Is Gasol Empty Calories?

[vander]

[spursistan]

Awful..

[apalisoc_9]

That defense

Very hard tl funnel guards to our bigs when Pau is the center. One fo the main strategies employed last year was funnelling Gaurds to bigs..With Pau, you cant do that.

[GSH]

El Matador!

[SAGirl]

Absolute matador defense. Thanks to the guy who took the time to do ent it. We had seen it but it's always more effective to show and don't tell.

[cd021]

My god, cut him off and force him to shoot over the top, pass or side step. just awful

[cd021]

Aldridge has never been a bad defender and if the post was utilized more by opponets, he would be our third best defender. He's a great post defender. He can move well and if he gets in shape he'd be even a better defender. Right now, we really only have 4 positive defenders...Leonard-Green-Dedmon-Aldridge...Lee and Manu are smart system defenders but will get exposed if teams decide to attack them.

The offense in many of the games this year have stagnated because we're forcing Pau and Tony offensively. Both probably pout and complain about touches.

Last year despite the slow starts, it was prettrty evident the only time the team would get explosive offensive spurts is when Kawhi (see 4th quarter) and Aldridge arent too worried about hurting Gasol and Porkers feeling ( see GSW game 1)...

Porker and Gasol really holding the team down. Both will have great games against the Sixers of the world though.

Mills-Green-Leonard-LMA-Dedmon
Parker-Manu-Simmons-Bertans- Gasol/Lee

that starting lineup would be deadly tbh.

[YGWHI]

The offense in many of the games this year have stagnated because we're forcing Pau and Tony offensively. Both probably pout and complain about touches.

Last year despite the slow starts, it was prettrty evident the only time the team would get explosive offensive spurts is when Kawhi (see 4th quarter) and Aldridge arent too worried about hurting Gasol and Porkers feeling ( see GSW game 1)...

Porker and Gasol really holding the team down. Both will have great games against the Sixers of the world though.

At least we know that Gasol already did it in last game. Talking about how hard he has to work for his points...

I'm paraphrasing, but he basically said Gortat is lucky to play with guards who do a good job of finding him and that he had to work a lot harder for his points.

If Dedmon says the same thing about Spurs' guards and criticize them in that way, Pop would bench his ass for the next 3 months.

[Robz4000]

Aldridge has never been a bad defender and if the post was utilized more by opponets, he would be our third best defender. He's a great post defender. He can move well and if he gets in shape he'd be even a better defender. Right now, we really only have 4 positive defenders...Leonard-Green-Dedmon-Aldridge...Lee and Manu are smart system defenders but will get exposed if teams decide to attack them.

The offense in many of the games this year have stagnated because we're forcing Pau and Tony offensively. Both probably pout and complain about touches.

Last year despite the slow starts, it was prettrty evident the only time the team would get explosive offensive spurts is when Kawhi (see 4th quarter) and Aldridge arent too worried about hurting Gasol and Porkers feeling ( see GSW game 1)...

Porker and Gasol really holding the team down. Both will have great games against the Sixers of the world though.

Forgot about Simmons on defense tbh; dude has turned into a good defender this season.

[Kawhitstorm]

Net negative w/the Pau/LMA frontline: http://stats.nba.com/team/#!/1610612...P_NAME*E*Gasol

[MaNu4Tres]

I still prefer Harkless tbh..

[Em-City]

I still prefer Harkless tbh..

To be fair, you called it early and he's had a break-out season thus far and will probably out-play AFA when he's back as well

[NameLess Scrub]

Awful..

What is he thinking about? Isn't it only one option in that case?

[MaNu4Tres]

To be fair, you called it early and he's had a break-out season thus far and will probably out-play AFA when he's back as well

AFA plays a different position. Harkless has played the PF for the Blazers since late last year. He turned the corner w/ his confidence and play when hardly anyone noticed in the playoffs.

A lot of people here didn't like him because they just looked at his overall shooting stats for his career, but were unaware how his game developed recently -- especially his shooting late last year. He can defend four positions, sometimes five and is great with switches. He would have been an outstanding pick up considering his age and versatility to grow w/ the young core.

Was a one of the few great buy low opportunities of the summer.

[TD 21]

AFA plays a different position. Harkless has played the PF for the Blazers since late last year. He turned the corner w/ his confidence and play when hardly anyone noticed in the playoffs.

