Grades: Spurs vs. Lakers - Jan. 1, 2021

[Ocotillo]

The only people who think the Spurs have lost hope in Luka are roaming this God-forsaken board, tbh. It defies all critical analysis. Why would the Spurs take an Euro (so already noticeably slower to get up-to-speed on NBA basketball as compared to college players), 19-year-old, tweener and bodily-underdeveloped, big man (also slower to come into their game than guards), who'd they been scouting for years (so his developmental curve is no question mark) -- only to "lose hope" on him in his second season? The guy literally has yet to play two consecutive NBA games, and they've lost hope?

Posters would rather hate on him than think critically. I'm not saying he won't turn out to be a bad player, we don't really know, but trying to extrapolate Luka's lack of playing time as anything more than his body and mind not being ready for NBA level basketball is stupid. Especially since he got his only fair opportunity recently (the bubble game) and, far from stinking it up or looking out of place, put up double digit points and made a couple 3's. But now, less than 4 months after that "debut", and not even having played another NBA game, the Spurs have "lost hope"....? I don't know, chief.

I'd easily bet you (well, not you, my man, I know you're a believer deep down) that we see Luka play once we start playing easier opponents. As Ex pointed out, the games we've played so far have barely even had "garbage time" for him to soak up.

Yeah, look how long Metu was around. They haven't given up on Luka yet.

[poopbox]

The only people who think the Spurs have lost hope in Luka are roaming this God-forsaken board, tbh. It defies all critical analysis. Why would the Spurs take an Euro (so already noticeably slower to get up-to-speed on NBA basketball as compared to college players), 19-year-old, tweener and bodily-underdeveloped, big man (also slower to come into their game than guards), who'd they been scouting for years (so his developmental curve is no question mark) -- only to "lose hope" on him in his second season? The guy literally has yet to play two consecutive NBA games, and they've lost hope?

Posters would rather hate on him than think critically. I'm not saying he won't turn out to be a bad player, we don't really know, but trying to extrapolate Luka's lack of playing time as anything more than his body and mind not being ready for NBA level basketball is stupid. Especially since he got his only fair opportunity recently (the bubble game) and, far from stinking it up or looking out of place, put up double digit points and made a couple 3's. But now, less than 4 months after that "debut", and not even having played another NBA game, the Spurs have "lost hope"....? I don't know, chief.

I'd easily bet you (well, not you, my man, I know you're a believer deep down) that we see Luka play once we start playing easier opponents. As Ex pointed out, the games we've played so far have barely even had "garbage time" for him to soak up.

The flipside of this is that the from a cost analysis stand point Luka, and by virtue every nba player, has the most value while he is on his rookie deal, where his production can far out way the cost of his salary. So it should really be to the Spurs benefit to get him on the floor and playing, cause the faster you do that, the more production you get out of his rookie deal, before you have to pay him a lot more money.

The fact that the spurs haven't done this is alarming. The fact that we need to play against a bad team to possibly get Luka on the floor is alarming. We don't need nor should expect the guy to come in and be good or average x amount of points or rebounds or whatever. But what we should expect is that he can "look" like an nba player and not be overwhelmed by size, athleticism, basketball iq, etc...

People talk about "oh he is 19"....uh yeah so are a lot of 1st round picks in the nba that get on the court and play ever game...

We are playing an undrafted 3rd string center over a second year 1st round pick...that should be a bit concerning...since 3rd strings centers rarely ever play over other guys as tall as them even if they are NOT centers...

Mind and body not being ready in year 2 for a 1st round pick is a bit of a bad sign...

[Slippy]

I do - because defense wins you games, Center is the most valuable position to have a plus defender at, and the rest of the team is more offensive-oriented with several neutral-to-lousy defenders, especially in the SL....?

0 point games aren't acceptable, but they're still one game. Bad FT shooting is not acceptable. Ticky-tacky fouls are not acceptable (though if you watch the games, it's as much on Jakob as the officiating that's gotten ridiculously bad). That all doesn't mean that we can't look at advanced metrics to see the real value of a player, despite their flaws. I see naive posters here dismissing all the work Jakob does on the court, or wondering if he "truly has any elite skills"... I'm convinced people don't really watch the games, at this point.

Being the second best defensive rating big in the league is a great thing. I.

Can tell you coach aint going to care and you caring wont win the spurs games. Has nothing to do with being naive. Jacob needs to deliver and has so far shrivelled

[Slippy]

Marc Gasol is number one defenseive rating right... Ive lost count how many times this guy has been traded the last few seasons. Why is that, maybe teams value what they see on the court more than metrics.. when Gasol won defensive player of year. Thought the award had become a joke.

[rankingtear]

Marc Gasol is number one defenseive rating right... Ive lost count how many times this guy has been traded the last few seasons. Why is that, maybe teams value what they see on the court more than metrics.. when Gasol won defensive player of year. Thought the award had become a joke.

1... You lost count on 1?

[Sugus]

The flipside of this is that the from a cost analysis stand point Luka, and by virtue every nba player, has the most value while he is on his rookie deal, where his production can far out way the cost of his salary. So it should really be to the Spurs benefit to get him on the floor and playing, cause the faster you do that, the more production you get out of his rookie deal, before you have to pay him a lot more money.

The fact that the spurs haven't done this is alarming. The fact that we need to play against a bad team to possibly get Luka on the floor is alarming. We don't need nor should expect the guy to come in and be good or average x amount of points or rebounds or whatever. But what we should expect is that he can "look" like an nba player and not be overwhelmed by size, athleticism, basketball iq, etc...

