NBA Scouts examine the Spurs in Sports Illustrated

[DenialTwist]

http://on.si.com/1LAW0eu

NBA Scouts examined all 30 teams for Sports Illustrated. Here is what they said about the Spurs

Manu Ginóbili can still step behind the pick-and-roll and make big shots. He doesn’t beat guys as well anymore, and he isn’t as consistent finishing. He’s a playmaker, but it’s more in spurts and flashes now... Tony Parker needs to have his minutes cut. Point guard is such a tough position in the West; it’s harder for him to be consistent. He still shoots a good percentage but he forces a lot of shots... Danny Green is 0 for 6 or 5 for 6. You don’t know what you are going to get from him. He gets away with being an O.K. defender because they have great team defense... They didn’t replace Marco Belinelli, so there’s a lot of pressure on Green and Kawhi Leonard to carry them from three-point range. Maybe Jimmer Fredette will step up and be Stephen Jackson this year...

Full Quote:

[cjw]

"He gets away with being an O.K. defender because they have great team defense"

[YGWHI]

Thanks for posting.

Well, this guy pretty much says what we already know...LMA deadly mid-range shooter...Parker and Manu getting older...Parker needs to change his role on the team...Danny icy-hot...nothing new

[MI21]

@ the Danny Green comment.

@ the Jimmer Fredette comment.

[DenialTwist]

Thanks for posting.

Well, this guy pretty much says what we already know...LMA deadly mid-range shooter...Parker and Manu getting older...Parker needs to change his role on the team...Danny icy-hot...nothing new

How many minutes do you think Pop will Parker this season? I've heard other fans say Pop will live and die by Parker. Wonder if that will change if Parker struggles in the postseason?

[Joseph Kony]

Stopped reading after he called LDN an "ok defender"

[Juggity]

how could anyone possibly call themselves an informed basketball analyst and in the same breath call Danny Green an "okay defender" — as if he wasn't easily a top five 3&D player in the league (and probably a top 3 defensive SG). That's just indicative of somebody having not studied the advanced stats or watched the spurs play a game of basketball in the last three years.

[YGWHI]

How many minutes do you think Pop will Parker this season? I've heard other fans say Pop will live and die by Parker. Wonder if that will change if Parker struggles in the postseason?

Pop didn't play a younger point guard with the hot-shooting hand over an injured Parker last playoffs...nothing changes for him.

Live and Die...probably the latter. At least, against Westbrook, Paul, Curry..."Point guard is such a tough position in the West"

[YGWHI]

if he wasn't easily a top five 3&D player in the league

Who are the other four players that rank above him? Korver can shot better but he can't defend at Danny's level, the same with Matthews he's fine but not that good...In a balance between shooting and defense, Danny Green's the best of them.

[BillMc]

Who are the other four players that rank above him? Korver can shot better but he can't defend at Danny's level, the same with Matthews he's fine but not that good...In a balance between shooting and defense, Danny Green's the best of them.

Klay Thompson?

But, yeah, I agree. Danny is way up there. And perfect for what we need.

[YGWHI]

Klay Thompson?

I wouldn't compare his defense and playoffs shooting performances with Danny's...but it's ok. One, which players get the remaining three spots?

Danny is way up there. And perfect for what we need.

[Spurtacular]

It's pre 50 game mark. The 'experts' are required by NBA law to cast the Spurs as one of many mere contenders.

[Chinook]

'Green's an okay defender who is helped by team defense.'

Danny's defensive metrics are off the charts, especially his on/off stats. Besides Leonard obviously, the team has no one close to Green in terms of perimeter D.

Oh and considering Jimmer to be a potential Jack. Please tell me this take wasn't made this month.

[cd98]

Like I said last night to the redicule of a few, Spurs are in need of 3 point shooting and losing Beli was big. Even if he didn't make every three you had to gaurd him three feet from behind the line. He was that kind of a scoring threat.

[cd98]

All the summer league level players the Spurs signed are not great or confident three point shooters. Patty is going to have to have a great shooting year.

[Killakobe81]

how could anyone possibly call themselves an informed basketball analyst and in the same breath call Danny Green an "okay defender" — as if he wasn't easily a top five 3&D player in the league (and probably a top 3 defensive SG). That's just indicative of somebody having not studied the advanced stats or watched the spurs play a game of basketball in the last three years.

At times early in the year (Kiwi injured?) I thought Green was the best defender on the team. As the season wore on the cream rose to the top and KL was clearly better. But I thought Green was the best defender early over Tim and KL who won DPOTY.

[Spur|n|Austin]

"Maybe Jimmer Fredette will step up and be Stephen Jackson this year.."

[Chinook]

Like I said last night to the redicule of a few, Spurs are in need of 3 point shooting and losing Beli was big. Even if he didn't make every three you had to gaurd him three feet from behind the line. He was that kind of a scoring threat.

And now you can see why your take was ridiculed (though I hope you didn't take too much offense -- we were all caught up in the fervor by that point). Jimmer sucks as a floor-spacer. He's sucked at that his entire NBA career. If the Spurs really wanted him for that, it's obvious why he didn't make the cut.

[NameLess Scrub]

I think he meant Jimmer might be Jackson exclusively on the shooting aspect...

[SpursforSix]

Maybe Jimmer Fredette will step up and be Stephen Jackson this year.

[SAGirl]

Like I said last night to the redicule of a few, Spurs are in need of 3 point shooting and losing Beli was big. Even if he didn't make every three you had to gaurd him three feet from behind the line. He was that kind of a scoring threat.

Could also score off the dribble with a killer midrange jumpshot and was very active running through picks and trying to get open off the ball. He definitely commanded attention.

[Dex]

"Maybe Jimmer Fredette will step up and be Stephen Jackson this year.."

I want some of what this dude has been smoking.

[apalisoc_9]

The one solution to a Belli less offense is just to play leonard and Green more..They're young anyway.

Anderson is way to hesitant to take the three...

[313]

Maybe he meant Steve Kerr not sjax..

Anyway this was obviously not written recently

[SpursBig3s]

Like I said last night to the redicule of a few, Spurs are in need of 3 point shooting and losing Beli was big. Even if he didn't make every three you had to gaurd him three feet from behind the line. He was that kind of a scoring threat.

maybe Rasual Butler will be that replacement? He can shoot, but obviously can't handle the ball the way Beli did...