A lot of people here didn't like him because they just looked at his overall shooting stats for his career, but were unaware how his game developed recently -- especially his shooting late last year. He can defend four positions, sometimes five and is great with switches. He would have been an outstanding pick up considering his age and versatility to grow w/ the young core.

Was a one of the few great buy low opportunities of the summer.

No, Aminu is technically their starting power forward, interchangeable as they are defensively.

Harkless wasn't going anywhere. None of the Trail Blazers RFA's were; they made that clear by matching the Nets' exorbitant offer sheet to Crabbe.

Even though he's having a breakout season, is fulfilling his potential of becoming the second coming of Ariza and fits with today's game, I still say he wouldn't have moved the needle anyway. Talent usually trumps fit and trying to out small ball the Warriors only plays into their hands.

[MaNu4Tres]

No, Aminu is technically their starting power forward, interchangeable as they are defensively.

Harkless wasn't going anywhere. None of the Trail Blazers RFA's were; they made that clear by matching the Nets' exorbitant offer sheet to Crabbe.

Even though he's having a breakout season, is fulfilling his potential of becoming the second coming of Ariza and fits with today's game, I still say he wouldn't have moved the needle anyway. Talent usually trumps fit and trying to out small ball the Warriors only plays into their hands.

When Aminu is healthy he's their SF and defends SFs/wings, Harkless moves to starting PF and defends the PF but he can switch off against any position. And Davis comes off the bench. Labeled positions are overrated anyway, but fact is Harkless can defend 4 positions well and can play the PF if needed.

Blazers prioritized and gave Evan Turner a ridiculous contract and then matched Crabbe way before there was any traction with Harkless. Teams showed interest with Crabbe, teams didn't show interests with Harkless -- he was under the radar and no team offered him any deal and Blazers were able to just sign him for under market value. It's not far fetched to think Spurs could have had a real shot at him after Blazers committed all that money to Turner, Crabbe and the extension of CJ.

I don't think Ariza is a good comparison. He's more versatile, taller and has more strength to hold his own to a degree in the paint and can defend effectively in more ways. He's a Draymond type -- similar build -- similar game except he's not as good as Draymond (obv).

Harkless, by himself, wouldn't have moved the needle to the top. I never said it would have in the first place, but it would have been a complimentary piece that is needed to grow into the future with Kawhi & the younger core. Spurs would have still won 55+ games this year and they would have been set up a lot better for the future instead of prolonging the needed transition by signing Gasol for two years.

[tholdren]

What do you losers think now?

[vander]

Never seen a Spur player put this little effort on defense, he doesn't even try to protect the rim, ever.

on the bright side, if he were to start putting in effort, Spurs could get a lot better.

[Kawhitstorm]

Harkless, by himself, wouldn't have moved the needle to the top. I never said it would have in the first place, but it would have been a complimentary piece that is needed to grow into the future with Kawhi & the younger core. Spurs would have still won 55+ games this year and they would have been set up a lot better for the future instead of prolonging the needed transition by signing Gasol for two years.

PATFO signing Pau probably has something to do w/ LMA not being fond of playing center. Harkless also supposedly wanted to re-sign w/ the Blazers which is why he waited for them instead of signing an offer-sheet.

Walters says several teams have shown interest in Harkless, but the small forward wants to re-sign with Portland.

The other realistic options within Kawhi's timeline were D-Mo or T-Jones but they are both injury prone.

IMO, they just have to go for a HR (Westbrook) in 2018 when Pau/Porker's cancerous contracts come off the books. Another option could be trading Softridge for John Wall who might demand a trade this Summer (Boston could be interested in LMA if they strike out in free agency & they could send assets to the Wizards). Then have Wall recruit Cousins in 2018. (FYI: Danny/LMA have player options in 2018)

If anything, this season is basically a boot-camp for Kawhi to establish himself as an elite scorer & work on his playmaking skills.

[TD 21]

When Aminu is healthy he's their SF and defends SFs/wings, Harkless moves to starting PF and defends the PF but he can switch off against any position. And Davis comes off the bench. Labeled positions are overrated anyway, but fact is Harkless can defend 4 positions well and can play the PF if needed.

Blazers prioritized and gave Evan Turner a ridiculous contract and then matched Crabbe way before there was any traction with Harkless. Teams showed interest with Crabbe, teams didn't show interests with Harkless -- he was under the radar and no team offered him any deal and Blazers were able to just sign him for under market value. It's not far fetched to think Spurs could have had a real shot at him after Blazers committed all that money to Turner, Crabbe and the extension of CJ.

