Preseason Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Rockets - Oct. 14, 2012

[Brazil]

Did De Colo pass this well in France? How come we never saw this from him or expected it?

De Colo always had amazing passing abilities. You didn't expect it probably because you are not following French basketball.

[Ice009]

Please don't get my hopes up!

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...-back-to-work/

Early practice, early departure: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich changed his training camp practice schedule Monday to accommodate Matt Bonner’s annual golf tournament that benefits the Kids Sports Network.

He pushed up the start of practice by one hour, and when it ended, he and Bonner headed to TPC at San Antonio for the event.

lol

[Seventyniner]

Early practice, early departure: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich changed his training camp practice schedule Monday to accommodate Matt Bonner’s annual golf tournament that benefits the Kids Sports Network.

He pushed up the start of practice by one hour, and when it ended, he and Bonner headed to TPC at San Antonio for the event.

Oh, so that's why Bonner will never get traded. Pop's just doing it for the kids!

[gameFACE]

If Curry maintains this level of play into the RS we can see Pop using a TD/Diaw/Splitter/Curry rotation. And that's a pretty big if.

I'm mixed on Curry. After the Nuggets game all I could think about was the principal from Animal House, "fat and stupid is no way to go through life, son". But I finally saw the Rockets game on DVR and he looked pretty good. Can he develop a defensive mindset for an 82-game season, though? I dunno. I'd also like to see him playing next to Tim.

Keep Witherspoon!

[Bruno]

Please don't get my hopes up!

I'm not tying to but if someone has a better explanation for Bonner's situation that injury or doghouse, I'm all ears.

[DPG21920]

Like someone else mentioned, outside of Tim (whom Pop might want to get more time with Tim and Diaw since they didn't have a training camp last year) he knows what he has in Bonner and needs to see things from all the other big men on the roster?

[therealtruth]

Like someone else mentioned, outside of Tim (whom Pop might want to get more time with Tim and Diaw since they didn't have a training camp last year) he knows what he has in Bonner and needs to see things from all the other big men on the roster?

Pop's excuse for not playing more Tim and Tiago together has been the lack of training camp and practice time. Now he has no excuse. He should make sure that they can play together.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Good on you Eddy Curry is all I can say. He's looking great, should make the team. And as others have already said, it'd be nice to have a reliable low post option again.

[mountainballer]

I don't think there is a "Bonner situation". it's pretty simple.
they plan to keep one from the group Curry, Brown and Powell and they need minutes from each player to evaluate who makes most sense. so they cut those minutes from the regular bigs and they cut the most minutes from the one big, who would play the smallest role anyway. (a role that is well known. by the player, by the coach, by the team). in the end it's about the question, who will be the 6th big. and this player might take over the 5th spot in the rotation from Bonner during the season. not more.

[Ice009]

I want Bonner off the team. It is that simple. Don't give a what role he is supposed to play, the role he needs to play is of a player that is not on this team.

[therealtruth]

I want Bonner off the team. It is that simple. Don't give a what role he is supposed to play, the role he needs to play is of a player that is not on this team.

Pop has got to realize Bonner is useless for winning championships. Bonner could have played a role in the Thunder series and Pop tried to use him. However Pop's got to realize by now Bonner can't contribute to a le winning team.

[DPG21920]

I don't think there is a "Bonner situation". it's pretty simple.
they plan to keep one from the group Curry, Brown and Powell and they need minutes from each player to evaluate who makes most sense. so they cut those minutes from the regular bigs and they cut the most minutes from the one big, who would play the smallest role anyway. (a role that is well known. by the player, by the coach, by the team). in the end it's about the question, who will be the 6th big. and this player might take over the 5th spot in the rotation from Bonner during the season. not more.

Why do you think Matt will be the 5th big?

[urunobili]

Patty Mills is not playing for us anymore?

[Ice009]

Patty Mills is not playing for us anymore?

What are you talking about?

[benefactor]

Pop has got to realize Bonner is useless for winning championships. Bonner could have played a role in the Thunder series and Pop tried to use him. However Pop's got to realize by now Bonner can't contribute to a le winning team.

[urunobili]

What are you talking about?

didn't see the game, he's not included in the Game Thoughts. what's so difficult or weird about that? it's just a question.

[benefactor]

Ankle injury. Nothing serious though.

[itsbcbaby]

Derrick Brown
Welp, this was the end of the line for Derrick Brown. It would have been difficult for him to play any worse. In the halfcourt, he wouldn’t stick out more if he were wearing a pink jersey and a sombrero. He’s just totally worthless in that setting and I don’t see any hope that he can fix his shortcomings. Not only can he not shoot, dribble or pass, his instincts are horrible and he has no clue about spacing. Defensively, he’s truthfully not much better. His rotations have a molasses-like quality. Of the training camp invitees, he was probably the favorite. But right now, I’d be surprised if he’s still on the roster by the time the next preseason game tips off.

Longtime Xavier fan here who started lurking on this board once the Spurs signed him. I've held a grudge against the Spurs since you cut Romain Sato 8 years ago. Please, enjoy the insight. From what I witnessed Saturday, I probably won't be lurking around here much longer.

After reading the first couple of your post game writeups, I was convinced Derrick Brown had slept with your wife. Based on the box scores, I didn't really see where your negative comments had come from. This had been the first game I'd been able to catch (NBA TV), and unfortunately I couldn't agree with you more. I apologize, you we're right. He was just downright awful, I just checked back here and I'm completely shocked he hasn't been cut yet.

