SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 52: SPURS VS. KINGS, 1-2-2023, 7PM (CT)

[imagump1313]

WOW Bill going after Detroit, gump!

I missed it. What did he say?

[G R E Y]

WOW Bill going after Detroit, gump!

I missed it. What did he say?

Something about no players wanting to be stuck in Detroit if they don't have to play there. A bit too unfiltered wow...

[imagump1313]

WOW Bill going after Detroit, gump!

I missed it. What did he say?

Something about no players wanting to be stuck in Detroit if they don't have to play there. A bit too unfiltered wow...

He's not wrong LMAO!

[imagump1313]

Read on Twitter

Both out until April!!!

They better be available for the games I'm going to!

Are you traveling to SA again this year?

[imagump1313]

We are doing great! Now 1 game up in the top three over Charlotte!

Houston has won 2 straight and we are only 1 behind them(thats how fast things can change)

The biggest issue is Orlando because they are still hovering around 5th and stupid Chicago keeps losing. This means the Magic still have the best odds with both picks combined at 18% while the top 3(us) sit at 14%

I wish there was a way we could wrangle one of those picks away from them somehow. I'd give up Poeltl, Keldon, and anything else they wanted.

There's an old legend about the Pistons GM offering the entire roster to the Lakers for the pick they took Magic Johnson with back in the day. I'd honestly consider that

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 109 KINGS 119

Down two starters in Sochan and Tre after the 1ST Q with one already out for a while in Devin is yet another speed bump we had to swerve through.

We managed well enough through the 1ST Q for a 31-30 lead on 58.3%FG and 9 assists, but we allowed our opponent to increase their initial 50% efficiency and to stay above that mark for the rest of the game; we did as well on near identical FGAs and won the 3RD Q as well. In the 4TH we once again brought it to within 1 point when things unraveled with missed shots (10-19), fouls (6), TO’s (5), and getting outscored 30-21 for a final 10-point deficit.

Even though both teams struggled from the arc and both finished with eight made 3s, we were outscored 5-1 in the 4TH. That 15-3 deficit was compounded by 12-6 fast break points and 74-68 points in the paint against, the latter a category we usually win.

Keeping the every play counts adage in mind, the points in the paint were adding up early and quickly, particularly in the paint where they made 10-13 in the 1ST Q. It was surprising how easily Jakob was giving up paint points, sagging just as Js were shot, not even putting up a hand to contest. He had to ensure he protected the rim and made a decision in not covering two players. So either we figure out help D or switches better, or we are stuck giving up really easy points as we did, each of which accumulated throughout the game.

Jakob finished with our lone double double with 18 points on stellar 9-13 and 12 boards (game high 4 on O), along with 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, so a full all around game, but the game worst -12 passes the eye test of the defensive passiveness that was a parallel counter to the good rim protection and O play.

Keldon matched Jakob’s points with 18 on 8-18, 1-5 from 3, 1-2FTs along with 8 boards (2 on O), starter high 5 assists (terrific). He operated once again exclusively at the arc and in the key, and on the mid to right side. Keldon stood out in making a concerted effort to defend with good contests, hands up. He looked to quickly pass ahead more rather than dribbling, to make the extra pass, and to make nice drives and dishes inside as well. Keldon looking for others and trying to hold up his own on D is what we need him to keep focusing on.

Diop had plenty of chances but connected on too few, scoring only 6 on 2-8, 0-2 from 3 but once again had a balanced two-way contribution with 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals.

So with Sochan and Tre not scoring, our starters combined for 40 points. Tre had 4 assists in the 1ST Q alone, and the 30 we got as a team meant we had five more than our opponent despite being outscored.

