Dedmon and Lee

[jermaine]

He's gonna get tired of them NOT throwing allyoops when he's running the floor.

[playbonner15]

He's gonna get tired of them NOT throwing allyoops when he's running the floor.

He might ask for a trade to GS or the Clips just coz they dont do alleyoops in San Antonio

[spursistan]

Zach Lowe heaping praise on Dedmon--though hopefully not prematurely (dude is still shaky with them hands).

Also gotta give pops to my MaNu4Tres who has been endlessly harping on the lack of rolling as the major source of the team's offensive predictability last season..It turns out RC Buford was secretly fretting about the same issue and has moved on to address it this off-season.. ..

6. Dewayne Dedmon, no longer with hooves for hands

Two years ago, one GM explained his lack of interest in Dedmon as a cheapo backup with this zinger: "He can block shots, but he has hooves for hands."


The Spurs paid for a hand transplant, apparently:

Salary-dumping Tiago Splitter to free up room for LaMarcus Aldridge was a no-brainer; Splitter is already injured again in Atlanta. But before last season, R.C. Buford, the Spurs GM, told me he was quietly fretting that the moves left San Antonio without a single big man capable of rolling hard to the basket and making plays -- Splitter's speciality. Tim Duncan was aging fast. All three of Aldridge, David West, and Boris Diaw prefer hanging around the perimeter.

It seemed like nitpicking from an over-worrier, but Buford was onto something. The Spurs needed more ways to pressure the rim, and suck in help defenders.


They took a flier on Dedmon to fill that role, and through five games, he looks like a nice addition to their rotation -- the shot-blocking rim-runner type they haven't had in a while. The Spurs expected all Dedmon's hoppy activity, but if he starts easing in soft-touch bunnies around the rim, even San Antonio higher-ups will be shocked. That is found money.


Dedmon is rebounding at a career-best rate, and he and David Lee have formed a shockingly effective backup big partnership.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1...10-things-like

[TheDoctor]

Through the first five games of the season, Dedmon is averaging 5.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks a game in only 17.1 minutes, making him one of the most productive per-minute rebounders and shot blockers in the NBA.

[Chinook]

Really don't like the narrative that the Spurs unearthed Dedmon. He was already good when they signed him, hence the deal he had them agree to. He's playing a lot better because he isn't being put in awful defensive positions often. But the dude broke out two years ago in Orlando, and if they didn't go through two regime changes in like 14 months, he'd probably be there starting now.

[SAGirl]

Good articles on Dedmon.. thanks for sharing.

[spursistan]

Really don't like the narrative that the Spurs unearthed Dedmon. He was already good when they signed him, hence the deal he had them agree to. He's playing a lot better because he isn't being put in awful defensive positions often. But the dude broke out two years ago in Orlando, and if they didn't go through two regime changes in like 14 months, he'd probably be there starting now.

The Magic post-Howard rebuilding has been a lowkey disaster from hiring the wrong coaches to stacking average talent with one lottery pick after the other..not sure what's the direction there...

[Chinook]

The Magic post-Howard rebuilding has been a lowkey disaster from hiring the wrong coaches to stacking average talent with one lottery pick after the other..not sure what's the direction there...

Only big post-Howard move (prior to this past off-season) I don't like was drafting Payton, and even with that half my critique is the Philly trade. Getting Fournier for Afflalo was great. Gordon and Hezonia are fine picks. They didn't let themselves get stuck to Harris or Frye. But then they made win-now front-court moves when their front court wasn't even the problem. So their back court is subpar but without much hope of getting better. So unless Payton explodes or they find a way to trade for a premiere PG, I don't know what they're going to do.

[TheDoctor]

The Magic post-Howard rebuilding has been a lowkey disaster from hiring the wrong coaches to stacking average talent with one lottery pick after the other..not sure what's the direction there...

Yeah like Phoenix that Franchise has been a cluster the last 4+ years. There's no direction or iden y top to bottom.

[MaNu4Tres]

Zach Lowe heaping praise on Dedmon--though hopefully not prematurely (dude is still shaky with them hands).

