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so apparently the Spurs are looking at Pietrus as an option in the off-season..this is something I've been interested in, along with some of my fellow Spurs fans here on RealGM..

from what I hear, his main flaw is basketball IQ/attitude, and not necessarily his actual talent..for me, it's not really a big deal, since I feel like a player like that could fit in a system with Popovich and Duncan..

what can you guys say about Pietrus? strengths/weaknesses? concerns? upside?..

thanks..

here comes Abyss...

HarlemHeat37 wrote:so apparently the Spurs are looking at Pietrus as an option in the off-season..this is something I've been interested in, along with some of my fellow Spurs fans here on RealGM..

from what I hear, his main flaw is basketball IQ/attitude, and not necessarily his actual talent..for me, it's not really a big deal, since I feel like a player like that could fit in a system with Popovich and Duncan..

what can you guys say about Pietrus? strengths/weaknesses? concerns? upside?..

thanks..

could have been (and still might be, with the right coach), a more explosive/athletic version of Bruce Bowen. Should not be allowed to dribble or handle the ball... and can be a disaster on the fast break if he is involved in more then finishing an easy dunk/layup.

If he is told to focus on defense, rebounding, and hitting corner threes - he could fit in perfect with the Spurs.

Pietrus' attitude had been pretty positive and generally he played with a lot of effort. He had very few fundamental skills when drafted,he'd never played US high school/college ball,went to France and Euroball as a great athlete-not a player with skills and his athletic tools kept him at a level where he was in over his head and so was always a bench guy with varied roles. Most guys who hit the NBA HAD been full time players in some semi-advanced context. Here...he's no fast learner-still wasn't usually getting big minutes..had 3 coaches his first 4 years and varied minutes positions. He's at times looked like a rookie....for 4 years. At times he can take over a game. I would NOT want the Spurs to get him. Popovich would be the kind of coach who'd make him a better player and find a good way to use him. I'd much rather the Spurs just age and fade.

Here...Pietrus had a handful of games a few years back where he had some classic bonehead plays. Those few moments are now all a few folks around here can see. The fact is now he's a pretty effective 6th man/spot starter. He still lacks that quick-aware "instinctive" thing some players have. He still needs more teaching and experiance. Just upgrading his skills as a dribbler-ballhandler would help a lot.

My ideal? He stays and our staff has the skills to polish him up more.
He never will be a finnesse guy but in the right situation can be a lot more than most folks think. The Spurs ain't the only team to notice.
He's had runs where he flashed a whole lot of talent. He's one MLE guy who's got SOME high end tools. You need a real solid coaching staff with someone patient enough to work out the details. A lot of NBA teams really don't have that.

old rem wrote: Those few moments are now all a few folks around here can see.

you mean like that one time when he took a pass and instead of shooting the corner three... he stepped out of bounds?

or the time when he drove to the basket and travelled/was called for an out-of-control charge?

I remember that time!

Thugleavy34 wrote:I remember that time!

seriously, did anyone else just come to accept that once (perhaps twice) a game Pietrus was going to get called for stepping out of bounds... any other player on the team and I found myself getting mad for making that sort of bonehead move.

Sometimes I wonder if whenever a Pietrus moment occurred, Mully and Mitch in the stands would just laugh, slap their foreheads, and exclaim, "Oh, that Pietrus!" and then clink their glasses with a smile.

He just might make Popovich have a heart attack one day if he's on the Spurs.

Thugleavy34 wrote:He just might make Popovich have a heart attack one day if he's on the Spurs.

no, Pop would have Pietrus sit down and watch footage, put him in the game with the following directions - "on offense you spread the floor by standing in the corner, shoot the three if you're open, if not... rotate the ball."

the moment Pietrus tries to drive, or do anything else, Pop sits him and he's lucky to see the floor again in the next week.

Seriously, watching Bowen (who I think is a dirty player) and the rest of the spur's players for that matter, you don't see an ounce of ego. They pass the ball when they don't have a shot, and never force their own offense unless it's late in the shot clock... Popovich is a great coach and I suspect a player like Pietrus would grow quick or find himself riding the bench.

Popovich is a great coach who hasn't quite met his match---pietrus. Popovich's head will assplode.

Pietrus did have an attitude problem this past season complaining that he should be traded. He is also slow to come back from injuries and has even announced how long he would be out before he even saw a doctor.

I'm tired of him teasing me with his athletic ability then showing me what a train wreak he really is. I thought he could have been a solid defensive shut down guy, but even that appears to have been a tease too.

Thugleavy34 wrote:I remember that time!

classic!

On a team like San Antonio, with Popovich, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, I can see him being a starter eventually (once he gets familiar with the system), particularly with guys like Finley, Barry and even Bowen getting towards the end of their careers. He's versatile, can be a good defender on a team which emphasizes defense (which the Warriors do not) and can play both 2,3 and even 4 if the Spurs want to occasionally go small (which seems to be somewhat fashionable in the NBA now). He's got a good attitude (can't blame someone for wanting to play) and never got much of a chance to start at any of his normal positions as he played behind either J-Rich, Stephen Jackson or this year Monta (he actually started a number of games at the 4 for us this year).

Pietrus would absolutely not work on the Spurs. They are too disciplined and intelligent to allow MP to come in and screw things up for them.

If he did go there, and if Popovich straightened him out, then I would bow down to that pock faced monster and worship him for the supreme coach that he is.

Pietrus is god. That is all.

Pietrus can learn to be the next Bowen. The spurs are deep and Pietrus as a high energy rotation player could work. Plus maybe his countryman Parker can keep Pietrus from sulking and going into his multi game funk. I for one would be sad to see him leave because he will be a contributer on a contender.

Pietrus has the best attitude on the team. I think hes a fighter...A Warrior (he once said...the Warriors drafted him because they knew he was a WARRIOR)

Can get erratic at times, but can be a consistent off the bench presence. Before his injury, his intensity was winning us games.

I will miss his game and his presence. Josh Childress or Carlos Delfino will make me forget all about him though.

GSWhoopfan wrote:Pietrus has the best attitude on the team. I think hes a fighter...A Warrior (he once said...the Warriors drafted him because they knew he was a WARRIOR)

Can get erratic at times, but can be a consistent off the bench presence. Before his injury, his intensity was winning us games.

Pete had intensity and a great attitude in December, January and February?

Sleepy51 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Pete had intensity and a great attitude in December, January and February?

3 months of his tenure (longest active Warrior)