I like that at least he got sent to Austin... I don't see that as a demotion bc he was really playing so little and whatever it was that kept him benched, he needed to work on those things through some playing time. It also helps with rhythm and game conditioning... (which is not the same as treadmill running).
I still feel like this season he could have played more than he did. I don't think he's ready unfortunately and he won't be ready remaining in the bench.
And some guys can act like Tony deserves all the minutes but he really doesn't. When he has flashback Tony games sure.. but those are few and far between and what is more unfortunate is that he's brittle and you don't know when he will be out or for how long.
Much to Pop's chagrin, Murray likely needs to play.
I think we'd both agree there's a difference between a rookie looking for his shot and a 15 year veteran looking for his shot. Does that make it right? No but that's just the way it works. Besides I didn't say he only looks for it just that he does. Pop obviously wants him to be more of a facilitator and he's getting there.
Murray has shown some passing a en and the potential to be a solid defender, particularly IF he can add some muscle, but has two shots, a three pointer and a very iffy, low percentage floater. He should get some minutes but he's not the answer at PG this year, good chance there isn't one. The meme is Parker's taking too many shots. He's taking 9 per gsme at an acceptable percentage. That would be fine for a PG IF Spurs had a SG who had a half way decent offense.
Exactly
does your aunt, in your personal experience?
Here's the thing you and Chinook need to realize.
You guys are looking waaay too far into it. No matter how good DeJounte does, he won't play because of the respect and "it's not fair" to Parker and Mills. Pop views him strictly as a point guard and the point guard of the future.
I see people posting, " Oh if he was good enough he'd play", no it isn't that simple .. not with Pop and not when two players ahead of him have a lot of respect from the front office to the coaches to all the players. If Spurs just had one player ahead of Murray who didn't garner much respect ( like Richard Jefferson in 2011), he would play and maybe start just like Kawhi did in 2011, or just like Tony did in 01'.
It's Pops rationale, you all should know it by now. He did the same with Splitter when Splitter was a rookie.
It's that simple. If Murray were good enough, he'd play. Just like Kawhi. Didn't see Pop respecting Anderson or Jefferson when Kawhi was blazing a trail.
murray isn't playing because tony is on the team.
Well, youre wrong here. Its not that simple.
Jefferson never did anything to garner the type of respect Tony and Patty currently have.
And Anderson was a SG that was coming off a serious injury. Cant compare the two.
Stop with that nonsense right here and now.
Matt Bonner, playoff starter for 5 games in a 1st round 2009 1-4 beat down by the Mavs.
What MaNu4Tres said, Pop's not gonna bench Tony just like that.
Austin Spurs on TV now? link?
Kawhi was arguably a lottery pick that they traded George hill for(who had a big role) to come in and defend. He was drafted with the intent of playing. Murray was drafted as a luxury. As the team had it's pg rotation already set.
Their situations are nothing alike. Murray has been productive at every opportunity. Pop is coaching him and molding his character.
Pop is also training Kawhi to be the focal point on offense. We all know his rotation and squads change constantly in the playoffs. Mills has closed with kawhi, he is the more reliable 3 pt shooter, even if he's been in a slump, and compliments kawhi on his development better than the other two, since they're ball dominant guards.
Kawhi wasn't a lottery pick. While he was traded for and obviously highly coveted, he played at a position with multiple guys already on the team. Murray is probably the most coveted rookie since Kawhi, and he has a much clearer path to minutes than Kawhi had to starting. Just like with Dedmon, Murray's level of play will determine his minutes. Pop has a lot of issues, but he isn't anti-meritocratic.
Fans confuse their love and hope for guys with actual performance. Murray's been the worst guard on the team besides Forbes. That shouldn't be close to the case next year, and the extent to which he has improved already is very encouraging. His stats outside of his rate numbers and low-sample 3P% are awful. The team play noticeably worse with him on the court. We've seen flashes, and that's really nice. But that's not enough to make up for the rest of the package.
If there wasn't so much god-damned Parker hate on this forum, this would be a relatively minor movement like freeing De Colo was. If Murray pulled a Leonard or a Dedmon or a Green or a Mills and actually earned his freaking minutes, that would one thing. None of those guys got spots because of their potential. They all worked through their issues in their bit roles before taking advantage of the bigger opportunities. Fans are asking to purposefully make the team worse in the hopes that it eventually gets better. I can't remember the last time they did that when money wasn't involved.
That said, I liked the way he played last night. I didn't want Pop to take him out, though Patty made him look like a genius. Murray doing that and getting minutes over Simmons seems like a much better thing to hope for. Even against NO, Murray seemed to play best as the co-PG. May as well start him instead of Green rather than instead of Tony.
Chinook is correct here and this is coming from someone that thinks Murray should be getting more minutes.
Agree with this & your longer post.
I guess you glossed over the point of they weren't respected like Tony or patty. Murray is being held back more for who is in front of him rather than ability. And no doubt may needs to develop and grow more.
You guys need to understand he is a PG not a SG. He isn't playing for Simmons. That's not his position.Agree with this & your longer post.
Even if that were true (I don't think it is because Pop is now benching TP in crunch time for Mills) where would you rank Murray's play this year out of the guards?
He's been the worst guard on the team (whether you want to make excuses, valid or otherwise, as to why).
It doesn't really matter honestly. Teams have played 2 PGs before and been successful. Gotta be versatile on this team anyway
Playing with Manu should be the same as playing with Tony. If he's the sixth man next season, he'd be doing it for stretches anyway. I find it hilarious that people keep wanting him to get time, but they only want him to do so in situations where the absolute most pressure is on him. Having another ball-handler to split duties with would be great for his development, as would learning to play off the ball and defending bigger players. Murray should absolutely work toward being a more well-rounded role-player before he can get star-in-waiting treatment. Not everyone is Duncan. Kawhi was a role-player for years
Pop benching Tony for Mills, is not the same as Pop benching Tony for Murray. Pop would never bench his grandson, hall of famer, Tony Parker for a rookie. That would be disrespectful to Tony. Every opportunity Pop has given Murray this year he's performed well above expectations. His numbers when he starts and plays 20 + minutes are better than Parker and Pattys.
Yeah no question when given the opportunity and time Murray has shown well. I don't get the content he is the worst guard. DG is getting 30 minutes a game and getting 6 points. And not much else. Patty and parker combine for 6 points last night. That's fire?
I think playing PG is really good for his development.
I'd guarding bigger players somehow develops you. ..let's just put him at PF? really develop then. I remember when toby had to too...
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