SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 25: SPURS VS. ROCKETS, 8-12-2022, 7:30PM (CT)

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Poor Collins is a punching bag tonight. Lots of head hits. Not safe.

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Pop's 'Do you hear yourself? Are you **** kidding me?' face when listening to a ref explain a call is legendary lol

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We need to be POISED and defensively sound down the final stretch here.

Play smart O, keep moving, make good to great shots.

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Keldon moving his feet on D preventing penetration, we get the O foul with great fight for positioning in the post.

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YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!

[imagump1313]

Missed opportunity

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4TH Q: SPURS 118 ROCKETS 109

Resurgent game!

Pop had more pep in his sideline step all animated when getting into guys individually or the bench or the players on the court, Keldon was back to roaring his way through the key, Tre was a driving initiator again picking up the pace and scoring load, Collins and Bassey were bruisers in the paint (and getting bruised in Collins' case), and Doug and JRich kept moving and scoring, all the while team D was better than it has been in at least a month for the first win in at least that span.

No coincidence, that.

All the more impressive was that we did it missing three starters in addition to some key bench contributors. But having our two vets back who each contributed 12 points was central for balancing us.

We missed Doug’s top tier off-ball movement, drive, and 3s game. For a young team developing good habits, it’s crucial having someone who models their consistency and results. With him on the court it wakes us up to emulate it.

For all my angst about missed bunnies, when I watch other games I see even established players miss them. Does that lower expectations for us? No. Does temper angst about them? Somewhat.

So I can live with an erratic Doug miss at the rim now and again because opponents have to respect his constant movement (resulting in 3-3FTs) and threat at the rim and arc (3-5) which helps us out a lot.

Jrich led the bench with 12 shots, one of only three Spurs on double digit FGAs, but we needed another scoring focal point to ease pressure off of Keldon and Tre. The change was that the ball wasn’t in JRich’s hands nearly as long and he either passed or shot more quickly. It made a big difference because we weren’t standing around watching the ISO show. Instead, we generated better energy when the ball was moved more even if we had to scramble at times.

Although Jrich struggled with efficiency, like Doug he made three 3s (on team high 9 attempts)s and made his lone FT chance. It was part of a 34-point bench output which included 10 points by Bassey. The rookie C shot 3-3FGs and 4-4FTs (tied for team high). He's been hitting from everywhere in G-League, including beyond the arc, and while he has only attempted six 3s in San Antonio, he showed more comfort and confidence in taking a J tonight.

Bassey was a defensive force as well: one steal, 5 boards (1 on O) - tying a bench high, 3 assists – a bench high, and a team best 4 blocks. With Collins in foul trouble (5), we relied on Bassey more and he really came through. He was aggressive which allowed us to guide drivers to him and rely on his disruptive presence. Drivers were conscious of his rim protection which got into their heads and adjusts shots. He got some tutelage from Pop on the sidelines and implemented it well, looking more assimilated than in some previous games. Really solid all around game from him.

After only 7 points combined in the first half, the three of them stepped up with 27 points in the second half, including 8-8FTs.

You can always tell Pop means business when he streamlines the rotation. Despite having fewer players available, he ran a tight eight man unit for the most part, with Roby at 16 MPG and Alize Johnson in for just a few.

Pop started three guards to positive effect. They ensured ball handling and pace, provided good D, pushed the ball, stretched the floor, and kept up movement. Really only Collins as facilitator at the elbows looked least comfortable. I remember when Jakob was learning to do it and he’s far better now than expected back then. Takes time to add this and you have to live with the mistakes along the way to progress.

Collins got banged up a lot with his nose-in-it style of play, a much needed and welcome element. He started far more assertively on O, making both of his attempts in the paint rather than the more passive settling for outside Js previously. Although he only scored four points by the half, he also chipped in 3 boards (1 on O), 1 assist, and 1 steal. With Collins shooting only 27.8% from 3 this season, being assertive inside ensured he got D attention which allowed others to operate more freely as he couldn’t be sagged off of. His post ups looked better in terms of rhythm, wide stance and body balance positioning, footwork, and making his move into the paint for a shot. He finished with 10 points on 5-6 (all made in the paint), 0-1 from 3, 5 boards (1 on O), 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

The team high 5TOs (4 by the half, so he cleaned it up) were from some weak passes as he grows as a Jakob-lite facilitator at the top or elbow. He picked up his dribble too early and made weak passes that at times had to cover too much distance. That’s on team mates to recognize and do better coming to the ball as well.

He put his body into good screens, some gritty man D, and rim protection. He’ll feel it the next day but we benefited in the game.

