San Antonio Spurs

**tackielarla** · 07-17-2009, 11:23 AM

^^^ Oh yeah. And his 1st game stats vs NO:

13 pts
10 rebounds

Total so far:
13 ppg
10 rpg
57% FG
83% FT

Woohoo!!! Can't believe we got this guy at #37!!!

**tackielarla** · 07-17-2009, 01:30 PM

Summer League notes, Take 3
By Jeff McDonald

OK, Spurs fans, you can officially start to get excited about your summer league team. The guys are 3-0, on the way to a mythical summer league championship sure to pack the river for another title parade.

Or maybe not.

But, after the Spurs won their third straight game here in Vegas tonight, besting Oklahoma City 85-76, there are legitimate reasons to celebrate what it all might mean in the games that count later this year.

For instance ...

* DeJuan Blair. President Obama was right. The guy is a beast. In his first summer-league start, the newly signed Blair went for 20 points to go with five rebounds. Yes, the rebounding numbers are low, but let's not quibble. The guy flashed an offensive game tonight most of us didn't know he had. Even though most of his points in the NBA are going to come on putbacks, he showed tonight he can be crafty in the post-up game. His first basket of the night came on a dribble drive. The guy can play. He's the Spurs' third-best big, right now.

* George Hill. Three games in, he's making us forget about the 2-for-25 last year in Vegas. He's been one of the best guards here at summer league, and possibly the best point guard. Another 20-point night, this time complemented with eight assists. It was easily the best game he's ever played in July.

* Malik Hairston. The guy looks like a cheaper, younger, more athletic version of Ime Udoka. Which can't bode well for the actual Ime Udoka.

* Ian Mahinmi. He's played exactly three games since November, all of them here in Vegas. Two of them were good, one was not so good. He's beginning to show signs that he can be a helpful NBA big. If nothing else, he is tall and athletic enough to alter shots in the lane. The Spurs really don't have one of those guys on the roster, unless you count Tim Duncan. Mahinmi doesn't have a very diversifed offensive game, but he's adept at getting to the line and making free throws (he's hit 17-of-20). He could be a rotation player for the Spurs yet.

* Marcus Williams. Williams isn't playing in Vegas, having undergone offseason wrist surgery. But he is here, and he is under contract with the Spurs for training camp. The Spurs brass loves him, so he will have every opportunity to make the roster in the fall.

**juan penduko** · 07-17-2009, 01:40 PM

kulbaan na ang taga lakers brad. hadluk sila ni dejuan penduko ai. dejuan blair hahahaha. peace mga laker fan. wala pa sugod season relax lang ta hahaha. artest the man. oooppps wai lagot ha

**tackielarla** · 07-17-2009, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by juan penduko

kulbaan na ang taga lakers brad. hadluk sila ni dejuan penduko ai. dejuan blair hahahaha. peace mga laker fan. wala pa sugod season relax lang ta hahaha. artest the man. oooppps wai lagot ha

OT:
Di sila ganahan na mag storya anything about Lakers sa laing thread. Kay EMO daw sila. Di kapugong sa ilang EMOtions. Sala daw nako ngano di sila ka control.

Sorry na gud.

OnT:

Spurs and Mavs have been busy this summer
By Art Garcia, NBA.com

LAS VEGAS -- The Spurs and Mavericks both came out of the Playoffs knowing they needed more. They've each gone out to get it, undergoing the most radical roster updates in the Western Conference with an eye on the champs.

"We're all gunning for the Lakers," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

San Antonio's haul, at least on paper, appears more impressive of the two Texas rivals. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, a pair with plenty of postseason skins, were added without comprising the Tim Duncan-Tony Parker-Manu Ginobili nucleus.

The Spurs followed their uncharacteristic first-round loss (to Dallas) with a spree that puts them, in the minds of many, back in their usual spot again with the Lakers at the top of the conference heap. Jefferson adds a scorer and potentially takes pressure off Ginobili, who has grown more injury prone in recent years. Duncan needed more bangers down low and he's getting a couple in McDyess and second-round steal DeJuan Blair.

