ESPN: Spurs players profile

[tonight...you]

I posted in the house of Pau Gasol a tweet that linked to an interview he gave where he,stated Pop promised him a role similar to Tim's and that he would be leading the Spurs' frontcourt rotation with LMA.
I suppose we fans can speculate but that's what he said.

It's like Bertans stating he'd be a stretch 4, despite us fans speculating sometimes that he's a 3. Those two things come straight from the players. I suppose Pop will start very traditional with guys in similar spots and roles as he's had other players in the past and go from there.

I believe right now Pop and the rest of the guys, and girl, are holed up in some resort for a week, discussing strategy.
Pop, as you know, asks for dissenting voices and opinions. He has a couple of good voices that might change his mind on a few things previously stated.

I don't think Dedmon is going to start over Pau, but it might be brought up this week and, depending on how the season unfolds along the way- may become something that gains some traction.
Again: I don't think it's going to happen. Pau is still a Billy Badass on the floor and I think he'd bristle at the idea of taking on a "Ginobili" role.

Now: I also think Bertans is going to end up a 3/4 through the season, no matter what Pop told him months ago. It's inevitable. Like Anderson is going to split time between the 3 and the 4, depending on the matchups and the flow of each game.

Nothing is ever carved in stone with this team, except for TP starting and Pop experimenting the first 3/4'ths of the season.

[gambit1990]

people underrating dedmon... y'all are in for nice surprise.

[gambit1990]

By virtually any metric, Gasol and Dedmon are very good rim protectors and Aldridge is a solid one.

haven't checked metrics, can agree with the assessment.

but this was gasol how many years ago?

[gambit1990]

i'm a big gasol fan too.

the clip i posted... extrapolate that for an older gasol at C and lma at PF.

you think david lee is gonna help stop blake and deandre?

dedmon panning out is crucial.

td won't be on the floor anymore.

[GSH]

First of all, an excellent article*. Thanks for posting, OP.

* Except for the comment about Manu committing a violation on the Waiters inbounds pass in Game 2 against OKC last year. Wasn't that the play where Waiters reached out with the ball and pushed Manu backwards? It's sort of tough to make a case against Manu for that.

Really hoping Dedmon starts alongside Parker-Green-Leonard and Aldridge. I think that could be an excellent two way unit.

I don't think it's what you meant, but Pop isn't going to start Dedmon unless he plays better than Pau - so if Dedmon is able to step up his game enough to start, he would bring a lot more speed and athleticism that Pau has. I don't think there's a chance in of it happening. But, yeah, I'd like to see the Spurs start a C who is younger and more mobile than Pau, and who does his work in the paint. Did I mention that I don't think there's a chance in of it happening?

[Play Boban]

Dedmon is the most overrated player in Spurs history. Wow.

[Play Boban]

problem with dedmon being the starter is... (a concern i already brought up) if he gets hurt... who else on the roster will bring what he does?

Do bench players not get hurt?

[cd021]

I don't think it's what you meant, but Pop isn't going to start Dedmon unless he plays better than Pau - so if Dedmon is able to step up his game enough to start, he would bring a lot more speed and athleticism that Pau has. I don't think there's a chance in of it happening. But, yeah, I'd like to see the Spurs start a C who is younger and more mobile than Pau, and who does his work in the paint. Did I mention that I don't think there's a chance in of it happening?

I don't think that it has to do with DD necessarily outplaying Pau and more to do with Pau being 36 and having a ton of miles on his legs. Bringing Pau off the bench makes it easier to control his minutes while also maximizing his effectiveness while on the floor. Instead of playing 28-30 mpg as a starter he could play 27 mpg off the bench. It wouldn't necessarily affect his minutes but he could be much more effective off the bench.

As for DD; he provides an athletic rim protector and defender who can board, run the floor, and roll hard to the rim in the SL. Paired with 3 floor spacers (Leonard, Green, LMA) and a play maker in Parker, he could be really good on offense too.

[dabom]

I don't think that it has to do with DD necessarily outplaying Pau and more to do with Pau being 36 and having a ton of miles on his legs. Bringing Pau off the bench makes it easier to control his minutes while also maximizing his effectiveness while on the floor. Instead of playing 28-30 mpg as a starter he could play 27 mpg off the bench. It wouldn't necessarily affect his minutes but he could be much more effective off the bench.

As for DD; he provides an athletic rim protector and defender who can board, run the floor, and roll hard to the rim in the SL. Paired with 3 floor spacers (Leonard, Green, LMA) and a play maker in Parker, he could be really good on offense too.

DD hasn't proven anything at any stage of his career. To ACTUALLY THINK he can is ing foolish. And the guy ain't gonna start.

[gambit1990]

Do bench players not get hurt?

i meant if he plays good enough to be starting we'd be heavily reliant on him.

him being injured in general would not be good.

[TD 21]

haven't checked metrics, can agree with the assessment.

but this was gasol how many years ago?

So one random YouTube clip trumps a season's worth of numbers?

He's not pre 2016 Duncan, but rim protection is the last area of his defense to be concerned about.

[gambit1990]

So one random YouTube clip trumps a season's worth of numbers?

He's not pre 2016 Duncan, but rim protection is the last area of his defense to be concerned about.

what i'm pointing out is the clippers' frontcourt.

this is the first season i'm somewhat worried about facing the clippers in the playoffs.

clippers already beat us in the post season... and that was when tim was playing great.

lma and gasol aren't quick on the feet... they won't be capable of defending pick n rolls very well... especially if teams run them against a 34 year old tony parker.

[gambit1990]

youtubed: "david lee 2016", happy with how spry he looks. should be the most motivated he's ever been now that he's with the spurs. ... his highlights are mainly offensive though... alludes to the negative space i've been pointing out.

[TD 21]

what i'm pointing out is the clippers' frontcourt.

this is the first season i'm somewhat worried about facing the clippers in the playoffs.

clippers already beat us in the post season... and that was when tim was playing great.

lma and gasol aren't quick on the feet... they won't be capable of defending pick n rolls very well... especially if teams run them against a 34 year old tony parker.

If only you'd have listened to this genius in '15 . . . http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246853

Aldridge possesses underrated mobility and agility (of course, at 31, any season now he could lose it) and is capable of playing any kind of pick-and-roll defense.

The problem with the Clippers (and Cavaliers) isn't so much match-up related, as it is their talent, particularly having 2 better creators than anyone on the Spurs. They should also be the most desperate of the 4 elites, given their disappointing end to the last 2 seasons, inability to get past 2nd round once and 3 of 4 core players being in contract years (all likely to re-sign, but still).

[TrainOfThought5]

Dedmon is the most overrated player in Spurs history. Wow.

I see you havent been around long.

[Play Boban]

I see you havent been around long.

Richard Jefferson?

[spurraider21]

boban too