The jdeleonpsn1's Podcast

Bonus episode - On this weekend's episode of Sweep the League Radio, Project Spurs staffer Rocky Garza Jr. talked about the latest with the San Antonio Spurs, including the cries for rookies Joshua Primo and Jock Landale not getting playing time.

Former NBA player Derrick Gervin says Primo is ready for the NBA now and should learn "in the fire" and also had a few things to say about Jakob Poeltl.

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In Spurscast episode 636, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer John Diaz discuss: 

The Spurs going 1-3 in their last four games against the Dallas Mavericks (twice), Milwaukee Bucks, and Indiana Pacers

Jakob Poeltl out due to Health and Safety Protocols

The team offense and defense through eight games

Players averaging double figures in scoring

The early numbers from the Spurs’ struggles in crunch time

1-3 in Last 4 Games

Since the last Spurscast episode, the Spurs have gone 1-3 in their last four games. Going back to last Thursday, they lost a close game in Dallas to the Mavericks after San Antonio jumped out to a 20 point lead. Then on Saturday they went into the home of the defending champion Bucks and defeated Milwaukee. Two nights later in Indiana, the Spurs suffered their worst loss of the season, getting blown out by Indiana by as many as 26 points, though the final score was a 13 point loss for San Antonio. Finally, the Spurs lost another close game to Dallas, this time at home in the AT&T Center.

The team is now 2-6 through eight games to start the season, with six of of their games being close and going down to the wire.

Poeltl Out 

The Spurs announced Wednesday Jakob Poeltl would be out due to Health and Safety protocols. Poeltl has been averaging 14 points per game and he is the team's interior defensive anchor. Poeltl is expected to miss a few games.

Team Offense and Defense Through 8 Games

The Spurs rank 17th on offense and 14th on defense through eight games. In the episode, their Top 10 and Bottom 10 stats on offense and defense are discussed to see which stats are likely going to be a strength or weakness for the team all season, and which are just noise from early sample sizes that will eventually regress.

Individual Double Figure Scoring Leaders

Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Poeltl, Derrick White, Devin Vassell, and Lonnie Walker IV are all averaging more than 10 points per game. Each player is discussed with observations and notes on each end of the floor in the episode.

Early Look at Crunch Time Struggles

The Spurs have been in six games that have gone down to the last five minutes, with the team ahead or behind by five points. Those six games are the second most in the NBA as of Thursday afternoon during those clutch situations.

The Spurs are struggling in those clutch situations with a 1-5 record. The team numbers and players who log the most minutes in those situations are analyzed in one conversation of the episode.

 

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John, Jonas and Michael are back to talk about the Austin Spurs and what we are looking forwaed to with the upcoming season, which will not be played in the gubble.

We also talk about seeing a hefty bit of minutes for Spurs rookie Joshua Primo and the Austin Spurs' new head coach, whose name we will pronounce correctly at some point this season.

For more Austin Spurs coverage, visit http://spursonsixth.com and https://projectspurs.com.

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Every week, we'll host an "open mic" on Twitter Spaces to talk about some of the latest San Antonio Spurs topics.

For our first episode yesterday, we talked about the Spurs newly-unveiled city edition jerseys and immediate reactions to the release.

We also previewed last night's game between the Spurs and Indiana Pacers.

Be sure to check back every week for the next open mic. You can listen in live or join in on the conversation.

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In Spurscast episode 635, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs founder Michael De Leon discuss the latest San Antonio Spurs topics: 

The Spurs’ last three losses to the Nuggets, Bucks, and Lakers

The team offense and defense through four games

Individual players through four games

The Last 3 Losses

The San Antonio Spurs are 1-3 to begin the 2021-2022 season. Since the last Spurcast episode, the Spurs have gone 0-3 with losses to the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Though the team lost each game, they showed they can compete with some of the top teams. With less than five minutes left on the clock in each of these games, the Spurs were within at least two possessions of their opponents.

In the case of their most recent loss the Lakers, the Spurs had a chance to win the game in regulation, and they could have taken the lead late in overtime.

The Offense and Defense through Four games

Through four games, the Spurs are 11th on offense and 15th on defense. While the sample size is still very small with just four games, some of the areas where the Spurs stand out on each end of the floor should hold for the season.

Some areas where the Spurs are excelling early on offense are fast break scoring, moving the ball, and attacking the paint. Areas that are concerning on offense early on is the team having trouble getting to the free throw line, the three point volume, and three point accuracy.