Offensively, he reverted to the way he had been playing his rookie year in Charlotte. Very hesitant, not sure what to do whenever he got the ball. Last year, it seemed as if he finally got the confidence back he had his days at X. Granted, he's never been a knock down outside shooter, but he would at least take the mid-range J, make aggressive drives and get to the rim. From what I saw this weekend, he's got the deer in headlights look again.

His defensive potential has to be the only reason he's still around. I actually thought his defense was pretty good - one play stood out in which he made a rotation onto a big guy who quickly made a bad pass out of bounds. Pop was out of his seat applauding him right afterwards. His greatest defensive attribute is his perimeter, on ball defense. Considering the Spurs are looking at him as primarily a 4, he probably won't get to showcase it very much. Let's all agree that we can just disregard the 2nd half of the clip below.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzyvz8i1-5k" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">

Though unlikely from what I've seen/read, hopefully he can turn it around and make the team. If not, maybe I'll stop by in another 8 years to have another similar discussion.

[timvp]

^Classic first post



The more I look at Brown, the more I'm convinced that he's carrying around like 15 excess pounds. I've seen him play quite a bit over the years and this is by far the slowest and least athletic he's ever looked. This version of Brown is really bad at defending out on the perimeter; he's nothing like the guy in that video. The only other explanation is he's dealing with some sort of injury.

But, yeah, Pop has already given up on him playing small forward ... so I'm not exactly sure why the Spurs haven't waived him yet. Maybe they gave him some guaranteed money and will keep him around for a little bit since the money is already spent.

[Leetonidas]

TP talked a little about the start of the training camp on his radio show:

"We are trying to figure out which bigman we will keep. We give a lot of playing time to Eddy Curry. It's a big gamble. We want to see what he can bring to us. There is too Josh Powell, a former Lakers and Hawks player. So we are trying to see how we can improve our frontcourt. On the perimeter, we give a little playing time to the young players."

From what Parker said, it seems that the bigman who will be kept with the 15th roster spot won't necessarily end up as the deep end of the bench. Pop trying so much weird bigmen pairs during preseason games might be a sign that nothing in set in stones in that area. If Eddy Curry turns out well, I wouldn't be surprised to see Pop going with a Duncan/Diaw/Splitter/Curry rotation.

I just can't see it, the spacing would be terrible. There would be pros obviously but I don't see a Splitter/Curry or Duncan/Curry lineup working too well.

[Bruno]

I'm not sold on the explanation of Bonner playing that little only because he is a known quan y. Every years, proven players don't play a lot in the first preseason games to better evaluate other players. However, Bonner has played more than twice less than the other proven players. It's possible that I'm reading too much in the situation but I think there is something more behind that.

I just can't see it, the spacing would be terrible. There would be pros obviously but I don't see a Splitter/Curry or Duncan/Curry lineup working too well.

Splitter/Curry would be bad for sure spacing wise. Now, if Pop wants to have a more physical and bigger team, that's the way to go. Another point is that Spurs were 23rd in low post scoring efficiency last year. A low post pressence like Curry should help in that area and makes Spurs offense more consistent and more versatile.

[mountainballer]

we will find out in Florida. they now have this one week break and likely the most intense phase of the camp, so I'm pretty sure the big decisions will be made right before they hop on the plane to Miami.
another point about keeping Curry might be this, that, if he shows he can be a relieable backup, it opens a very intriguing trade scenario for the Spurs. Splitter, (or Splitter plus 1st round pick) will likely be the most attractive traide bait the Spurs can offer. (Splitter will bring full bird rights with him AND is restricted, so a team that won't have cap space next summer, but need a starting center, might gamble on him). without a 3rd center on the team such a trade scenario isn't very likely. this doesn't mean such a scenario will happen, Spurs will still need to find a good offer, but the more options you create (and a competent FO creates those options right now and not in February), the better your odds are.

[Bruno]

another point about keeping Curry might be this, that, if he shows he can be a relieable backup, it opens a very intriguing trade scenario for the Spurs. Splitter, (or Splitter plus 1st round pick) will likely be the most attractive traide bait the Spurs can offer. (Splitter will bring full bird rights with him AND is restricted, so a team that won't have cap space next summer, but need a starting center, might gamble on him). without a 3rd center on the team such a trade scenario isn't very likely.

Good point.

The elephant in the room with Splitter is whether or not Spurs will be fine with offering him a big contract next summer.

Even if they aren't great, seven footer are paid a lot of money. Splitter should follow this pattern. Even if Spurs will be in a fine situation next summer regarding the salary cap, they might not want spend their money on Splitter. There are signs about Pop not being really high on Splitter: blue collar comments, upset about his injuries and his choking in last year playoffs.

[xmas1997]

The elephant in the room with Splitter is whether or not Spurs will be fine with offering him a big contract next summer.
Even if they aren't great, seven footer are paid a lot of money. Splitter should follow this pattern. Even if Spurs will be in a fine situation next summer regarding the salary cap, they might not want spend their money on Splitter. There are signs about Pop not being really high on Splitter: blue collar comments, upset about his injuries and his choking in last year playoffs.

I don't know, Bruno, seems to me if this were the case then they would have parted with Bonner by now too, but he is still around.

[Bruno]

I don't know, Bruno, seems to me if this were the case then they would have parted with Bonner by now too, but he is still around.

When they signed Bonner to his contract in 2010, I don't think Pop saw him as a playoff choker. It's possible that Pop still don't see him like that even if they are some signs he saw the light in the last playoffs and during the summer. There is too a big difference between them: Splitter will be way more expensive to keep than Bonner was.