Vic Wama preseason debut tonight Orlando Magic at Spurs 7:00 Texas Time

[DAF86]

Wesley, Sandro have grown up and have made Tre Jones and Collins expendable, tbh. The “Spurs Program”, as they call it, is like a university… players spend their tenure learning and contributing, then they leave. The next batch has graduated and the Spurs are ready to start a new cycle. It’s time to say goodbye to Tre, Keldon, and Collins.

Branham failed to graduate so he’s gotta go, too.

btw, really impressive how Champagnie has proven people wrong. He’ll play a big role this year. Probably our best spot up shooter.

Bro, slow down. It's one preseason game.

[Dejounte]

Bro, slow down. It's one preseason game.

Nah bro, when you know, you know. Reservations are usually meant for players who go on a hot streak with their shooting. The way Wesley and Sandro are moving out there with confidence, they’re out there showing that they’re absolutely ready for the next step. In contrast, Branham looks half asleep out there. It can be easy to tell which players have grown up.

[DAF86]

Nah bro, when you know, you know. Reservations are usually meant for players who go on a hot streak with their shooting. The way Wesley and Sandro are moving out there with confidence, they’re out there showing that they’re absolutely ready for the next step. In contrast, Branham looks half asleep out there. It can be easy to tell which players have grown up.

Last season Wesley had a couple of games where he looked like an NBA player and then crashed back down to Earth. I hope you are right, but I won't keep my hopes up, tbh.

[onechance87]

Wesley seems to be handling the ball better.Still cant shoot tho.

[Dejounte]

If you want exaggeration for real, then the statement I’ll make is that the Castle + Wesley duo is the New Age Kawhi + Danny Green duo, tbh. Pop has taken a liking of these two, and even put them in a lineup together with the starters: Paul, Barnes, and Wemby.

I called it last game— these two have good chemistry on the court.

[DAF86]

If you want exaggeration for real, then the statement I’ll make is that the Castle + Wesley duo is the New Age Kawhi + Danny Green duo, tbh. Pop has taken a liking of these two, and even put them in a lineup together with the starters: Paul, Barnes, and Wemby.

I called it last game— these two have good chemistry on the court.

Unless they get consistent with their shooting, the pairing won't work.

[spurraider21]

Sandro doesn’t make Zollins expendable. He just gives us an actual option as a reserve 4 instead of Cedi or Keldon or whatever makeshift 4 we had trotted out there behind Sochan

Wesley looks like he’s playing with a lot more purpose offensively. Still not enough of a scoring threat, but just more mature. I don’t get playing him next to CP3 though

Castle looks so comfortable out there. Confident with the shot. And showing that his connective skills can shine even when he’s not the PG on the floor. Just like at UConn. Doesn’t mean PG isn’t in his future, just that he doesn’t have to be pigeonholed as only getting PG minutes

I’m completely over Branham. He doesn’t belong in the rotation

wemby is still playing like a rookie. No patience, no discipline. Paul needs to chew him out

[tim_duncan_fan]

Bro, slow down. It's one preseason game.

Especially about Champagnie. Gotta see these threes in a game that matters.

[itzsoweezee]

Especially about Champagnie. Gotta see these threes in a game that matters.

Exactly. Dude is a garbage time all star. His game impact mirrors the almost-dunks he seems to specialize in. Need to see him actually contribute to winning this year.

[Dejounte]

Sandro doesn’t make Zollins expendable. He just gives us an actual option as a reserve 4 instead of Cedi or Keldon or whatever makeshift 4 we had trotted out there behind Sochan

Wesley looks like he’s playing with a lot more purpose offensively. Still not enough of a scoring threat, but just more mature. I don’t get playing him next to CP3 though

Castle looks so comfortable out there. Confident with the shot. And showing that his connective skills can shine even when he’s not the PG on the floor. Just like at UConn. Doesn’t mean PG isn’t in his future, just that he doesn’t have to be pigeonholed as only getting PG minutes

I’m completely over Branham. He doesn’t belong in the rotation

wemby is still playing like a rookie. No patience, no discipline. Paul needs to chew him out

Sandro doesn’t make Collins expendable. But having both Sandro and Bassey does. Sandro’s too good not to play this season, especially with him becoming a confident 3 pt shooter. He takes someone’s minutes and between Sochan and Collins it’s going to be Collins.

[playbonner15]

If you want exaggeration for real, then the statement I’ll make is that the Castle + Wesley duo is the New Age Kawhi + Danny Green duo, tbh. Pop has taken a liking of these two, and even put them in a lineup together with the starters: Paul, Barnes, and Wemby.

I called it last game— these two have good chemistry on the court.

Yeah I see the pairing is good with both having tight pesky defense but team still needs offense to win games. Wesley needs to hit 3s bec I see Castle more like an SGA potential than a Kawhi or Danny Green

[Pauleta14]

Bro, slow down. It's one preseason game.

Collins will 100%t be useful as long as we're that short in bigs

However Tre...??

Please explain me what's the point with CP3 (starting) Castle (1st PG sub who needs to play the position as much as possible to learn) and Wesley (who has more overall potential, already better defender and a lot cheaper)

[Pauleta14]

Probably. It's their first game.