Some areas on defense where the Spurs are showing strengths is in opponent free throw rate, opponent turnover percentage, steals, and scoring off opponent turnovers.

A cause for concern on defense is how often and how much teams are scoring close to the rim in the paint.

Individual Players through 4 Games

Individual players discussed in the episode are Keldon Johnson, Jakob Poeltl, Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, Derrick White, Devin Vassell, and Doug McDermott.

 

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In Spurscast episode 634, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer Collin Reid discuss the latest San Antonio Spurs topics: 

The Spurs’ opening night blowout of the Magic

Al-Farouq Aminu being waived

Lonnie Walker IV not signing a contract extension

Thaddeus Young remaining on the team

Blowout on Opening Night

The San Antonio Spurs opened the 2021-2022 regular season with a 26-point blowout of the Orlando Magic.

In the episode, Collin and I discuss some observations from the team offense, defense, and individual players who scored in double figures in the opening game.

Al-Farouq Aminu Waived

On Monday the Spurs waived Al-Farouq Aminu to get their roster down to the maximum of 15 players on guaranteed contracts. The Spurs will now have Aminu's $10.1 million salary on their cap sheet for the remainder of this season.

No Extension for Lonnie Walker IV

Monday came and went with the Spurs and Walker IV not reaching an agreement on a contract extension. This coming summer the Spurs will be able to tender Walker IV a $6.3 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent.

With only a handful of teams projected to have cap space this season, will Walker IV have a breakout season and get more than the mid-level exception from other teams this summer?

Thaddeus Young Remains on Team

Young's name has been mentioned in a few trade rumors this offseason, but after the October 18 deadline passed, Young remains on the team.

The San Antonio Spurs now have until the February 10 deadline to find a trade for Young, if not, he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Young didn't play in the opening game of the season. When asked why Young didn't play, Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich said though Young didn't play Wednesday, he'll remain ready.

Spurs add Devontae Cacok on a two-way deal

The Spurs claimed Devontae Cacok off the waiver list and then converted his contract to a two-way contract. With Cacok now on the team, the Spurs' roster is full with 15 players on guaranteed contracts and two players on two-way contracts.

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In Spurscast episode 633, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer Benjamin Bornstein discuss the latest San Antonio Spurs News. 

Luka Samanic getting waived

More observations from the preseason

Notes and roster updates

Luka Samanic waivedMonday the San Antonio Spurs waived 2019 first-round draftee Luka Samanic. While on paper the move seemed a bit surprising since Samanic was still just 21 years old and on his rookie scale contract, the eye test said differently.

Samanic wasn't one of the Spurs' primary options at the 4 in three of the team's four preseason games, and with the team needing to trim the roster by October 18, roster cuts were going to be needed.

Samanic will still get his $2.9 million salary for this season and other teams have until Wednesday to claim him off the league's waiver list.

If a team claims Samanic off the waiver list, then he would be an active player on their roster and the Spurs would no longer be responsible for his salary this season.

More observations from the preseasonThe Spurs fell to the Miami Heat Friday in the preseason and then defeated the Orlando Magic Sunday.

The rotations have consistently looked like Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich will start Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Doug McDermott, and Jakob Poeltl. Off the bench, Popovich has been staggering the minutes of Murray and White, and having Bryn Forbes, Lonnie Walker IV, Devin Vassell, and Drew Eubanks as the second unit.

The offense and defense are analyzed in the conversation, with notes on the Spurs not playing as fast as they said they were going to do in training camp. The Spurs currently rank 27th among 30 teams in pace this preseason.

Notes and Roster UpdatesThe Spurs are now less than 10 days from having to waive or trade one more player to get their roster down to the league maximum of 15 players on guaranteed contracts.

Al-Farouq Aminu and Keita Bates-Diop are discussed as being players who might get waived or traded with the October 18 deadline approaching.

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In Spurscast episode 632, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer Stephen Michael discuss the latest San Antonio Spurs topics: 

Rotations, the offense, and defense in the first two preseason games

Observations on some players

Notes and roster updates

Rotations

In the first preseason game against Utah, Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich used a starting lineup of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Doug McDermott, and Jakob Poeltl.

Off the bench, he staggered the minutes of Murray and White, then had Bryn Forbes, Lonnie Walker IV, Devin Vassell, and Drew Eubanks as the second unit.

Stephen and I discuss if Murray and White will have their minutes staggered during the season to make sure one of them is always on the floor, or if this was because Tre Jones was out due to injury for the first two preseason games.

