Game Thread: Spurs vs. Grizzlies - Oct. 18, 2019 @ 7:30 PM CT - Preseason Game #5

[raybies]

We all knew Lyles was a cheap reclamation replacement project coming to the team. The Spurs are not miracle workers, can't expect them to turn things around this fast(if ever). At least Lyles so far looks like he is committed to working hard and is a team player. Would much rather have him around the rest of the team than that headcase Morris, even if Morris can produce more in games.

That's a valid point although our ceiling is somewhat lower. Lyles is playing solid, it's just if he could only make the three he would be invaluable. Would love his skill set with Bertans' shooting.

[Chinook]

I think we're going to see DeRozan play the four more times than just tonight. He can check most threes, and fours just keep getting smaller. Definitely guys like Anderson and Clarke aren't backing DeMar down, but even guys like Gallo and Draymond don't really have the mentality to try to exploit that mismatch. Getting three of Walker, Murray, White and Forbes out with DeRozan and Aldridge is definitely intriguing.

It's not that I don't think Gay and Carroll can be good for the team. Rudy especially might win a number of games this year. But he doesn't really have the mobility to simulate what a four-guard unit could.

[raybies]

I hope it's just preseason but Rudy is looking really stiff out there. He can't guard anyone and Demarre has been hit or miss, mostly miss. I know it's not time for a punt but if crap hits the fan it'd be a great year to be sellers at the deadline and still have the potential to be compe ive. Murray, White and Walker are looking like the future. We just need to see a little more and get an excuse. I think as far as impact goes Murray, and White are already better players than DD. DD just takes usage from those too. Murray goes from career night without Demarr to what, 1 point... lol

All in all still need some more time but the kids are growing up fast. It's not hard to see the writing on the wall. I just hope we don't extend DD.

[gospursgojas]

Doesn't fit the Spurs talk criteria to hate DD

This. ST has become a bunch of spurs/DD/LA/Pop hating cry babies. Are there even spurs fans left?

[NASpurs]

This. ST has become a bunch of spurs/DD/LA/Pop hating cry babies. Are there even spurs fans left?

No there’s still real fans here. What you’re looking for is to find Spurs fans to jerk one another. Might wanna head over to reddit where you’ll find your kind.

[timtonymanu]

This. ST has become a bunch of spurs/DD/LA/Pop hating cry babies. Are there even spurs fans left?

I'm sure T Park, Manny, Marcus, all those gots you praise will post from time to time.

[raybies]

This. ST has become a bunch of spurs/DD/LA/Pop hating cry babies. Are there even spurs fans left?

Love my Spurs... but we don't have warriors like the Big 3. I'm fine with LMA. I just don't think DD is ready to be in the role he needs to be and I don't know if he is mentally stable enough to be a number one option. I'll root for him cause he's apart of the team, I just think we need to go in another direction. His mental breakdown in the Denver series did a number on me. Throwing the ball like he did was very anti spur brother and that I don't vibe with.

Even Pop pushed the aging big 3 to the side and groomed Kawhi to be the face of the franchise. IMO if he feels the kids are ripe he'll make room.

[raybies]

on a side note... Demar was from a trade and LMA was a Free Agent signing. Would love to go back to the whole home cooking recipe. Feels like we got a lot of mercenaries on the team. I'm all for supporting the youth and embracing the future. I'm not saying any trades now. I want to run with what we have but if crap hits the fan, it's a good year to sell. We got one of the best young cores in the league. Lots of people are noticing. I just hope PATFO can make that decision when the time is right. A lot of people knew this was gonna be a bridge after the Big 3... now we actually got a core to build around.

[monty4329]

Murray, DeRozan, Gay, Carroll are enough. We dont need one dimensional 3 pt specialists like Bertans, Mills, Beli anymore. Our players are good enough to shoot the 3s.

WTF ?

[Fireball]

just watched the game ...Murray and White seem way too inconsistent offensively... Carroll stays a bust ... demar hitting threes probably was an anomaly as he did not try all preseason ... Walker will not be in the rotation to start the season ... i have no clue about lyles .. will he start in the season opener?

