Monroe: Crunch-Time Performance By Mason Impressive

[tlongII]

I should try out for the Toros. I think I could make the team.

[Obstructed_View]

Compared to Hairston. Hairston has a nice all-around game but I think Farmer has more offensive skills than Hairston. The Spurs can teach defense but as we've seen in the past, we struggle to put the ball in the basket at times.

If the Spurs can teach defense, then they're doing a terrible job of teaching it to some of the guys. Farmer's not a horrible defender. Hairston was top ten in the Pac-10 in scoring, too, and has shown some knack around the basket. I'd wager that in the long run, they are both better scorers than Tolliver.

He also showed some fight in him. The play that stands out to me is when he was literally hit in the mouth during a loose ball. He had a bit of a scowl on his face when he came down the court. He promptly took and nailed a 3 pointer. I know it sounds a little bit silly but I thought that showed something. Kind of like how Manu plays better when he feels he's been disrespected.

Not silly at all to me. I loved that play. He reminded me of Stephen Jackson in that moment. It was against Detroit. He took a shoulder on a screen. I love gritty, cold-blooded players, at least when they're on my team. Farmer's shown that he's intense without being a hothead. He's made good team decisions so far.

Anyways, Hairston seems like a good prospect too. I don't see why we don't send him to the Toros to keep learning.

If the Spurs keep Farmer and Tolliver, they can't keep Hairston because there's not a roster spot on the Spurs for him, and someone else will definitely pick him up.

I agree with an earlier post that mentioned Tolliver's shooting performance. If he hadn't played so well in the Summer, no way would he still be on the roster. I'd like to know what happened to his game. Was the summer a fluke or this latest stretch ?

I've heard second or third hand (and am guilty of repeating without verifying) that Tolliver wasn't really a great shooter or scorer before summer league. That, if true, is the part that scares me, especially if a top notch defender or a guy with real scoring instincts ends up a casualty.

[lurker23]

I've heard second or third hand (and am guilty of repeating without verifying) that Tolliver wasn't really a great shooter or scorer before summer league. That, if true, is the part that scares me, especially if a top notch defender or a guy with real scoring instincts ends up a casualty.

Anthony Tolliver college stats:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/34069

Good percentages from the field and three-point range, but averaged less than one three-point attempt per game. Couldn't tell you where most of his field goals were. About 13 points per game in about 30 minutes per game his junior and senior years.

Here are his stats from the D-League:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...ollian01d.html

36% from three-point range, 51% FGs. Again, couldn't really give you any details on how much he worked away from the basket, others probably could though. 11.6 PPG in 27.4 minutes per game.

[Obstructed_View]

Anthony Tolliver college stats:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/34069

Good percentages from the field and three-point range, but averaged less than one three-point attempt per game. Couldn't tell you where most of his field goals were. About 13 points per game in about 30 minutes per game his junior and senior years.

Here are his stats from the D-League:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...ollian01d.html

36% from three-point range, 51% FGs. Again, couldn't really give you any details on how much he worked away from the basket, others probably could though. 11.6 PPG in 27.4 minutes per game.

Very cool. It never occurred to me that BR would have had those stats.

[Ice009]

Correct me if I am wrong, but a remember reading about a month or so ago TiMVP saying that Tolliver has only shot well for about a year and a half. That's not really a long time. Great shooters usually have been great shooters a lot longer than that.

There is always an exception though, and Tolliver could be it.

[Obstructed_View]

He shot 21 percent from the college three his senior year, which isn't good. He only took 2 a game in DL.

He could be the exception, but I'm a lot more confident in Farmer's resume if offense is what you want. Personally, I'd be fine with dumping Farmer and Tolliver and picking up someone that gets cut from another team or trying to pry Dorell Wright away from Miami. As the season approaches, I'm kind of souring on this "offense first" mantra.