Keldon was wonderful driving relentlessly through far taller players using his physicality and returned touch at the rim which helped set our vertical and aggressive tone. He finally got his shot going by starting from the inside out. It wasn’t until the 2ND Q when he took his first 3, after he’d made 5-5 in the paint in the 1ST Q. In fact, he’d only attempted one 3 in the first half.

He had resurgent game leading us in scoring with 32 on 14-21, 3-6 from 3, 1-3FTs, team high 7 boards, and 1 assist. He didn’t handle the ball as much with Jrich and Romeo back and didn’t waste time over dribbling deciding what to do with the ball. What really what stood out was his D. He got up into his man’s space, moved his feet really well, arms up better (work in progress), using his big body to prevent easy penetration and force passes.

Tre was a driving menace as well. He made 7-8 in the restricted area and 8-10 2s overall as well as 2-6 from 3, 4-4FTs for a career high 26 points, tied for team high 5 assists, 3 rebounds (1 on O). He kept looking for open lanes and pushed through to help pick up the scoring slack. He also pestered his man on D, fought hard over screens, read the switches well so that we weren’t as exposed as before having a big on Tre nearly as often.

Romeo had a great O game as well. I like how he’s using a curl drive into the paint more where he finished 5-6, and made 1-3 from 3 for 11 points, and tied with Tre for team high 5 assists as well. He’s a big mobile guard whose fluid movement belies his strength but it shows when he drives and absorbs contact as well as in providing very solid D when he stands his ground on man D forcing drivers out of the paint. Romeo led the team with 2 steals in what looked like more spirited contesting and fighting over screens and getting his long arms into action. He is also a terrific rebounder, one of those players with a knack for finding the ball, and led the three starting guards with 4 boards (1 on O). He was quicker on both ends which was a good sign of comfort and compete level. At times hemissed the first option passes, something to work on, but he kept possession well (only 1TO) to recognize and pass to other options. Excellent all around game with a team best +15.

Malaki has a twitchy physicality to him, very suddenly quick, a style that worked in our favour to keep defenses moving even though he struggled with his Frisbee-flat shot, making 2-7. He did finally make a 3 even if on four tries. He’s working with coaches to improve the arc. Once he does soften and bend it, look out.

He did noticeably better on D, staying with his man, giving no space, and forcing secondary options. Like Bassey, Malaki got some sideline tutelage from Pop only his was more of the ear ringing spitfire variety, followed by a pat. There was definitely a tighter leash for **** ups, and a closer examination of how guys were focused on playing right way.

Our D as a team was much better – commitment to keeping drives out of the middle, better help D, better rotations and contests. There were fewer completely uncontested 3s which in itself was so good to see. We did well with full court press in specific situations like end of Qs as well. All these details add up. And when we got into those weird doldrums and made mental mistakes Pop called timeouts to get us focused. Overall, the defensive dedication was there as was its aggressiveness and consistency.

Some D things to work on: We could still run back on D better in transition, and be more mindful of boxing out. We got badly outrebounded on O boards 16-7 even if the overall 42-38 edge against was closer. We missed our starting front court; no Spur got more than 1 O board. Still, those who did play have to be better aware of shot and body position and balance them with running back on D.

Some signs of resilience showed as well. We started 0-7 from 3, 3-14 at the half, and thanks to an explosive 3RD Q we finished 13-36, one of our best outputs in a long while. I like that we didn’t look to the 3 as a bail out but as part of an overall varied attack. We had a big 21-4 fast break advantage, kept pounding points in in the paint where it was just about even, and leaped them in 3s taken and made. It was pleasant and unusual to have all five starters at least attempt a 3.

Some O to work on: At times we had four Spurs on the right side with one player up top or slightly left of center arc and there was hardly any movement. Not sure what we were to run there but there was too much congestion and not enough movement with a lot of empty space under utilized.

Of course being up by quite a lot there’s a tendency for one team to go on cruise control and another to make a run, but in the last five minutes or so when our 20-point lead dwindled to 9 it was a sight to behold. We reverted to that apprehensive, let’s make a series of mistakes on both ends space, but made enough stops and got to the FT line to stay ahead.

At times Pop had to motion for us to pick up the vertical pace but overall we were the more assertive team and rewarded ourselves for the effort.

We had 16TOs, 7 in the second half, and gave up 17 points on them while scoring 11 off of theirs. We rank 26th with 16.4 per game. We’ve inched up from the bottom but it’s definitely still something that still needs work even as they’re understandable for a young team and with several players out making consistency development all the harder.
Does opponent matter? Sure, but then we were the far more depleted team. Compete level was much better. Nice that we were locked in, more energized, moving and yes defending well.

You need games with reward for good play so guys feel it and feed off it to use in the next one.

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NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

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HIGHLIGHTS

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POST-GAME INTERVIEWS

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