Summer League Game 2 - Game Thoughts

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The thing with Ian is that he is still skinny and do you realy see him being able to guard Shaq, Bynum, Nene, or Howard during the season?

[wildbill2u]

Tom Reel/Express-NewsSpurs guard Malik Hairston blocks Coby Karl as the Spurs defeat the Denver Nuggets 78-76 at UNLV's Cox Pavilion on Tuesday, July 13, 2009.


Is this George Karl's son?

Yeah. He's named for Coby Dietrich who was George's closest friend on the Spurs when they played here.

[Da Spurs]

The thing with Ian is that he is still skinny and do you realy see him being able to guard Shaq, Bynum, Nene, or Howard during the season?

He'll dominate those guys.

[HarlemHeat37]

Ian is going to be a bench player..there's no way he's gonna have to guard any of those starting Cs on a consistent basis this year, especially not stars like Howard and Shaq..

we have Duncan to guard Cs, and 'Dice to guard 4s..

[ploshyjoshy]

Ian is going to be a bench player..there's no way he's gonna have to guard any of those starting Cs on a consistent basis this year, especially not stars like Howard and Shaq..

we have Duncan to guard Cs, and 'Dice to guard 4s..

its true, the only ONLY way i could see ian ever EVER guarding a big like that is if have duncan sitting out a game in a back to back and haislip is out for whatever reason

[timvp]

I didn't saw the game but why Macus Vinicius only played a minute?

Coach decision, big mistake or injury?

IIRC, Vinicius came in at the end of first quarter because Mahinmi had two fouls. Newman went back to Mahinmi to start the second quarter. Vinicius didn't have time to show anything in his minute.

A little bit too much sunshine on Mahinmi's write-up. If he can't figure out how to be effective on the floor without committing a foul every three minutes, then he can't expect to play much in the NBA. This has been a problem for years, and the fact that it's not getting any better starts to make me think his clumsiness is just part of who he is.

I'm not saying Mahinmi is a lock to be better than the 6th big on the team. But it is extremely encouraging to see him get so much better from the first game to the second game.

Foul trouble is alarming but not nearly as alarming as he overall poor play in the first game. Now the hope is that he continues to progress in summer league to the point where he can have a good game that includes a reasonable number of fouls.

Timvp, you wrote Ian was the biggest, it also means the tallest ? How these 16 rebounds have been built ? A lot have been constested or it was essentially easy ones on Defense ?

Many of his rebounds were contested. I wouldn't say his height played a major role in securing those boards. Hendrix and Giles are both pretty damn good rebounders who take up space. Hendrix is basically like a poor man's version of Blair. Simmons can also grab rebounds in bunches thanks to his supreme athleticism. Mahinmi grabbing as many boards as Hendrix, Giles and Simmons combined is definitely a good sign.

Is it possible that Ian's assertiveness and activity (especially on the glass) can be indirectly related to the absence of Blair? I was thinking that Ian could be finding it difficult to carve out his niche in the low post, when playing alongside the "space eater". Anybody think this could be a factor? If so, is it possible the two players would be better served not being on the court at the same time?

Ian doesn't played a lot of minutes paired with Blair in the first game.

The most logical reason why he wasn't good in his first game was that it was basically his first game in one year.

I agree with that explanation. Mahinmi and Blair didn't get really get in each other's way much in the first game. Obviously it's easier to rebound when Blair isn't in the game but that doesn't account for all 16 boards.

TIMVP.....
Would you mind if I used your recaps on games to post on a local poker forum?
We have a basketball section that would really perk up with your insights.
Yoda

That's fine.