Should Simmons start ahead of Green?

[SAGirl]

Pop just got asked about putting Simmons in with the starters some.

Pop: "Well, I just wanted to give him a chance... see what it feels like to just play solid, and not show how really good you are. Just play solid, and how good you are will come out eventually."

How do you interpret that?

I interpret it to mean, that he wanted to put J.Simms in a situation where he didn't have to come in and play to show how good he can be, whether he could play a subdued game as a roleplayer basically. Since he's had to show off his game in Summer League and preseason, and then in garbage time to show Pop that he could play at this level, Pop was intrigued enough to want to see whether he can take a backseat and play off others well.

I think he aced that test.

[steeledl]

How do you interpret that?

I interpret it to mean, that he wanted to put J.Simms in a situation where he didn't have to come in and play to show how good he can be, whether he could play a subdued game as a roleplayer basically. Since he's had to show off his game in Summer League and preseason, and then in garbage time to show Pop that he could play at this level, Pop was intrigued enough to want to see whether he can take a backseat and play off others well.

I think he aced that test.

exactly how I interpreted it .

[GSH]

Thats is mad respect coming from pop.

How do you interpret that?

I interpret it to mean, that he wanted to put J.Simms in a situation where he didn't have to come in and play to show how good he can be

Seemed to me that he was making a statement that he believes in Simmons, and that he belongs in the NBA. Letting him know that he doesn't have to come in and press to try and make the team. That he's good enough to just play solid and be part of the team right now. If the reporter was trying to get Pop to say it's because Green hasn't been scoring, Pop didn't bite. No sense speculating - the minutes Pop gives will tell the story.

For a guy like Simmons who has come up the hard way, getting that vote of confidence from Pop has to feel good. I thought he looked really, really bad in pre-season, but he's definitely showing us why the Spurs decided to keep him on the roster.

[SAGirl]

I thought he looked really, really bad in pre-season, but he's definitely showing us why the Spurs decided to keep him on the roster.

I agree with you on this. I really liked him since SL, and I watched a lot of him with Anderson in the Dleague, so I liked him from before, but the TO specifically, and other things that have already been mentioned elsewhere made me question whether he could play at this level.

Moreover, I was really angry and disappointed that he played so poorly in preseason. There is a thread I started reviewing an awful game he had in preseason in which I was basically angry lol at him bc he had played so poorly that honestly at that point, he looked really doubtful to even make the team. At the time he gave an interview about how the pressure of trying to make the team had affected his play and he dismissed it, but I really thought it was a factor.

I doubt you want to read that enlightened piece so I will spare you. But I trust coach Pop and the Spurs. Rightfully so, they give a chance to younger guys that work hard and maybe they don't look like much initially but they see something they can harvest.

I suspect there is something there with Anderson too. Otherwise he would not have been extended, and as up and down as he's been in production, he's also had moments where he's belonged out there. Anyways, thanks for sharing your view.

[Xevious]

Spurs are the best defensive team in the league right now. They're four games behind GS who has had a historic start, and four games ahead of OKC. People need to chill the out with the overreactions when it comes to LMA and Green. Green's defense is needed in the starting lineup and Aldridge is doing fine, and will only improve. Plenty of time for these guys to get into a rhythm before the playoffs.

[GSH]

Spurs are the best defensive team in the league right now. They're four games behind GS who has had a historic start, and four games ahead of OKC. People need to chill the out with the overreactions when it comes to LMA and Green. Green's defense is needed in the starting lineup and Aldridge is doing fine, and will only improve. Plenty of time for these guys to get into a rhythm before the playoffs.

Danny has only shot above .333 in 6 out of 25 games, and he's basically got the same number of turnovers as 3-pointers. I think it would be kind of ridiculous of people didn't start wondering about him.

I'm not going to write a page about this part - you'll either understand or you won't - but Danny's inability to make shots puts a lot of extra wear and tear on the other four starters. Both in terms of the extra attention they get, as well as the extra minutes they have to spend on the floor in close games that shouldn't be close. Danny's got time to get it together, but it's beginning to be a legitimate problem.

[steeledl]

/.

[Xevious]

Simmons will get exposed on both ends of the floor in the starting lineup, causing just as much of a problem. The schedule has been soft and our point differential has been high enough that "wear and tear" isn't really an issue yet. Danny has time to get it together, and yanking him from his spot might screw up his rhythm even more. We're going to need him playing well come playoff time. If that doesn't happen, it really doesn't matter who starts.

[SAGirl]

Danny has only shot above .333 in 6 out of 25 games, and he's basically got the same number of turnovers as 3-pointers. I think it would be kind of ridiculous of people didn't start wondering about him.

I'm not going to write a page about this part - you'll either understand or you won't - but Danny's inability to make shots puts a lot of extra wear and tear on the other four starters. Both in terms of the extra attention they get, as well as the extra minutes they have to spend on the floor in close games that shouldn't be close. Danny's got time to get it together, but it's beginning to be a legitimate problem.

Very reasonable point of view and I agree with you.

[ceperez]

Danny has only shot above .333 in 6 out of 25 games, and he's basically got the same number of turnovers as 3-pointers. I think it would be kind of ridiculous of people didn't start wondering about him.

I'm not going to write a page about this part - you'll either understand or you won't - but Danny's inability to make shots puts a lot of extra wear and tear on the other four starters. Both in terms of the extra attention they get, as well as the extra minutes they have to spend on the floor in close games that shouldn't be close. Danny's got time to get it together, but it's beginning to be a legitimate problem.

Disagree about the bolded statement. Danny isn't making, but he's also not taking a lot of shots. Who knows if this is by design by Pop.

[GSH]

Danny has only shot above .333 in 6 out of 25 games, and he's basically got the same number of turnovers as 3-pointers. I think it would be kind of ridiculous of people didn't start wondering about him.

