Game Thread: Spurs at Raptors - Jan 4, 2022 - 6:00pm CT

[KingKev]

Keldon’s more-than-role player ceiling (if he has one) begins with his combination of driving ability and physicality while doing so. Unfortunately, he has lacked the finesse to make those contested layups actually go in. That, and his lack of common sense of when to attack the basket and when not to attack. He has never shown glimpses of being a lock down defender. So if he’s going to hang his hat onto something, he needs to figure out how to make those layups go in. Right now, he’s in that close-but-no-cigar territory with layups hitting the rim only to bounce off. If he continues to work on that, then the rest of his game can come later.

One thing we shouldn’t discount is someone’s ability to learn. He is young and between his motor, athletic ability, frame, all those physical attributes etc etc just doing some small things better will make him substantially more better.

[SPURt]

There's no reason not to play Primo full rotation player minutes at this point.

Weren’t they talking about this pre-game? They said Pop was contemplating “throwing him into the fire like Tony”. Then they talked about how Tony was playing pro ball in France, so the transition would be harder for Primo.

[KingKev]

He's already pretty elite at driving, TBF. I don't know which stats would catch this or how to quantify it, but he's got amazing touch at the rim and a body type that's perfect for penetration (yes, I know).

The "extra gear" is really in the mind - to better discern when to drive and when to kick, how to NOT drive repeatedly into a set defense and "just hope for the best", the ability to take (and hit) more pull-up midrangers (which sadly disappeared after preseason) to keep the defense honest..... He's a one trick pony right now, but it's a damn good pony. If he can get some more tricks under his sleeve and pass out better, he'd improve by a mile without really getting that much "better at basketball" so to speak.

I'll also say that the Spurs really aren't suited for his needs. Similarly to DeMar, Keldon would work best with a spaced-out offense that lets him go to work in the paint and pass out as needed. Poeltl clogging the lane, White with his timid shooting, and the lack of a true 3 to his 4 (or rather, a true 4 to his being a 3) all hurt Keldon and make his game tougher than it should be.

body type for penetration aka face down ass up!!!

[Thomas82]

I believe it was already garbage time by the time they played together. I believe we had already been down by 30+ tbh.

Im honestly not complaining. *This* is what ive been begging for for a year. Finally, all the young or new guys got run (Vassell, Jones, Primo, Weiskamp, Landale, Eubanks, even a G-leaguer got some PT.

This is what I've wanted. Play your guys and SUCK ass so you can get a really high draft pick. As it stands now we are as far under .500 as we've been all year and are only 1.5 games out of 14th in the west. I'll take it with a smile on my face.

Cosign!!

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Weren’t they talking about this pre-game? They said Pop was contemplating “throwing him into the fire like Tony”. Then they talked about how Tony was playing pro ball in France, so the transition would be harder for Primo.

They referenced a quote from pop where he says something about being tempted to throw Primo into the fire like they did with TP but then sheepishly says they think it's better for his development for doing it slowly but doesnt ever expound on why it was ok for TP. Not a good look from pop, iyam. Makes it seem kinda like the game is passing him by to be unwilling to do it again.

[John B]

Yeah, K's a fan favorite and I really like him, buuuut... He's not really untouchable by any means. I keep waiting for him to "figure it out" but he never does. He's a good trade piece too, he should have decent value given his player profile and recent Olympics appearance.

Something about him tells me to keep him, though. Under a different coach and an actual, well-built roster around him, he could excel. Sad to see him jumping on that Lonnie wagon of "will probably do better for his next team than our own".

Keldon should’ve been traded already after the Olympic when his stock was high. Teans will start to see that he’s a one-trick pony. I like his motor, but if other teams would value him more, his rookie contract, his potential, I would let him go with Thad and whoever to get a Simmons or “whoever” could push a needle, Sabonis, Turner, Grant? Include White in that package also. He’s a Beta and would alwYs just be a role player despite his skills. No dog in him, sadly

[John B]

They referenced a quote from pop where he says something about being tempted to throw Primo into the fire like they did with TP but then sheepishly says they think it's better for his development for doing it slowly but doesnt ever expound on why it was ok for TP. Not a good look from pop, iyam. Makes it seem kinda like the game is passing him by to be unwilling to do it again.

TP was an experienced international by 19. While Primo is much talented, he has yet to battle. Also, TP had Timmy, DRob and other veteran guys in the team. Primo has none and could easily get the bad habit. I’m okay with playing patch-up minutes, but he would learn more playing consistent minutes in the GLeague, imo.

