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Shut up, got.
You could have pointed out that your original response was calling out the casual racism in calling Philippine people lame. But that would have required intelligence and tact
Shut up, got.
Fredettes d is historically bad imo. Bad man defenders can mask
their defencies with good team d but he's lost all round
In Messina's defense, I think he did a good job of letting players just play for somewhat extended periods of time, which is really what they're looking at now. Right now is more about taking a look at players competing, see who's ready, who is not, much more so than trying to establish rotations and winning. I expected the first two or so preseason games to focus on that, followed by some cuts, then you get the last couple of games before the season starts to establish a rotation and see how it all works out.
I thought generally he did a good job of that. I don't think you can't say X player played too little or not enough to get an idea of where said player is at right now.
Inherent racism in those statements aside, NBA players have their names printed clearly on their jerseys as well as larger numbers that uniquely correspond with their names on the team roster.
True, given the mishmash of available players they just wanted to see each play a bit. I thought Karl's defensive scheme was what made the difference on that last possession tbh.
Now I wanna see Big Boban ing Howard or DeAndre
Is Bonner's contract fully guaranteed?
The moment I saw them put Butler at the 4, it occurred to me that Matt is actually fighting for a roster spot tbh. He has ice packs on both legs before even checking in, and can't hit the broad side of a barn. Sad to say, but if Butler plays like that from the 4 spot for the rest of the preseason, there is really no point in keeping Bonner around tbh. Make him a FO guy or something. Jimmer was putrid but I'd rather take a flier on him and hope he gets it together, or just have an open spot, than have both Bonner and Butler, and Butler was clearly the superior NBA player last night.
Aldridge, West, and Simmons looked totally lost out there last night unfortunately.
Aldridge floating around is going to become a common theme if Pop's playcalling is anything like Messina's, tbh. LMA strikes me as a guy that needs isolation possessions to get himself going. The whole 'beautiful game' thing just assured that he was never in rhythm and he deferred to Patty on most of his high post possessions. Doesn't help that the offense is STILL a trainwreck when there isn't a ballhandler on the floor.
I was dumbfounded how few postup isolations were called for Aldridge, given the fact that the starting lineup couldn't do but play motion and take a late shotclock heave. It reminded me of last year tbh.
Kawhi looked good on offense, but got cheesed by Rudy Gay again...
Tough to judge players on preseason games with no established roles or structure, outside of obvious observations(Bonner sticking out, Aldridge looking chubby, Anderson's confidence, etc)..
28 points in the paint
As many shots for Aldridge as Kawhi and Anderson
Starting lineup with a putrid +/-
Simmons had the highest +/- of the entire team at 18. He had 5 rebounds and 4 assists and 1 steal. Those are stats of someone who knows what he's doing. Sure he had a terrible shooting night, but he made up in all other things.
+/0 of West was -14 LMA was -21, Aldridge has Zero assists... that's a sign of a guy that is totally lost!!
I think Spurs might have acquired a very expensive catch and shoot player.
They ran a ton of Aldridge post-ups, they were treating him like Zach Randolph..I don't have replay footage, but if I had to guess, the PPP on those plays was terrible..28 points in the paint
As many shots for Aldridge as Kawhi and Anderson
Starting lineup with a putrid +/-
Agree with this. I share Chinook' s and other concerns about Messina, but I have to agree there was a degree of limitation since you have to give guys decent slots of time to show their game and he was probably obligated to make some if the subs he made. He did make some adjustments in lineups that allowed the team a winning opportunity despite LMA having a bad game and Danny being cold, out of rhythm with LMA and forcing things. It's tough to jump to conclusions at the starting lineup. If you had to roll a few games without the big 3 due to rest during the season, I am not sure you want Danny to start. That unit needed more ball movement and action. Danny as a spot up shooter doesn't add much there. Can't draw too much from this and I would hate to split the combo of Kyle/Simmons bc those two guys play really well together and as long as they were paired up they shined. I really really like their potential. So, overall not sure what can be done concerning the main unit. Batum is a terrific playmaker and added a dimension to LMA game and the looks he got in Portland that we didn't see last night and I am not sure this starting group has any playmakers like that. I hope that w/ Timmy and Tony it will look better, but I have my concerns, too many iso guys a spot shooter and no playmakers does not a high scoring starting unit make. I am afraid that group will again depend on Tony to create looks and that is precisely what we wanted to alleviate.
