SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 71: SPURS VS. HAWKS, 19-3-2023, 3PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

Keldon was fallen on rather carelessly and he was **** crushed after he fell.

This after he was hit in the lower mid section earlier.

This after he was hit on the hand before that.

[G R E Y]

We get stops. We get into transition. We get good results.

[G R E Y]

Collins and late 4TH fouls is like moth to the flame.

[damanick10]

Collins is becoming a really good piece for us

[damanick10]

Collins is becoming a really good piece for us

Jinxed it

[G R E Y]

Collins horizontal pass to... the third row. TO but with under 20 seconds left.

[G R E Y]

WOOT! WOOT! WOOT!

[imagump1313]

STUPID STUPID STUPID......

[imagump1313]

2 Game lead on Charlotte. We are effed......

Soo long Wemby.

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 126 HAWKS 118

Sweet. The better-playing team won, though it’s a good thing there’s 48 minutes because that first half was all kinds of woeful on D. Scoring 63 at a half on 50% from the field should in no way have had us down 22 if we just more than barely defended. But it was a soft, undisciplined, foul-filled, effort, giving up too much space on shots or reaching in to make up for it or not boxing out over and over.

Post-game, Devin said Pop had some choice words at half time about our effort. We’re better at starting fresh but with some payback spice to leading teams, and I think to this one in particular. You want to know what we REALLY think of the shifty crap comments? See the response in the second half.

And so after allowing 83 in the first on 60% efficiency, they only scored 35 in the second in total, finishing with a 13% drop in efficiency. They went 0-10 from 3 in the second half and we hit an incredible 8-12 from 3 in the 3RD and 1-4 in the 4TH on the way to our own efficiency increasing to 54.3% overall with 50% from 3 on 12-24. We only got to the FT line 10-16 so both of those numbers need work.

Keldon uncharacteristically went 0-2 from the FT line twice but took a beating en route to 29 points (13-21, 2-3 from 3, 1-5FTs – oof), team high 12 boards (1 on O), 5 assists, and 1 steal. There were times when the defensive lapses were maddening like a clumsy fight over a screen, following his man into the paint and running forward after a lax contest leaving him wide open for the O board. There’s lots that went wrong there, but there’s lots he did right at other times, too. He showed a new added wrinkle turnaround fadeaway from the corner, some nice drawing of defenses in and being ready to pass out to open team mates, good glass use, and pushing the ball ahead in transition. The majority of his shots were in the restricted area and he even drove left on a couple of them. He attempted a couple of mid range Js (1-2), and was selective in his 3s attempts, no longer settling for bombing away, spamming the stat darling shot.

Our 1-1a punch came from where we’d hoped, Devin, who got his rhythm and legs back for a stellar 29 points, leading us 5-8 from 3 as part of 12-17 overall, along with 2 boards, 3 assists, tied for team high 3 steals, and 1 block. I love his high release fadeaway Js, his space creating sidesteps and two-foot, balanced shots, and his better handles. Defensive IQ has always been there, and now you can see him thinking a step or two in anticipation of what’s evolving, contesting and recovering space right after to prevent easy scoring, switching out to contest, or picking off passes. Devin is a smart, fundamentally sound player whose improving dribbling and decision making broke defenses. And considering who was guarding him, Devin was all the more assertive with more go-to moves. That he got 29 points without any FT attempts is impressive but we do want him to get to the line, too. He’s averaging a career high 2.7FTAs per game, though we expect that and his efficiency at the line to go up as he continues to get better in finishing in different ways at the rim. He made both of his shots in the restricted area, but had only three paint attempts (the third was a right elbow make), operating mostly from the outside. You take the shots a defensive gives you or you can create against. That he was able to hold his more experienced counterpart to fewer points on less comfortable, more contested shots stood out well, too.

Collins has flourished as a starter since the Jakob trade, being not only a comparable stat stuffer but a floor spreader and FT maker, all with a dose of nastiness. It’s not easy being the sharp point of that spear. He sticks his nose in and made some terrific defensive stops putting his body and competitive spirit on the line. He led us with 2 blocks, led starters with 3 O boards (8 in total), tied for team high 3 steals, had 3 assists, and 19 points on 8-13, 1-3 from 3, 2-2FTs. He’s been more disciplined in not fouling early, but still has a penchant for late 4TH Q O fouls, and sure enough he barreled over defenders on drives and dishes that cost us a couple of possessions. He’s improved in just about every facet of his game, so I expect him to adjust here, too. Even Pop laughed about it in the post-game interview; patterns are known, now for changing them.