Also gotta give pops to my MaNu4Tres who has been endlessly harping on the lack of rolling as the major source of the team's offensive predictability last season..It turns out RC Buford was secretly fretting about the same issue and has moved on to address it this off-season.. ..



http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1...10-things-like

Thanks man.

It was a big reason why I was in favor of Boban getting minutes over West vs. OKC after game 2. Not only that, but West was useless in every aspect on both ends outside of his ineffective Pick and Pops. Pop never made the adjustment though, and kept giving West the most minutes next to Aldridge.

I'm glad they were able to get two rollers in Lee and Dedmon. So far, it's been paying off for the most part with the 2nd unit.

My only gripe is I wish LA and Gasol would put more energy into the wrinkle in rolling instead of pick and popping > 90% of the time it seems like.

I don't know about everyone else, but it bothers me how LaMarcus doesn't effect most games outside of his pick and pop opportunities. Four rebounds in 35 minutes vs. the Jazz is inexcusable. For the past three games, he's been kind of a ghost if he's not scoring. Wish he was wired like Kawhi to where he puts a stamp on the game in many other ways.

[spursistan]

Thanks man.

It was a big reason why I was in favor of Boban getting minutes over West vs. OKC after game 2. Not only that, but West was useless in every aspect on both ends outside of his ineffective Pick and Pops. Pop never made the adjustment though, and kept giving West the most minutes next to Aldridge.

I'm glad they were able to get two rollers in Lee and Dedmon. So far, it's been paying off for the most part with the 2nd unit.

My only gripe is I wish LA and Gasol would put more energy into the wrinkle in rolling instead of pick and popping > 90% of the time it seems like.

I don't know about everyone else, but it bothers me how LaMarcus doesn't effect most games outside of his pick and pop opportunities. Four rebounds in 35 minutes vs. the Jazz is inexcusable. For the past three games, he's been kind of a ghost if he's not scoring. Wish he was wired like Kawhi to where he puts a stamp on the game in many other ways.

I was about to start picking on Kawhi in this area, but he did pull them vs the Jazz. On the other hand, what heck is going on with LMA and rebounding since the OKC series? Only 4 games, but he is on course to register his worst rebounding rate per 36 minutes since his rookie season. There is a reason he is called Softridge around here: just so averse to the grunt work bigs do (screening, rolling etc..) and no wonder he wants Robyn Lopez/Tyson Chandler type of centers to play alongside him. I’m just not seeing the activity and hustle he showed early last season on the glass. 0.5 BLKs for 6’11 playing 31 MPG is embarrassing..old geezer Pau is averaging more than double of that playing 8 minutes less..

[Chinook]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1...10-things-like

I've had my differences with Lowe's opinions recently, but I totally agree on his fourth thing:

4. Fast-break stoppers

The NBA needs to end this scourge now. You know the play: team snags a turnover, starts an exciting fast break, and then some "heady" defender just standing in the way wraps up the ball-handler -- or clotheslines him -- before the fun really starts. It doesn't count as a clear path foul, since that "heady" defender knows there are plenty of players behind him to nullify that rule.


Anecdotally, it feels like I've seen more of this Euro-ball import over the first week of the season than ever before. It is not a basketball play. It's a wrestling move. It's awful. The NBA has an easy solution: just punish these intentional fouls with the clear-path penalty. Yes, that would have unintended consequences; some players would disguise their hacks with reach-ins that look like normal steals, and dare officials to make a judgment call -- one that could require replay.


Still: An extreme penalty might deter the lamest offenses. It's worth a shot. Good news: League officials are monitoring the issue, and they've already fielded occasional complaints from GMs, per league sources.

It's clearly the most -made thing in the NBA besides the Warriors. Honestly, all intentional fouls should go away, but these on the break are awful, especially when Manu does that when his team had guys back and were already in the bonus.

[MaNu4Tres]

I've had my differences with Lowe's opinions recently, but I totally agree on his fourth thing:



It's clearly the most -made thing in the NBA besides the Warriors. Honestly, all intentional fouls should go away, but these on the break are awful, especially when Manu does that when his team had guys back and were already in the bonus.

Intentional fouls on the break should award the offensive team with 2 free throw and the ball.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Thanks man.

