What a whirlwind of emotions that have been going on over the past week. With the return of both Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, to the new report that San Antonio is interested in acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis, this team is showing every single sign of improvement from top to bottom. This team and this organization have shown that Spurs basketball is here to stay for much longer than we all anticipated.
Offense is Booming:
The Offense in San Antonio has been extremely efficient throughout the entire season. Being the number one three-point shooting team in the league isn’t something that anyone can just do. You see on a nightly basis, the Spurs show high IQ in both their shot taking and ball movement. Religiously this team gets wide open looks off of various things whether it be P&R with Patty, Derrick – Jakob, it drives and kick plays, very King James esque, done by DeMar DeRozan, or really just spreading the ball around, good shot fakes and unselfish passes to wide open guys like Davis, Rudy, Bryn etc. The Spurs have shown that Spurs basketball will forever exist, as it’s a formula that can work no matter who is in the system.
Being a beautiful thing for the “broccoli” of the NBA, but this broccoli has a whole bunch of cheese on it. I’m talking razzle-dazzle rich people Muenster cheese type things. This offense is very dynamic, which some would argue if they don’t watch due to the “Mid-range monsters” that are DeMar and LMA. The thing is, they fit this offense perfectly and although aren’t the best from 3, their decision making, passing/shooting etc really opens up the floor to get highly efficient looks for everybody. Not only that, the Spurs have “Magic Johnson” passing skills in a guy like Davis Bertans….. (He called himself that after his
Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl Bryn Forbes, Davis Bertans:
Remember going into the year, everybody including myself was worried about how this team would do with many young guys needing to fill-in and step up into their roles? These 4 have really brought everything together for this team in a time where the worry was very high. The Spurs have really relied on and banked heavily off these 4. Davis has been living up to the “Latvian Legend” name I have given him.
All jokes aside, he’s played great. Good passing, good defense, very, very efficient shooting especially from 3. His quick trigger and range have been on Full-display, he has good size for an SF/PF while being pretty athletic, it’s been a joy to watch. Bryn Forbes & Derrick White, I combo these 2 together because man, they had a bunch of pressure heading into this season. Both Bryn and Derrick needed to step up big with the loss of Dejounte Murray, and they’ve filled in quite great actually. Bryn has been great at passing and shooting lights out. I mean he is like a baby Patty Mills at this point, he really shows the same characteristics, but can facilitate and defend a little better than him. He’s very quick, can shoot from all 3 ranges on the court, can drive and finish well, he really has come alive in a contract year, which is a bonus for him.
Derrick White……. can you be any more proud of this guy? Picked 29th in 2017, playing a ton in Austin, this guy has progressed and played very well. I see a lot of George Hill in this young man. He’s a phenomenal player, high effort, with a long of tools and a high basketball IQ. Solid shooting, I’m really impressed with his ability to finish at the rim as well as his really good passing and court vision. His defense has been very good as well. He’s been really good for San Antonio, and his success can open up a lot for this squad.
Lastly, Jakob Poeltl. My guy. My man. He has filled in great for Pau Gasol. His defense, his efficient play especially near the rim, and his passing have been really great. He cuts to the basket very well, too. He’s a good, young player and really can bring a lot to this team. He knows his role and does it correctly, a true Spurs type of player. What a joy it’s been to watch his progression. He’s very raw but has shown MILES of improvement. Good on ya.
Thoughts & Emotions on Lonnie Walker, Kristaps trade, etc:
While being in attendance for the Spurs and Raptors contest, I can say Lonnie Walker has this fan base in the perfect spot. I promise you, the ovation he got and the electricity in the air when he came on the court was WILD. I mean everybody was jumping for joy, when he did the behind the back little hesi, and drove to the bucket, San Antonio would’ve had their first earthquake in Lord knows how many years. The place was electric. Then, he pulls up from Floresville and drops a 3 all cash, straight net. Lonnie Walker will be a force.