"We couldn't have painted it any better," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday during his brief stop at the NBA Summer League. "For us getting healthy is the most important thing, to make sure Timmy and Manu are straight, obviously. You have to have your horses to get it done these days.

"The part that you can try to control, as much as you can, is the Draft and free-agent signings and trades. We've done a little bit of each. We were able to make a good trade, we were able to make a signing and we had a good Draft, so all three came forward and presented an opportunity this summer and we were able to take advantage. That doesn't happen every often to get something in all three areas. With that I'm thrilled."

The Mavericks felt their summer had slam dunk written with a pair of potential starters coming into the fold and bringing back Jason Kidd. Shawn Marion is still on the board, but the losing out on Marcin Gortat does sting. Gortat was penciled in as the starting center before Orlando stunned Dallas and league observers by matching the $34-million offer given to Dwight Howard's backup.

Though the Mavs aren't exactly scrambling after losing out on Gortat, the front office is working overtime in search of other difference makers. Dallas still has its midlevel exception intact to use in a dwindling free-agent market.

Team president Donnie Nelson has seen his priorities shift during his stay in Las Vegas. Nelson had hoped to watch more basketball, especially promising first-round pick and potential Kidd successor Roddy Beaubois. Nelson also wanted to check out the other teams here, and with mingle with fellow league executives, agents and coaches in the relaxed atmosphere of the stands.

Instead, he's spent most of the week holed up in his hotel burning up the phone lines while $5.8 million burns a hole in his pocket.

"We're good to go with what we have," Nelson said, "but we'll keep poking around."

Free agent Lamar Odom is on Dallas' radar, though team insiders believe he's headed back to Los Angeles. The Lakers have hardly stood pat, swapping out promising Trevor Ariza for proven Ron Artest. The other contenders in the conference have taken a more low-key approach. After their trip to the West finals, the Nuggets seem content to let their roster ferment for another season with Chauncey Billups in the fold from Day 1. The Blazers have been busy courting Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap, and have neither to show for it. Retaining players is more of a priority than adding in places like New Orleans and Utah.

"Denver had a great year and extended the Lakers," San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford said. "Houston has had a tough summer athletically, but I think they've added some good pieces. Dallas is going to be significantly different with Marion and that athleticism is never easy to match up to."

Carlisle has already begun studying the personnel combinations for a roster that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Kidd, Kidd and Marion. After winning a Playoff series for the first time in three years, the Mavs could be poised for a return into the West's top four.

"Right now it's about who we surround Dirk with and who we put out there with Kidd," Carlisle said. "We have to make sure Kidd has enough weapons and we have to make sure Dirk has the right guys around him.

"Marion is one of the really unique players of the last decade. He can do so many things defensively. He can do so many things offensively. He plays multiple positions. He runs, he rebounds and he's just a terrific basketball player. For us it's like putting methane in the gas tank. It juices up our team."

It took a change of heart in the Pacific Northwest for Marion to land in North Texas. Turkoglu's decision to spurn Portland in favor of Toronto started the chain of events.

"If Hedo doesn't go to Toronto, we're not looking at any opportunity to get Shawn," Carlisle said. "We could have seen a situation where Portland adds All-Star caliber guy at forward and Marion stays in the East. There are a lot of things that operate in a fragile way with respect to each other.

"If you work hard enough, you fall into some breaks."

And maybe catch the Lakers.

"They're the best, but there are five or six other teams in the West that are just as good as each other," Popovich said. "Everybody is trying to gear up for the Lakers, so I think it could be one of the best seasons ever. And we've had some good ones for the fans the last four or five years. There are so many good teams that I think it could be a great year for fans watching the NBA."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bottomline, Lakers gihapon the best last season. Kami tanan nag gukod ninyo.

**juan penduko** · 07-17-2009, 01:52 PM

ot: btaw bro. g.away man ka sa ilang thread. sakit bya na sila mangusi bro hehehehe

kompleto nata bro. murag everybody is scared sa atong team.

