So is Gary Neal the truth or what?

[HarlemHeat37]

I never said to stop calling his number..he has clearly earned more minutes, and he currently deserves a spot in the rotation..I'm just saying, if you go back and look, this is what everybody was saying about Roger Mason too..

Mason turned out to be a ty player by the end of his run with the Spurs, but at that point in time, everybody here loved him..

[jestersmash]

Well the idea right now is to nurture the tremendous confidence that Neal and Anderson appear to have out of the gate. They're playing well, they're shooting well - I trust Pop will handle them carefully by making sure he doesn't put unnecessary pressure on them to make shots. Pop has always been good dealing with the psychological aspect of the game.

Recall when Bonner was going through a shooting slump. What did Pop do? He took the emphasis off making or missing the shot and placed the emphasis on passing up open shots. "If you pass up an open shot I'm taking you out of the game; I don't care if you miss" The results? Bonner's 3 pt % increased dramatically.

Pop is a mater at handling the psychological aspect of the game, and this is an especially important aspect to consider when dealing with rookies.

[Obilivo]

I hope he would be another manu...

[jjktkk]

The people that are saying Mason and Neal are nothing alike are using revisionist history..

Mason didn't show any major flaws during his great 1st half of the season in 08-09..he did mix mid-range shooting with his long range game..he was never great at driving to the basket, but he did mix some of that too..

His flaws as a ballhandler weren't exposed until defenses keyed in on him after a few months, like timvp said..

His defense wasn't exposed at all, there were actually people here talking about how he's a better defender than they thought he would be, just like they're saying about Neal right now..it wasn't until other teams started exposing his defense and going at him, where everybody here started calling him out for it, I was actually one of the first IIRC..

Also, Mason was going up against starting units most of the time, not bench guys like Neal has been going up against..Roger also didn't have any problems with confidence until the 2nd half of the season, and until Pop moved him to PG..

The bright side for Neal and what will help him out will be the fact that his role won't be as important as Mason's was during that 1st season..players like Mason and Neal should have strict roles as spark plugs, and Neal could fit into that minor role very well..he also won't have to guard SFs and bigger SGs, which Mason actually had to do at times..

I like what I'm seeing from Neal, but we'll see when teams adjust to him..a lot of revisionist history here..

Definitely some similarities between Mason and Neal, but Neal, right now, looks to be a better ball handler than Mason. Another difference is Neal is built more like a football player, stocky and strong, which should negate the fact that he is undersized for a 2 and should help him defend better than Mason.

[mountainballer]

Personally, I don't believe Neal will suc b to pressure, I'm just pointing it out..a man that would ride the tracks with a vomiting girl probably has a killer instinct IMO..

jezzz, Harlem, that's really disgusting.....

and we should all hope that Neal doesn't suc b to some alcohol excess like in Italy. the man might also have a killer instinct when he faces an open bottle..

[mingus]

It is and I will back it up, but before you jump on me. listen to what I said, I think he is a colder shooter than those listed above.

I think he shoots the shot with more cold bloodiness than just about anyone the spurs have ever had. Manu is a better proven 3 point shooter than Neal. But Neal shoots the ball without the en brance of caring about the pressure, he just let's it fly with good form, stroke, and follow through.

Where you not a Spurs fan in '03? After Neal helps us in the playoffs, then you can talk. It's a travesty to group Neal with them. His "coldest" moment came in a pre-season game for Christ's sake. It's well do ented that Kerr and S-jax were vital for us in '03.

I go by games, not this "he shoots the ball with no en brance" bull that doesn't mean anything.

[DespЏrado]

Where you not a Spurs fan in '03? After Neal helps us in the playoffs, then you can talk. It's a travesty to group Neal with them. His "coldest" moment came in a pre-season game for Christ's sake. It's well do ented that Kerr and S-jax were vital for us in '03.

I go by games, not this "he shoots the ball with no en brance" bull that doesn't mean anything.

Watch this video and see if you can grasp that the nba isn't the only place in the world to play ball...video link This shot is one of the clutch-est shots I've ever seen. Compare it to the Memorial day miracle or any play where the game winner is hit off of a set play with multiple screens. Then watch Neal hit the shot off his own dribble falling laterally out of bounds on a fade-away 3 over a legitimate double team and a defender at least 6'9" towering over him.

The defense doesn't even pretend to cover anybody else in the gym. The inbounder is wide open, the weak side is wide open.

Given all of that Gary Neal doesn't even hesitate to shoot it and the release is perfect.

[DespЏrado]

Once you finish digesting that try this video, every shot he makes is the same, perfect form. Quick release. video 2

[temujin]

There was never an issue about the fact that Gary Neal can play the game of basketball.
He has been scoring tons of points everywhere.

In most teams, he's been the go-to guy.

Certainly in the italian league with Treviso, where he was considered the best pure shooter.

As to the point of whether he is athletic enough to play in the NBA, that's a non issue.
He is bulky and strong, if not a great leaper.
He can probably stay in front of most SGs in the NBA.

There is, however, a black spot in his CV.

In March this year, he was first suspended from Treviso, and then dispatched to Malaga.

He had skipped one practice, mentioning problems with his knee.
Instead, he came to Milano, partying with a buddy and spending the night out.
Which is OK, as far as I am concerned, EXCEPT that he lost the car keys at the restaurant, and later called the Team Manager of Treviso asking for help in getting back to Treviso.
This was the same guy he had just told he had a problem with his knee.
He later found the keys and spent the night out.

Whether he had other problems, I don't know.

Treviso is somewhat strict with discipline, so he was suspended and booted out.
Strict smallville discipline: sounds familiar?

