Spurs Youth Is Overrated

[Russ]

A 20-year old just scored 28 to lead the team to its biggest win of the year.

Murray, White, and Forbes are also members of the youth movement, the "Four Musketeers" guard rotation (and that doesn't even factor in Keldon Johnson who will also shine in the future).

Break out the shades when you look at the future all you naysayers, you can either enjoy the view or just use them as a blindfold when, yet gain, weak pessimistic takes meet their inevitable fate (as in years past).

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs youth is fine, I don't think they are overrated.

Walker is at least a 2-way All-Star caliber player, possible franchise player - Ceiling: Dwayne Wade

White is a solid starting PG, 3rd option with close to All-NBA defense. He just needs to be more aggressive on offense and be more consistent from 3. But he's also got the starting job back just now and had this foot injury, so I assume it will take some games before he looks better. Right now he's just solid. - Ceiling: Mike Conley

Murray: People are too hard on him. He's coming off an ACL injury, it takes a full season to look like the player you were before the injury. He still doesn't have a jumper and it's often rimming out sideways, but he has clearly worked on it and has made some 3s already. He just needs to continue to let if fly and eventually he will get consistent with his shooting. His handle has also improved, but it's still to lose. I like his crossover and finishing at the rim though. With him it's all about his jumper. That would open up everything for him. So he could be anything from washed up Rajon Rondo to an efficient version of Westbrook. Tough to predict that right now.

Samanic is only 19 and the perfect modern day PF. His main weakness is not having enough muslce. I'll take that. And he's been bulking up since before the draft. He just has such a wide skill set, I think he can be a supreme role player like a Draymond Green. Not that his game is the same, but in that he can fill up the stat sheet in all 5 categories while spacing the floor and playing good defense. He can swith pick & rolls, he can shoot, he has good foot speed, he got moves off the dribble, he's a good passer and he's super young. - Ceiling: Kirilenko

Keldon Johnson can be an elite 3-and-D player. He needs some work hitting NBA 3s, but other than that his ability to get to the rim, draw fouls and finish through contact is something not a lot of role players can give you. It will be interesting to see if he can really be an elite defender in the NBA or just a solid one. That's not quite clear yet. I'd compare him to a PJ Tucker, but he could become an even better player than him

Weatherspoon was big time in college, he can shoot, he can defend. I think he's at least a bench player in the NBA - Ceiling: George Hill

Then we still have Poeltl, Lyles, Metu and if you want to count him as well, Bryn Forbes. That's pretty solid if you ask me.

[tmtcsc]

About taking you serious.

You're right.

Lol, 1 ing game. I hope he keeps it up because the Spurs need someone to play like they care. I stand by everything I said.

[spurspl]

u r funny guys, one good game with poor defense team and u all giving him MIP XD Lets wait and see...

[SpaceCoast Spursfan]

Walker seems to have the highest ceiling although Samanic potentially could have similar ceiling, but way too early to judge him.

Murray has some major strengths, but also probably has the most glaring weaknesses of the 3 young guards playing now. Currently he would be best suited in an athletic defensive lineup that played aggressive defense and looked to run at every opportunity. Not sure Pop is willing to play that style or that Spurs have pieces to do so.

White is somewhat the anti-Murray in that he has no glaring weakness, but for now doesn't move the needle a lot in any one aspect of the game. He is definitely not moving great laterally whether it be the foot/plantar or an ankle currently that's the main culprit I am not sure. I have noticed the past couple games White is keeping his dribble and getting deeper into the paint. For most of the season he has been giving up his dribble way too early and often was just another dribble or two from sucking in the help D & creating opportunities for his teammates. I am somewhat concerned it took this long as this is an easy fix. Hopefully the coaches have been in his ear for a while and it was just a matter of him taking time to break a bad habit.

Would be nice if the Spurs could acquire a higher pick or another young player with potential of becoming all star caliber. I think they are close to having a very good future

[My Fault]

Good thing some of you are not GMs because otherwise Lonnie would have max contract in front of him after ONE good game, one

[timvp]

that's one of the dumbest posts I've read all year

Possibly. Maybe an alternate universe proves I'm dead wrong.

But you think Walker would have played the same if Pop ignored his Kawhi hiding or you think 10 games was too much of a price to pay? Which angle are you disagree with, tbh?

[K...]

Lots of tanking teams,ala Phoenix have proven you can take better talent , play them in an unstructured environment, and waste their careers. Sacto, Orlando. Obviously what pop did isn't the only way to avoid being Phoenix but common experience should tell you guys that playing time alone doesn't make kids better.


2) in the early season there's more emphasis on practice. Lonny would "play" while benched

[RC_Drunkford]

Possibly. Maybe an alternate universe proves I'm dead wrong.

But you think Walker would have played the same if Pop ignored his Kawhi hiding or you think 10 games was too much of a price to pay? Which angle are you disagree with, tbh?

