The Backup PG Position

[TJastal]

find a way to get Delonte West tbh

+1 Agreed. West would solve the problems of backup PG better than any of the current spurs IMHO. He has the handles that Neal and Mills don't, plus the experience that Joseph and DeColo don't. And he can flat out hit 3's. SA better snatch him before LA does though....

http://nba.si.com/2012/12/12/los-ang...-delonte-west/

In terms of on-court fit, West could be a really nice choice for the Lakers. He can handle and make plays, but is best suited for a more balanced role in which he isn’t put in complete control of the offense.

He'd be a perfect fit next to Manu in the 2nd unit.

[Boomersgold]

This problem can be solved with an application of logic.

Since Ginobili is going to be playing in the 2nd unit the main priority is getting a guy who can bring the ball up under pressure. That excludes the two sharpshooters Neal & Mills, unfortunately. That leaves either DeColo or Cojo... and I believe DeColo is the better of the two. Plus DeColo has a bit more experience under his belt, not only this season, but in prior seasons.

That said, Pop needs to make a decision already on who to play and stick with it the rest of the year. This strategy (and I use that term loosely) he deploys year after year of continuing to play a logjam of assholes because he just can't make up his friggin mind eventually becomes toxic to team chemistry and morale. Which I believe is what were starting to see happen again right now (last season it was the big rotation he ed around with forever).

Actually, since Ginobili plays with the second unit, the main priority is to have someone that plays WELL with him. Unfortunately for De Colo, or fortunately for Patty, Ginobili is most comfortable as a play maker, someone who has the ball in his hands for most of a possession, which therefore forces the backup point guard to be a spot up shooter. That would make Neal and Patty the best candidates, right? Wrong. Neal's too slow to bring the ball up to half court (to give to Manu), and instead of allowing Manu to set up the play, Neal tends to go off on a tangent and force ill-conceived shots that usually miss.

If you look at timvp's "player pair analysis", you'll see that out of all the backup point guards that we have available, Manu seems to play the best with Patty.

All this being said, I'd be happy to see anyone out there instead of Neal. He's had too many chances to prove himself, and he's underwhelmed each time.

[TJastal]

Actually, since Ginobili plays with the second unit, the main priority is to have someone that plays WELL with him. Unfortunately for De Colo, or fortunately for Patty, Ginobili is most comfortable as a play maker, someone who has the ball in his hands for most of a possession, which therefore forces the backup point guard to be a spot up shooter. That would make Neal and Patty the best candidates, right? Wrong. Neal's too slow to bring the ball up to half court (to give to Manu), and instead of allowing Manu to set up the play, Neal tends to go off on a tangent and force ill-conceived shots that usually miss.

If you look at timvp's "player pair analysis", you'll see that out of all the backup point guards that we have available, Manu seems to play the best with Patty.

All this being said, I'd be happy to see anyone out there instead of Neal. He's had too many chances to prove himself, and he's underwhelmed each time.

I'd be happy with Patty also. Neal has gotten an extended look to develop his point guard "ball handling" skills and its becoming obvious he's just not going to be able to do it consistently. I'm all for Patty getting a crack. However before resorting to this, the spurs should go hard after Delonte West who is by far the best option available atm. The key here being West can play defense on big guards, something that Patty cannot do, and something that will be very important esp come playoffs.

[TJastal]

Here's my bold prediction: Pop will continue to use the cluster trio of DeColo, Mills, & Neal right up until a week and a half before the playoffs start. And with the new addition of that Aussie, the frontcourt will also probably be a cluster of epic proportions too.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Let's be real though their is ZERO chance the Spurs go after or get west. And I doubt he would sign the for the league minimum.

[TJastal]

Let's be real though their is ZERO chance the Spurs go after or get west. And I doubt he would sign the for the league minimum.

[sasffl]

TJ Ford is the right person, but injury destroy him. I like Avery Bradley

[TDMVPDPOY]

how about johnny flynn the former wolves top pick making his trade down here in australia on a 1m contract....

[chapnis]

how about johnny flynn the former wolves top pick making his trade down here in australia on a 1m contract....

Cedric Jackson? Except his FT shooting is terrible.

[crc21209]

I'd give Mills and De Colo shots at it again. Neal has already lost the job in my eyes. He should only come in to spot Green or Manu minutes when they're gassed or when they are cold and the Spurs need a shooter to get hot....

[TJastal]

I'd give Mills and De Colo shots at it again. Neal has already lost the job in my eyes. He should only come in to spot Green or Manu minutes when they're gassed or when they are cold and the Spurs need a shooter to get hot....

Bingo. That should be Neal's exact role on the team, same as Bonner should have.

[Bruno]

The backup PG should be either Mills or Joseph.

To me, it's really important to have a backup PG with enough footspeed. This need is even bigger because Spurs second unit is quite slow on the perimeter. I would like to see Joseph getting a shot because I think he could eb the answer but I would understand Pop thinking he isn't ready and going with Mills.

