backbone of this team moving forward.
White now owns the PG starting job. Murray and Walker will have to fight it out for the SG spot with DDR. Good luck with that guys. Maybe one of the loser could wind up playing a small SF spot if they want to crack the starting lineup of Poertl, LMA, DDR and White.
I think we are in a good place with the on the fly remake of the team. Even with major injuryies to two good young players and the forced development of White and Poertl, we still may make the playoffs for the record number of consecutive years.
Anyone who thinks the FO and Pop aren't on the top of their game with drafting unknowns who have been overlooked by other teams is crazy.
Do you not pay any attention to this team at all? DD has been the starting SF since the beginning of the season, almost always starting with TWO other guards, unless injury or rest dictates otherwise. Walker will play next year, but likely NOT start. He'll pair with one of the other two youngsters during his SG minutes. White and Dejounte will start if the roster stays substantially the same.
Love watching white play. It's satisfying to see a guy that actually knows what to do in every situation. He looks so confident out there. My only gripe about him is that he's not so quick to let it fly when he's wide open for a three. He'll sometimes defer when he should just shoot the shot
It's funny, that reminds me of Boris during his time here.
It’s a team sport I look at we getting better players ie starters and also bench players. Going into next year I think will get better with experience and adding guys to replace Gasol, Poindexter, and Cunningham. Not picking “American Idol” want all the young guys to become studs and Pop to have a hard time to figure who gets more playing time.
If it were me I would make dam sure Murry could handle the key to the offense.
He needs to prove it.
If not two guard and work with White who runs things.
Or lead the second unit.
If Murry was a good 3 point shooter....
I rather have him learn first to orchestrate the offense that learn to create his own offense.
I know it is frustrating to see him defer to more inefficient players, but let him get used first to thinking of how to make everyone better before he starts thinking about himself.
Then there's also Kyle Anderson.
The problem with Boris was he really didn't want to take that open shot. In his mind, it was too easy.
The problem with KA was he wasn't confident about that open shot. In his mind he was too scared to make a mistake.
I would trade Murray to see if I can get a better pick in the draft. I don't think this will work because an injured player doesn't have a lot of value until they prove themselves again.
Same thing I've been thinking.. I don't understand the need for DeRozan on the team after the season, he's not the difference between getting a ring. Trade him for a couple of younger players with upside
Derrick White reminds me of another Derrick...Fisher. Yeah I know spurs fans hate him, but the guy was clutch, played great D, and knew how to facilitate the offense at critical times in the game. White has more upside than Fisher, and I see him being an integral part of a championship contender.
Who honestly would offer much for his game and contract?
There's been stupider transactions.. just being hopeful here
oh he said something positive about the spurs? so zach lowe good now.
until next time he says something bad and then "this guys analysis has been for years now"
A national sports writer gave our beloved Spur a shout out!!! We so happy! We going to cry! -- spurstalk
Eh, this could have been a paragraph written by anyone. I don't think Lowe is all of the sudden stupid or anything. I just don't trust him as a reporter, and even as a columnist, he sometimes likes to push agendas past the point of reason.
Next year's lineup is going to look a lot like:
PG White
SG Murray
SF DeRozan
PF Aldridge
C Poeltl
6th Man Rudy Gay
Davis Bertans
Patty Mills
Bryn Forbes
Marco Belinelli
Lonnie Walker
Draft pick
Eubanks or Metu
etc.
That opening lineup has a huge chance to be doodoo. No spacing, clogged lanes, four guys who work best with the ball in their hands. Pop may well want to play that unit, but I think he'd abandon it really quickly, because they wouldn't win games like that.
People keep wanting to sub out Forbes but pop loves that kid like he lives all his gunners. Is Forbes better than or equal to Spurs legends such as Gary Neal and Roger Mason? Probably. Those guys got minutes with Hall of Fame pg and sg. They will play Forbes.
Actually, I liked that about him. He knows his limits and he's simply NOT a good shooter. Instead he made use of his strength as a passer.
White plays at his own pace, but we usually attach that phrasing to slower guys. White is explosive in tight spaces. He's good slowand fast. He plays at whatever pace serves him.
Exactly what I've been saying about him. He has great patience, and the ability to change speeds that is usually one of the hallmarks of first tier players.
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