**tackielarla** · 07-17-2009, 03:30 PM

Summer League Game 3 - Game Thoughts - from LJ of Spurstalk

The Spurs got their third victory in three games on Thursday night against the Thunder. As has been the case so far in summer league, the Spurs struggled a bit early on before stepping on the gas at the end of the game. This time around, San Antonio outscored Oklahoma City 29-17 in the fourth stanza to win 85-76.

It took a while but the offense started rolling near the end of the contest. The turnovers were held in check and the summer league stars were able to take over for the Spurs.

All in all, it was another impressive outing and there were a lot of positives that arose from this performance.

George Hill

30 minutes, 20 points, nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, six turnovers
7-for-11 from the field, 0-for-1 on three-pointers, 6-for-7 at the line

To begin the ballgame, George Hill didn't answer the bell. He was sloppy with the basketball and his lack of playmaking was stagnating the offense. But as the game went along, Hill became more and more productive. By the end of the contest, there was no doubt that he was the best player on the court.

In the first two outings, Hill didn't get to show off many point guard skills. Tonight, especially in the final three quarters, he ran the show smoothly. He found shooters in rhythm, hit cutters as they moved toward the rim and fed the bigs on time.

Hill's ability to finish at the rim during these summer league games has been especially impressive. Depending on the situation, he's choosing the correct way to finish -- whether it's a teardrop, a reverse layup, a pull-up jumper or a thunderous dunk.

Defensively, he had another quality showing and his playing of the passing lanes made life difficult for the Thunder. He's also proving to have a knack for picking up loose balls before others can react.

On paper, his turnovers are a concern but the coaching staff has been adamant that they'd rather have Hill turn it over too much rather than play passively. With that in mind, they surely will overlook his six turnovers and smile at the rest of his stat line.

DeJuan Blair

27 minutes, 20 points, five rebounds, on steal, two turnovers
8-for-11 from the field, 4-for-4 at the line

With the ink dry on his new four-year contract, DeJuan Blair was back in action. Although he's known for his rebounding, against Okahoma City he illustrated that he's not a one-trick beast. This beast can also score.

Surprisingly, his scoring came in a variety of shapes and sizes. He penetrated off the dribble from the three-point line. He authored a few masterful post moves. He hit soft, quick shots in the lane. And, as expected, he powered through defenders have corralling offensive rebounds.

I'm also increasingly more impressed with his basketball IQ. Although he's built like a brute, he understands the game, makes the right pass and plays with a high amount of confidence.

His rebounding wasn't as dominant in this game but there were a lot of long boards in the affair. He usually gobbled up the rebounds in his vicinity. Against more athletic players, he'll need to boxout a little bit better but I'm confident he'll figure that out.

The only other critiques I have are on the defensive end. He doesn't use his strength as well as possible, yet. He also isn't aggressive enough when it comes to coming back into the lane and protecting the rim. The good news is those are correctable issues that should quickly be ironed out.

Overall, Blair is displaying an exciting amount of talent and potential for a 20-year-old second round pick. At the moment, he appears to be destined for the regular season rotation.

Ian Mahinmi

31 minutes, 13 points, five rebounds, two blocked shots, three turnovers
3-for-4 from the field, 7-for-8 at the line

Ian Mahinmi continues to make strides in a positive direction. His number weren't as eye-catching as his last outing but this was arguably his best game to date. Perhaps most importantly, Mahinmi totaled only two personal fouls in 31 minutes -- a major improvement from his ten fouls in 28 minutes a couple days ago.

Compared to the first summer league game, his mobility is night and day. He played extremely light on his feet, ran well and his bursts of quickness were impressive. In a matter of a few days, Mahinmi seems to have put the ankle injury behind him.

Rebounding is another area where he showed good potential. He plucked a number of boards out of the air that required a lot of coordination. For a guy whose clumsiness is one of his weaknesses, that's definitely an encouraging sign.

