4TH Q: SPURS 123 76ERS 133
I mean... we did a lot of good things right but for a career-high game by an MVP-level player.
We poured in three 30+ point Qs, winning two, with a strong start and resilient finish. We scored 123 on a team that is 4th in defensive rating. We shared the ball well with 29 assists, and all but two Spurs registered at least one. We had five starters in double digits.
We shot 13-41 from 3, +24 in the category.
Our bench outscored theirs 30-18.
We even limited our TOs to a stellar 8 which cost us 10 points, where we were -2.
We got to the FT line and made them well for 24-27 with all five starters in on the effort. It’s just that one opponent alone made 21-23 bringing their total to a whopping 32-40. It’s a wonder our whole team didn’t foul out lol.
We threw everything at him – single coverage by Wemby who wanted the heat, working hard to front him, doubling him, going zone D, to less effect than we would have liked. In the end, it was the FTs that really hurt:
Poor Zach. Got lit up on D even with Pop’s guidance on the sidelines sticking his arms out like he wanted Zach to. And then was 0-7, 0-5 from 3, 1-2FTs. He contributed 6 boards (2 on O) and 4 assists. I don’t love the shot profile of all but two shots from the arc for a player who’s made only 1-9 since his return three games ago, the lone make in his first game back, and career-low 31% this season. I’m sure he’d love to have the chances back, but hopefully he channels it better in the upcoming games.
Wemby led us with 33 (10-19, 2-5 from 3), team high 11-12FTs, with 7 boards (3 on O), 2 assists, 2 blocks, only 1TO. For facing Embiid the first time, he more than held his own in terms of scoring. It was a very physical challenge, a clash of finesse versus bulk. Except for a couple of too long, too early in the clock 3s, most of Wemby’s shots were hard earned from effort or creativity and skill. He was all business, rising to the challenge and occasion, helping to keep us fighting, setting the tone.
Devin was cooking early and was more consistent in terms of scoring inside and out as well as providing solid physical D. He played a team high 38 minutes, scoring 22 on 7-13, 2-6, terrific 6-6FTs. Of course efficiency is excellent, but the number of times he got to the line was impressive as it is well above his 2.8FTAs per game average this season, something he hopefully keeps increasing. It is only the third time this month that Devin has gotten to the FT line at least five times; in December, twice; in November, three times; in October, twice (four games). He also grabbed 4 boards, and dished an excellent, game high 9 assists, well above his 3.3 per game average.
Sochan was a physical presence, bodying up Embiid as well as he could, providing doubles as well, battling relentlessly, a characteristic he’s solidifying an expectation in. He did a great job when facing guards, too, using his bouncy legs to keep them in front of him. Since his dud game in Boston, this is the third game in a row in which he’s been more judicious in his shots and making 50% of his 3s. He scored 14 on 5-12, 3-6 from 3, 1-2FTs, along with team high 8 boards (3 on O), 4 assists, and 1 block. After Pop raged into a timeout when we gave up multiple chances at our rim ending in a basket against, Sochan looked far more resolute in getting his hands on the ball and keeping them on it.
Julian once again came through better, even as, yes, we tend to have given up runs with him on the court as gump has been pointing out. He scored 12 on a crisp 3-4, 3-3 from 3, 3-3FTs, with 2 boards, 1 assist chipped in in only 15 minutes. He shares SF duties with the other sharp shooting forwards, twins Doug and Cedi, the latter playing only 11 minutes, going 1-1 plus 3 boards, 1 assist, and Doug stepping up for bench high 13 on 5-12, 3-9 from 3 along with 5 boards (3 on O, tied for team high!). Loved Doug’s movement and quick release trigger. Pro’s pro. As gump put it, good audition. He and Cedi alternate highlighting their games. Good for them, good for us.
After the game, Pop called Tre the heart and soul of our team. Endearing. It was worrisome when Tre left the court being barely able to put any pressure on his foot but apparently he’s ok. Thank goodness. As much as Wemby is the shining star around which we coalesce and from whom we take so much of our cues, it is Tre who has been integral in setting them up and keeping the whole thing moving.
He played 33 minutes, chasing and staying with his counterpart all over the court, pushing the pace. Such dogged effort. He also scored 12 on 5-7, 0-1 from 3, 2-2FTs, along with 4 boards (1 on O), 6 assists, 2 steals. It was a good upgrade over his first half (0-1), with great cuts and drives, changes of speed, and timely bursts. He’s much more decisive and confident. So nice to see his growth, his better use of handles, his making plays with pace.
His backup, Blake(!), played 19 minutes, the second highest of the 21 games he’s played this season. Not only that, he’s taken over Branham’s minutes completely as the latter has now been firmly benched for seven consecutive quarters. Zero minutes tonight. A healthy DNP-CD is quite the reversal between the two players. We are seeing how Blake has responded. Relentless energy, full court press, keeping his man in front of him. Just impressive, disruptive shadow D. And he also was a speed demon on O, running ahead in transition, finishing great passes well. He used to blow these, now makes them reliably. He used to get undone by his speed, now it’s a strength on both ends. He finished passes from Tre, Sochan, and Wemby at the rim. Smart, simple, fundamentals, reading and responding well, full on effort. He finished with 6 points on 3-6, 0-2 from 3, along with 2 boards (1 on O), 2 assists, 1 steal. We will see how Branham will respond.
Like Tre, Keldon started slow in the first half, making 2-2 but he was slowed by a shoulder hit to the chin that needed stitches and he only played 7 minutes. In the second half, Keldon struggled through 2-10, 0-4 from 3, en route to 8 points on 4-12, no FTs. Two of his makes were on terrific drives right into Embiid, using his body, and a much better finishing package, a quicker release and higher arch, something Sochan has to learn to do. Hopefully he’ll be good to go next game and there will be no ill-effects in his head.
Pop ran a ten-man unit, and ran it more tightly as has been the pattern the last few games at least, especially since we’ve reached the halfway point of the season. We have more reps, more chemistry together, and despite being the youngest team in the league, there are still expectations of doing more right things better by this point.
We’ve done several things better, like improved those 3RD Q results, have had some better starts, have come back from deficits, and executed better in pressure situations. We figure things out better, find ways to make plays on D, get to the FT line, fight back.
But the dreaded giving up of rebounds is still abysmal, particularly the not boxing out, and with higher expectations for making basic fundamental plays, Pop has a shorter fuse for poor focus on these details. Just one game, just one, in which we box out well for the whole game. This one wasn’t it. And though the final rebounding tally was closer by the end of the game, down 48-43, we were down even worse on O boards, 19-13.
I hope we take pride in the good play we’ve put together, and keep filling the competitive well with rewarding examples for the upcoming seven-game home stand. It’s been a tough grind on this road trip, but there are good lessons to take from them, individually and as a team. We have an opportunity to finish the month strong.
