i’m interested in seeing splitter, duncan and blair on the floor together, with blair playing a sort of ‘power 3′ (as opposed to jefferson’s ‘small 4′ or bonner’s ‘stretch 4′). i’m starting to get excited about the spurs again!
Love how he talks about “that Karl Malone Spot” for Dejaun. Seems like a perfect analogy. Malone never was a high flyer but used his muscle and physique to hurt people when he wasn’t killing them with that lovely mid range touch.
Mik Timmy is valuable in that kind of a lineup because you can run things round him in the high post very nicely. He is confident with that foul line jumper. Don’t know how that would match up though on D.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Andrew A. McNeill and Reigning Black. Reigning Black said: RT @varner48MoH: Gregg Popovich llikes Garrett Temple and thinks Tiago Splitter has some Manu in him http://bit.ly/amAywX [...]
He gives money to Darko but can’t play Al Jefferson? Who actually doesn’t look like that bad of a contract to me now that the big free agents are off the table.
If the Spurs get one really solid contributor out of Hairston, Gee and Temple I think that’s a big win.
Personally, I think Hairston has the best chance to do some good things. If he shoots the 3 well, then he will play. He needs to take that big step; D League shooter to NBA shooter. Yeah, I’m getting excited about Spurs ball.
“I haven’t seen the game yet but stat sheet shows Temple with 6 TOs in less than 20 minutes.”
This is true, but TOs are always extremely high in summer league cause the players are all struggling to fit in together. It’s easy to make a bad pass, and even if you make the right one no one may be there. TOs are terrible, but I don’t worry about them that much in the summer league.
@Lenneezz - Temple has the best chance. He already plays D, shoots the 3 and handles the ball. Pop was most pleased with him based off that interview.
Temple also has the least amount of “but” surrounding him.
>Hairston would be solid for his D, but his shot needs consistency.
>Gee would be solid with his athleticism, but his D needs his shot and D have to be more consistent.
Additionally, Temple allows Hill to play the position he’s more comfortable with, the 2.
@Grego
“Pop was most pleased with him based off that interview”
Pop didn’t mention Malik coz he isn’t playing summer league. Pop and co. think they know what he’s got. According to a previous article on 48moh, he is back in SA. If he shoots the 3 well like he has done in Austin, then he will get his time on the court. Temple has some skill but the reason that he’s in summer league is to get him more practice and to get a better feel for Temple.
They’ve seen enough of Hairston, because he’s been with the team. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more or less pressure to make the team. There are a limited amount of spots.
Spurs are looking for bigger forwards, but their PG position still can use some upgrades. 3-Point shooting is another area. Temple provides that. He’s still relatively new to the Spurs system so getting him as implemented into the system is important. He’s the only D-leaguer that wasn’t originally on the Toros team last season.
Temple got more real play time than Hairston last season. He played like he’d been in the league a few years, last season. So far, he’s been consistent in the Spurs system.
Hairston’s job is threatened most by Gee. Although if only one guy is going to make it, then it is threatened by Temple as well.
Temple’s versatility is where he leads the pack. He has a George Hill feel to him and that is why it looks like Pop is excited over him.
Now if it is Gee against Hairston, Gee at least has an out in that he can play on the Toros one more year (albeit it under contract or else a team like the Wiz could pick him up again).
Spurs FO patience is probably a lot closer to being up with Hairston (since Gee has the potential to offer just as much if not more). He has this year, and maybe next until they probably move on.
Gist is probably on a similar bubble too. His size offers a lot of nice upside. We’ll see if anything can be done there though.
This is the first time I’ve seen Pop talking on a video for that long, and with zero hostility toward the interviewer too… I think I will now lose sleep for the next 3 days
A 6′ 6″ PG is always a plus for any team. Temple was impressive last year in regular season play. It’s not a shock he did well in summer league play. He’s a keeper with a strong possibility of being a contributor to this team.
I like Gee. And with the bolstering of the front court with the signing of Splitter, the development of Blair, and the experience of Duncan and McDyess…I don’t think there will be a need to use any of the bigs from this summer team. Gee might make the team and as stated before…has better overall abilities than Hairston.
Still…it would be great if the team could somehow find an athletic, taller than 6′ 6″ SF to serve as (if not dependable b/u) a major component to this team.