It was a big reason why I was in favor of Boban getting minutes over West vs. OKC after game 2. Not only that, but West was useless in every aspect on both ends outside of his ineffective Pick and Pops. Pop never made the adjustment though, and kept giving West the most minutes next to Aldridge.

I'm glad they were able to get two rollers in Lee and Dedmon. So far, it's been paying off for the most part with the 2nd unit.

My only gripe is I wish LA and Gasol would put more energy into the wrinkle in rolling instead of pick and popping > 90% of the time it seems like.

I don't know about everyone else, but it bothers me how LaMarcus doesn't effect most games outside of his pick and pop opportunities. Four rebounds in 35 minutes vs. the Jazz is inexcusable. For the past three games, he's been kind of a ghost if he's not scoring. Wish he was wired like Kawhi to where he puts a stamp on the game in many other ways.

There's just something abut LaMarcus that doesn't scream confidence to me. He's obviously a very good player, but I feel like he can be a bit of an empty stats player. It was insane that he could have 45 and 50 points in the playoffs and the Spurs go 1-1 (although it probably isn't fair to pin that on LaMarcus since he was godlike in those first two games vs OKC). I think my biggest issue with LaMarcus is that he mentally checks out too easily in games if he doesn't feel involved. And if his shot isn't falling it's not like he's putting up gaudy rebounding numbers are consistently playing stellar defense to make up for it.

He was wonderful in that Warriors game, but the more I see from him the more I wonder if the Spurs feel the same way about him that I do.

[MaNu4Tres]

There's just something abut LaMarcus that doesn't scream confidence to me. He's obviously a very good player, but I feel like he can be a bit of an empty stats player. It was insane that he could have 45 and 50 points in the playoffs and the Spurs go 1-1 (although it probably isn't fair to pin that on LaMarcus since he was godlike in those first two games vs OKC). I think my biggest issue with LaMarcus is that he mentally checks out too easily in games if he doesn't feel involved. And if his shot isn't falling it's not like he's putting up gaudy rebounding numbers are consistently playing stellar defense to make up for it.

He was wonderful in that Warriors game, but the more I see from him the more I wonder if the Spurs feel the same way about him that I do.

It certainly feels that way for the most part -- in regards to him being an empty stats player. I sensed it the start of last year too -- when he came into the year a little heavy ( for NBA standards -- not saying he's fat). As the year went on, he lost about 10-15 lbs and started to become more effective and lighter on his feet which made him more effective on O and on D. The way he scores can be viewed as lazy or content with the plethora of stationary pick and pops. Whether his shot is on or off, he still seems like he's a ghost in other aspects of the game instead of being a force on the boards and defensive end contesting, getting deflections, always being in the right place, being alert after a rebound on all fast break opportunities with long effective outlets that could spark the transition game ( Duncan was elite at all of these -- that's also why he has 5 rings).

The way he's wired just bothers me. He's a very talented shooting big, one of the best in the league, but there's a lot of times and too much of the time where he's a ghost out there. Not effecting the game as much as he should be or how much he could be. Bothers me when players with all the talent in the world are lazy around the intangible parts of the game on both ends. Those intangibles is what separates the Melos from the Leonards or the empty stat fools gold type of players from champions.

[sasaint]

It certainly feels that way for the most part -- in regards to him being an empty stats player. I sensed it the start of last year too -- when he came into the year a little heavy ( for NBA standards -- not saying he's fat). As the year went on, he lost about 10-15 lbs and started to become more effective and lighter on his feet which made him more effective on O and on D. The way he scores can be viewed as lazy or content with the plethora of stationary pick and pops. Whether his shot is on or off, he still seems like he's a ghost in other aspects of the game instead of being a force on the boards and defensive end contesting, getting deflections, always being in the right place, being alert after a rebound on all fast break opportunities with long effective outlets that could spark the transition game ( Duncan was elite at all of these -- that's also why he has 5 rings).

The way he's wired just bothers me. He's a very talented shooting big, one of the best in the league, but there's a lot of times and too much of the time where he's a ghost out there. Not effecting the game as much as he should be or how much he could be. Bothers me when players with all the talent in the world are lazy around the intangible parts of the game on both ends. Those intangibles is what separates the Melos from the Leonards or the empty stat fools gold type of players from champions.

