Scouting Ryan Richards vs. Clippers
After playing just three minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the 2012 Summer 
League, San Antonio Spurs 2010 draftee Ryan Richards logged the most minutes of the past three games, as the Spurs fell to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Here’s Richards’ stat line, beginning with minutes: 16:08 minutes, 2 points, 1-3 shooting, 3 rebounds, 1 block attempt, 5 personal fouls, 2 turnovers, +/- rating of 0
As has been the case after the Spurs’ last two S.L. games, I’ve been doing a scouting report of each of Richards’ games, which will end with a final analysis next week.
Offensive Strengths
First quarter (1Q): Richards caught the ball at the top of the key, instead of hoisting a 3-pointer, he took the ball inside, posted into the paint and missed a 2-foot left-handed hook shot. Gaining position with his speed is what is important to note of this play.
3Q: Richards’ only points came off this play in the third. Richards set a pick for James Anderson and rolled to the basket. Anderson fed Richards the ball on the cut and Richards finished with a left-handed layup under the basket.
4Q: One of his final plays of the game, Richards received the ball at about 18-feet. He then drove hard into the paint and dished a no-look pass to Eric Dawson who was making a cut to the basket. The basket didn’t count because the Spurs were called for a 24-second violation, but that didn’t have to do with Richards because he received the ball too late.
Offensive weaknesses
1Q: As Richards was running down the floor without the ball, he just pummeled his defender and was called for an offensive foul. After reviewing the play, Richards did indeed see the defender before fouling him, yet I’m still clueless as to why he didn’t slow down or try to avoid the contact?
2Q: On one play, Richards caught the ball near 18-feet, he tried to drive but lost the ball quickly.
3Q: Richards looked lost on one play, as the ball came into his hands and he had it stripped away. Once a teammate recovered the ball and gave it back to him, he was blocked trying to put up the shot.
4Q: In this quarter, I wrote, “looks lost” on several plays. As I’ve written in previous scouting reports, Richards hasn’t had much time to learn the Spurs’ system. He indeed looks lost, but I imagine if I looked at some of the Spurs’ other S.L. players under a microscope, they’d look lost as well on offense.
4Q: When setting a screen, Richards barely makes any contact when screening the defender guarding the ball handler. More screen set practices will be needed for Richards to set an effective screen.
Defensive Strengths
2Q: When one of the Clippers’ players was trying to gain position, they were being too physical. Richards was able to draw the offensive foul by holding his ground until being forced off his position.
2Q: When having to defend a shooter, Richards closed the gap and forced the perimeter-shooter too miss the shot. This is a common theme for Richards, he’s yet to let perimeter shots get scored on him when he’s switched onto a shooter.
4Q: Richards once again showed he has the quickness to play in the full court defense, as he did in the fourth on several sets.
4Q: When switching onto a guard, Richards showed his quickness as he was able to stay with the guard on the perimeter and the guard had to pass elsewhere.
Defensive weaknesses
1Q: Richards fouled a driving Eric Bledsoe. Richards was very late in his reaction time that he didn’t even have a chance to block the shot.
1Q: When defending a pick-and-roll, Richards hedged too much toward the guard, the guard passed the ball to the player Richards was supposed to be defending and Richards arrived late for the block attempt, he was called for a foul.
1Q: When defending another pick-and-roll, Richards was called for another foul by making contact when trying to switch to defend his man.
3Q: While boxing out, Richards was called for a defensive foul for holding his man from claiming the rebound. Richards’ thinner frame will be an issue for him when defending regular NBA frontcourt players.
4Q: As Richards was being posted in the paint, he had little shot at blocking a shot because his body was so thin and the opposing player had more size on him.
4Q: When defending a cutting player to the paint, Richards got called for a foul. It wasn’t just that he fouled the player; it was that his reaction time was so late that he didn’t even have time to put up his hands.
4Q: Fouled a player driving in the open court.
Even with his stat line not looking so good, it’s interesting to see that his +/- rating ended at zero. Yes, Richards had a lot of negatives that need to be looked on, but he also had some positives that are rare from the big men on the Spurs’ bench on this S.L. squad.
The Spurs face the Miami Heat tonight and the Dallas Mavericks Saturday to wrap-up S.L. For Richards, if he receives the minutes, he’ll have to make every second on the court count in these next 48-hours.
Scouting Reports
1. Atlanta Hawks
2. Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo: Shep McAllister/Spurs.com)
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I'm finding it hard to believe that the Spurs FO cannot find an inexpensive, athletic big to play defense and rebound for 15-20 minutes per game. McGhee just got overpaid in Denver. Work ethic never matched his talent. That contract could be a huge mistake. Asik from the Bulls to Rockets is way overpaid too. Marcus Camby is not a starter or significant difference maker anymore. How can Brook Lopez be 7 footer and struggle to get 5 rebounds a game but still receive a max contract? I like Kris Humphries cause he will bang but Hump is getting slightly overpaid AND getting Kim's alimony! That ain't fair. LOL
@jaws3 lol good points..Bigs are just getting too much. You forgot DeAndre Jordan..12 mil is crazy. Seems like the latest round of bigs getting overpaid started there last year. HOPEFULLY, Spurs have eye on a better guy than whats left through a possible trade.
