Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Rockets - Oct. 6

[benefactor]

If Keith Bogans can spend 6 years on NBA rosters, then Hairston should have a pretty good shot.

[Blackjack]

Your right in that Hairston has a good power dribble when he's going in a straight line to the basket. But we've seen last year, in summer league and in this first preseason game that he has a pretty substantially hard time controlling the ball in traffic. His ball security in traffic is poor -- which especially hurts because he's best offensively when he's in the lane.

I see where you're coming from and am cognizant of that particular flaw, but I think the role and cir stance in which it becomes a detriment would be considerably diminished playing with the Spurs.

Playing with the Toros or lower-level players, he's looked at as the star of the team; something that isn't lost on him. So with that in mind, he approaches the game accordingly. He's thinking to make more plays, take more chances, and carry a burden that he'd never be asked to carry at the next level; at least not in the immediate future. The traffic in which he operates in and attempts to penetrate, is nowhere near the quality at the next level and can leave someone like him taking on some bad habits. Naturally, what he can get away with at a lower level doesn't translate at the NBA level. And the mindset he acquired having to do a little more than he'd be asked to do for the Spurs, is something that would surely change given time to play with the big boys.

He also doesn't dribble it very well when coming up the court. Defenders can easily make him turn his back on the action. Even though I think Hairston is better than Williams, Williams looks like Magic Johnson when you compare their open court ballhandling.

The good news is that poor ballhandling is correctable. Bowen, for example, went from a horrible ballhandler to an adequate ballhandler by working at it.

See, I actually think he's as good or better a ballhandler than Bowen. The difference, at least in my eyes, is the acknowledgement of limitation that only comes through experience; a la Bowen.

When he's open, has his feet set and has time to release his shot, Hairston looks really good. From long twos to three-pointers, he's accurate in with those cir stances.

But while you get those types of looks in D-League and summer league, those types of looks are few and far between in the NBA. 95% of the time a player is going to be defended or at least have a defender rotating to him -- even in the Spurs' system. With an NBA athlete closing out on his shot, that's a big difference than any level of compe ion he has faced.

That's why I want to see Hairston knock down some outside shots on the NBA level. He has proven to be a good shooter when open or going against lesser athletes. But given his lack of elevation, lack of height and his relatively slow release, he'll probably have to make an adjustment.

For the record, I like Hairston as a prospect. He's a bulldog defender in one-on-one matchups -- especially on the low block. He's deceptively a pretty damn good athlete, a willing rebounder, unselfish and plays a physical style of basketball. I really do hope that he can prove that he's improved enough to keep him around.

Judging by the majority of your takes, in terms of scouting Hairston, there's actually more we agree on than not.

I think the biggest difference is in how we interpret it, and how we view it will translate at the NBA level with the Spurs.

It's just my belief that his type of size and release has seen plenty of success in the league, in terms of role-players, and wouldn't be the detriment you view it to be. A guy like Ellie immediately comes to mind; not saying Malik is the proven shooter at this point, but I'd venture to say his release is quicker and he brings a mental and physical-toughness that would put a smile on the ol' Junkyard Dog's face.

I'm obviously a big fan and a charter member of the C.O.H., but I'm not completely in the tank..

He just has the potential to bring so many positive, lacking attributes on the Spurs' perimeter that no one else on the roster, or in the fold, seems to offer.

[ClingingMars]

You guys got waxed at home by a bad team. That indicates a lack of quality depth.

lol preseason, troll harder plz

[DaBears]

So is it my understanding that the Spurs currently have fourteen players under contract w/ one of them still undecided by the coaching staff of the spurs...

I think the houston game as well as the next 2-3 games will be the determining factor between Hairston, Jerrels... I hope Hairston gets the node by the coaching staff. he's a of an athlete.... Watched him during the open practice and the game one(preseason)... hairston seems like a good young talented fit for the spurs thats why i think they havent drop him from the rosters......Jerrels i think is not going to make hte cut becuase as POP has stated Hill is is favorite player i camp and has shown great improvement from last season.... So a backup point guard is not a priority anymore.... Others can take the PG spot if hill and or TP gets hurt.....