4 exhilarating takeaways from the Spurs' finale at the California Classic

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The French Defense

While the San Antonio Spurs selected a generational rim protector in the draft with the number one overall pick, they might have found another outstanding defender with their second-round pick. Sidy Cissoko only scored a combined four points in both games, but he still showcased his talents on the defensive side of the ball. He locked up Brandon Miller on Monday and had another promising outing against the Lakers.

Following Monday night's matchup versus the Hornets, Head Coach Matt Nielsen touted the young Frenchman for his defense.

"I think [Sidy] did a really good job [against Brandon Miller]. I think physically he's already a specimen.

Obviously, he's 19 so there's a long way to go. But his starting point is great and he's a defensive-minded kid. Definitely good to watch." - Matt Nielsen on Sidy Cissoko pic.twitter.com/sOnzVN80ZX
— Ty Jäger (@TheTyJager) July 4, 2023

While he will need to find some success on the offensive end, there were flashes of his playmaking ability, including this impressive pass to Blake Wesley while running in transition.

I would've liked to see an overall better game from him, but a bright spot tonight for Sidy Cissoko was his passing. Did a lot of this with the Ignite, and looked just as comfortable tonight in Summer League vs the Lakers #PorVida pic.twitter.com/GmCYw9lPA7
— Mavs/Magic Draft AKA NBADraftFilm on IG/Threads (@MavsDraft) July 6, 2023

Even with the lack of scoring, Cissoko's defensive impact should be evident early in his career. The 19-year-old forward already has experience against NBA-caliber competition from his one-season stint with the G League Ignite, and Nielsen believes it shouldn't take too long for him to adapt.

"When you can do that, then we can build off other things and develop," Nielsen said. "When that's your starting point, it's encouraging."

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