[duncan2k5]

What kind of line up is this? Zero excuse for not having one of White, Murray, DD on the floor at all times. Looks like Pop is going to pull his stupid again this year.

U really expected different? Expect a long season of short leashes for our more promising young players... Long leashes for the old guys, and Walker inexplicably getting little to no playing time in random games

[duncan2k5]

I’m tired of having talented players we can play just sitting on the bench waiting for their turn which won’t happen unless an injury occurs. Then and only then will Pops hand be forced.

And we wonder why ppl don't wanna come here

[Rocalcio]

This. ST has become a bunch of spurs/DD/LA/Pop hating cry babies. Are there even spurs fans left?

Agreed.

[Dhbsr555]

So we are really going to play belli over walker .. unbelievable

[RD2191]

No there’s still real fans here. What you’re looking for is to find Spurs fans to jerk one another. Might wanna head over to reddit where you’ll find your kind.

Tbh

[ZeusWillJudge]

It was dislocated. Rockets being Rockets by not caring for their players health. DAntoni will run down that team. If it was any other team, Westbrook will be out. Rockets are all hype again and will burn out by post season. Its the same old NBA story. Organizations are who we thought they are. And the Spurs? Time after time the Spurs have proven they are ahead of the curve and people dont think they would prepare their young players when theyre ripe. Lonnie is ripe. I guarantee you Pop knows that. And Pop being Pop is doing Mills and Beli a favor by not burying them deep in the bench for a promising player and instead is trying to find a new home for them.

But no. No one gets it.

The Beta is strong with you, young Padwan. (Which is a nice way of saying you're such a pussy.) You obviously never played basketball - fingers get jammed all the time, especially PG fingers. Sometimes they get dislocated. Westbrook already had dislocated a couple of fingers, and last night he re-aggravated one of them. I don't even know if it dislocated last night but it's still a long way from "Rockets lost Westbrook.)

BTW - D'Antoni held Westchuck out for one or two of the early preseason games because of fingers. He immediately said he would hold him out for the rest of last night's game, regardless of what they saw in the locker room. Even a broken clock is right a couple of times a day. I think I'm going to start calling you Timex - if you ever get anything right.

I know, I know. No one gets you.

[Dejounte]

Going with personal attacks now? What got in your panties?

[Dejounte]

Im still dumbfounded how it escalates that quickly with you... Sensitive much? Holy ...

[TD 21]

I don't understand this PG rotation. Pop only allows Murray or White to play PG ... but this is the second straight game that Pop carves out minutes for Mills at point guard too.

Frustrating.

Trying to play a lineup that can spread the floor, particularly for his 2 best players.

I suspect we'll only see Murray-White together when DeRozan nominally plays "PF", so they can have one of the 3 shooters on the floor.

I don't think he gets that at all, and why should he?

With free agency practically over and all the money spent, he realistically was looking at a minimum. People who covered the nuggets laughed about him being the worst player on the roster in some nuggets season preview podcast I listened to.

But RC and Pop bailed him and Klutch out with $5 million for no reason.

If anything, Lyles might think he's underpaid and resents the Spurs for not giving him Morris money.

Actually, that was one of the smarter things they've done in recent years (low bar, but still). Since the Spurs are well over the cap/under the tax, whether Lyles got the minimum or $5.5M made no functional difference . . . except that by giving him the latter, it gave them another sizable, expendable salary and if added to Belinelli, they can now take back a near $15M dollar player.

I think we're going to see DeRozan play the four more times than just tonight. He can check most threes, and fours just keep getting smaller. Definitely guys like Anderson and Clarke aren't backing DeMar down, but even guys like Gallo and Draymond don't really have the mentality to try to exploit that mismatch. Getting three of Walker, Murray, White and Forbes out with DeRozan and Aldridge is definitely intriguing.

It's not that I don't think Gay and Carroll can be good for the team. Rudy especially might win a number of games this year. But he doesn't really have the mobility to simulate what a four-guard unit could.

Yeah, as I said the other day and up above, DeRozan masquerading as a "PF" in certain matchups is the path to unlocking Murray-White together because it leaves room for one of the 3 shooters. It also covers up the fact that they don't have a stretch 4.