Summer League Game 4: Spurs vs. Warriors

[Mr. Body]

Shot !!!!!!

[Darkwaters]

My impressions from the game:

Butler continues to impress. The idea that a salary dump trade of Jackie is a good idea goes completely out the window. His offensive game, while still somewhat raw, shows a high degree of developing polish. His rebounding and mobility look incredibly improved and his vision is unreal.

White definitely has NBA talent and will find a place in the league. His defense has been solid but his offense hasn't been as prolific as expected. In a supplementary role I think White could thrive, but he won't ever be the type to take over a game. Hes a keeper for sure.

Williams is alive! For the first time this Summer League I saw a little of that player that was so highly touted out of Arizona. Hes definitely still on the fence to make the team (especially with Viktor on his tail) but could make the team if he builds on this performance.

Sanikidze is the future. Really, he is. Today's game was enough for me. While Viktor has some obvious holes in his game, hes just what we've been looking for. Plus, at 21 Viktor has tons of potential and could be the best player of this bunch in just a few seasons. Sign him up.

Melzer is very very solid. While hes probably not going to get much better from what he is now, I really like his game. Having him in Austin wouldn't be a bad idea at all. He could definitely be a good insurance plan for later but doesn't make any sense this season....and may never make sense at all.

Watson should be shot.

[timvp]

Postgame thoughts:

-Butler was the best player on the court. Great hands, nice post moves, very good court vision and impressive basketball IQ. He just knows how to play. Centers who know how to play don't grow on trees. He's getting better game by game in Vegas.

-White was a mixed bag. Missed some shots at the basket but also hit a couple nice buckets. His defense was nice. He managed to help Belinelli not look like a Hall of Famer for a night.

-Williams was better. Still has a long ways to go, though. One of his two baskets were because his guy fell down. But his defense was nice and he uses his length on that end to his advantage.

-Sanikidze is really, really impressive. He's tall, has long arms and has very quick feet. If he's really 6-foot-9 as it's listed some places, the Spurs have a nice prospect on their hands. He's also fast, doesn't seem to get tired and can handle the ball. Plays with some toughness and aggressiveness.

-Melzer is a good player. When he plays at power forward like he did in this game, he's too good for players at the summer league level. Problem is he has to play small forward in the NBA. As far as a Derrick McKey type player, Melzer is the closest thing the Spurs have to fit that role that Pop has talked about.

-Watson still suck. Gadson is a little better.

-For the Warriors, Belinelli has an amazingly quick release. He can get that shot off easily against anyone. He plays no defense, doesn't go for rebounds and doesn't do anything really other than shoot. That means he was the perfect pick for the Warriors.

Overall, this was by far the best performance by the Spurs. Butler controlled the game offensively for the Spurs. If you put the ball in his hands, he usually makes the right play. Butler and Williams played good perimeter defense and Sanikidze came in with some nice energy.

[mystargtr34]

Are the Spurs summer league game on youtube? I cant get onto youtube from work lol thats the one site of limits.

[Mr. Body]

Melzer is just a great pro. One of those guys who knows how to do everything, but may never make it in the NBA, though he'll carve out a professional career. Keep your eye on him; Bowen, after all, was in the same position at one time.

[bdictjames]

-For the Warriors, Belinelli has an amazingly quick release. He can get that shot off easily against anyone. He plays no defense, doesn't go for rebounds and doesn't do anything really other than shoot. That means he was the perfect pick for the Warriors.

[mystargtr34]

hmm Meltzer is 28 this year. Euro prospect

[Mr. Body]

Sanikidze rebounds at an excellent clip for his playing time.

[timvp]

Two things I don't understand:

1) Why Sanikidze isn't playing more.

2) How you keep Sanikidze off the regular season roster.

[Russ]

So I see the Mavs are treating the summer league like the regular season, 3-0 so far

Wait till the summer league playoffs start. They'll probably get swept by China.

[T Park]

) How you keep Sanikidze off the roster.

one spot left between him and Marcus williams.

Who do the spurs go with?

Im sure theyll want him to play in europe another year

[FirebatMIV]

Two things I don't understand:

1) Why Sanikidze isn't playing more.

2) How you keep Sanikidze off the regular season roster.