Some posters on ST, including ceperez, were not convinced signing LMA was the best use of cap space at the time. Heart of a champion...?

[K...]

And yet for all of lma's apparent laziness we posted excellent defensive metrics last year. Ho hum.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

And yet for all of lma's apparent laziness we posted excellent defensive metrics last year. Ho hum.

Duncan, Leonard, and Green were a huge part of that as well. LMA isn't a traffic cone on defense, but his effort leaves a lot to be desired.


The most frustrating thing about LMA for me, and this goes with what MaNu4Tres was saying in regards to separating your Melos from your Leonards is that I feel that as good as he is, he can be SO much better if he just put the work in which is downright scary. It's weird because you hear all this talk about LMA wanting to be the big man on campus but it seems like maybe it has more to do with the attention he wants to receive than it does with the leadership. I feel like LMA's ceiling is so much higher than what we've seen, but he keeps drifting in and out of games and it's maddeningly frustrating.

I keep worrying about the Spurs need for a consistent third option to make some real noise come playoff time but right now even our second best player has his fair share of question marks from time to time.

Spurs aren't going to win many games in the playoffs if LMA only gets 12 points and 4 rebounds.

[TheDoctor]

I was about to start picking on Kawhi in this area, but he did pull them vs the Jazz. On the other hand, what heck is going on with LMA and rebounding since the OKC series? Only 4 games, but he is on course to register his worst rebounding rate per 36 minutes since his rookie season. There is a reason he is called Softridge around here: just so averse to the grunt work bigs do (screening, rolling etc..) and no wonder he wants Robyn Lopez/Tyson Chandler type of centers to play alongside him. I’m just not seeing the activity and hustle he showed early last season on the glass. 0.5 BLKs for 6’11 playing 31 MPG is embarrassing..old geezer Pau is averaging more than double of that playing 8 minutes less..

You have to consider that he's playing now with good rebounding bigs.

Pau, Dedmon and Lee are much better rebounders than TD (at 75 y/o) and the Turd Towers.

Even Kawhi rebounds #'s are suffering.

[MaNu4Tres]

You have to consider that he's playing now with good rebounding bigs.

Pau, Dedmon and Lee are much better rebounders than TD (at 75 y/o) and the Turd Towers.

Even Kawhi rebounds #'s are suffering.

Aldridge is only pulling down .8 contested defensive rebounds a game, and only pulling down 16.7% of contested rebound opportunities on the defensive end. In comparison, Dedmon is pulling down 50% of contested rebounds; Gasol 31%, Lee 22%.

It's not just who he's playing with, he's been a very ineffective and inefficient rebounder.

[apalisoc_9]

I've said this has been his traits in Portland before he even played a game of basketball for San Antonio...mainstreams casuals laughed at me said PATFO knows his character is better and now stories in San Antonio are also surfacing.

His at ude is pretty well do ented in Portland so I'm not sure why spursfan is acting like this is something I'm mkaing things up to troll..His Diva, empty stat and lack.of effort when touches isnt available have been issues that even Blazers fams had.to complain about at times..

And now its magnified playing for San Antonio and with a Guy like Leonard...

As for the rollman, I've been saying and tellibg spursfan we had nl chance in last year because we had Zero rollman and Lamarcus is not a willing rollman. Essentially his UNWILLINGNESS caused the spurs a potential ring...but but you're just a troll .

We're getting dumbasses nowadys who fail to understand the spacing a rollman provides..we get them posting 148383 times a day in spurstalk..and because for some reason they'ee civil and not cursing..somehow they know their basketball..

Ladies and Genetleman..the Mainstream Casual Fan.

[apalisoc_9]

Lee doesnt provide Spacing

What an awful understanding of how offenses work..

[jyra]

Intentional fouls on the break should award the offensive team with 2 free throw and the ball.

The Euroleague already the rule implemented in this way. It was badly needed because Euro teams do it much more frequently than NBA teams.

[ace3g]

San Antonio Spurs Verified account ‏@spurs

These two

[timtonymanu]

San Antonio Spurs Verified account ‏@spurs

These two

To think both were casted off by Golden State too.