I don't think Ariza is a good comparison. He's more versatile, taller and has more strength to hold his own to a degree in the paint and can defend effectively in more ways. He's a Draymond type -- similar build -- similar game except he's not as good as Draymond (obv).

Harkless, by himself, wouldn't have moved the needle to the top. I never said it would have in the first place, but it would have been a complimentary piece that is needed to grow into the future with Kawhi & the younger core. Spurs would have still won 55+ games this year and they would have been set up a lot better for the future instead of prolonging the needed transition by signing Gasol for two years.

I see a good amount of them; Aminu is the power forward and it would make sense that he's referenced as such: he's longer, stronger and a significantly better rebounder.

Harkless can play small ball power forward, but that's not the same as being a full time one and him alongside Leonard and Aldridge would make for a sub par rebounding front line (given both of their decline in this area) and an unhappy Aldridge, who'd have to primarily play center.

Harkless taking longer to sign does not automatically mean teams didn't show interest and that they wouldn't have matched either way. They were clearly committed to matching virtually anything for all of their RFA's and he's nothing like Green.

I'm not sold they still would have won 55+ games or been set up significantly better for the future. Harkless, like most role players, is valuable in the right context. He has that with the Trail Blazers; he wouldn't with the Spurs.

[MaNu4Tres]

I see a good amount of them; Aminu is the power forward and it would make sense that he's referenced as such: he's longer, stronger and a significantly better rebounder.

Harkless can play small ball power forward, but that's not the same as being a full time one and him alongside Leonard and Aldridge would make for a sub par rebounding front line (given both of their decline in this area) and an unhappy Aldridge, who'd have to primarily play center.

Harkless taking longer to sign does not automatically mean teams didn't show interest and that they wouldn't have matched either way. They were clearly committed to matching virtually anything for all of their RFA's and he's nothing like Green.

I'm not sold they still would have won 55+ games or been set up significantly better for the future. Harkless, like most role players, is valuable in the right context. He has that with the Trail Blazers; he wouldn't with the Spurs.

Agree to disagree. Its all subjective and we differ in opinions on this one. I've seen Portland play plenty as well and Harkless/ Aminu are interchangable at PF/SF. Both can easily play the PF in todays NBA.

Fact is, we know Spurs were hard set on Gasol the moment free agency started (or maybe even before) when they knew Durant was a long shot ( that's why Gasol waited it out til KD made his decision).

The fact the Spurs didn't even look at Harkless bothers me. If they would have looked outside the box and attempted to go after Harkless/ T. Jones or Taj Gibson ( when Bulls were willing to trade him this summer), I wouldn't be bringning it up. But they didn't try at all. They settled on Gasol early.

In regards to fit, I disagree, Harkless would have been extremely valuable as he would provide quality shooting, versatility and play at the back up SF/PF instead of the Lee/ Anderson/Simmons/Bertans carousal. He could have started at PF vs. a lot of teams but I think the versatility on both ends would have been extremely valuable. Spurs would have also signed Dedmon w/ the exception.

So you're looking at a hypothetical three deep big rotation w/ Harkless as the 4th/ possibly the 2nd depending on matchups and a 9 man playoff rotation as such:

C Aldridge
PF Taj Gibson or T. Jones
SF Kawhi
SG Green
PG Parker

C- Dedmon
PF/SF- Harkless
SG - Manu
PG - Mills

[Kawhitstorm]

Fact is, we know Spurs were hard set on Gasol the moment free agency started (or maybe even before) when they knew Durant was a long shot ( that's why Gasol waited it out til KD made his decision).

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

That's overstated. He's played center quite a lot for the Spurs - about 40% of the time per basketball reference.

[MaNu4Tres]

That's overstated. He's played center quite a lot for the Spurs - about 40% of the time per basketball reference.

Exactly what I was going to point out.

Kawhietstorm has to find any little thing in anything I post and stretch it out as far as possible to critique it. He does the same thing when anyone has any critique about his love Kawhi. It's his shtick.

[Kawhitstorm]

Exactly what I was going to point out.

Kawhietstorm has to find any little thing in anything I post and stretch it out as far as possible to critique it. He does the same thing when anyone has any critique about his love Kawhi. It's his shtick.

Yeah, I drop FACTs that don't support your narrative.