Preseason Game Thread: Spurs vs Suns: 10/3/16

[Chinook]

Anthony is a pro that has maximized his lack of talent. Unfortunately, he's on his last legs. Dedmon is a supposed to be a guy who is up and coming.

Honestly though, if Anthony makes the team then that means Dedmon and Lee are questionable! Not a good sign.

Here's the thing about Lapro... Spurs went out of their way to sign him despite already having Garino, Forbes and Arci. In short, there was enough of an unease with the PATFO to want to sign him (or the reverse, they were sufficiently impressed).

Having 20 guys in camp made a ton of sense this season, especially having multiple guard prospects. I think the team committed to using their best assets on the front court (cap space and the room exception) and are thusly committed to using whatever they have left on guards (the first-rounder and camp invites). Lapro was probably a target all along, just like Forbes and Arci. They probably hoped to get two and are ecstatic to have three. Though who knows who else they were targeting.

[SAGirl]

I mean, I don't think anyone but a small handful of folks really think last night set any players' futures in stone. There is nothing wrong with talking about what we saw, both good and bad. Anthony outplayed Dedmon. Hopefully that changes. But it might now, and if it doesn't, it will determine a couple of important things. There are a couple of compe ions like Arci and Lapro and Simmons/Bertans/Lee which aren't near solved. But I don't think anyone expected Anthony/Dedmon to be one. Could be Butler/Freddette all over again.

I had to quote you bc this is a succinct and accurate from my perspective summary of the training camp battles going on. Rotation minutes are still being decided and roster spots are far from clear for the 15th spot.

For Tmc: I am aware there are other much better players in the team, but for training camp purposes this is what we are watching out for.

---- As a sidenote: saw Kawhi handle the ball on PNR a lot on those highlights. Having missed the first half completely, did they go away from the post up in this game to have him work on the PNR and ball handling?

[tmtcsc]

I know what you mean all too well. Specially when guys are ready to slam and judge as no good guys who are rookies or very young. I have awareness of what I am watching but I still watch to appreciate or notice things. Disappointment is tied to expectations too, and I didn't expect much from this game, just to see interesting prospects and that I did. But I did expect Dedmon to be better. Hopefully he will be.

Lol, I get it. I wasn't referring to you SAGirl and I'm far from Forum police guy. I want to see Murray play well and was genuinely surprised that he even scored 9 pts. He is a high-ceiling project that needs to mature physically and mentally before we know what we have in him.

As for the likes of Dedmon, I'll reserve judgment on him until I see what he can do with Manu and one of our starting bigs (Aldridge and Gasol) on the floor. Anything more than a support role is asking him to go outside of his comfort zone. That's not an opinion, that's fact. I've got realistic expectations for him.

[tmtcsc]

Is NBA.com showing a replay of the game?

[tmtcsc]

I think these 11 guys will get the bulk of the minutes this year.

Aldridge
Gasol
Green
Parker
Leonard

Ginobili
Kyle Anderson
Mills
Simmons
Bertans

Dedmon

11 players - Spurs looking for 2 to 3 more.

[Spurs9]

I think these 11 guys will get the bulk of the minutes this year.

Aldridge
Gasol
Green
Parker
Leonard

Ginobili
Kyle Anderson
Mills
Simmons
Bertans

Dedmon

11 players - Spurs looking for 2 to 3 more.

Wheres Murray?

[SAGirl]

I think these 11 guys will get the bulk of the minutes this year.

Aldridge
Gasol
Green
Parker
Leonard

Ginobili
Kyle Anderson
Mills
Simmons
Bertans

Dedmon

11 players - Spurs looking for 2 to 3 more.

That second unit is entirely perimeter. Now I am going to be comical: time to ring the alarm bell... panic!!!!! Rofl.

[SAGirl]

Wheres Murray?

He's got talent but he needs dleague something fierce. Humbly you know? Hope rabies doesn't get on me.

