NCAA Tournament/Potential Spurs Fits

Post #1 » by **SD2042** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:55 am

Since the tournament has started, do any of you guys have any brackets set up and if so, which do you feel has the best chance of winning the champs? My bet is UNC at this point. Lawson is playing like he was never injured after his rust start today against LSU. Ellington, Hansbrough and Green have been playing well as normal.

Also this thread can be consider a Spurs Watch into which players in the tournament best fit the Spurs scheme base on their skills and style they play for their current team.

Post #2 » by **SD2042** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:35 am

I'll start it off. One of the needs the Spurs have to address is the SF position. One player to me best fit the Spurs at Sf is UNC's Danny Green. He's efficient on both ends of the floor. Well known for his defense and has continue to work hard towards improving his offense like his beyond the arc ability. His willingness to hustle on both ends of the floor is something the Spurs can look into right now and the offseason.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Danny-Green-504/

Post #3 » by **Nolan** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:58 pm

Josh Heytvelt from Gonzaga is another guy that would be a decent fit with us. He's got some range, an NBA body and he's a decent rebounder. He just needs to become a better decision maker and he needs to work more on the technical side of his game.

Post #4 » by **SD2042** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:10 am

He was the guy that went off on Thursday from beyond the arc on Akron I think. It's was my first time seeing this guy play a bit. I wonder how strong is he he played against a tough defense who can really make him work for his shots. They play against UNC on Friday coming up so I get the chance to see more on the guy.

Post #5 » by **Nolan** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:35 pm

KC Rivers from Clemson is another guy I like and I think he's a perfect fit for this team. He's not the greatest athlete but he's fundamentally sound on both ends of the floor he's a very smart and aggressive player.

Here's what DraftExpress has to say about him:

Breaking down his game and production, Rivers might not initially jump off the page at you with an incredible amount of upside or explosiveness, but once you dig deeper, you realize that he’s a very versatile and valuable contributor. Smart, unselfish, active, aggressive, mistake-free and extremely solid as both a defender and perimeter shooter—Rivers looks to have all the makings of a future excellent NBA role player down the road.

Where Rivers might stand out the most at the moment is on the defensive end—not a surprise considering the team he plays for. He seems to take a great deal of pride here, showing excellent strength and a tremendous wingspan to help him get the job done. He’s very intense and fundamentally sound and seems to do a good job of reading the scouting report and internalizing it, getting in the passing lanes at a great rate and putting a great deal of effort into contesting his opponents’ shots.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/K.C.-Rivers-5111/

Post #6 » by **SD2042** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:16 pm

Not bad. Sounds like another player who can fit around the Spurs. However like Bowen, he needs to work on his FTs'. Good find Nolan.

ss1986v2 · Post #7 » by **ss1986v2** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:53 am

since the recent games have me in a bit of a foul mood, it will be good to talk about something other than our current play.

and thank you for getting us started SD by pointing out one of my favorite guys in green. i love how hes developed over the years. he hustles on both ends, is both a willing and capable defender, and hes been hitting the outside shot at a good clip this season.

his play as of late has looked rather unremarkable with lawson out of the line up, but tys ability to penetrate really get green a lot of easy looks, so id hope we see a boost in the coming rounds. and with players like tony and manu, im sure green could find some of those same opportunities here.

LyMinh · Post #8 » by **LyMinh** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:02 pm

Memphis. Coach Cal is too strong.

Post #9 » by **SD2042** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:32 am

Some ppl I've talked to b4 and during the tournament have Memphis going all the way. Although they are a very unique run and gun team who love to slash to the post a lot and play a lot of hustle defense. They are somewhat lacking in the perimeter game department. Their best players from beyond the arc are Sallie, Mack and sometimes Evans. Sallie is the better 3ball specialist who shoots around the 40% plus. Mack and Evans have been streaky and at times struggle beyond the arc this season. If they run into a team who play a strong zone defense and force the Tigers to beat them from the perimeter and deny them the inside, they are in trouble.

Post #10 » by **SD2042** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:37 am

ss1986v2 wrote:since the recent games have me in a bit of a foul mood, it will be good to talk about something other than our current play.

and thank you for getting us started SD by pointing out one of my favorite guys in green. i love how hes developed over the years. he hustles on both ends, is both a willing and capable defender, and hes been hitting the outside shot at a good clip this season.

his play as of late has looked rather unremarkable with lawson out of the line up, but tys ability to penetrate really get green a lot of easy looks, so id hope we see a boost in the coming rounds. and with players like tony and manu, im sure green could find some of those same opportunities here.

I've been a Danny Green fan myself the last four yrs. His willingness to play on both ends of the floor and be a reliable player for UNC has impress me. Like you said, Green is better efficient when the PG draws the defense towards him and is able to kick it outside where players like Green or Ellington can knock down their shots. Spurs could definately use him. I wonder though will he fall into the second round seeing that the Spurs have two second round picks.

ss1986v2 · Post #11 » by **ss1986v2** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:37 am

as for the tourney, ive got money on my bracket, so that skews things a bit for me (by the way, a big FU to wake. thanks for for not stepping it up against some community college. way to represent). everything else is going well enough, although the zags have not instilled me with too much confidence with my selection of them for the final four. i think memphis can win it all (also have them in the final four), but i really like louisville to take the whole thing.

as for green to the spurs, it may not be possible if unc makes a good run and he looks good along the way. some team at the bottom of the 1st may look to a solid, developed player like green over someone with more potential but who is unable to contribute right away. this is where my interest as a gambler and as a spurs fan meet though. ive got gonzaga over unc, so hopefully his recent poor showings will be the freshest thing on teams minds. maybe he drops into the 2nd round, where the spurs own golden states pick (which looks to be somewhere around 7th).

i would love to have him at that spot, and then bring him in to compete with the rest of the young wings that figure to be in camp next season. marcus williams probably get another shot with how hes been playing (still not a big fan, but hes been getting better and better in the dleague). the same for hairston. and gist may be in the mix too if the spurs see his eventual spot as a sf (i dont). as for the rest of the draft, id figure the spurs will be looking to dump the rest of their picks due to roster constraints.