I'm saying his Kawhi hiding didn't deserve an 14 game benching for Marco Belinelli. He only got garbage time up to the Minnessota game. Pop could've easily sat him for one game, then let him play again and pull him when he's making mistakes on defense. That's what Pop did with Jonathon Simmons back in the day for example. That would've had the same effect. Bryn said in the interview he didn't recognize any change in his behaviour after Pop called Lonnie out publicly. You're acting like 14 losses out of 22 games ain't significant to the season. That might cost you the playoffs or home court advantage.

How about we do the same with Murray now? Or Samanic? Or Lyles? And lose another 14 games to teach a young guy a lesson. That's just plain stupid

[FkLA]

Possibly. Maybe an alternate universe proves I'm dead wrong.

But you think Walker would have played the same if Pop ignored his Kawhi hiding or you think 10 games was too much of a price to pay? Which angle are you disagree with, tbh?

Are we even sure that Lonnie finally getting his chance didn't have more to do with Belli just continuing to suck so much? You're acting like this was some master plan by Pop but I'm pretty sure Belli is still in the rotation if he was shooting 35% instead of 20%. , I wouldn't put it past Pop to randomly bring Belli in before Lonnie in some upcoming games.

In recent years, he's shown that he's the type of stubborn idiot that won't go away from vets until he's forced to. Pau-Poetl, Belli-Lonnie, Wombat-White/Murray.

[timvp]

I'm saying his Kawhi hiding didn't deserve an 14 game benching for Marco Belinelli. He only got garbage time up to the Minnessota game. Pop could've easily sat him for one game, then let him play again and pull him when he's making mistakes on defense. That's what Pop did with Jonathon Simmons back in the day for example. That would've had the same effect.

Impossible to know, if we're being honest.

"This pear is perfectly ripe."

"See, I told you that you should have picked it last month!"

You're acting like 14 losses out of 22 games ain't significant to the season. That might cost you the playoffs or home court advantage.

So Pop did permanent damage to the Spurs' championship aspirations this season?

[MannyIsGod]

Bait ignored.

1. it wasn't bait. I didn't even mention your lord and savior yet you automatically went there. That proves you know which side of the list he lies on. I don't need to point it out. It wasn't even my point.

2. Responding is not ignoring it. Your response gives away plenty of info. See #1.


I was simply pointing out why Pop gets the benefit of the doubt. I even said I"m not sure its right to do so right now. Instead of talking about that, you made it clear what you were thinking about and its ing hilarious. Thanks for that.

[MannyIsGod]

Impossible to know, if we're being honest.


So Pop did permanent damage to the Spurs' championship aspirations this season?

For me, the Spurs championship this year was making the playoffs an continuing the streak. I think that Pop has done permanent damage to that by refusing to move way from Beli and not playing Murray and White together.

[TD 21]

Have you heard of the basketball team called the Lakers? All their young players get hyped to the heavens. Currently, Alex Caruso is being billed as the balding, Aggie version of Dennis Johnson. , Kyle Kuzma has been touted as a borderline superstar by some sections of the national media.

Dejounte Murray? Bill Simmons literally doesn't even know how to pronounce his name. About 99.9% of the national media couldn't pick him out of a lineup. What you smokin', cuz?

I knew you'd say that, but I still think it's Murray. I can't tell you how many prominent national media I've heard on podcasts over the past few years, act like he was a definite future star.

With a lot of the Lakers, it's because they're Lakers, sure, but also because of precious ppg. There's still a lot of old school and/or casual types who cover/follow this league and automatically equate that to s om.

Spursfan today would have given up on Manu 20 games into the 03 season because he didn't shine early.

Who's giving up on anybody? More made up nonsense. That's the problem with you apologists; you think because of Ginobili, Parker and S bag, any young Spurs with upside beyond being a specialist, is automatically destined for s om. You idiots are now pretending a one game sample size carries serious weight.

To be fair to OP, he did say Walker had potential but was glued to the bench. Pretty sure everyone was on the Walker hype train all season except Pop and the really hardcore sniffers. (See "Lonnie wasn't compe ive" thread).

I think this thread is more about White and Murray at least that’s how I took it. In my comment earlier I mentioned I really couldnt say anything about their recent draftees who aren’t playing.

TBF to OP, he has expressed multiple times in different threads that Lonnie was the only one who looked the part of a star (as has Chinook at times) bc he has not just the athleticism but a good looking shot and natural scoring talent.

But why let facts get in the way of a played out shtick?

[MannyIsGod]

I"d love to get a link to a single podcast where a national media says he's a definite future star. Forget lots of them, just provide one.

[timvp]

I knew you'd say that, but I still think it's Murray. I can't tell you how many prominent national media I've heard on podcasts over the past few years, act like he was a definite future star.

With a lot of the Lakers, it's because they're Lakers, sure, but also because of precious ppg. There's still a lot of old school and/or casual types who cover/follow this league and automatically equate that to s om.