[monkeypunk]

I know what you mean all too well. Specially when guys are ready to slam and judge as no good guys who are rookies or very young. I have awareness of what I am watching but I still watch to appreciate or notice things. Disappointment is tied to expectations too, and I didn't expect much from this game, just to see interesting prospects and that I did. But I did expect Dedmon to be better. Hopefully he will be.

I think it's way too early to make a judgement on Dedmon. Obviously his first preseason game so expectations should be low but the guy just started playing bball a few years ago so he doesn't have the foundational knowledge that allows other players to quickly pick up new schemes. Of course, he'll look lost in his first game. If he still looks lost on every play in January then we may have a problem.

In general, I wasn't too impressed with anyone outside the obvious, Kawhi and Anderson. I think Simmons is nailing himself into his own coffin, errors left and right and worse, hanging his head after instead of getting back into the play. Pop will be done with him after a month, good thing we have 4000 guards in the queue.

Garino and Bertrans did well enough for their first games, especially excited about Bertrans energy and desire for chase down blocks. He may not be athletic enough to get them all but he should put some fear into opposing players expecting free dunks. I love that he isn't just reliant on his shooting to impact the game. And he has definitely bulked up since we drafted him, he appears much more imposing now. Garino is a keeper...

I also kinda love Murrays hyper agressive-ness. Not trying to make stupid comparisons but I see some Westbrook in him and I hope he's strong enough to survive Pops tough love approach. He can (and will) learn to shoot but that type of aggression can lead to more than role players..

I like Arci and see a bit of Jacque Vaughn in his game. He'll be a good player but we need an impact player in case Murray flames out and Arci ain't that. No mistakes and a steady hand but that's it.

Lappy didn't do anything to sway me either way, which ain't great.

Lee looked pretty comfortable out there in his limited minutes, I think if he regains that midrange shot and moves his feet on defense, he'll be a fairly valuable rotation player.

Anthony might be good for 3-5 minutes a game but anything more and his legs will literally fall the off his body. I can hear the squeaking from his creaky ass old body, every step he takes.

Overall, about what you'd expect from preseason game 1.

[SAGirl]

Is NBA.com showing a replay of the game?

No bc it wasn't televised.

This is the best I could find for you.

[SAGirl]

monkeypunk thanks for your review. Much appreciated!!!!

[Keepin' it real]

[ceperez]

I think it's way too early to make a judgement on Dedmon. Obviously his first preseason game so expectations should be low but the guy just started playing bball a few years ago so he doesn't have the foundational knowledge that allows other players to quickly pick up new schemes. Of course, he'll look lost in his first game. If he still looks lost on every play in January then we may have a problem.

In general, I wasn't too impressed with anyone outside the obvious, Kawhi and Anderson. I think Simmons is nailing himself into his own coffin, errors left and right and worse, hanging his head after instead of getting back into the play. Pop will be done with him after a month, good thing we have 4000 guards in the queue.

Garino and Bertrans did well enough for their first games, especially excited about Bertrans energy and desire for chase down blocks. He may not be athletic enough to get them all but he should put some fear into opposing players expecting free dunks. I love that he isn't just reliant on his shooting to impact the game. And he has definitely bulked up since we drafted him, he appears much more imposing now. Garino is a keeper...

I also kinda love Murrays hyper agressive-ness. Not trying to make stupid comparisons but I see some Westbrook in him and I hope he's strong enough to survive Pops tough love approach. He can (and will) learn to shoot but that type of aggression can lead to more than role players..

I like Arci and see a bit of Jacque Vaughn in his game. He'll be a good player but we need an impact player in case Murray flames out and Arci ain't that. No mistakes and a steady hand but that's it.

Lappy didn't do anything to sway me either way, which ain't great.

Lee looked pretty comfortable out there in his limited minutes, I think if he regains that midrange shot and moves his feet on defense, he'll be a fairly valuable rotation player.

Anthony might be good for 3-5 minutes a game but anything more and his legs will literally fall the off his body. I can hear the squeaking from his creaky ass old body, every step he takes.

Overall, about what you'd expect from preseason game 1.