The Offense and Defense

In their first two preseason games, the Spurs are starting to get closer to modern basketball with an increase in 3-point volume and decrease in mid-range attempts.

Here are some early numbers from the Spurs' first preseason games and last season:

% of shots in paint: 49% today vs 49% last season

% of shots from three: 37% today vs 31% last season

% of shots from mid-range: 14% today vs 20% last season

While it's only been two preseason games, the shot selection of the team is something to keep an eye on considering the difference in 3-point scoring was the main weakness last season for the team.

The Spurs' goal of playing faster was present in the game against Utah, but that wasn't the case against Detroit with Murray out and new players in the lineups.

Stephen and I have a conversation about the pace and some of the offensive and defensive numbers the team is showing in preseason.

Individual Player Observations

Some players discussed in the episode from the preseason are Murray, Johnson, McDermott, Forbes, Walker IV, Eubanks, Vassell, Jock Landale, Josh Primo, and Luka Samanic.

Notes and Roster Updates

Zach Collins' return to the court is discussed, as well as some roster updates the Spurs made and will be making with regards to the Austin Spurs.

A Thaddeus Young-Phoenix Suns trade rumor is also explored in the episode.

 

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In Spurscast episode 631, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs founder Michael De Leon discuss the latest San Antonio Spurs topics, including: 

Media Day

Training Camp 

Zach Lowe’s mega Spurs article

Media Day and Training Camp 

At the San Antonio Spurs' media day Monday, one of the key topics that came up from Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich and some players was the Spurs playing faster this season.

With veterans DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills, and Rudy Gay now gone, the Spurs' core is now made up of a lot of young, quick, and athletic players. The Spurs want to use their speed to their advantage and get up and down the court this season with an increase in pace and frequency of possessions in transition.

Last year the Spurs were league average in pace and 22nd in frequency of plays in transition per CleaningTheGlass.com.

Coach Popovich also mentioned at media day how he's excited to see how the young players handle close game situations. With DeRozan gone, who will now be the closer late in games? What plays will the team run down the stretch?

In some other interview nuggets, Jakob Poeltl made it sound like the main creators on offense will be Dejounte Murray and Derrick White.

Poeltl also said he wants to help on offense by providing more scoring to the team.

Jock Landale noted that so far Poeltl and Drew Eubanks have been ahead in the rotation at the five position.

Keldon Johnson mentioned how he's been working on his outside shot for this coming season.

Zach Lowe's mega Spurs article

Earlier this week, Zach Lowe of ESPN dove deep into the Spurs for this upcoming season and beyond.

Lowe mentioned how it's unknown when Popovich will retire and he wrote about a few of the names he hears most often as the next Spurs head coach when Popovich retires.

Lowe also provided some rumors regarding Ben Simmons, the Spurs' young core players, Thaddeus Young, and Jaren Jackson Jr.

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In Spurscast episode 630, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer Josh Paredes discuss the latest San Antonio Spurs topics: 

Manu Ginobili joining the team in a Special Advisor role

Upcoming training camp questions

The latest update on Ben Simmons refusing to attend training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers

Manu Ginobili joins the team in a Special Advisor role

Friday the San Antonio Spurs announced multiple staff additions and promotions, and in the announcement, the team said Manu Ginobili would be joining the club as a Special Advisor to Basketball Operations.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Ginobili will work in a player-centric role to focus on and off the court in helping the young players develop.

Wojnarowski also reported Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich, Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO R.C. Buford, and General Manager Brian Wright have been trying to get Ginobili to rejoin the franchise is some sort of role since his retirement a few years ago.

In the episode, Josh and I discuss what benefits we think Ginobili can help the young players with on and off the court.

Training Camp Questions

Training camp for the 2021-2022 season will officially kick off Tuesday. The Spurs so far are heading into training camp with 18 players on the roster, though they can still add up to two more players for training camp and the preseason.

With 17 players on guaranteed contracts, San Antonio will have to either waive or trade two players by October 18, when the NBA requires teams to have just 15 players on guaranteed contracts.

Some questions Josh and I discuss in the episode are:

Who starts at the power forward position?

Who will be the backup point guard?

Will Luka Samanic get a rotation role this season?

Who will be the backup center between Drew Eubanks and Jock Landale?

Which two players will be waived or traded by October 18?

Ben Simmons to sit out training camp

This past week Wojnarowski reported Ben Simmons won't be showing up to training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers and he's refusing to play future games with the team.

With the Spurs being one of the teams who reportedly had interest in Simmons, Josh and I talk about the latest report regarding Simmons.

 

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