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TP was an experienced international by 19. While Primo is much talented, he has yet to battle. Also, TP had Timmy, DRob and other veteran guys in the team. Primo has none and could easily get the bad habit. I’m okay with playing patch-up minutes, but he would learn more playing consistent minutes in the GLeague, imo.

**Perhaps** in a G-League playing the regulation 70 games or whatever. But this season is doing like 48, and that was before they cancelled the next like 3 weeks of games. , they might end up just cancelling it all at this point with as many players are being signed to 10-days to cover missing NBA guys. He's simply not getting much run. And thats a travesty to his development whether or not there's a Big 3 to watch or not. Btw, remember the TP quote about Timmy hardly talking to him off the court at all his 1st year. Its not like they were mentoring him because pop used to have fire and get in his guy's ass. TP could hardly come up for air with Pop. Im not sure if he just doesnr have the time or energy now but he's more like Mr. Rogers with his team...yet still a prick to the media.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Absolutely, what can I say? Lmao, Spurs offense is simply not up to date with the modern NBA. It doesn't matter how "small" you try to go, if your smaller players are literally worse shooters than an average-sized player at that position would be... There's literally no advantage to small ball there

They are also not faster. Which negates the point of being small. Lmao

[DAF86]

Not as good as Poeltl who is undoubtedly a top 5 center.

Yeah, I know. Poelt was the Spurs' top scorer, rebounder and assister, plus he had the best +/- in the team. He's the reason we lose games though, apparently.

[R. DeMurre]

Yeah, I know. Poelt was the Spurs' top scorer, rebounder and assister, plus he had the best +/- in the team. He's the reason we lose games though, apparently.

D White had the best +/- on the team of the starters this game.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360382

[rjv]

other than primo and 1st half Vassel, last night was the most painful game of the season to watch. and i don't know what's up with Keldon, but he has been beyond awful so far this road trip.

[Sugus]

I believe it was already garbage time by the time they played together. I believe we had already been down by 30+ tbh.

Im honestly not complaining. *This* is what ive been begging for for a year. Finally, all the young or new guys got run (Vassell, Jones, Primo, Weiskamp, Landale, Eubanks, even a G-leaguer got some PT.

This is what I've wanted. Play your guys and SUCK ass so you can get a really high draft pick. As it stands now we are as far under .500 as we've been all year and are only 1.5 games out of 14th in the west. I'll take it with a smile on my face.

Yep, totally agreed. I said it in another thread, this season is going pretty much picture perfect to me so far. We're ever-closer to a top lotto pick, giving plenty of time and increased role to every young player we have, and a few of them have blossomed or are in the process of developing under our eyes. The roster's unbalanced construction is honestly a blessing in disguise, preventing the Spurs from fielding "too solid" lineups and ending up on a treadmill.

The games can suck to watch sometimes when we play a very large and long team like the Raptors, but I've honestly had more fun watching the young guys grow than I did all of last season, and maybe more than the 3 seasons DDR was here. That always felt like disappointment waiting to happen...

[Sugus]

Keldon should’ve been traded already after the Olympic when his stock was high. Teans will start to see that he’s a one-trick pony. I like his motor, but if other teams would value him more, his rookie contract, his potential, I would let him go with Thad and whoever to get a Simmons or “whoever” could push a needle, Sabonis, Turner, Grant? Include White in that package also. He’s a Beta and would alwYs just be a role player despite his skills. No dog in him, sadly

Barf, anyone but Simmons, please.

To be honest, it's always tricky trying to determine which "one-trick" young players have reached their probable ceiling, and which haven't. At Keldon's age, Dejounte wasn't displaying nearly the playmaking, shooting, and composure that he's grown to have, and you could similarly have said "sell high on him after his All-D selection, before other teams realize he can't shoot nor dribble!!" and it would've bit you in the ass. I think, out of anyone in the roster, Keldon has by far one of the best work ethics, from his at ude to his worked body to his on-court display of heart. At the end of the day, those types of "intangibles" make me much more hesitant to trade him, than some other player with an apparently higher ceiling, but maybe not the "fire" to reach it (cough, Lonnie).

As for White? Yeah, ship him off any day you want. Really disappointed in him. Maybe not even disappointed, but sad... It's clear to see that he's just not the same player he once was. Timid, shy, too reliant on jumpshots that were never his game before. Injuries have taken a toll on him and we'd be wise to sell on him before other teams catch on.