No overreaction, just observations from one game and where guys are at.
I really liked Kawhi' s aggressiveness. He's going to have a good year.
I kind of have been proclaiming that Bonner is done since last season ended and I did not want him back this season. Seeing him w the icepacks or calf warmers whatever that was made me feel sorry for him. I kind of feel bad criticizing him so much but to see him not being able to contribute, looking like he's breaking down to start the season and with a cold hand on his two 3s it's tough. I wish nothing but the best for Bonner personally, but as a player I don't know....
As much as I'd like to believe that Bonner is competing for a spot, that's just not the case. The guy has a guaranteed spot on that bench until he decides to retire.
The reason why Joseph was valuable to the Spurs is that he could spot-start and do some of the things Parker could do. That allowed the Spurs to be relatively normal while Mills could stay in his role on the bench. McCallum is that guy now. He would start if Parker couldn't go, and while he's not the driver than Cory is, he's good enough to work with Leonard and LMA getting so many touches. Green is not a secondary play-maker. He's not even a tertiary play-maker. He can do some things with the ball if he doesn't have to get creative. But that's pretty much it.
Maybe Pop told Messina what lineups to go with. But starting Mills made no sense. You want Patty in his normal role, and that would have put Simmons and Anderson not only in roles they're comfortable with from their SL days (half-court play-makers) but also roles theyre likeliest to have in real games. McCallum would have the role HE'S most likely to have when he plays. Everything would have made sense.
The team's two biggest runs came when Patty was on the floor with other ball-handlers and when McCallum was able to space the floor next to those same ball-handlers. Both halves started with a unit that had no chemistry and nothing to go to by LMA and Leonard post-ups. They're paying Ray a million bucks to avoid that scenario in real time.
That being said, the real first unit will look a lot better. The Spurs will be running their actual offense to get LMA good looks. Chemistry will be better with four guys who've played together for four years. Green can focus on catching and shooting or at worst driving only when he has a good angle. I'm not too worried yet.
I think Mills starting yesterday was by Pop's design, since there were photos from Mills in training camp with the black jersey. That first unit has been struggling some to get going if you read between the lines from Danny's comments. Next game, chemistry issues for the main unit is something to look at. The second unit was fantastic with either Mills or Ray, and Butler. Kyle and Simmons are the epicenter and make stuff happen which gets me excited for their development since they can make it work w several guys. I now have no concerns over Manu and he will enjoy playing with them and mentoring them. I like Butler as a pick up as well. Neither Ray, nor Mills is a playmaker and Johnny's ballhandling issues require him to play as a 2 like Manu, to take some burden from him particularly if he's pressured.
I don't know why Pop wanted Mills to start but it must be concerns with the starting unit, since the second unit could make it work with either guy. Maybe Ray is not ready yet or it is experimental. I like some plays Jimmer made off the dribble. I had never seen him an He has a good handle. It's too bad he looked so poorly in other areas. At one point he was subbed in next to Party and I do have to admit I am not sure what Messina was looking for there. I'll give another chance to Jimmer, but so far, Butler and Simmons look better.
You forget that although Cojo started on paper when Parker was out, Pop gave Mills most of the PG minutes and would often (if not always) play him down the stretch. In games that Parker doesn't play in, Mills isn't going to be exclusively used with the bench. He'll likely be called on to finish games too and this means he'll need to learn to play with the starting 5 (minus Parker and w/ LMA). The preseason's about finding the right lineups and developing chemistry. Things can only get better from here.
Lol at the grades. Lma looked sterile. Take that with the fact he's talking to media about being scared makes me wonder if he has a pair. How is ray a pg? Terrible
I have watched 1 preseason game in the past 20+ years(and that was the spurs exhibition last season they lost). Preseason shows us nothing. The teams that play hard will be the garbage teams trying to prove something. The good teams just go through the motions. People get excited over absolutely nothing. Preseason games show us absolutely NOTHING!!!!
How would you know if you only watched one in the past 20 years?
because I look at highlights. There is a program called sportscenter that's been on ESPN for a few decades. There is an NBA channel on DirectTv. Preseason means . We've always had sub par preseason games. You don't show your hand before the season starts.
So you saw like ten seconds of game action and from that can conclude that the entire game showed nothing?
If preseason meant anything duncan porker and manu would have been there and pop would be coaching.
Chump.
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