Preseason Game Thread: Spurs vs Rockets: 10/21/16 @ 7:30 PM CT / 3:30 AM Riga Time

[MaNu4Tres]

In order for Houston to be a top 5 team this year, the west will have to be bad. Houston is going to have to take and make a ton of the three's and score 115 points just to give that defense a chance.

Houston won't make the playoffs. IMO

[Chinook]

There are two guys that I just fundamentally can't see NOT making the team and one whom I still think should. As I said, this is going to be hard. If Danny were healthy, the easy thing in my mind would be moving Simmons and keeping Forbes and Joel. But with him out for the first 10 games or so... This is going to be hard.

[Kawhitstorm]

yeah he is a literal Neal 2.0 but younger, more talented, and with a better head on his shoulders.

Wouldn't say more talented but he plays more within the system than Gary Gunz.

[SAGirl]

Spurs

Starters	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
L. Aldridge	22	6-13	0-1	0-0	3	4	7	1	0	0	1	2	+11	12
K. Leonard	18	6-9	2-4	1-2	0	4	4	2	1	0	0	3	+13	15
K. Anderson	20	4-5	0-0	2-2	0	4	4	3	0	2	0	1	+10	10
P. Gasol	22	3-7	0-1	0-0	0	9	9	4	0	1	1	1	+3	6
T. Parker	22	5-13	0-0	0-0	0	4	4	3	2	0	4	1	+3	10
Bench	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
D. Lee	8	1-4	0-0	2-2	0	3	3	1	0	1	2	1	+10	4
D. Bertans	20	4-6	2-4	4-4	0	1	1	2	0	1	0	2	+8	14
J. Anthony	12	3-3	0-0	2-2	0	5	5	2	0	2	0	0	+0	8
D. Murray	15	1-5	0-1	4-4	0	0	0	4	2	0	1	1	+1	6
R. Arcidiacono	14	1-3	0-1	0-0	0	1	1	6	1	0	1	0	+8	2
P. Mills	8	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	2	3	1	0	0	1	0	+10	2
B. Forbes	28	7-11	4-5	1-1	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	+6	19
P. Garino	19	3-5	0-1	0-0	0	2	2	1	1	0	1	2	-3	6
L. Jean-Charles	11	0-3	0-0	0-0	1	3	4	1	0	1	0	0	+0	0
D. Dedmon	Has not entered game

[ace3g]

Spurs

Starters	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
L. Aldridge PF	22	6-13	0-1	0-0	3	4	7	1	0	0	1	2	+11	12
K. Leonard SF	18	6-9	2-4	1-2	0	4	4	2	1	0	0	3	+13	15
K. Anderson SF	20	4-5	0-0	2-2	0	4	4	3	0	2	0	1	+10	10
P. Gasol C	22	3-7	0-1	0-0	0	9	9	4	0	1	1	1	+3	6
T. Parker PG	22	5-13	0-0	0-0	0	4	4	3	2	0	4	1	+3	10
Bench	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
D. Lee PF	8	1-4	0-0	2-2	0	3	3	1	0	1	2	1	+10	4
L. Jean-Charles SF	11	0-3	0-0	0-0	1	3	4	1	0	1	0	0	+0	0
D. Bertans SF	20	4-6	2-4	4-4	0	1	1	2	0	1	0	2	+8	14
J. Anthony C	12	3-3	0-0	2-2	0	5	5	2	0	2	0	0	+0	8
D. Murray PG	15	1-5	0-1	4-4	0	0	0	4	2	0	1	1	+1	6
R. Arcidiacono PG	14	1-3	0-1	0-0	0	1	1	6	1	0	1	0	+8	2
P. Mills PG	8	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	2	3	1	0	0	1	0	+10	2
B. Forbes SG	28	7-11	4-5	1-1	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	+6	19
P. Garino SG	19	3-5	0-1	0-0	0	2	2	1	1	0	1	2	-3	6
D. Dedmon C	Has not entered game
M. Ginobili SG	Has not entered game
J. Simmons SG	Has not entered game
D. Green SG	Has not entered game
N. Laprovittola G	Has not entered game
TEAM		45-89	8-18	16-17	5	43	48	31	7	9	13	15		114

[TheGreatYacht]

Forbes with glimpses of Ferrari

[GSH]

Watching Bertans really makes me wish the Spurs had gone harder after Bourousis. He would have been a legit backup big, and he and Bertans already know each other's game. I read some of his comments, and it really sounded like he was interested in coming here.

[SPURt]

[MaNu4Tres]

LJC is miles behind everyone that got invited to camp, excluding Arci. Arci is miles behind from a ability stand point. Just not enough of it to play at this level.

[SAGirl]

Arci with 6 assists. He's very underrated. He kept feeding the hot hands.

[TheDoctor]

[SAGirl]

The SA Express News guys have been pimping him all preseason.