Good review. Thanks!

No comment of Forbes? Looks like he missed a lot of shots. Hope he does better.

Spurs might just send a lot of players to the d-league. Lap. will likely not go to the d-league so its possible that he gets signed conditionally.

Garino, Forbes and Arci all have expectations of playing in the d-league. Expect them to get called up occasionally.

Murray, LJC and Bertans are also expected to play in the d-league.

Unbelievable how many Spurs players need to play with the Toros this year!

[Chinook]

I don't think Bertans sees the d-league. You can make the argument that he's the seventh front court member.

[monkeypunk]

Good review. Thanks!

No comment of Forbes? Looks like he missed a lot of shots. Hope he does better.

Spurs might just send a lot of players to the d-league. Lap. will likely not go to the d-league so its possible that he gets signed conditionally.

Garino, Forbes and Arci all have expectations of playing in the d-league. Expect them to get called up occasionally.

Murray, LJC and Bertans are also expected to play in the d-league.

Unbelievable how many Spurs players need to play with the Toros this year!

On Forbes, he has to make shots to stay and with his height, he has to a. Be aggressive and b. Get his shot off quick. Neither of which I saw last night. It's kind of unfair to compare him to Neal as he was an animal but that mindset is what he needs to offset his physical limitations. He doesn't have that unshakeable confidence so I think he's an early cut and dleague bound.

I also agree with Chinook that Bertrans won't see any or very little of Austin. We need his shooting and length on d and he seems ready to go.

[ceperez]

On Forbes, he has to make shots to stay and with his height, he has to a. Be aggressive and b. Get his shot off quick. Neither of which I saw last night. It's kind of unfair to compare him to Neal as he was an animal but that mindset is what he needs to offset his physical limitations. He doesn't have that unshakeable confidence so I think he's an early cut and dleague bound.

I also agree with Chinook that Bertrans won't see any or very little of Austin. We need his shooting and length on d and he seems ready to go.

Nice to hear... Bertans is ready to go!

I'm hoping that Forbes can shoot better, unfortunately he's struggling and the pressure seems to be getting to him!

He's got the same problem as Simmons. He has kids at home to feed!

[jermaine]

I don't think Bertans sees the d-league. You can make the argument that he's the seventh front court member.

I'm Willie Jermaine Webb, an I approve this post!

[monkeypunk]

He's got the same problem as Simmons. He has kids at home to feed!

[wildbill2u]

I'm seeing a lot of similarities between LJC and Ian Mahinmi. Ian, a better athlete, took 8 seasons to get a secure spot on a rotation and that's his ceiling. I think LJC is skinnier and less athletic so may have less ceiling.

[apalisoc_9]

Simmons and forbes can still make decent money overseas..

Seriously, even players like simmons have multiple opportunities to live off their career earnings...

[gambit1990]

clippers playing on the road tonight, against golden state. will be televised. knicks playing tonight too. just interested in them cause porzingis.

[monkeypunk]

clippers playing on the road tonight, against golden state. will be televised. knicks playing tonight too. just interested in them cause porzingis.

Seriously, Porzi is no joke especially if he can hit that 3 regularly. If mello grows balls and rose can play without disintegrating, they may go deep in the East po's. Cavs still coming out of the East again tho...

[tmtcsc]

No bc it wasn't televised.

This is the best I could find for you.

SAGirl,

Much obliged.

[ceperez]

I'm seeing a lot of similarities between LJC and Ian Mahinmi. Ian, a better athlete, took 8 seasons to get a secure spot on a rotation and that's his ceiling. I think LJC is skinnier and less athletic so may have less ceiling.

I will have to disagree here. Ian Mahinmi is 2" taller than LJC but he isn't as athletic. I agree though that LJC is skinnier but it is too early to judge about ceiling.

[Chinook]

Livio at least has some hope of a jump shot. That would make him more useful than young Ian. LJC looked more like a person playing their first game rather than a bull in a China shop like Ian did. He fouled a lot, but so did multiple other Spurs. The refs were just awful last night.