SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 64: SPURS VS. MAVERICKS, 12-3-2025, 7PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 126 MAVS 116

Well a split is a good result after all.

We were out of sorts to start but trended the right way the rest of the game.

Where would we be without Fox? He had an understated near triple double leading us with 33/11/9. Only the 2-7 from 3 stood out as a persnickety critique. His ability to create his own shot, to get to the rim with ease - well, to his credit, he makes it look easy - and to finish with such craft really stands out when he puts his foot on the pedal.

As I mentioned before, Devin is highly valuable when he is playing with flow, not pressing, and also in the right slitted role. Like Keldon before him, we gave Dev a lot of reps in our doldrum hard rebuild seasons, reps as first options, reps as main ball handlers, leaders, decision makers, set initiators, etc. And like Keldon now, Dev has gone through playing various positions, has gone through various roles, and though we knew he would not in all likelihood be a first option long term, we did consider him a second option to Wemby.

While this season has shown a second option is also not the right role - he has been too inconsistent, not clutch, perhaps from coming off injury or perhaps from pressing too hard - this is not a failure but simply information.

Feedback from this season shows that Devin as a third/fourth option with at times stepping up as a second one looks to be the right fit. He is valued by us and the hope is that he embraces being a star in his role like Keldon has so that his game can truly shine. To that end, the return of his defense has been a bright spot. His man and team D - BBIQ, effort, switches, fighting through screens, getting after the ball in passing lanes, staying from of drivers and shutting down driving lanes, running down blocks - have shown a much missed and more consistent resurgence.

Devin's D had taken a back seat during the time when he was spreading his wings as the go-to guy on O. Since then, it was a choice as to where energy went, at times saving it more for O. But his identity as leading with defense, as energy bringer there is hugely valuable, especially on nights when his confidence has waned with his shot not falling.

Devin's defensive talent is much needed and he can be an invaluable piece as this as his foundation again, the ground from which his O game can flow with a lot attention going to Wemby and now Fox.

So getting Fox us the correct move for now and our future, and it has a trickle effect for roles and adjustments to them going forward.

Anyway, he once again made some very solid D plays that helped galvanize our efforts when we got unraveled at times. Deflecting passes, getting blocks, passing ahead, good energy, good results. So much so that the inefficiency which usually stand out was diminished, and his +13 and double double (16 and 10 boards) along with 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block were highlights. Fox (41 minutes) and Devin (34) were most relied on and they came through.

Our three oldest vets got age appropriate minutes haha if I can put it that way. We are relying on CP but not overtaxing him. He dished 9 assists though had an uncharacteristic 4TOs in a healthy 25 minutes. Barnes continues to impress with his calm demeanour and good drives and clutch corner 3s while chipping in with boards, assists, steals in 31 minutes. BB made the most of his 17 minutes, changing the course of the game with some energy shifting rim protection that infused us with the right response as we followed suit and charged ahead from the second Q onward.

We bounced back to win the rebound battle 47-31 and 13-3 on O boards. We got 32 assists and 11 steals which overcame 16TOs that cost us 27 points (the same number we earned off theirs). We won PITP 66-52 and 29-19 fast break points.

Our bench was buoyed by the energy boys, Keldon and Sochan, each surprising by not only contributing what we know them for, but pleasantly with what we don't. There was Keldon diving through legs to get a steal and Sochan leading the bench with 2-5 from 3. Each scored 18 with terrific work in the paint. All of Keldon's shots were in the paint, drive after drive, and all of Sochan's non 3s were in the restricted area, cut after cut and finishing deft passes mostly from Fox.

Castle led the bench with starter level 27 minutes but struggled to score or get defenders to bite on some of his off pace drives. Also 4TOs. So more of a learning game.

I tease JC about getting blocked by the rim - again - but he did finish other drives off glass and put in good effort for steals on D. Not sure how or why he played more minutes than Keldon, but the latter surely made more of his and stood out better. He should be rewarded with PT accordingly. They have so far been averaging near identical minutes this season. Interesting, that.

We limited our fouls (it wasn't really the most intense game) and did much better making our FTs 15-16.

We poured in 126 points despite poor 3s shooting but the overall solid efficiency at over 53% was due to our balanced attack. We've had games where nearly half our shots were from the arc, but around 37% of our shots came from relying on the 3. Our shot chart showed a healthy diet of 3s, mostly elbow and around the paint opportunistic 2s, and strong paint feasting.

It was all about the effort and cohesion in this last grind of the season. I hope guys keep playing for minutes and roles as we build chemistry and give opportunities to guys who have not played as much. I sort of forgot Branham and Blake are on the team. They have to make a case for themselves if given the chance. I am curious to see how Castle bounces back. Small ball is here to stay for the rest of the season so we will have to rely on team effort all the more. Let's see what we've got.