It’s good to see Derrick White

With nine points, one rebound, one assist, and a charge (and possibly a second uncalled one) in twenty-four minutes, it was good to see Derrick White make his season debut last night against the Los Angeles Lakers. It will take a White a couple more games to get the rough edges smoothed out, but Spurs fans know it will be worth the wait.

All that said, Devin Vassell did not play. Is it unreasonable to ask that Vassell continue to get playing time even with White’s return? A full Spurs roster is not just ideal, but necessary. That said, minutes distribution should not come at the expense of the Spur’s newest lottery pick’s development.

And while we are at it, what did Trey Lyles do to get the DeMarre Carroll treatment? With LaMarcus Aldridge out against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Silver & Black could have used all the height and weight at their disposal.

Well, a quick trip to basketball-reference.com and I was able to get some answers. Height-wise, the Spurs have Jakob Poeltl (7’1”), LaMarcus Aldridge (6’11”), Luka Samanic (6’10”), followed by both Drew Eubanks and Trey Lyles at 6’9”. Aldridge was out and I don’t think there is a Spurs fan sadistic enough to wish Samanic time on Anthony Davis yet.

So if you go with a player heavy enough not to be pushed around in the paint, then Rudy Gay — who is only an inch shorter than Eubanks and Lyles — is the most robust at 250 lbs. Poeltl and Eubanks both weigh in at 245. Lyles is a mere 234.

So on the crossing scale of height and weight, even with Aldridge out, Lyles is the fifth option in both categories.

When covering Anthony Davis who is listed at 6’10” 253, the best matchup the Spurs have is Aldridge. In his absence, Poeltl and Eubanks are definitely going to create the most havoc for The Brow. That’s not saying much chaos could be dished out to 2012’s top draft pick as he went for 34 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes to ring in his new year.

Once again, when one questions Pop’s tactics and strategy there is a greater than likely chance he will walk away with tail between his legs.

Spurs are off today, but play every other day this week finishing with back-to-back games in Minnesota this weekend.

Hopefully LaMarcus will be back in time to meet LeBron’s partner in crime on Thursday.

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