I'm not going to write a page about this part - you'll either understand or you won't

Disagree about the bolded statement. Danny isn't making, but he's also not taking a lot of shots. Who knows if this is by design by Pop.

Then focus on the bolded statement above. You don't understand, and that's to be expected.

Pretty sure it's not by design for defenders to be able to leave Danny to help defend other players. Just a hunch.

[ceperez]

Then focus on the bolded statement above. You don't understand, and that's to be expected.

Pretty sure it's not by design for defenders to be able to leave Danny to help defend other players. Just a hunch.

I am saying that Danny's performance is not putting a lot of wear and tear on the other 4 starters. The starters have been coasting, it isn't like they are increasing their effort when Danny misses. Besides, Danny doesn't take a lot of shots lately.

[hater]

We are 1/4 into the season. Of course One Trick Pony Green sucking all along is worrysome. Dude might be finished

[SAGirl]

I am saying that Danny's performance is not putting a lot of wear and tear on the other 4 starters. The starters have been coasting, it isn't like they are increasing their effort when Danny misses. Besides, Danny doesn't take a lot of shots lately.

Then focus on the bolded statement above. You don't understand, and that's to be expected.

Pretty sure it's not by design for defenders to be able to leave Danny to help defend other players. Just a hunch.

It just means he isn't contributing. He's neither shooting the 3 at his usual efficient rate, nor is he doing anything productive with the ball when he gets it because despite all th layup passes he get from Tim and easy shots he's getting he shooting poorly generally.
When you add to that his TO and th Danny drives... He's really been the worse of our regular rotation players. I totally see what GSH is saying.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

We are 1/4 into the season. Of course One Trick Pony Green sucking all along is worrysome. Dude might be finished

Green isn't finished he had a decent game the other night. Green needs to go back to running off of screens to get open. He is a very poor man's Rich Hamilton. But that is when Green is at his best. Running off a screens and making his defender work without him having the ball. The Spurs have gone away from this so far this year. Perhaps Pop was wanting to see if Green could expand his game.

But the simple truth, Green is only a 3 and D player, nothing more. He does not have Elite NBA athleticism or an Elite NBA IQ. Green is just a role player and that is his ceiling in the NBA.

[ceperez]

But the simple truth, Green is only a 3 and D player, nothing more. He does not have Elite NBA athleticism or an Elite NBA IQ. Green is just a role player and that is his ceiling in the NBA.

He's a Bruce Bowen. He's going to be on the court for his defense. If he hits a 3, it's all gravy.

People keeps saying that he's finished... as long as he can defend, he'll always be on the court. Even if he scores zero, his mere presence spaces the floor on offense. No team is going to double dare him to shoot wide open.

[DJR210]

ing fat , if he didn't spend his offseason getting fat as this would have never happened.

[G-Dawgg]

We've said in the past that players like Carmelo and Harden only play half the game because they don't play defense and only score, well...Danny Green is only helping in half of the game right now by only doing well on defense. Simmons should play more and steal Danny's court time. Simmons is more useful right now because in addition to his defense being very good, he also has more tools on offense than Danny. Green is completely useless on offense when he can't hit a three.. Danny better get his 3 point shot together because already as it stands it's no coincedence that Simmons is getting more court time and Danny is playing less than usual...

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

He's a Bruce Bowen. He's going to be on the court for his defense. If he hits a 3, it's all gravy.

No he's got to hit the 3 consistently. Bruce Bowen types don't work in 2015 NBA. Danny still contributes with his gravity but if his slump continues and defenders start sagging off he'll have to punish them. If he can't he'll sit.

[cjw]

http://nyloncalculus.com/2015/12/15/...greens-jumper/

Good piece on Green's 3 point shooting. Essentially, author argues a dropoff like this is a statistical outlier (would happen 1% of time) and should revert to mean over time.

[DAF86]

Simmons needs to stop passing up on wide open threes if he wants to be a part of the rotation come playoffs time.

[LaMarcus Bryant]

We've said in the past that players like Carmelo and Harden only play half the game because they don't play defense and only score, well...Danny Green is only helping in half of the game right now by only doing well on defense. Simmons should play more and steal Danny's court time. Simmons is more useful right now because in addition to his defense being very good, he also has more tools on offense than Danny. Green is completely useless on offense when he can't hit a three.. Danny better get his 3 point shot together because already as it stands it's no coincedence that Simmons is getting more court time and Danny is playing less than usual...

Simmons does not play very good defense wtf
He mediocre at best

[SAGirl]

Danny's 3 pt shooting watch:

Danny still shooting 29% on 3s. After he got hot against ATL, proceeded to get back to cold again against Utah. He played well in all other facets of his game, so his 3 pt. shooting was not needed.

It's possible at this point, he needs a string of hot games to turn that S % up.

[BillMc]

http://nyloncalculus.com/2015/12/15/...greens-jumper/

Good piece on Green's 3 point shooting. Essentially, author argues a dropoff like this is a statistical outlier (would happen 1% of time) and should revert to mean over time.

Nice read. Thanks for posting.

[callo1]

I doubt we see Simmons start over Danny in a meaningful game but...Pop is Pop, you never know. I could see Pop sending a message to Danny by starting Simmons against certain teams.

I think Simmons is best to have on the court when an extra ball handler is needed. Simmons can put the ball on the floor and get his own shot, something that isn't Green's strong point. I am just excited that the Spurs seem to be getting even more versatile, as it will undoubtedly pay off throughout the season.

Spacing and screen setting account for some of the problems Green is having shooting 3's early this season. The addition of LA has changed the spacing significantly, and Lamarcus is not as good of a screen setter at this point as Tiago was. I expect this will all work itself out by March.