Grades: Spurs vs. Hawks – Summer League Game #5
Sidy Cissoko and the Spurs got another win in summer league (Photo via Twitter)
Without Stephon Castle, who was ruled out for the rest of summer league with a minor wrist injury, the San Antonio Spurs moved to 2-0 in Las Vegas. Their latest victory was a 79-76
win over the Atlanta Hawks. San Antonio held No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting and the Spurs were able to execute late to hang on.
Stats: Spurs vs. Hawks
Spurs vs. Hawks – Final Grades
Harrison Ingram
The good: Ingram played smart basketball on both ends. While his fellow starters were busy turning over the ball, the rookie could be counted on to make the right play. The bad: Ingram hit only 1-of-7 threes and didn’t do much inside the arc. Truth be told, he’s a boxy athlete who doesn’t appear to move quick enough right now to impact the game at a high level. His finishing ability is non-existent and he’s the opposite of a playmaker on defense.
Grade: C
Sidy Cissoko
I’m not seeing a whole lot of good out of Cissoko. He tries on defense and his communication is helpful — but he also fouls a lot and he has no rebounding instincts to speak of at the moment. On offense, Cissoko remains a zero in halfcourt situations. He can score and pass in transition but once the defense is set, he can’t really do anything. He doesn’t have the quickness to drive, his handle is suspect and his jumper looks wonky. To his credit, he did help out by getting to the free throw line — mostly via brute force — a team-high eight times.
Grade: C
Jamaree Bouyea
Bouyea is pretty darn good at this level. He missed all five of his three-pointers but was 6-for-7 from two-point range and was easily the team’s best passer. Bouyea finishes really well and has great anticipation on defense. Becoming a third string point guard in the NBA isn’t out of the question for him.
Grade: B+
Nathan Mensah
Mensah has really played well these last two games. He got the jitters out of the way and now his hands are better and his touch is softer. He’s also a pretty good passer for his archetype. Defensively, he rebounds well, moves his feet on the perimeter and can defend the rim. Mensah is making a case for a training camp invite.
Grade: B+
Tyson Ward
The good: Ward’s defense is impressive. He’s tall, long and has quick feet. His two blocks and two steals weren’t by accident. I like that he shoots when he’s open. The bad: Ward’s form looks refined but the ball just isn’t going in. Dribbling is always an adventure for him and he isn’t a high-level passer. Against the Hawks, Ward was usually found trying to do too much on the offensive end.
Grade: C-
D’Moi Hodge
Playing in his first summer league game for the Spurs, Hodge’s shooting was a breath of fresh air. He hit 3-of-7 from deep, which means the rest of the team was 5-for-31 (16.1%). His stroke looked effortless, even when he was a few feet beyond the three-point line. Hodge also had a key layup late in the game. His defense wasn’t especially notable but he played with great energy on both ends. Hodge deserves more playing time going forward after this performance.
Grade: A-
Donovan Williams
Williams missed all six of his shots from the field. However, he played better than his numbers would indicate. He was forceful with his drives and created opportunities for others. On defense, he rebounded and he was physical. Williams looks like a good athlete and someone who the Spurs should play more down the stretch of summer league.
Grade: C
Yauhen Massalski
Massalski has been a rebounding machine as of late. In his last 32 minutes, he has 25 rebounds. His liveliness on defense was infectious and his hustle was unrelenting. Offense wasn’t nearly as joyful. Massalski had a couple misses that made me question how he plays basketball for a living. That said, he was setting good screens — both on the ball and away from the ball.
Grade: B+
DJ Horne
Horne got some minutes and did okay. He hit a three, handled the ball well and forced the Hawks to pay attention to him. His defense was also above average, especially for someone his size.
Grade: B
Jameer Nelson Jr.
When Nelson isn’t asked to dribble or pass, he’s pretty good. His jumper looks pure and his finishing package in the lane is diverse. He’s yet another player on this team that gives good energy on defense.
Grade: B
Seth Millner Jr.
When he’s open from beyond the three-point arc, Millner has a gorgeous jumper. Other than that, though, he doesn’t do much.
Grade: B-
Kenny Trevino
Trevino has been impressive these last two games. He has learned how to mix and match the lineups to get enough ball-handling on the court. The defensive schemes are working well. His playcalling on offense has resulted in quality shots. Winning without Castle was no small task.
Grade: A-