Due to his improved mobility, Mahinmi also was able to alter a number of shots in addition to his two blocks.

Right now, he's rounding into a legit NBA prospect in front of our eyes. He still needs to work on making his game more fluid and not being as robotic when he has the ball in traffic, but he's getting there. It's still difficult to figure out how his game will translate when he's going up against NBA players but at least the rust seems to have been shaken off.

Malik Hairston

34 minutes, 16 points, six rebounds, one blocked shot, four turnovers
7-for-13 from the field, 0-for-1 on three-pointers, 2-for-2 at the line

In a word, Malik Hairston was solid. He just played 34 minutes of rock solid basketball.

Defensively, Hairston had a few spectacular moments. He's starting to really buy into being a defensive stopper and showed a good amount of promise in that department. He moves his feet well, he's not afraid to body up to his opponent and he uses his explosive springs to challenge shots.

On the offensive end, he's been really good when he has kept it simple. Sometimes he tries to do too much but when he just shoots open jumpers or attacks the rim with two dribbles and a power jump, he's very efficient.

After a pair of underwhelming efforts on the glass, Hairston led the team in rebounding. If he can add consistent rebounding to his repertoire, he has a real chance of carving out an NBA niche.

From here on out, let's see if Hairston can keep up this consistent level of play. If he can, his chances of making the team should be high.

James Gist

12 minutes, five points, four rebounds
2-for-6 from the field, 1-for-1 at the line

James Gist continues to look discombobulated. Somehow, that season in Europe altered his game to the point that he doesn't utilize the strengths that made him a summer league phenom last year. Instead of being a hustle, energy bigman, he's now a hesitant, unconfident perimeter player.

Here and there, he goes back to the basics and his athleticism allows him to make plays. But those plays aren't occurring often enough and, as a result, Gist appears to be much more of a project than he looked last summer.

After the summer league is complete, the Spurs and Gist need to sit down and figure out whether he's going to be a small forward or a power forward and whether Europe or Austin is the best venue for his development.

Jack McClinton

14 minutes, two rebounds
0-for-4 from the field

The summer league struggles continue for Jack McClinton. He's now 0-for-8 in the three games and has the appearance of someone who is totally overwhelmed.

The Spurs have been running plays to try to get him going but it hasn't worked thus far. One made basket would probably do wonders for McClinton's confidence -- but that one basket is proving to be more difficult than anyone could have imagined.

Defensively, he didn't look very good tonight. He didn't get an opportunity to run the show for any length of time. McClinton's only positive impact were a couple of long rebounds.

Hopefully in one of these final two games McClinton can hit his first shot and find a groove. Until then, it's going to continue to be ugly.

Romel Beck

26 minutes, six points, two rebounds, two turnovers
1-for-4 from the field, 1-for-1 on three-pointers, 3-for-4 at the line

Romel Beck was in the starting lineup but didn't do much to justify the promotion. His negatives -- ballhandling, dribbling and passing -- were on full display. His positives -- shooting and scoring -- were missing in action.

For the Toros, Beck could be a very useful piece. For the Spurs? I don't see it.

Stephane Lasme

10 minutes, five points, one rebound, two turnovers
2-for-3 from the field, 1-for-2 at the line

Stephane Lasme played well his last time out. This time, he came back down to earth. Lasme's effort was there but he couldn't sustain any positive momentum.

In one of the final two games, I expect Lasme to get a long run so that he can show more of what he can and can't do.

Donell Taylor

13 minutes, two rebounds, two assists, three turnovers
0-for-4 from the floor

Wow. This guy was really bad. How Donell Taylor has played nearly 100 games in the NBA is a mystery. He hasn't shown anything resembling NBA talent so far in the three games. Taylor has literally fallen down while dribbling half a dozen times, routinely dribbles the ball off of his leg and his passing instincts are non-existence.

Let's hope he has at least cashed well in the casinos.

