The Spurs, which lacked a place to begin guard this season, had too many not that way back. Dejounte Murray took over when Tony Parker was nonetheless round and Derrick White stuffed in for DJ when he missed a season with accidents. Each confirmed that they could possibly be dependable creators and stellar defenders.
The Spurs tried to play them collectively however their video games didn’t complement, largely due to spacing points, and so they have been traded away to kickstart the rebuild. White, much less heralded and on a contract many deemed extreme, landed on the Celtics, which solely needed to ship out one first-round choose to accumulate him. Murray, coming off an All-Star season and on a discount of a contract, commanded a terrific return for San Antonio.
Years later, White is a media and fan darling for the most effective group within the league and Murray is on his solution to probably being moved once more by a franchise that has given up on him. Expectations and circumstances have formed their careers to date in a manner that may be relatable for some present Spurs gamers.
Similar to they have been in San Antonio, Murray and White are comparable gamers. Each are defensive playmakers who may be first rate engines however not superstars on offense. It’s their two-way proficiency that makes them good. Murray will get extra steals, White will get extra blocks. They’ve each labored on their outdoors pictures to the purpose of changing into acceptable floor-spacers, on the very least. They don’t seem to be essentially the most inventive passers however they’ll run a choose and roll and discover the open man. Each are large enough to chase wing shooters round if wanted however at coronary heart are point-of-attack defenders. Murray is healthier at creating pictures for himself whereas White is arguably higher at taking part in off others, however each can adapt. Most of these traits have been there in San Antonio and have developed linearly of their new groups. The 2 guards haven’t modified that a lot, however their circumstances have.
White was not thought of the lacking piece in Boston. The truth is, after his arrival, there was an even bigger shakeup following a disappointing finish of the playoffs for the franchise. Having a flexible guard round allowed the Celtics to maneuver Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Sensible, however the group was at all times constructed round two star forwards and a middle that areas the ground and protects the rim. White, who’s having a improbable season and is definitely worth the All-Star buzz he’s been getting, is simply an vital piece of the puzzle in Boston. He’s not the savior the Spurs wanted him to be, so he can concentrate on doing the little issues that make him particular whereas persevering with to develop the most important expertise which have made him a key contributor to a contender. He suits what’s round him completely and it elevates him as a lot as he elevates it.
Murray’s scenario is totally completely different. The Hawks wanted to make a splash to please a stressed Trae Younger and Dejounte was a large enough title to be value a serious funding, particularly coming off an All-Star season. Atlanta executives most likely knew he wasn’t the piece that was going to make their group a contender, however shoring up the perimeter protection, including somebody who may contribute some shot creation and who legitimately appeared to wish to play for a franchise that isn’t a star magnet made the transfer worthwhile. Murray was not anticipated to ship a title to the Hawks however he was presupposed to be the man who made journeys to the Convention Finals a extra frequent prevalence. The truth that the match was not nice subsequent to Younger didn’t matter. Neither did the dearth of an precise plan to construct round these two. The outcomes, unsurprisingly, haven’t been nice.
The best manner of explaining why Murray and White, guards of comparable expertise, have had such contrasting careers since leaving the Spurs could be to say one landed on a greater franchise and roster than the opposite. It could be slightly unfair to the extra mature White to only attribute it to that, however it’s the essential issue. Circumstances matter and so do expectations. White’s All-Star buzz is centered on him not having precise star numbers however affecting the sport like one. A take a look at the stats alone would counsel Murray is having a greater season however nobody who’s been following the Hawks would make an All-Star case for him. Not with how huge of a disappointing mess the Hawks are, regardless of Dejounte not being the principle reason for their issues. White may be beloved for merely serving to an amazing group; Murray may be chastised for not with the ability to create one. Two comparable gamers, two very completely different lenses.
For Spurs followers, the White-Murray dichotomy can function a manner of wanting on the younger gamers at the moment on the roster. Being dissatisfied in somebody for not being a famous person once they have been by no means meant to be one is as unfair to, say, Devin Vassell as it’s to Dejounte Murray. However what if Vassell is extra of a Derrick White, somebody who will thrive on a superb group, surrounded by the appropriate items? Draft place, salaries and projected upside all play an element in how gamers are judged, however so does the lens by means of which they’re scrutinized, and altering it typically when circumstances change is the sensible factor to do. No, Keldon Johnson will not be a two-way first choice for a rebuilding group. He may be an amazing sixth man who can concentrate on scoring for a contender, although. Jeremy Sochan will not be a main playmaker, however he could possibly be the proper connective piece on a extra gifted squad. Tre Jones has been the best choice as the place to begin guard for this group, however he would possibly nonetheless be finest served for a bench function long run.
Some successes and failures, actual or simply perceived, are a direct results of a participant’s actions. Others come right down to their environment and the presuppositions of others. Would White be a media darling if he was nonetheless in San Antonio, making an attempt to be a main choice? Would Murray be beneath a lot scrutiny if he had not made an All-Star group that inflated his worth and had landed in a greater scenario? Who is aware of.
The identical applies to the Spurs’ gamers. Some won’t be an amazing match for a horrible group that runs experimental lineups however may find yourself being main contributors down the road for a extra gifted and structured squad. Conversely, possibly others who’ve shined within the high-paced chaos of a group discovering its identification won’t be pretty much as good when their roles change or are diminished.
Determining which actuality applies to which participant may be one of many thrills of a rebuild for followers but it surely’s paramount to at all times regulate expectations and account for circumstances alongside the best way. White and Murray are the proper examples of how gamers may be judged for causes and narratives past their management. It’ll be value holding that in thoughts because the Spurs proceed to vary and evolve.