[Splits]

lol anyone thinking Bryn Forbes is making the roster

[raybies]

Oh well, he was fun to watch, I would have taken him but one can't argue with Forbes and they have Murray who is a deserving PG to develop and get opportunities I think.

Not sure if they let someone go to get an invitee they like.

Last season they cut Jimmer and he had his contract guaranteed, so you never know, but I doubt they cut someone. I think it's definitely Forbes.

I personally don't like Simmons, he hasn't been missed int his game for example, and I think he just gets possession from others. It's almost unbelievable but he was using almost 30% of the posessions when he's on the floor. That is excessive, then TO the ball over twice as much as he has assists. He has played selfish. I don't think they cut him but bleh. I like Garino more bc he's less prone to hog the ball and plays within a team context. Better shooter too.

I think the only reason Simmons still has a spot is because PATFO still thinks he can be a playmaker which would be a huge value, but the fact is he has shown little in two years. Still TO prone, shaky dribbles, just a little more developed in a role.

As for Livio, I dunno. I would rather have Anthony. At least he's a rim protector with experience. LJC is almost unplayable right now with very low upside. How much better can he get? When can you use him? Is he only here because he did you a favor? If the last question is yes, than you cut him and let him have his money and you improve your team. I sincerely doubt anyone would even claim him off the waiver wire.

[sasaint]

Oh well, he was fun to watch, I would have taken him but one can't argue with Forbes and they have Murray who is a deserving PG to develop and get opportunities I think.

Not sure if they let someone go to get an invitee they like.

Last season they cut Jimmer and he had his contract guaranteed, so you never know, but I doubt they cut someone. I think it's definitely Forbes.

I personally don't like Simmons, he hasn't been missed int his game for example, and I think he just gets possession from others. It's almost unbelievable but he was using almost 30% of the posessions when he's on the floor. That is excessive, then TO the ball over twice as much as he has assists. He has played selfish. I don't think they cut him but bleh. I like Garino more bc he's less prone to hog the ball and plays within a team context. Better shooter too.

I think you may be surprised by Pop's decision about Simmons. Everything you just said is true, and PATFO knows it better than we. From the first SL game it was clear that Murray made Simmons expendable. And now some other guys are starting to show something. One way or another, I think Simmons is probably gone.

[SAGirl]

LJC is miles behind everyone that got invited to camp, excluding Arci. Arci is miles behind from a ability stand point. Just not enough of it to play at this level.

Agreed in that his ballhandling is probably not robust enough and he's kind of undersized and not a great athelete to compensate for being small, but boy he knows how to play. It will be fun to watch him in Austin and he will make everyone sent there for reps better. Good luck to him!

[timtonymanu]

I'm excited for the season to start now. I really don't know what to expect this year, but it's great to see Spurs basketball again.

[Kawhitstorm]

There are two guys that I just fundamentally can't see NOT making the team and one whom I still think should. As I said, this is going to be hard. If Danny were healthy, the easy thing in my mind would be moving Simmons and keeping Forbes and Joel. But with him out for the first 10 games or so... This is going to be hard.

Without Danny the team needs someone like Simmons who has size & athleticism to not get murdered on defense (Forbes would get posted up every time down the floor). If Garino wasn't so gun shy & a rookie, he could have been thrown into the fire.

[TheDoctor]

While still very raw, one thing I've noticed is that Garino is an above average finisher once he gets to the paint.

[TheGreatYacht]

Gasol, Aldridge, Bertans, Leonard, Parker

or

Gasol, Aldridge, Leonard, Forbes, Parker

[TheDoctor]

I'm excited for the season to start now. I really don't know what to expect this year, but it's great to see Spurs basketball again.

[GSH]

I'm excited for the season to start now. I really don't know what to expect this year, but it's great to see Spurs basketball again.

In the past, no matter how lousy the preseason looked, I always knew that Timmy was going to be on the floor to start the regular season, and everything was going to be all right. I'm a whole lot less excited than I'd like to be. just got real for me tonight.

[Robz4000]

I'm settled on Forbes taking the final spot.

[Kawhitstorm]

I personally don't like Simmons, he hasn't been missed int his game for example, and I think he just gets possession from others. It's almost unbelievable but he was using almost 30% of the posessions when he's on the floor. That is excessive, then TO the ball over twice as much as he has assists. He has played selfish. I don't think they cut him but bleh. I like Garino more bc he's less prone to hog the ball and plays within a team context. Better shooter too.

Simmons is the scrub version of WestBrick.

[raybies]

Without Danny the team needs someone like Simmons who has size & athleticism to not get murdered on defense (Forbes would get posted up every time down the floor). If Garino wasn't so gun shy & a rookie, he could have been thrown into the fire.

He's an Izzo guy. He'll have heart playing D. I mean look at him now. He's not a great defender but he's scrappy and moves his feet pretty well. And i think other teams posting him up would be at our advantage since we have size on our side. Playing the 2 game is one of our strong suits imo. The more we make teams slow down an offense is tilting in our favor.