I guess/hope

I'm wondering if Pop doesn't push too much for P&R plays bc it only involves 2 players at a time vs everyone with spacing and ball movement.

A well oiled pick and roll is soo deadly, I hope I'm wrong

[Bill_Brasky]

Unless they get consistent with their shooting, the pairing won't work.

Not sure on Wesley but Castle absolutely looks like he will be able to shoot.

[BackHome]

If I am Wesley I am throwing out my Playstation and cutting all the noise and spending all my time in the gym working on my handles and 3 ball.

[spurraider21]

Sandro doesn’t make Collins expendable. But having both Sandro and Bassey does. Sandro’s too good not to play this season, especially with him becoming a confident 3 pt shooter. He takes someone’s minutes and between Sochan and Collins it’s going to be Collins.

Collins and Bassey are stylistically different and there may be matchups where Collins’ post scoring is needed more than Basseys rim pro

Sandro isnt part of the equation. I don’t think he’s a viable 5 at all

[cutewizard]

its just one game, but here are my comments >>

Wemby, our unicorn, is rusty....but he'll get over it
Paul has the command gene, he is actually our "playing asst coach"
Sochan has improved, hope that continues
Mamu is fun to watch, he is a lock on the second team
I like both Flynn and Minix
but Castle was the player of the game!

[cutewizard]

Flynn looks like Green Arrow in the tv show >>>

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[Dejounte]

Collins and Bassey are stylistically different and there may be matchups where Collins’ post scoring is needed more than Basseys rim pro

Sandro isnt part of the equation. I don’t think he’s a viable 5 at all

I’m very aware they’re different stylistically. The bench is supposed to give a different type of energy than the starters. Patty was a different player than TP. The archetypes don’t need to match between starters and bench players. The bench play a role to throw the opposing team’s defense off. Bassey gives them a more physical punch, while Sandro gives more passing ability and mobility from a big. Strategically this is how the team would excel.

[spurraider21]

I’m very aware they’re different stylistically. The bench is supposed to give a different type of energy than the starters. Patty was a different player than TP. The archetypes don’t need to match between starters and bench players. The bench play a role to throw the opposing team’s defense off. Bassey gives them a more physical punch, while Sandro gives more passing ability and mobility from a big. Strategically this is how the team would excel.

I’m saying you may want different bench options. There were times Patty was useful and times where CoJo was more useful as a reserve. Sometimes the spurs subbed in Bonner, other times Splitter.

just because Bassey may be your preferred backup 5 doesn’t mean there is no room for Collins

i think our disconnect is that i don’t think Mamu is part of this equation at all. I haven’t seen anything leading me to believe Mamu is a viable 5 in the nba. And even if he was, neither Mamu nor Bassey are post scorers. It’s something unique Collins brings to the table that may be called upon

[exstatic]

I’m saying you may want different bench options. There were times Patty was useful and times where CoJo was more useful as a reserve. Sometimes the spurs subbed in Bonner, other times Splitter.

just because Bassey may be your preferred backup 5 doesn’t mean there is no room for Collins

i think our disconnect is that i don’t think Mamu is part of this equation at all. I haven’t seen anything leading me to believe Mamu is a viable 5 in the nba. And even if he was, neither Mamu nor Bassey are post scorers. It’s something unique Collins brings to the table that may be called upon

Mamu is perfect on offense, but pretty awful on defense, which is why he was kept waiting and only offered one year. He’s offers zero rim protection.

[DAF86]

Collins will 100%t be useful as long as we're that short in bigs

However Tre...??

Please explain me what's the point with CP3 (starting) Castle (1st PG sub who needs to play the position as much as possible to learn) and Wesley (who has more overall potential, already better defender and a lot cheaper)

Tre is an NBA level player, Wesley hasn't proven to be that yet.

[spurraider21]

Mamu is perfect on offense, but pretty awful on defense, which is why he was kept waiting and only offered one year. He’s offers zero rim protection.

He’s a 4 imo. Playing the 5 in preseason out of necessity with Collins and Bassey out.

[exstatic]

He’s a 4 imo. Playing the 5 in preseason out of necessity with Collins and Bassey out.

You still expect some rim protection. He was 7th on the team in per 36 blocks, equal to Champagne with 1 per 36. His overall defense ain’t great, either.

[spurraider21]

You still expect some rim protection. He was 7th on the team in per 36 blocks, equal to Champagne with 1 per 36. His overall defense ain’t great, either.

oh i agree. but the lack of rim protection is more glaring and troublesome when he's out there as a 5

like, i dont care that champagnie doesnt protect the rim, because he's not playing a position that asks him to. playing mamu at the 5 is a recipe for disaster because not only does he not deter shots, hes also pretty bad at boxing out and rebounding. you can get by with him if he's playing alongside a big like Bassey/Wemby who can clean up in those departments. and he's legitimately skilled enough offensively to play the 4. its not like he's just good enough to abuse slow footed, plodding centers and relies on that disparity to generate offense.