SPURS GAME DAY! SPRING EQUINOX EDITION GAME 69: SPURS VS. MAVS, 19-3-2024, 7PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

Wemby 3 miss.

Wemby wonky pass for a TO. Not sure if he lost the ball in his hands on that curl drive and sort of pushed it in Tre's direction but out of his reach...

[G R E Y]

We win another challenge that should not have to have been used. It clearly went off them right in front of the ref.

[G R E Y]

Wemby looked like he wined at an opponent drive. Replay showed his ankle rolling a little and he is now checking his leg movement on the bench. But he's out there for the final plays so it looks like he's well enough to continue.

[G R E Y]

HOW DO WE NOT FOUL?

"I don't know why we backed off" - Bill

Yeah...

[imagump1313]

Felt like we were just being toyed with the entire time.

[G R E Y]

'Grrrreeeaaat' ... No impact on the game at all then ...

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 107 MAVS 113

Patterns patterns patterns. In this case, a slower 1ST Q (at least in terms of allowing points against even though we scored well), staying even the rest of the way (so not pressing to impose in any other Q), too many TOs, and Sochan taking more FGAs than Wemby when both are inefficient. That last one is getting more laughable the more often it happens.

We couldn’t take advantage of an inefficient Luka game and got caught by a super scorer in Irving. It’s no shame. He a champ and has a complete O package. They are also the best clutch team in the league.

But in the control what we can and should department, another 15TOs for another costly 19 points against (-9 in the stat) stood out; even though won the rebound battle 48-40 and a convincing 9-3 on O boards, the second chance points were only 9-8 for us. There were other offsetting levers for and against us throughout the game. We made four more 3s but made five fewer shots overall, and lost the PITP 52-42. We did miss Collins and had a tougher time protecting the rim with Wemby in early foul trouble and Dom filling in at backup C; he did what he could (2-4, 1 board, 5 assists, 1 steal in 16 minutes) but he’s clearly out of position. And while both teams made 15FTs, we missed six more - crucial in a six-point deficit result. After the 1ST Q, we won the next three Qs overall by a combined two points so we did not make nearly enough of a push to pull away.

This is the third game in the last four in which Sochan took more FGAs than Wemby. He was more efficient in a couple of them, but as previously pointed out, stats hide the chances that were passed on. How a scorer, our true undisputed #1 option, is treated too often as a decoy or looked off of at this point in the season is mystifying. And it’s not just Wemby. Dom was looked off of despite having right positioning. This **** ‘rookies wait your turn’ or ‘eat last’ bull has to be rid of going forward (as in for next year).

It’s easy to see how Wemby could just be **** sick of being missed with passes by team mates who make a couple of shots and then go I-me-mine mode. It’s like there’s a switch that flips in Sochan’s head and he sees a green light for his own O lane. Yet he just does not have the skill to finish properly which has resulted in the low 43.9%FG this season; this is even lower than last season. He also does not have the consistent 3 even though he has improved up to 32.7% from the arc. Sochan was at just over 24% last season to so the trend is good, of course, but he’s come back down to earth and is riding the efficiency of better previous months. He’s 28.6% from 3 in March but has taken more attempts per game than any in any other month this season. And while he averages an impressive 77% from the FT line now (a noticeable improvement over last season’s 69.8%), he still only takes two attempts per game, same as last season. Our PF who should be bruising inside instead averages more 3s attempts than he does FTs attempts.

Sochan finished with 13 on 4-15, 3-9 from 3, 2-4FTs with 10 boards (3 on O), 6 assists, 2TOs. In other words, he made 1-6 on non 3s attempts, somehow worse than his 3s. How about that shot selection...

Wemby had our other double double with 12 on 3-13, 0-4 from 3, game high 6-7FTs, game high 11 boards (3 on O), 3 assists, 1 steal, and game high 6 blocks, 5TOs, and 4 fouls. Here’s an example of how stats hide deeper truths – Sochan had more assists, but Wemby was the more willing passer and set Sochan up for good shots better.

Devin showed breadth and depth to his game with 19 on 9-18, 0-3 from 3, 1-1FT (terrific decisions about which shots best take advantage of), 6 boards, 3 assists, and game high 3 steals. He operated almost exclusively from center to right side and when his 3s weren’t falling he switched to his mid range and drive game to good effect.

Tre led us with 22 on excellent 8-11, team best 4-5 from 3, 2-2FTs, 3 boards, and team high 9 assists. One of his best games of the season.

Is it too much to expect more from Julian? Is his starting affecting that perception? Maybe. In 20 minutes, he made 2-5 from 3, with 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 block. He shows flashes on D and at times disappears; he moves well off ball but needs more variety beyond 3s and trying to dunk every time he drives (and fails). He seems comfortable in the role. Or perhaps is just relishing in the final moments of it. But I thought we’d get more all out hustle, more consistent arms up to contest, more pressure on PATFO to fight for the position, or the position on the team for that matter.

His bench counterpart, Keldon, led the second unit with 14 on 5-10, 3-6 from 3, 1-2FTs, with bench high 6 boards (1 on O), and 2 assists in starter level 28 minutes. He worked to his strengths with all shots either at the arc or in the paint but for one mid range miss. He shot around the arc but missed all his right side shots, but is now adept at finishing with either hand. Say what you will abut him but Keldon has grown to have a more complete scoring game.

He was part of a 35-point bench output. Branham scored 11 on 4-7, 1-3 from 3, 2-3FTs, with 4 boards (bench high 2 on O), and 1 assist. He did a better job playing within the team system with extra passes and smart drives. On D he showed improved moving around screens with those timely wide sidesteps and stayed with his man better.

Off ball movement master Cedi chipped in 2-4, 1-3 from 3 with 1 assist and bench high 2 blocks while Blake, who’s been averaging fewer minutes to Branham for a while now only played 13 minutes and had 0-20-1 from 3, 1-2FTs with 4 boards, 1 steal, and 1 block. Relentless on D; O game coming along on the strength of his ‘dunk everything’ attitude.

We have shown flashes of right team play before and so now going away from it in favour of guys getting theirs is mystifying and disappointing. We a terrific 31 assists and ran some of our sets well, but must focus more now on setting up right guys in them.

Sean kept repeating how we kept missing Wemby, how he needed the ball early in the paint – Right. First. Play. It is a singular focus from which all O flows better and through which is the best path to team success.

p.s. It would be nice if Pop weren’t such a hardass to Tom Orsborn who comes across as a good person and is very good reporter. He’s just doing his job. Ease up, Pop!

[G R E Y]

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube