Quick Grades: Spurs vs. Magic - Nov. 22

[Pauleta14]

These grades are, by their very nature, subjective.

We all know that! (that's why I was wondering what else/more timvp was expecting from Tony...?)

In other word (as some posters already asked) What kind of production does he needs to have to get (at least) an A (not even expecting an A+, I mean he's french, don't forget!)

It's no big deal, but it's worth talking about it (that's the point of a forum no?)

[Cessation]

30+ points and 10+ assists for parker to get an A i guess, hes done it before
I think, pop doesnt feel splitter is ready to play in very important, statement like games.
It looks like he wants to bring him up slow, give him some minutes against garbage teams like cavs and minesota.
This is not a bad idea, season only started, lots of time for him to get into game shape, and be ready to contribute in the playoffs. There is also rookie wall to consider which is minimazied with this approach.

[Agloco]

Starting to get very worried about RJ. He's looking less and less of a factor in games as the season progresses. We need him to have another big night to really integrate him back into the offense.

I'd say his clutch shots in the 4th were a factor...

He's understanding that his role is sometimes in the forefront, and sometimes more supportive. Last year, he would have zoned out without getting touches. This year he sticks a HUGE three pointer late. Not worried a bit.

Indeed....RJ is still being agressive and making good choices when the opportunities present themselves.

Also, as stated: He's hitting shots when they matter now. This was completely absent last year.

If those things begin to dissappear, then I'll start worrying.

[Spurs Brazil]

For me it was the biggest win of the season

TP and Manu were great, look what a summer of rest do

TD is playing great D and yesterday was no different

And big props to Bonner, he hit shots but his D was solid and also a very good job on the boards.

I also I'd like to see Tiago play but I understand Pop, Dice and Bonner are playing damn well, if Tiago is going to get minutes Blair would get DNP-CDs, and I don't think Pop will do that

[Slomo]

Damn, LJ, what the does TP have to do to get a staright A from you?

The guy has a terrific shooting night and a double-double (10 assists), timely three pointers, and you can't get any more than an A- out of that?!?!

I mean I know that you and Kori love TD more than anybody and all, but try a little bit of pretense at objectivity in these scores occasionally, okay?

Do you notice our offense when Tony (or Manu) is NOT in the game? Whenever George Hill is in there, the offense stagnates because Hill can't figure out what to do with the damn ball. When Tony is in, the whole thing runs much more smoothly, and by the way, if Tim was shooting a better percentage, Tony's assists would be higher than they are!

Ths is really getting irritating, man.

I can see not getting an A+ unless he has a double-double AND 35 points, but I really think you mess him up over and over again.

When TP plays the way he was yesterday and gets "only" an A-, you need to take that as what it is: The ultimate compliment.

Despite his play timvp (and many others) think he is capable of more. How can you take that as an insult?

[SenorSpur]

I think its just all about matchups.

Splitter doesn't matchup well with Rashard Lewis defensively.

...and from the looks of it, neither does Blair.

[z0sa]

When TP plays the way he was yesterday and gets "only" an A-, you need to take that as what it is: The ultimate compliment.

Despite his play timvp (and many others) think he is capable of more. How can you take that as an insult?

So you/TimVP and others feel TP can do better (average) than 24 points, 10 assists a night?

[Agloco]

So you/TimVP and others feel TP can do better (average) than 24 points, 10 assists a night?

It probably stems from the fact that Nelson was slipping free on screens too often. Dunno, but that's really the only gripe I can come up with. Dumb play at the end too, but it was inconsequential.

[EVAY]

When TP plays the way he was yesterday and gets "only" an A-, you need to take that as what it is: The ultimate compliment.

Despite his play timvp (and many others) think he is capable of more. How can you take that as an insult?

Because he doesn't appear to grading TD on the same curve. TP should be graded vs. the other spurs that played in that game. That is what the headline says. It doesn't say "Spurs graded vs. their capablities". Spurs grades are vs. who is on the floor vs. the spurs and the other spurs players. TP has gotten the better of lots of high-profile point guards of late, but it doesn't seem to translate into respect vis-a-vis LJ and/or Kori, at least as grading relates to other spurs.