People talk about "oh he is 19"....uh yeah so are a lot of 1st round picks in the nba that get on the court and play ever game...

We are playing an undrafted 3rd string center over a second year 1st round pick...that should be a bit concerning...since 3rd strings centers rarely ever play over other guys as tall as them even if they are NOT centers...

Mind and body not being ready in year 2 for a 1st round pick is a bit of a bad sign...

Well, looks like you got your wish tonight - and the question answered. As I said, Luka got on the court as soon as the first game to turn to garbage time came around (well, half of that game was garbage time tbh ), and was, unsurprisingly, not ready. Even more unsurprisingly, ST s on him. Again, I'm not saying he will be a good player for sure - I think it'd be an equally stupid statement as the ones from people saying he will be bad. We just don't know for sure right now, haven't given him the time to develop, and greatly overrate small sample sizes and lack of opportunities. The ST way, I guess.

I agree with you, though, on a lot of points. I believe the cost-benefit of the rookie contract really comes into play for playoff and championship teams, though, who have big chunks of cap straddled on stars - who would the Spurs be paying instead, if Luka was signed to a minimum contract instead of a rookie scale one (because that's what he's looking like he'll be owed right now)? The answer is nobody. The fact that other players get minutes and succeed at an earlier age tells me nothing about how Luka will do. Again, Manu was 25 coming into the league - the age where a prospect starts their journey isn't so important. White is another great example, on our very own team.

I don't disagree that I expect better from Luka. I didn't think he "didn't look like an NBA player" tonight, though. He got his stuffed - 4 times - and will have to learn to work through it. Swished a 3pt shot. Bad body language (that's concerning for sure). Overall, not much to take away from. Do I wish he played more? For sure. But it would probably signal that the Spurs are heading to the top of the lottery, and I'm not sure the team is at that point, yet. At least I'm not at that point... Lest the exhalers bring me down to it

[Sugus]

Can tell you coach aint going to care and you caring wont win the spurs games. Has nothing to do with being naive. Jacob needs to deliver and has so far shrivelled

Well, he had double digit points tonight - so much for you wishing for offense from him . I know the coach doesn't care, it's been a recurring problem with this team. I'm saying fans should know better (sadly), and care. Defense wins games, and impacts games, and Jakob can bring it within his limitations. For the record, I DO NOT think he's a starting C on a championship-level team - but why complain about it right now, when we have at most one or two players who could start on such a team? I see him working on his game, and am patiently waiting for Derrick to come back. They have by far the best chemistry and White elevates Poeltl on Offense, while letting him do his thing on D, just like he needs.

[Slippy]

1... You lost count on 1?

Nah that would be you with the number's game.. Traded or let go doesnt matter to me.. the point is todays NBA is moving on from players like Mark Gasol. Number one defensive rating is fools gold

[Slippy]

Well, he had double digit points tonight - so much for you wishing for offense from him . I know the coach doesn't care, it's been a recurring problem with this team. I'm saying fans should know better (sadly), and care. Defense wins games, and impacts games, and Jakob can bring it within his limitations. For the record, I DO NOT think he's a starting C on a championship-level team - but why complain about it right now, when we have at most one or two players who could start on such a team? I see him working on his game, and am patiently waiting for Derrick to come back. They have by far the best chemistry and White elevates Poeltl on Offense, while letting him do his thing on D, just like he needs.

Jacob is a vital cog off the bench.. he offers adequate defense and an alternative to Larmarcus on offense.. just dont see the need to piss on LA to get that point across.. not saying you but some here do.

[rankingtear]

Nah that would be you with the number's game.. Traded or let go doesnt matter to me.. the point is todays NBA is moving on from players like Mark Gasol. Number one defensive rating is fools gold

Our boy Tim is 3rd all time in defensive rating. Rim protection is still the key skill for the Center position. Unless 30 Bam Adebayos walks in that door you would still have drop bigs in the NBA.

[Sugus]

Jacob is a vital cog off the bench.. he offers adequate defense and an alternative to Larmarcus on offense.. just dont see the need to piss on LA to get that point across.. not saying you but some here do.

Wait, I didn't talk about LA a single bit in that comment, did I? I assume you mean LMA - in which case, I don't "piss on him" beyond acknowledging the fact that he's old and visibly declining, and a probable lottery team like the Spurs this season has little use for him.

Otherwise, I agree - my best scenario for the season is the Spurs tank, develop youngings, then draft a C like Mobley to replace LMA, whilst trading Aldrige at the deadline for an end-of-1st round pick. Then we can develop Mobley's great game as an offensively oriented C starter, which this team desperately needs, and have Jakob bring that defensive energy off the bench (he'd likely be paired with White there, which is all the better).

[ragas]

Wait, I didn't talk about LA a single bit in that comment, did I? I assume you mean LMA - in which case, I don't "piss on him" beyond acknowledging the fact that he's old and visibly declining, and a probable lottery team like the Spurs this season has little use for him.

Otherwise, I agree - my best scenario for the season is the Spurs tank, develop youngings, then draft a C like Mobley to replace LMA, whilst trading Aldrige at the deadline for an end-of-1st round pick. Then we can develop Mobley's great game as an offensively oriented C starter, which this team desperately needs, and have Jakob bring that defensive energy off the bench (he'd likely be paired with White there, which is all the better).

I like that.