IMO he's taken Barton's rotation spot when Batum returns. Coaches will always prefer players like Crabbe over kamikaze players like Barton. I've liked him since preseason last year. Remember thinking he had a chance to crack the rotation but then he got sick or something. He's just a steady player. Can knock down shots and is a solid defender.
A like Crabbe but he's just a place holder in the rotation until Batum gets back. Barton is kamikaze like but he is one of the few players off the bench that can create his own shot. The competition for minutes will benefit the team.
We already have CJ and it seems like CJ is starting to get into the groove. Barton is a wild one. I know you like him, but the dude is too outta control for my liking. I'm not saying he sucks or anything, I would just like a more stable player coming off the bench imo.
Yes Barton can create his own shot but the problem is he can't shoot so what's the point? His basketball IQ is still below average. I like him as a person, I think his attitude is great but I just don't see a player that should be in a rotation on an above average team.
It's not that I like him, it's that sometimes you need that wild, out of control player coming off the bench. He'll always be a role player.
Yet our best game against the Spurs in the playoffs Barton scored 17pts. http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400556337 We'll never be smarter than the Spurs but we are more athletic. To get past them in the playoffs we need to play smarter but we need to also use our athletic advantage.
You'll all think I'm crazy, but this team would be so much better with Nic playing an aggressive 30 mpg of the bench with Crabbe starting a la Thabo Sefalosha. Unfortunately, we've seen in the past that Nic has been unable to perform well of the bench, but I really think that would make us even more dangerous.
I don't think so. The player that best fits the Ginobli role is Wes Matthews. But who starts? CJ clearly isn't ready and Barton isn't starter material.
This is going to sound crazy but crabbes college tape compares to klay thompsons. PAC-10 players. Same size. Great shooters. Good moving without the ball. Not great athletes but deceptive. Defensive potential.
NBA is all about opportunity. You give a guy consistent minutes and who knows what'll happen. Everyone in the league is talented. Case in point: donald Sloan. Bounces around. Finally gets minutes. Produces. My point is don't count anyone out until they get a shot
I just think crabbe and Barton are for two very different purposes. Crabbe move so well without the ball, cutting and making the defensive players always having to track, leaving someone, Wes or dame,nor even crabbe himself open for a nice in the offense shot. Barton on the other hand is for when things aren't working and we need a spark, someone willing to try and get to the hole or just surprise the defense with an different look. Crabbe and what he does makes sense playing with starters but the Barton spark will also have its moments to shine.
Let's hope that the starting of Crabbe stimulates a real progression in development and that Barton continues to grow and improve and that these two make it difficult on the coach in his decision on who to play. The bench could still use a consistent producer. I'm not sold that CJ is close. Yes he's had some solid moments. But there have been some red flags as well. In the end the starters are going to need something from these dawgs. The more guys that can bring it. The better off this team wil be.
That's my rub about Barton actually. He's had many chances as a starter and hasn't performed as a "team oriented player". He's absolutely an energy guy, but energy doesn't always produce a consistent edge. In some cases, the out of control play is too hard to rely on. In some cases it works out perfectly. In other cases, you just do a face palm.