Regarding Neal and De Colo, Neal should be traded and De Colo should be the third string SG. Neal is a good player but just doesn't fit with Spurs' roster. De Colo is more suited at SG and, to open a little more playing time for him, Pop should ban Bonner fron the rotation and have Jack/Kawhi playing his minutes at the PF spot.

[MoSpur]

Guys I've wanted gone for awhile are Neal and Bonner. Neal sucks as a PG, but its not his position. The sad thing is that it seems to have messed up his shooting. He is a spot up shooter. Same with Bonner. Find a team that needs outside shooting and get a PG or someone who can handle the ball, create a shot for himself, or others.

I really thought De Colo would be the backup PG, but for some reason Pop doesn't trust him. Cory Joseph is our only other option. How is he doing with the Toros?

[MoSpur]

In Joseph's last three games he's had 7 turnovers and 13 assists. He's scoring a lot and his rebounding looks great though.

[TE]

The backup PG should be either Mills or Joseph.

To me, it's really important to have a backup PG with enough footspeed. This need is even bigger because Spurs second unit is quite slow on the perimeter. I would like to see Joseph getting a shot because I think he could eb the answer but I would understand Pop thinking he isn't ready and going with Mills.

Regarding Neal and De Colo, Neal should be traded and De Colo should be the third string SG. Neal is a good player but just doesn't fit with Spurs' roster. De Colo is more suited at SG and, to open a little more playing time for him, Pop should ban Bonner fron the rotation and have Jack/Kawhi playing his minutes at the PF spot.

Agree with everything.

[td4mvp2k]

In Joseph's last three games he's had 7 turnovers and 13 assists. He's scoring a lot and his rebounding looks great though.

Joseph will be a yr or so more.

[Brazil]

The backup PG disaster is a mess right now. When is the last time a backup point guard put together two solid halves behind Parker?

TJ Ford tbh

[Boomersgold]

The backup PG disaster is a mess right now. When is the last time a backup point guard put together two solid halves behind Parker?

When was the last time a backup point guard other than Neal was consistently given minutes behind Parker?

[Kineto]

Why not a trade like this ? :
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ba9sauh
SA : Bargnani+Lowry
Toronto : Jackson+Bonner+(Neal and/or Joseph)

Toronto get rid of Bargnani's contract, and they play better with Caldernon than with Lowry.
SA get a very good backup PG, and Bargnani should be an upgrade to Bonner

[Spur|n|Austin]

bold prediction, although that is the reason CJ is in Austin is to develop, but maybe the plan all along was to play Neal up to the trade deadline to keep his trade value high and use him in a package and then bring in Cojo (who is playing heavy minutes in the Spurs system in Austin) to step in as true back up final half of the season.

Prediction or wishful thinking? Either way, I like it.

[JonNOKC]

Wonder if Danny Ferry would help us out

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=apuywa7

Since these guys are expiring anyway and we would be getting the more talented prices imagine we would have to include a pick or two or maybe Danny was involved in scouting one of our euro stash guys and would take rights to one to make this benefit ATL

One positive is both teams preserve their cap flexibility for coming summer

[ace3g]

I had a random idea, Garrett Temple, but looks like he can't be traded till March 25.

[Bruno]

Regardless on what people wish, it seems obvious that Pop has no intent in going away from Neal at backup PG.

Form an E-N article published a week ago:
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...plays-in-pain/

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he will continue to look for ways to get Neal on the floor behind Tony Parker at point guard and Danny Green and Manu Ginobili at shooting guard.

“We try to get (Neal) on the floor when we can,” Popovich said. “It’s been hard to get him as many minutes as he probably deserves.”

Pop will likely put Neal's recent poor play on his calf injury. While I think his injury doesn't help, Neal is also showing a lack of PG skills that can't be fixed by getting healthier.

Another hint that Pop will stick with Neal at backup PG is how he managed the situation when Neal was playing SG because of Kawhi and Leonard injuries. Pop rotated Mills, De Colo and a little of Joseph at backup PG. He showed no interest in picking one and working on developing him with consistent playing time. What the point in growing a backup PG when you're convinced you still have a good one in Neal?

[BackHome]

Neal just sucks when he is being forced to play PG just like Bonner sucked when Pop had him playing Center. Why the do the Spurs continue to draft and put people in positions that they are not able to play?

Looking and at possible trades and I hope that RC is able to pull off something that will help us get further then a first round bounce. From watching Pop I think he is not happy with SJ and and if your not going to play him get something for him in a trade. So this year more then any other year i think the Spurs might do a big trade and who knows if what we get or who we loose?..I hope..Bonner,Neal,Sj/Blair - can get us a starting SF/PF and backup PG/SG.

[biskvito]

Spurs is all about immediate results, they rather give time to a guy who can only shoot 3 and nothing else, than to have patience, give confidence and playing time for a guy that can also shoot but is a natural playmaker with vision and decent defense.

They should use Duncan last years to improve the new players and not the other way around, where new players are discarded and given zero tolerance treatment because they're not improving Duncan's last years.