If Kristaps Porzingis comes to San Antonio, we might need to look into who will really run the West for years to come. Kristaps is a once in a lifetime type of player. Beyond the Unicorn stuff, he truly is someone you really can build for years to come. When the Spurs are interested in someone/something, they will make an effort for it. While coming up short in the Kyrie, PG13, KD race, they at least made offers in every one of those cases, and rightfully so. I think a Knicks-Spurs deal, would have to happen around the trade deadline. While you’ll never get full compensation for the superstar player, his value at this moment considering he’s 7’2 coming off of an ACL tear is somewhat low. Who knows? Maybe James Dolan can ruin the Knicks one more time?
Knicks
Spurs Get: Kristaps Porzingis
12 Game MVP: Davis Bertans!
As you can tell in this segment, I don’t give it to the best player, I don’t give it to people who do the most flashy of things, I don’t give it to people who fill the stats up, because if that’s the case DeMar DeRozan would be the MVP every time. This is for the grinders who do the best I feel, or really fill their role and exceed it the most, unexpected or expected.
Davis Bertans, your 12 game MVP. He’s done great at 3-point shooting this year. His 3 point percentage has gone up nearly 10 entire percentage points, while the shot totals are going up as well. Taking more, making more, consistency has been the key. His percentages are up, his style of play and IQ is up and efficient, he’s played great defense, and really has been your typical Spurs player. Off the bench, his shooting has really helped out the team when the offense dies out a little bit, and his length and quickness defensively have benefited this squad tremendously. An underrated passer, he’s shown his growth, the Latvian Legend continues to grow on.
Game Predictions (1/9-1/14)
@Grizzlies: W. 117-100. While Memphis can be a tough team to play against, I feel they don’t have enough to keep up with the Spurs. They are kind of in a funk right now as well, their front office is kind of poop. They really need to just rebuild, trade Conley & Gasol and keep it moving. Spurs in an easy one.
Vs Thunder & @ Thunder: @ Home, W. 97-90. Away, L. 107-97.
Grouped these two together because they are off of back to backs against each other. I feel the Spurs will split this series, while they go to play a very good Thunder team. The Thunder are great defensively, although they can’t shoot very well, Paul George has shown exactly why he’s a superstar in this league. I was told for years that PG13 wasn’t a superstar, while I was adamant he very well is. What do I know though? I’m just some dumb college sports writer. Anywho, I feel the Spurs can clip the Thunder in a close one at home, but back in OKC, in a rough environment, the Spurs will fall.
@Grizzlies: W. 117-100. While Memphis can be a tough team to play against, I feel they don’t have enough to keep up with the Spurs. They are kind of in a funk right now as well, their front office is kind of poop. They really need to just rebuild, trade Conley & Gasol and keep it moving. Spurs in an easy one.
Vs Thunder & @ Thunder: @ Home, W. 97-90. Away, L. 107-97.
Grouped these two together because they are off of back to backs against each other. I feel the Spurs will split this series, while they go to play a very good Thunder team. The Thunder are great defensively, although they can’t shoot very well, Paul George has shown exactly why he’s a superstar in this league. I was told for years that PG13 wasn’t a superstar, while I was adamant he very well is. What do I know though? I’m just some dumb college sports writer. Anywho, I feel the Spurs can clip the Thunder in a close one at home, but back in OKC, in a rough environment, the Spurs will fall.
This means the Spurs win streak will end at 7, but good for them in the standings as that should bring them up to around the 4th seed. OKC defense is great, they have good passing, very good length at every position, Steven Adams is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, not even close. Russ has been struggling, but you cannot sleep on that grown man. I’m actually a big fan of Jerami Grant, I think he’s a solid 2-way player, he could help out a lot of playoff teams. All-in-all, these games should feel like playoff games, because I feel we will see a playoff series between these two, come April-May.
Hornets: W. 121-90. The Hornets are a solid team in the East. They have a top 3 PG in the East in Kardiak Kemba, but that’s really about it. Batum has been pretty disappointing, their picks of MKG, Frank the Tank have been very eh, I like Malik Monk but he is very, very raw at the moment. Miles Bridges is dumb athletic though, he can really get up. First game back for the legend that is Tony Parker, will be great to see the chants and happiness from the crowd for him. I might actually attend this game. We’ll see. Besides that, the Spurs shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with this team, the Hornets need Marvin Williams, TP9, Kemba among others to really go off, to give the Spurs trouble @ AT&T.