Malaki led us with a +21 despite struggling with efficiency. Keldon praised his second half D in the post-game interview: “And we expect that from him going forward” was good leadership but said without a hint of irony. We expect better all around, mate. Malaki’s quick and hungry to set early building blocks but these come with growing pains. Good thing that the game is so much easier for him on O already even if he gets tunnel vision at times. He has to learn to find his team mates better, part of the learning curve of giving him some PG duties so he thinks of O sets differently. He has defensive potential with his freakishly long arms and twitchy movement (he’s very light footed like Blake and like Devin, but unlike Keldon). You could see Tre talking to him on switches and D coverages. Malaki’s done a better job being in the right place at the right time and keeping guys out of middle drives and staying with them.

Tre led us with 6 assists, and 3-3FTs even as he struggled to find the right glass angles (4-10, 0-1 from 3) but having his experience to help guide Malaki on D and be a cog on O stabilized us on both ends.

Loved Blake’s assertiveness going on that 5-0 run with a 3 and drive to put us ahead after a big deficit. It was also an important learning experience for him going up defensively against quick lanky guards. Can’t wait to see how he grows on D and as a decision maker on O. He’s already got a quick burst, fearlessness, and 3-level scoring potential. We’re juust seeing the beginnings of what he could be having missed a lot of the season with an injury. He struggled to score but still took his shots confidently in pressure situations, and led the bench with +12.

Mamu led the bench with 5 assists and 1 block, and led the team with 4 O boards (bench high 6). Though he struggled to score and had several butter fingered ball slips, he hustled for loose balls, gave us several second chances to score, and kept the ball moving. I was sad things didn’t work out with Roby, but Mamu has made a noticeable difference on both ends. He hustles more, is a terrific passer, and just finds ways to make winning plays. BBIQ and effort.

Julian led the bench with 11 on 4-8, 3-6 from 3, and 3 boards (1 on O). It stands out how well he plays within himself. He has a 3s-specialist skill set and pace to set up his shots, be patient with fakes, square up his body, and release, and can’t be rushed out of it.

Nice to see Romeo back. Nicer still to see him assertive and driving, especially with those right handed floaters from the left side, getting after 50/50 battles, deflections, etc. Scored 3-3, 1-2FTs with 1 board, and 1 steal.

Diop weirdly didn’t take a shot in 12 minutes of play. Had more TOs (2), fouls (1), assists (1), and rebounds (3) than attempts. Faked some, drove some, passed some, but in 94FGAs you’d think he could create something for himself. Strange outlier. He’s a capable driver and 3s shooter. Just wish he’d assert it consistently.

We had seven fewer FGAs but made three more shots overall, including nine more 3s, buoyed by that 3RD Q outburst in which we scored more than our opponent in the entire second half (39-35). We were more active defensively as well with nine of their 12TOs coming from our steals. The former offset the FTs disparity against as we lost points at the line: 17-20 to our 10-16; the latter helped to offset possession swings and second chance points particularly because of the big rebounding disparity we found ourselves on the lower end of, with 51-41 as well as a big 20-10 on O boards against.

The momentum generated from both ball movement and good stops, particularly late in the game when we gang contested and rebounded was good competitiveness and experience, as was the come from behind work, and executing in pressure situations. We got into their spaces better, increased our physicality on both ends, and just flat out wanted it more. There was extra incentive underneath and the effort showed it.

Pop played a 10-strong unit with balanced minutes. Our three main players, Keldon, Devin, and Tre all played within a minute or so of their averages. Collins played above his average but given that he’s a starter now, that’s expected. He’s been brought along gradually so he doesn’t look like the increase is affecting his play. Malaki’s minutes have increased steadily month to month throughout the season. He had a scorching February averaging 16.8 (shooting 50% on career-high 13.6FGAs, including 38.6% from 3 and 76.5%FTs) /3.8 /2.7 in 31.6MPG. In the seven games in March, he’s averaging the second highest 25.7MPG on lower efficiency but still keeping up his rebounding and assists which is a good adjustment.

Because we had several players out, including 3s specialist vets, Doug and Graham, we had a bench consisting of ‘vet’ Diop alongside two waiver pickups in Mamu (19) and Julian (18), rookie Blake (18), and prodigal son Romeo who led the group with 21 minutes. All but Diop played above their per game averages though in fairness all but Diop scored, and really they all are players whose games we must mine more.

Our bench was outscored 46-31 but really we couldn’t have won without them and having young guys contribute meaningfully and grow their games is a double win.

We now have 11 games left, eight on the road, bookended by travel back-to-backs at the beginning and end of them. At least eight of the teams we’re facing are in a playoff seed hunt. This season’s been a long grind, but we can’t take what we’ve learned for granted. Put it into practice, continue good habits, stay together.

[G R E Y]

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

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[G R E Y]

HIGHLIGHTS

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POST-GAME INTERVIEWS

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