You can't seriously believe any of what you wrote, my man. You're smart enough to know that's all BS.

[TD 21]

At the cult followers riled up because they mistakenly equated overrated with bad.

[RC_Drunkford]

Impossible to know, if we're being honest.

"This pear is perfectly ripe."

"See, I told you that you should have picked it last month!"

So Pop did permanent damage to the Spurs' championship aspirations this season?

He did permanent damage to their playoff aspirations and overall seeding for sure. It was pretty clear Walker had that type of performance in em, as anybody except Popovich has advocated for him to get playing time. Even Rudy Gay said that publicly.

[K...]

Bait ignored.

He's obviously trying to get defenders of the Clippers and Grizzlies to bring up the biggest example of talent pop let get away






that right, he's talking about JaMychal Green

[J_Paco]

I know you really want to hop into this train, even though you were talking about Pop's rotation just last week, but the (related) issue I brought up in this thread is how they drafted.

And let's be honest here, you'll be back to ing about Pop's rotations once this fluke win fades away.

The rotation and lineup choices by Pop are something that everyone, including myself, have been upset about, yes.

But, stating that a team that has drafted in the 20's for better part of two decades "could have done better" is being a revisionist. The chance of finding a Superstar like Giannis, Nephew or Kobe outside of the lottery is rarer, if not pure luck.

What the Spurs have done is find plays that they can cultivate and supplement the player of their (former) elite talent. Clearly, their draft strategy will need to change and they'll have go for more "reachs" than previously.

But, again whining about their recent draft history is complaining just to complain (which is your thing, so sorry). Especially when they've found numerous NBA talent in the late 1st, 2nd and in the undrafted FA market as well as acquiring 3 - which is really 4 including Nephew - future HOF'ers.

[J_Paco]

At the cult followers riled up because they mistakenly equated overrated with bad.

You are such a clown, man.

Start backpedaling and moving the goal posts once someone calls you on your bull .

We get it, the Spurs never do anything right, you are always right & the sole reason they've accomplished 20+ years of success is Tim Duncan.

Now, saying the young players are "overrated" (who is rating them?) is speaking about Murray only and isn't meant to mean something negative? Cause people refer to things as overrated as a good thing or compliment.

[Dejounte]

I would rather be optimistic and be wrong than be pessimistic and be right. TD 21 is the latter. He (along with others) live a sad life. Speaking of moving goal posts, you hit the nail on the head about TD 21 lmao. I want to be around here during next year's draft selection when he's crying about players he thinks hes right about when he was so damn wrong about Nassir freaking Little.

[MannyIsGod]

At the cult followers riled up because they mistakenly equated overrated with bad.

Just going to wait for you to link one of the many podcasts were people have called Murray a sure thing future star. I mean the hype is crazy around Murray, which is why he settled on such a cheap extension.

[J_Paco]

I would rather be optimistic and be wrong than be pessimistic and be right. TD 21 is the latter. He (along with others) live a sad life. Speaking of moving goal posts, you hit the nail on the head about TD 21 lmao. I want to be around here during next year's draft selection when he's crying about players he thinks hes right about when he was so damn wrong about Nassir freaking Little.

He reminds me of that episode of South Park with the people of San Francisco sniffing their own farts and always thinking they're right......

But, be careful he'll call us "apologists" and say how right he is about everything in his next post.

*Sniff* *Sniff*

LOLOLOLOL

[MannyIsGod]

Who's giving up on anybody? More made up nonsense. That's the problem with you apologists; you think because of Ginobili, Parker and S bag, any young Spurs with upside beyond being a specialist, is automatically destined for s om. You idiots are now pretending a one game sample size carries serious weight.

Yeah, we think that because the FO has a history of drafting well that they've continued to do. Thats ing crazy of us, right? I mean the fact that the Spurs took 3 hall of famers outside of the lottery shouldn't give anyone confidence in the upside of the current crop of players at all. Just to be clear, I'm not saying that any of the current players will turn into a hall of famer but I'm also not saying they can't.

They're prospects. Maybe they turn out good, maybe they don't. But to say they're overrated is saying that they're not even prospects which is laughable. You can't find an NBA team that has drafted better than the Spurs and you're calling a lot of promising players overrated why exactly? Based on what? Dejounte could turn out to be nothing more than what he is now and he'd still be worth his contract. How the is that overrated? He's ALREADY excellent on defense. Derek White is ALREADY an above average guard. You haven't even seen Luka play.

Its just ing idiocy for god knows what reason. I guess so that if they don't pan out you can turn around and say I TOLD YOU SO. NO ONE has said that Murray is a lock to be a star yet you're making that claim because its the only way to make your bull seem legit. I forgot all the preseason all NBA projections we say for Murray. I forgot all the think pieces we say saying he should get a max extension. Missed the MVP Murray talk.