Right now, TP and Manu are carrying the team. Give them the props they deserve for carrying this team through the first month of the season with a better record than any other team.

[z0sa]

It probably stems from the fact that Nelson was slipping free on screens too often. Dunno, but that's really the only gripe I can come up with. Dumb play at the end too, but it was inconsequential.

Yeah, but Dwight had a huge game on the stat sheet and Tim was hardly punished for it.

Just sayin'. Parker deserves an A+ anytime he gets a high scoring double double on 5:1 ratio. His defense has been solid all season, I think he deserves some benefit of the doubt against one of the best teams in the NBA.

It's not my grades, though. Timvp can do whatever the he wants.

[timvp]

Damn, LJ, what the does TP have to do to get a staright A from you?

I gave him an A+ a few days ago. I haven't graded him lower than A- in a while, IIRC.

The guy has a terrific shooting night and a double-double (10 assists), timely three pointers, and you can't get any more than an A- out of that?!?!

There are two sides to the court. Parker's offense was probably an A+. Defensively, Parker had a handful of mistakes. With as great as he's defended lately, he didn't live up to those expectations against the Magic. He has set the bar high on both ends ... and that's what I'm grading him on.

I mean I know that you and Kori love TD more than anybody and all, but try a little bit of pretense at objectivity in these scores occasionally, okay?

Classic.

I've been called a homer for TD, Manu and TP. Mostly I'm called a TP homer. I get TD homer least of all. Thanks for evening it out a little bit.

I know I'm being fair when I get these types of complaints from all different angles.

[Slomo]

Because he doesn't appear to grading TD on the same curve. TP should be graded vs. the other spurs that played in that game. That is what the headline says. It doesn't say "Spurs graded vs. their capablities". Spurs grades are vs. who is on the floor vs. the spurs and the other spurs players. TP has gotten the better of lots of high-profile point guards of late, but it doesn't seem to translate into respect vis-a-vis LJ and/or Kori, at least as grading relates to other spurs.

Since the first time timvp started grading players it never worked like that. You're understanding of the grades is wrong.

Right now, TP and Manu are carrying the team. Give them the props they deserve for carrying this team through the first month of the season with a better record than any other team.

Which I believe many have admited, including timvp.

One last thing. I firmly believe the Spurs have won 4 championships because Pop, the management and the players never lost sight of the real goal (Championship) and every action, criticism, analysis is subject to that goal. I don't really care about who carries the team in game 13 of the regular season. I do however care about winning and where Tony and the others are in regard to what we need them to be to win it all - and believe it or not timvp has proven over the years to have a pretty good feel for that.

[TJastal]

Hey I graded Parker an A- in my report too. Outstanding game, but had a couple short stretches during the game where he mentally "checked out", for whatever reason. But then again so did Manu. Not sure why both had the let downs, but its kind of troubling to say the least.

[timvp]

TP should be graded vs. the other spurs that played in that game.

For the 45th billion time over the last dozen years, the grades are based on the expectations for each player. If I graded the players against each other, the Magic game would be graded:

TP A+
Manu A
TD A-
Jefferson F+
Blair F-
Bonner D-
McDyess F+
Hill F
Neal F-

And that's being generous to the players outside of the Big 3.

TP has gotten the better of lots of high-profile point guards of late, but it doesn't seem to translate into respect vis-a-vis LJ and/or Kori

Parker has been outstanding in all phases over the last seven games. He’s scoring efficiently without dominating the ball. He’s creating plays for others on a consistent basis without excessive turnovers. He’s defending better than he ever has in the regular season and he’s not getting in foul trouble or losing energy on the offensive end. For years, the coaching staff has urged Parker to use his speed as an asset on the defensive end just like he does on the other end. This season, we are finally seeing Parker do just that consistently. All in all, there’s not much to nitpick. More of the same would be appreciated by all.

http://www.sanantoniodispatch.com/sa...-last-7-games/

Not sure how much higher praise you want. "Outstanding in all phases" is a pretty good compliment in my book.