Think Charlotte will give us a 2nd round pick for the Veteran Leadership (TM) of Brent Barry?

[objective]

I wonder how much more Sanikidze could have shown because almost everytime in the halfcourt he didn't get a chance to touch it as he was relegated to standing in the Bowen spot.

Considering the behind the back move he pulled in transition, I'd like to see him get the chance to break someone down in the halfcourt, instead of all these point guards pulling their best Iverson impressions without the scoring.

[Russ]

Two things I don't understand:

1) Why Sanikidze isn't playing more.

2) How you keep Sanikidze off the regular season roster.

I tend to agree but, if I'm reading this correctly, his Euro stats are pretty mediocre.

http://www.acb.com/stsa .php?cod_c...=EST&totales=0

Didn't he have a fairly serious injury (shoulder?) after the Spurs got his draft rights?

[Darkwaters]

Think Charlotte will give us a 2nd round pick for the Veteran Leadership (TM) of Brent Barry?

I was thinking that the other day. But he probably replicates Matt Carroll's skill set too closely to make much sense. Plus they just brought in a super high-dollar wing in Jason Richardson. Probably not the best timet to be adding more wings.

[objective]

if they re-sign Wallace, they'll have too big a crowd to want Barry, with Richardson, Morrisson, Carroll, Wallace and Hermann at the 2/3.

[AFBlue]

Barry + Udrih was being considered for Maggette around deadline time last year. It would be a shame to see Barry leave for a second round pick only a few months later...

Clearly, Barry is worth more than that.

[FirebatMIV]

I was thinking that the other day. But he probably replicates Matt Carroll's skill set too closely to make much sense. Plus they just brought in a super high-dollar wing in Jason Richardson. Probably not the best timet to be adding more wings.

What about Milwaukee, they're all but assured to lose Mo Williams (to the Heat, of all people), and they're still fairly well under the cap. Barry + Beno for a 2nd rounder?

[FirebatMIV]

Barry + Udrih was being considered for Maggette around deadline time last year. It would be a shame to see Barry leave for a second round pick only a few months later...

Clearly, Barry is worth more than that.

I'm not so sure, Barry at the time was extremely hot, and he really cooled off as the season progressed.

Is there a site where we can look up trade exceptions held by various teams? That might be helpful.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Two things I don't understand:

1) Why Sanikidze isn't playing more.

2) How you keep Sanikidze off the regular season roster.

[mystargtr34]

Two things I don't understand:

1) Why Sanikidze isn't playing more.

2) How you keep Sanikidze off the regular season roster.

He'd be better served with another year in Europe. I cant see him getting on the court in his first season with the guys we have. Overseas he can work on his jump shot and iron out the creases in his game and come back next season with Tiago. Although i dont really like the idea of 2 new comers with out system.

[FirebatMIV]

He'd be better served with another year in Europe. I cant see him getting on the court in his first season with the guys we have. Overseas he can work on his jump shot and iron out the creases in his game and come back next season with Tiago. Although i dont really like the idea of 2 new comers with out system.

The problem is, no one wants to develop/play a young player if you know he's going to go overseas soon. It's the same problem Ian had last year.

[timvp]

I tend to agree but, if I'm reading this correctly, his Euro stats are pretty mediocre.

http://www.acb.com/stsa .php?cod_c...=EST&totales=0

Didn't he have a fairly serious injury (shoulder?) after the Spurs got his draft rights?

I think he had shoulder and knee problems since being drafted. And he had to have his appendix taken out during the middle of the year and missed like six weeks I believe.

Plus in Europe, young players just don't play unless they are ungodly talented. It's a much different system than over here.

[Darkwaters]

Barry + Udrih was being considered for Maggette around deadline time last year. It would be a shame to see Barry leave for a second round pick only a few months later...

Clearly, Barry is worth more than that.

It would probably be 2 second rounders to be frank. But at this point in time I'd gladly dump Barry's contract if it meant that Sanikidze could come over this season.

Barry has no future with this franchise beyond this upcoming season. I think bringing in some obviously talented youth, freeing up PT for James White and picking up a couple 2nd rounders in the mix isn't a bad trade off.

[mystargtr34]

Barry and Udrih for Maggete. Talk about a steal.