This team is stacked at the guard position yet depleted at the wing. I would think the Spurs could find that SF to help/compliment/replace RJ by trading a couple of the hot guard prospects this team has at it’s disposal.
I kind of like the team the Spurs have right now. What they soon must decide is how long term is Tony Parker. If he is not in the immediate future plans, then they have to deal him, while he has ultimate value and can bring a high draft pick for next season or a usable player for the here and now.
Players who will compete for some limited roster spots include:
Malik Hairston, Alonzo Gee, Garrett Temple, Curtis Jerrells, James Gist, James Anderson, and Ryan Richards.
There will likely be a few summer league players not listed above who get a training camp invite.
Also, I heard that Raja Bell would like to play for the Lakers or Spurs. If he is signed, then Gee, Anderson, Hairston, are probably all competing for 1 slot.
There is still a huge hole in the 3 position, and it does not appear that the Spurs have the cap space to fill it, suggesting a major trade is brewing.
J2 (was J until someone else started using the initial above)
25 Comments
July 12th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
i’m interested in seeing splitter, duncan and blair on the floor together, with blair playing a sort of ‘power 3′ (as opposed to jefferson’s ‘small 4′ or bonner’s ‘stretch 4′). i’m starting to get excited about the spurs again!
July 12th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Love how he talks about “that Karl Malone Spot” for Dejaun. Seems like a perfect analogy. Malone never was a high flyer but used his muscle and physique to hurt people when he wasn’t killing them with that lovely mid range touch.
Real nose for it, could be fantastic this year.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Mik Timmy is valuable in that kind of a lineup because you can run things round him in the high post very nicely. He is confident with that foul line jumper. Don’t know how that would match up though on D.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Andrew A. McNeill and Reigning Black. Reigning Black said: RT @varner48MoH: Gregg Popovich llikes Garrett Temple and thinks Tiago Splitter has some Manu in him http://bit.ly/amAywX [...]
July 12th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Im happy because Now popovich cant use that crazy thing about putting Richard Jefferson as Power Forward and Dejuan Blair as a center
I was watching the game and i see:
PG: Tony
SG: Hill
SF: Ginobili
PF: RJ
C: Blair
WTF!!!
July 12th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I think Pop must have read my pregame post. He picks up on my Temple, Gee evaluations. What a hack!
July 12th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Tim I think if he sticks to your game plan he might make a name for himself someday.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
No doubt. But he’ll have discipline himself.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Tim,
Hmm maybe you were right about about Temple. That was an impressive state line. I’m getting more hopeful.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
I haven’t seen the game yet but stat sheet shows Temple with 6 TOs in less than 20 minutes.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
What in gods name is David Khan trying to do?
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/utah-closing-in-on-deal-to-get-al-jefferson.php
He gives money to Darko but can’t play Al Jefferson? Who actually doesn’t look like that bad of a contract to me now that the big free agents are off the table.
He lets Jefferson walk for nothing?
Is he Isiah Thomas with pink body paint?
July 12th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
If the Spurs get one really solid contributor out of Hairston, Gee and Temple I think that’s a big win.
Personally, I think Hairston has the best chance to do some good things. If he shoots the 3 well, then he will play. He needs to take that big step; D League shooter to NBA shooter. Yeah, I’m getting excited about Spurs ball.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Why does Kamla keep smiling creepily at the camera like that?
July 12th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Pop is always great on TV. He should have a late night talk show. I look forward to any interview he gives.
July 12th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
“I haven’t seen the game yet but stat sheet shows Temple with 6 TOs in less than 20 minutes.”
This is true, but TOs are always extremely high in summer league cause the players are all struggling to fit in together. It’s easy to make a bad pass, and even if you make the right one no one may be there. TOs are terrible, but I don’t worry about them that much in the summer league.
July 12th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
@Lenneezz - Temple has the best chance. He already plays D, shoots the 3 and handles the ball. Pop was most pleased with him based off that interview.
Temple also has the least amount of “but” surrounding him.
>Hairston would be solid for his D, but his shot needs consistency.
>Gee would be solid with his athleticism, but his D needs his shot and D have to be more consistent.