Post #12 » by **Nolan** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:48 pm

SD2042 wrote:
ss1986v2 wrote:since the recent games have me in a bit of a foul mood, it will be good to talk about something other than our current play.

and thank you for getting us started SD by pointing out one of my favorite guys in green. i love how hes developed over the years. he hustles on both ends, is both a willing and capable defender, and hes been hitting the outside shot at a good clip this season.

his play as of late has looked rather unremarkable with lawson out of the line up, but tys ability to penetrate really get green a lot of easy looks, so id hope we see a boost in the coming rounds. and with players like tony and manu, im sure green could find some of those same opportunities here.

I've been a Danny Green fan myself the last four yrs. His willingness to play on both ends of the floor and be a reliable player for UNC has impress me. Like you said, Green is better efficient when the PG draws the defense towards him and is able to kick it outside where players like Green or Ellington can knock down their shots. Spurs could definately use him. I wonder though will he fall into the second round seeing that the Spurs have two second round picks.

I think he'll still be around in the second round, its seems that people still are not sold on him because he's basically been a bench player for UNC his entire career. If he played almost anywhere else i'm sure he'd be a first round pick.

Post #13 » by **Nolan** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:41 am

Pitt wins another ugly game tonight against Xaiver. This teams looked so shaky throughout the tourney but somehow they manage to pull it together and win, hopefully they can keep it up.

Post #14 » by **SD2042** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:29 pm

LaVance Fields had to bail Pitt out with a couple of key shots near the end of the game. I feel this next game will be their last considering how questionable they been playing in the tourney. And Memphis gets put out by Mizzou last night after struggling with bypassing Mizzou's full court press and their zone defense as well.

Post #15 » by **Nolan** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:02 pm

SD2042 wrote:LaVance Fields had to bail Pitt out with a couple of key shots near the end of the game. I feel this next game will be their last considering how questionable they been playing in the tourney. And Memphis gets put out by Mizzou last night after struggling with bypassing Mizzou's full court press and their zone defense as well.

Memphis just couldn't consistently hit the three and Mizzou's zone and collapsing press ate them alive. That game was extremely well coached by Missouri. On side note Tyreke Evans played like a star this kid is going to be special.

Post #16 » by **SD2042** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:16 pm

Which is why I'm believing he will be one and done at this point. The game despite the lost boost his chances of getting drafted within the top 10-12 to say the least.

As a SG, he still need to improve his shooting due to his mechanics and streakiness around the perimeter.

As a PG he would have to improve his passing decisions and over-dribbling on possessions.

Due to who Evans is as a player, he is a true SG and more like will be drafted simply on that position alone depending on who the team that may draft him come draft night in June.

Post #17 » by **Nolan** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:35 pm

SD2042 wrote:Which is why I'm believing he will be one and done at this point. The game despite the lost boost his chances of getting drafted within the top 10-12 to say the least.

As a SG, he still need to improve his shooting due to his mechanics and streakiness around the perimeter.

As a PG he would have to improve his passing decisions and over-dribbling on possessions.

Due to who Evans is as a player, he is a true SG and more like will be drafted simply on that position alone depending on who the team that may draft him come draft night in June.

I think he'll be a top ten pick, he really reminds me of Rodney Stuckey, except more explosive.

Post #18 » by **Nolan** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:50 pm

Michigan State played great against Louisville today, the Spartans played some great team defense.

Post #19 » by **SD2042** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:10 pm

I missed that game due to church. My sister was tellin me that L'Ville stop playing in the second half and that Terrance Williams was shut down by the defense and that Kalin Lucas played a solid game for State.

Post #20 » by **SD2042** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:11 am

Nolan wrote:
SD2042 wrote:Which is why I'm believing he will be one and done at this point. The game despite the lost boost his chances of getting drafted within the top 10-12 to say the least.

As a SG, he still need to improve his shooting due to his mechanics and streakiness around the perimeter.

As a PG he would have to improve his passing decisions and over-dribbling on possessions.

Due to who Evans is as a player, he is a true SG and more like will be drafted simply on that position alone depending on who the team that may draft him come draft night in June.

I think he'll be a top ten pick, he really reminds me of Rodney Stuckey, except more explosive.

I see what you're saying on the Stuckey comparison. I think with Evans it could go either way depending on who the team that could draft him. A team like the Suns, Hawks, or Warriors could draft Evans based on his aggression, fits into a run and gun, and his stint as a PG. If they are looking for that in Evans, teams like them could take a chance on him.

As a SG, teams like the Hornets, Bulls, or Sixers could use him for the same reasons as I stated from above minus the PG mentality.

I feel that since he was inserted into the PG position for the first time in his career that teams may be reluctant to draft him based on his raw yet improving PG skills. More like the team that drafts him will draft him with the purpose of having Evans play SG IMO.