The issue here is how smart this guy is OFF the court.

[ElNono]

Is this the Church of Gary Neal thread?

[MannyIsGod]

Watch this video and see if you can grasp that the nba isn't the only place in the world to play ball...video link This shot is one of the clutch-est shots I've ever seen. Compare it to the Memorial day miracle or any play where the game winner is hit off of a set play with multiple screens. Then watch Neal hit the shot off his own dribble falling laterally out of bounds on a fade-away 3 over a legitimate double team and a defender at least 6'9" towering over him.

The defense doesn't even pretend to cover anybody else in the gym. The inbounder is wide open, the weak side is wide open.

Given all of that Gary Neal doesn't even hesitate to shoot it and the release is perfect.

Yeah thats great and all but if I took Roger Mason and put him in an overseas league he'd be baby jordan overnight. Gary Neal has been playing great but the fact is that you don't know about how he's going to react once he's a known commodity to the other teams in this league have an understanding of what he likes to do.

The only thing there is to do is wait and see. Gary Neal's continued success is far from given.

[cheguevara]

I never said to stop calling his number..he has clearly earned more minutes, and he currently deserves a spot in the rotation..I'm just saying, if you go back and look, this is what everybody was saying about Roger Mason too..

this is true.

it's only 1 game ppl. take it easy

[cheguevara]

like someone said, he is small and when defenses focus on him, they could take him off his game. goddam r u mofos seriously starting church of neal after 1 game vs. the clippers??

[yavozerb]

like someone said, he is small and when defenses focus on him, they could take him off his game. goddam r u mofos seriously starting church of neal after 1 game vs. the clippers??

If defenses start game planning for Gary Neal then its going to be nice season and I would gladly join the church of neal...

[MaNu4Tres]

His defense wasn't exposed at all, there were actually people here talking about how he's a better defender than they thought he would be, just like they're saying about Neal right now..it wasn't until other teams started exposing his defense and going at him, where everybody here started calling him out for it, I was actually one of the first IIRC..

I disagree with this. I was never a Mason fan, even when he was hitting shots his first year because of his horrible defense. It was pretty obvious then to a lot of people. That being said, after 2 games, Neal's defense looks more promising than Mason's ever did. I wouldn't even compare the two.

Also, Mason was going up against starting units most of the time, not bench guys like Neal has been going up against..Roger also didn't have any problems with confidence until the 2nd half of the season, and until Pop moved him to PG..

That was such a dumb cop-out excuse for his flame-out on so many levels. I don't have the time to get into it though.

[DBMethos]

Maybe he's just a Clipper killer. I love what I've seen so far, but let's see how he does against the better teams in the league.

[cheguevara]

If defenses start game planning for Gary Neal and he still excells and contributes then its going to be nice season and I would gladly join the church of neal...

fixed

[Torontonio Rapspurs]

sooo.... Neal or Anderson?
or do you think Anderson will see time at the 3?

[BronxCowboy]

Actually I'm with yavozerb on this one. As long as Neal is drawing attention from the defense, the Spurs are in good shape. If he's an effective decoy, that's all they need.

[BronxCowboy]

sooo.... Neal or Anderson?
or do you think Anderson will see time at the 3?

Yes.

[BlairForceDejuan]

I only caught the 1st half (late games!) but I was almost tearing up watching Neal and Andersen tear it up like that. Once DB finds the inner beast again, we be staaaaccked.

[BronxCowboy]

Yeah thats great and all but if I took Roger Mason and put him in an overseas league he'd be baby jordan overnight. Gary Neal has been playing great but the fact is that you don't know about how he's going to react once he's a known commodity to the other teams in this league have an understanding of what he likes to do.

The only thing there is to do is wait and see. Gary Neal's continued success is far from given.

RMJ was never very good, even when he was hitting shots. The think I hated about him is that he took a lot of dumb, dumb shots. It went unnoticed when they went in, but he always did it.

[SenorSpur]

Hopefully he is..my point is that none of us saw any of Mason's flaws, including his lack of mental for ude, until the 2nd half of the season, when the pressure was on..

Personally, I don't believe Neal will suc b to pressure, I'm just pointing it out..a man that would ride the tracks with a vomiting girl probably has a killer instinct IMO..

Your point is well-taken. I agree that we all thought Mason was something that he wasn't. His flaws started to become apparent as his role got larger and when he was asked to play the backup PG slot.

This, is in no way an attempt to defend Mason because I wanted him gone too, but doesn't the fact that Mason hit about 4 game-winning shots during his 2-yr run indicate some degree of mental toughness?

[SenorSpur]

Definitely some similarities between Mason and Neal, but Neal, right now, looks to be a better ball handler than Mason. Another difference is Neal is built more like a football player, stocky and strong, which should negate the fact that he is undersized for a 2 and should help him defend better than Mason.

Agree. And while Neal is not a good defensive player yet, he is definitely trying - very hard. When you see a player get upset with himself for missing a rotation, that's a good sign that he takes his defensive responsibilities very seriously.

[mingus]

Your point is well-taken. I agree that we all thought Mason was something that he wasn't. His flaws started to become apparent as his role got larger and when he was asked to play the backup PG slot.

This, is in no way an attempt to defend Mason because I wanted him gone too, but doesn't the fact that Mason hit about 4 game-winning shots during his 2-yr run indicate some degree of mental toughness?

hate to bring out the cliche "tougnness is shown in times of adversity," but it's so true. it's how you handle adversity. Mason never recovered from his poor play. he let it wear on him. the jury is still out on Neal.