Additionally, Temple allows Hill to play the position he’s more comfortable with, the 2.
July 12th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
@Grego
“Pop was most pleased with him based off that interview”
Pop didn’t mention Malik coz he isn’t playing summer league. Pop and co. think they know what he’s got. According to a previous article on 48moh, he is back in SA. If he shoots the 3 well like he has done in Austin, then he will get his time on the court. Temple has some skill but the reason that he’s in summer league is to get him more practice and to get a better feel for Temple.
Hairston is closer than Temple, imo.
July 13th, 2010 at 12:02 am
They’ve seen enough of Hairston, because he’s been with the team. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more or less pressure to make the team. There are a limited amount of spots.
Spurs are looking for bigger forwards, but their PG position still can use some upgrades. 3-Point shooting is another area. Temple provides that. He’s still relatively new to the Spurs system so getting him as implemented into the system is important. He’s the only D-leaguer that wasn’t originally on the Toros team last season.
Temple got more real play time than Hairston last season. He played like he’d been in the league a few years, last season. So far, he’s been consistent in the Spurs system.
Hairston’s job is threatened most by Gee. Although if only one guy is going to make it, then it is threatened by Temple as well.
Temple’s versatility is where he leads the pack. He has a George Hill feel to him and that is why it looks like Pop is excited over him.
Now if it is Gee against Hairston, Gee at least has an out in that he can play on the Toros one more year (albeit it under contract or else a team like the Wiz could pick him up again).
Spurs FO patience is probably a lot closer to being up with Hairston (since Gee has the potential to offer just as much if not more). He has this year, and maybe next until they probably move on.
Gist is probably on a similar bubble too. His size offers a lot of nice upside. We’ll see if anything can be done there though.
July 13th, 2010 at 12:09 am
I like all 3 guys from what I have seen though. I just think Temple has it put together and is the most ready to contribute at the moment.
He brings a lot of similar things that Hill brings, but with more size, 3 point shot from all around the arc and better point guard abilities.
Gee to me offers the most potential/biggest pay off, but has the most work to do. Consistent defense and jump shot.
Hairston falls somewhere in between. Some wonderful upside with defense and athleticism, but handles and consistent shot are still suspect.
July 13th, 2010 at 1:26 am
This is the first time I’ve seen Pop talking on a video for that long, and with zero hostility toward the interviewer too… I think I will now lose sleep for the next 3 days
July 13th, 2010 at 3:44 am
A 6′ 6″ PG is always a plus for any team. Temple was impressive last year in regular season play. It’s not a shock he did well in summer league play. He’s a keeper with a strong possibility of being a contributor to this team.
I like Gee. And with the bolstering of the front court with the signing of Splitter, the development of Blair, and the experience of Duncan and McDyess…I don’t think there will be a need to use any of the bigs from this summer team. Gee might make the team and as stated before…has better overall abilities than Hairston.
Still…it would be great if the team could somehow find an athletic, taller than 6′ 6″ SF to serve as (if not dependable b/u) a major component to this team.
This team is stacked at the guard position yet depleted at the wing. I would think the Spurs could find that SF to help/compliment/replace RJ by trading a couple of the hot guard prospects this team has at it’s disposal.
July 13th, 2010 at 5:40 am
Good analysis of Rick Barry. Even scared, Rick was better than Jon.
July 13th, 2010 at 7:41 am
I kind of like the team the Spurs have right now. What they soon must decide is how long term is Tony Parker. If he is not in the immediate future plans, then they have to deal him, while he has ultimate value and can bring a high draft pick for next season or a usable player for the here and now.
July 13th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Temple played some quality minutes in his first summer league game, before he twisted his ankle.
July 14th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Players who will compete for some limited roster spots include:
Malik Hairston, Alonzo Gee, Garrett Temple, Curtis Jerrells, James Gist, James Anderson, and Ryan Richards.
There will likely be a few summer league players not listed above who get a training camp invite.
Also, I heard that Raja Bell would like to play for the Lakers or Spurs. If he is signed, then Gee, Anderson, Hairston, are probably all competing for 1 slot.
There is still a huge hole in the 3 position, and it does not appear that the Spurs have the cap space to fill it, suggesting a major trade is brewing.
J2 (was J until someone else started using the initial above)
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