And what does Kori have to do with any of this? I haven't seen her handing out any disastrous A minuses.

[Kori Ellis]

I've been handing Parker C-'s all season behind your back.

[polandprzem]

He has set the bar high on both ends ... and that's what I'm grading him on.

Where was the bar set in the 1st game of a season?

And is the bar changing it's levels? [esp. taking the fact of the importance of the moths]

[polandprzem]

TP A+
Manu A
TD A-
Jefferson F+
Blair F-
Bonner D-
McDyess F+
Hill F
Neal F-

Too harsh IMHO

[Slomo]

I've been handing Parker C-'s all season behind your back.

[Kori Ellis]

My joke would have been better if I would have said I had been "texting him C-'s"

[quentin_compson]

Not having Splitter in the playoff rotation means the Spurs aren't really serious about putting a fifth trophy in the case before Duncan retires...as I feel like this is the last year that feat is even discussable.

That's pretty much the way I see it. Splitter has to play more minutes on a regular basis. Not necessarily now, but once he is truly in shape, and at the very latest once Pop begins the process of settling on a playoff rotation. Even now, he probably should play more, given that he still needs to learn how the Spurs' systems work.

And what does Kori have to do with any of this? I haven't seen her handing out any disastrous A minuses.

Yeah, that's because she doesn't hate TP as much as you do.

On a more serious note, this was a pretty good RS game by both teams. Both teams played well enough defensively, while at the same time shooting the ball well.
In the fourth quarter, Manu embodied pretty much everything that is great about basketball: heart, passion, mental toughness, and the combination of intelligence and athletic ability.

[timvp]

My joke would have been better if I would have said I had been "texting him C-'s"

Or even funnier: "sexting him D's".













Wait. That wouldn't funny

[duncan228]

I've been handing Parker C-'s all season behind your back.

IIRC, timvp stopped doing grades at one point because of the confusion over how the grades work. Hope it doesn't go that far again, I like the grades. Maybe a one sentence intro line with the grades would clear it up so it doesn't have to be explained over and over.

[polandprzem]

Where was the bar set in the 1st game of a season?

And is the bar changing it's levels? [esp. taking the fact of the importance of the months]

[Pauleta14]

I found an interresting stat about TP, he has almost as many assists (102) and field goals (103) made since the start of the season!

Can't have a more balanced game than that...

PS/ timvp, please don't take offense when I/we dicuss about your grades, for my part, I appreciate you work, I just like disccussing about it to confront different POV, that all...
It's fine to disagree... We still won anyway!

[EVAY]

For the 45th billion time over the last dozen years, the grades are based on the expectations for each player. If I graded the players against each other, the Magic game would be graded:

TP A+
Manu A
TD A-
Jefferson F+
Blair F-
Bonner D-
McDyess F+
Hill F
Neal F-

And that's being generous to the players outside of the Big 3.





Not sure how much higher praise you want. "Outstanding in all phases" is a pretty good compliment in my book.

And what does Kori have to do with any of this? I haven't seen her handing out any disastrous A minuses.

Timvp

I just flat disagree with your grading of Parker, especially. Based on what you say you are basing the grading on (where the "expectations" are for each player), then I still disagree.

I don't claim to be the basketball guru that you do (and certainly I would be slapped down immediately if I ever did), but I don't think that you are infallible. So sue me.

YOU are the arbiter of 'expectations' so that a guy who does everything you said he has done in your write-up still cannot get a straight A. I told you I could see holding something back (i.e. the A+). But good grief, man...you are harder on some players than others and you damn well know it. And you are always gonna be easier on Tim than you are on others. If you don't recognize it, fine.

If you don't want people to disagree with you on your own forum, is its purpose merely to provide us with the 'revealed truth' on all matters personnel related for the Spurs?

Forget it. I sure as will.