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I really don't understand why more NBA teams DON'T trade with the Spurs, when they are willing to give the Lakers, Knicks and Heat the world! Even guys from the end of our bench benefit from the professionalism of our system and are prepared to be solid NBA contributors. Geez, Steve Novak just got a long-term contract. George Hill got a long-term contract. Nazr Muhammad bout to sign with the Bulls. Even Beno Udrich has been hanging on. Rasho lasted for awhile for God's sake! I don't think that our FO dupes other teams; we just get the most value out of them by giving everyone a clearly defined role. Ever watch players get worse after they leave the Spurs? Malik was never effective again. SJax realized that he could score a lot of points and still lose a lot of games.
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After being waived by the Rockets, 2 yr player Jerome Jordan clears waivers today if unclaimed. This guy looks perfect as a cheap big man solution. 7', 240 lb, very mobile and physical. Blocks (7'6" wingspan) and rebounds well, shoots well. The issue has been his laid back/island mentality (Jamaica). I think a Duncan (Virgin Islands) and Kawhi tag team would be perfect to awaken this monster. He's a lot farther along than RR... Spurs need to sign this guy today.
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@Ironwill71 I usually think you guys are being unrealistic in potential players for the Spurs, but this time I think you got it right, Ironwill. Jerome Jordan would be a nice, inexpensive fit for the Spurs frontcourt. I also know that Amir Johnson was a player that the Spurs were really interested in when he signed with the Pistons a few years back. Johnson would also fit well in our system. Trading one of 2 guards or one of our undersized big men would be great to get one of these players would be great for cap purposes.
@jaws3 Still no news on Jerome Jordan with any team, including the Spurs. Would love to know if anyone has him scheduled for a workout or otherwise expressed interest.
Still a lot of C & PF names out there looking for teams... some better/younger/cheaper than others. My list has 5 PFs and 16 Centers, not including a couple amnestied guys.
@Ironwill71 @jaws3 Maybe teams are kind of waiting for what may happen with Magic bs..hopefully not because I still think Magic might be thinking they still have a shot to keep him lol. And Rockets seem to be waiting on Dwight too before they figure out what to do with 10 PF/Cs..lol I was thinking that after vegas was done movement would start to pick up again.
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@Ironwill71 I tend to believe that most players that come to the Spurs see the crazy work effort and dedication the players here have and that they know they have to do the same to play (I also think that is why so many free agents don't want to come here...). He is WAY farther along than RR, I have to believe he would get in gear real quick and imagine what working with TD would do for his game. As a free agent big how could you not want to come learn from the best? Sign him!
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I know he doesn't know the system, but do we spend the resources to teach him? I say he comes to camp but is slotted for the Toros from the get go. I do take him completely out of the Spurs big man equation for this year. I thought he would show up a bit more polished than he is. Still hoping for a Bonner/Blair/Neal trade, they both deserve more playing time than they are going to get here, trade all three for Amir Johnson would make me crazy happy! Salaries work and Bonner could get back to the great white north.
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@imwithstupid I think the better trade for the Spurs would be Bonner/Blair/ Joseph and a 2nd round pick for Derrick Favors and a garbage piece.
@imwithstupid @jaws3 @mrniko Ya that and we do have a long history with Utah..They dont like us much and no team wants to help a team thats better than them
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I think a lot of teams are wary of trading with the Spurs because they don't want to be duped.
@jaws3 @imwithstupid @mrniko Ya Jazz wouldn't do this..not even sure they would do ANY trade with Spurs..lol
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@imwithstupid @mrniko I just don't see the Jazz giving away Favors that easily, but I really like your proposal. RC never listens to us! LOL
@mrniko I like sending Neal more just because of the logjam at the 2. I would take either Amir Johnson or Favors in a heartbeat! A second team frontcourt of Splitter and one of them would be exciting. Then we can still sign Jerome Jordan and Mr Anderson for third string 4 and 3 slots respectively. We all know PATFO won't do it... :-(
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You mean like they should have charged the Mavs... when the 'traded' free agent backup Ian Mahinmi for starters Collison and Dahntay Jones?
@imwithstupid It's not as horrid as you think, Bonner is something the Jazz could actually really use, as Favors fell out of their rotation pretty hard, Blair is an undersized favors, and Joseph and Neal are interchangeable to me in the trade, though I'm sure they'd rather have neal.