**EvenStar** · 07-17-2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by tackielarla

OT:
Di sila ganahan na mag storya anything about Lakers sa laing thread. Kay EMO daw sila. Di kapugong sa ilang EMOtions. Sala daw nako ngano di sila ka control.

Sorry na gud.

OT: feeling ra pod kaayo ka bai.wa ko niingon nga sala nimo.ako pasabot daghan kaayo ka giBULLY ug giprovoked nga mga newbie diri sa NBA na forum nga na banned.di lang Lakers na fans but uban pod nga fans sa laing team.basin imo jud nang nature.hope someday makasugat ra ka in real life ug tawo nga mutakmo sa imong baba para makasabot pod ka unsa ang feeling nga bullyhon ug e provoke.

On Topic: pag-ampo lang mo nga healthy tanan inyo player esp Manu ug Duncan kay kung dili aw Dallas ra muihaw ninyo.basin mapalaw napod ang imong sketch nga LOSER.

**tackielarla** · 07-17-2009, 04:43 PM

OT: feeling ra pod kaayo ka bai.wa ko niingon nga sala nimo.ako pasabot daghan kaayo ka giBULLY ug giprovoked nga mga newbie diri sa NBA na forum nga na banned.di lang Lakers na fans but uban pod nga fans sa laing team.basin imo jud nang nature.hope someday makasugat ra ka in real life ug tawo nga mutakmo sa imong baba para makasabot pod ka unsa ang feeling nga bullyhon ug e provoke.

OT:
You dense or something? Don't you realize that if what you're "accusing" me of is true, that I would have long been banned in this forum? Sa binisaya pa (para mag sinabtanay na ta beh kapoy ning di ka kasabot), mga pikon mong dagko especially if di na mo karason in a discussion. Ipaagi dayon ninyog personal na attack. That's why you guys got banned! And that's why you got banned!

Mu post me ug facts/news, we offer our interpretation, unsa man inyo i-reply? Let me give you some examples:
- hater ra jud ka bai
- suya lang ka go lakers go
- sige lang ka iningglis pag binisaya
- feeling bright ra ka da
- hawa diri balik sa imo thread
- let's go lakers/go lakers go/go lakers/<anything of that variant>

Sounds familiar? Coz you have around 517 pages of that nonsense in your previous Lakers thread! Heck, I don't mind if that's what you guys get your kicks from; but if you throw $#*t around, be ready to take some back yourself!

And FYI, I have NEVER had quarrels with other fans. Check this thread, for instance. We argue but we base everything on fact and figures. Never did we attack one another as individuals. Those "Loser" sketches I posted, man that was just for fun. Did I attack anyone personally with that? I got a LOT of those same pics from a lot of posters over the years in this thread and it's all good to me.

And wa mo kabantay daghan naglagot sa inyo the last playoffs? Mga bulay-og ang kasagaran fans ninyo! Heck, I can count mga karaan diri na forum na nakakitag bikil sa thread ninyo! Kinsa imo giilad doh?

This will be my last post on this topic. You can fool yourself (and your banned brethren) that you are the victim here, but that schmuck don't work with me. You reap what you sow; you get what you deserve. Think that over, buddy.

On Topic: pag-ampo lang mo nga healthy tanan inyo player esp Manu ug Duncan kay kung dili aw Dallas ra muihaw ninyo.basin mapalaw napod ang imong sketch nga LOSER.

OnT: Classic example of your "genius". It's like saying: pag-ampo lang mo na dili ma injured si Kobe, Pau, Bynum, ug Artest kay Clippers ray mu-ihaw ninyo. Anybody who knows their basketball know that to be able to compete for a championship, you need to have your horses ready and healthy. HEALTH is a BIG component in basketball. DUH.

**EvenStar** · 07-17-2009, 05:42 PM

^^ see ingon ana ra diay ka pakasuk.on bai.same ra sa imo gibuhat sa uban.ayaw pangugat kay ang akong gibuhat binuhatan ra na nimo before nabalik na karon.

sorry!!!

im out...PEACE!

**fish** · 07-17-2009, 07:36 PM