What we learned from the Spurs demolition of the Chicago Bulls

The Spurs bounced back nicely after their stumble against the Bucks.

There’s no need for a lengthy break down this time, as the Spurs quickly dismantled a rebuilding Chicago Bulls team Saturday night; so we’re going to keep this thing short and sweet. Here’s a few takeaways from a dominate performance by the silver and black.

Observations:

Kyle Anderson just knows how to pick his spots on the floor. The former UCLA Bruin may have a hard time against some of the more athletic matchups he faces, but his length and feel for the game help him close the gap. If he can become a legitimate threat from beyond the arc he will become a deadly asset off the bench later in the season.
For as much as Aldridge has improved his passing out of double teams, the 12th year veteran has to work on seeing the double coming before the defense fully commits. If he’s able to do that, then the Spurs play-makers on the perimeter will be positioned to score in their comfort zones. We also may start to see more of those good-to-great possessions we miss so much… Surely I’m not the only to pull up “the beautiful game” after watching a tough loss.
I’ve been lobbying for my boy Bertans to get some more minutes all season long, and once he was finally awarded some court time, he unleashed some red-headed-fury on the Bulls defense. If the Latvian sharpshooter has proved anything to us so far, it’s that his jumper isn’t going anywhere. It’s been really bizarre to see a promising young prospect like DB buried on the depth chart after a solid rookie campaign, David Lee’s departure, and the severe lack of depth in the front court right now. But Pop has been fine tuning his lineups all season, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the European sniper eventually cracks the rotation after a performance like this.
It will be very interesting to see the type of role Gasol will have come playoff time. His defense (despite the minor improvement it’s had since signing with SA) has been a liability for years, however his passing and three point shooting provides such an offensive spark that it will be very tough for Pop to keep the two time champion off the floor.
It is just awesome seeing Forbes play with some confidence. His early days in a Spurs jersey were littered with timidness which led to a streaky jump shot and limited success. For #11 to bounce back from such a rough start should speak volumes about his resolve. Now the only question is if the second year combo guard continues his stirring play, will Pop trust him with minutes in April and May?
I have no doubt in my mind that Brandon Paul has a future in this league. The Illinois native has continued to be a pest to opposing wings defensively and has proved his consistency from three point land when open. He may be a few years away from seriously contributing to a team in crunch time during the postseason, but it would be foolish to think PATFO didn’t expect everything he’s giving the team.
Dejounte Murray bounced back nicely after a bit of a rough outing against the Bucks the night before. His game will likely be debated for much of the season, but his skills aren’t what I’m looking at right now. We all know he’s talented. What we have yet to find out is if he is capable of running a team. While that will likely answer itself as the season wears on, his demeanor is what has impressed in the first month of action. Murray is constantly in attack mode, which has gotten him into some bad situations and provided an uptick in his assist-turnover ratio. But that attacking has been sorely needed at times this season when the offense has gone stagnant. There’s no doubt that the kid can play, but his ability to be a true point guard will ultimately be the difference between him becoming a Chris Paul, or a Brandon Knight caliber player.