Our bench poured in 69 to the opponent’s 33 points, an excellent output and use of a reliable strength to our advantage. When mired in a losing streak, we must keep positives in mind. Improvements in doing things the right way more like what Keldon did in this game and growth of our younger players has stood out. Malaki led us in scoring with a career high 22 on terrific 9-13, team high 3-5 from 3, 1-2FTs, and his contribution in other areas like the one board and tied for team high 5 assists is terrific. He does have a tendency to look for his shot first, and that’s not necessarily a flaw in a young player who is learning to score at the pro level. But the assists from him (and Keldon!) were really good signs. That Malaki is a willing three-level scorer from the outset is a big positive for us. He was 3-4 in non-paint 2s, all to the right of the key, and 3-4 in the key, the latter all in the second half. So after establishing a distance game, it opened up lanes that he then took advantage of. Smart. Quick, Confident.

We did a great job getting the ball into Jrich’s hands who, along with Malaki, started from the 3RD Q onward. He was his terrific 3&D self scoring 19 on 8-13, 2-6 from 3, 1-1FT along with a bench high 7 boards (bench high 2 on O), 2 assists, and 2 steals. But Doug was only 2-4, 1-2 from 3 (1 board, 3 assists) so once again we need to do better at getting a sniper more chances to shoot.

Collins was a steady floor raiser scoring 14 on 7-9, 0-1 from 3, only 1 board, and 3 assists. Like JRich, he was mostly a key and 3s scorer but for the lone non-paint mid range J each of them made. We create good shots and have enough of a variety in our scorers to take advantage of different counters to what defenses present. But without a true #1 go-to player who can create and break down defenses, making the most of more of our collective strengths is a must.

For context, here’s where we rank in rookie usage this season:

Read on Twitter

With three rookies getting minutes and player availability affecting line-ups, TO’s once again reared their head. We have this weird tendency of turning the ball over right after we force a TO so we don’t take advantage of rewarding ourselves for the work. We also tend to get into tumbles of TO’s after TO’s for several 4-5 point swings which cost us some streaks against, waning of energy, and Pop calling consecutive timeouts to correct our course. We have been trending well with decreasing TO’s each month from the start of the season, but had a whopping 18 (10 from opponent steals) in this game which cost us 25 points; we were -17 in the category.

Keldon shouldered a lot of the energy shift responsibility and he did a great job initiating the effort that others emulated. It’s such a valuable trait in a season that needs positive lifts all the more. What was frustrating was all the effort to drive relentlessly and not get calls. We had one FT chance through the first three Qs. ONE. 1-1FT in 36 minutes of play. Pop was irate; players were increasingly irritated; fans were jarred at the calls and non-calls. We finished with 5-7FTs to 15-19FTs against – that’s another 10 points. The main thing is to channel the irritation towards more physicality and relentlessness on drives rather than on more dramatic gestures and complaining to refs. Leave that to Pop to advocate for us in the meantime.

With Sochan and Tre out early in the game, and with Devin already out, that’s three starters, all good to terrific defenders missing which affected stability and chemistry on D. We allowed two of the dominant opposing scorers – a PF and PG - to combine for 65 points, and their third highest scorer – an SG – for 22 points off the bench. Although we had all three of our starters playing in the first meeting versus this opponent, that was far earlier in the season, so with Sochan’s even bigger inexperience back in mid-November and team cohesion still nascent, we were still in the early stages of putting together the foundational pieces of how we want to play on both ends. With Romeo, another strong perimeter defender, unavailable for this game either, that’s four regular rotation players whose services would have undoubtedly helped on both ends.

As ever, it’s next man up, and next opportunity opening up for those who do play. Roby scored 5 on 2-2, 1-1from 3, 1 board in 8 minutes, and Blake with just 4 minutes, was scoreless (0-2, 0-1 from 3, 1TO). Even with four important contributors missing, this was our strongest performance versus this opponent, one that was competitive and showed some good punch back after some energy dips. We still won the rebound battle 39-35 and 8-7 on O boards, we still shot very well and scored in a variety of ways, and yes, we still have a lot to put together in terms of better man and team D. Staying true to our principles of right play and staying resilient in doing so remains the task. We must keep showing what we’re learning even as we push through mistakes, different line-ups, and various levels of experience.

[G R E Y]

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

Coming soon...

[G R E Y]

POST-GAME INTERVIEWS

Coming soon...