GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 27: SPURS VS. JAZZ, 9-12-2018, 6PM (CT)

Post #1 » by **G R E Y** » Sun Dec 9, 2018 6:22 pm

On the second of our season-long six-game home stint, carrying over our good team momentum, solid fundamentals, and hustle to strengthen our flow going forward is vital.

WHERE: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

WHEN: Sunday, December 9, 2018, 6pm (CT)

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GO SPURS GO!!!

ducler · Post #2 » by **ducler** » Sun Dec 9, 2018 6:56 pm

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Post #3 » by **G R E Y** » Sun Dec 9, 2018 10:25 pm

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Post #4 » by **G R E Y** » Sun Dec 9, 2018 10:26 pm

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Post #5 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:14 am

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Post #6 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:14 am

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Post #7 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:17 am

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Post #8 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 1:17 am

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Post #9 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 2:31 am

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Post #10 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 2:31 am

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Post #11 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 2:35 am

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Post #12 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 2:36 am

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Post #13 » by **G R E Y** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 3:12 am

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Post #14 » by **G R E Y** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:03 am

Great team win for our second in a row, a long overdue winning streak which couldn’t be coming at a better time. We solidified some terrific team play and built on principles we carried from the previous game.

While the stat of our chances of winning when LMA scores at least 20 points has been mostly reliable, it’s the defensive end - limiting teams to under 50FG% and to quarters under 30 points - that is central for us, even in the league’s weird new scoring explosion trend and teams adjusting to rules that have fostered it. I suppose almost every team wants to have such defensive goals, but when we’re working on building up our defensive foundation and neither our game today nor our system in general is predicated on going berserk shooting lights out all or nothing from the 3, we’re looking like we’re understanding better that getting stops leads to getting more of what we want on O, namely making shots within our team system that takes advantage of our strengths team-wide.

To that end, we did very well in establishing our defensive presence, holding our opponent to their season-low 36 first half points at 37.5FG% and under 100 for the game (they finished with 97) for the first time since November 18 when we held GSW to 92 points (in our victory in Indy on November 23, we held them to 100, the next closest). We were at 50FG% (22-44) by the half. Their explosive third quarter matched their first half output to our 28, but we finished the game at 52.8% to their 43.5FG% overall.

From the start of the game we had some resilience to both our missed shots and their early 9-0 run during which we shot 2-8. They pushed the ball for quick points after our misses, but after an early Pop timeout we regrouped defensively. Great help D from LMA to deflect a pass that we stole and pushed up to Rudy for his own putback dunk or from Beli to get the ball back again and pass ahead to Patty for a 3 were but two examples of attention to detail reaping rewards for us. We sometimes got caught not running back or getting stuck behind screens, but where guys were late, others stepped in for blocks, deflections, great box outs, and clogging up the middle so as to not allow as many easy points in our key. In end of quarter execution, DeMar drove and got fouled, making both free throws, and though we gave up an O board on their last possession, they missed the second chance as well. We’ve had some go against us, so you take the breaks you’re given. We did enough well enough to prevent some shots, contest others, and take advantage of our movement oriented O. Getting four steals to only two turnovers (and one steal against) reflected an overall locked in and clean defensive effort. So after their early run, we went on a 10-0 one of our own and finished the quarter strong 23-18. Good O flow from solid D.

In the second, we continued where we left off, starting on a 7-0 run facilitated by Jakob’s block that led to our gaining back the possession, eventually ending in Beli’s hands for a crafty long floater. It seems like with Beli the higher degree of difficulty, the higher the chance of the shot going in. DeMar fell onto the court to scramble for a loose ball and got fouled for his efforts, and LMA scored after a subsequent inbound. A couple of possessions later, we forced a shot clock violation. Towards the end of the Q, Patty protected the key well staying in front of the ball handler, forcing him to pass to a teammate Beli stripped of the ball. We ended the Q with a rebound and a sweet DeMar floater off the glass for a last second basket. It was one of our best team defensive efforts in a long while, and it was the thrust behind our O flow that had us up 54-36 at the half.

We were 7-8FTs in the first half to our opponent’s 2-5, yet we finished with 11-12 for the game to their 14-19. So in the second half we got to the line 4 times to their 14. Part of it was Mitchell being held scoreless in the first half and in the second attacking more to be their leading scorer. You expect a team down to make a run, and they picked up the pace, started out the third Q with three 3s, and Mitchell drove at us relentlessly, getting to the FT line for 6-8 (part of their 10-12 in this Q). The third Q is the only one they won, scoring as many points as they did the entire first half. Though we pushed the lead up to 63-42, they made a concerted effort to get back in the game and at times we were a bit behind getting back on D and could neither stop fouling nor get a call. Our lead was down 82-72.

Their trimming our lead down to 86-81 early in the fourth was a test of our poise and resolve. We increased our intensity and from Bryn driving and finally getting a foul call for free throws, to hustling after a loose ball and getting another foul call to Beli’s no look pass to a wide open LMA for 2 under the basket to Jakob’s aggressive O rebounding to Rudy’s finding open pockets for a variety of made shots we put together a team-wide effort on both ends that showed a kind of synergy we’re looking to sustain.

Despite Pop having to run a mostly eight-man unit with Dante and Davis both out, we had the right chemistry; whichever combination of players was on the floor good things happened. Our main guys took turns taking the game over. Patty (2-3) and Beli (2-2) in the first Q; LMA (6-6) in the second; Bryn (3-3), DeMar (4-9), and Rudy (2-2) in the third; Rudy (6-7), LMA, and Derrick (2-3 each) in the fourth. Supporting them throughout were Beli with clutch 3s and great movement on both ends to get to open spaces and prevent their drivers to get into ours, Derrick with great passes and aggressive drives for dunks, Rudy tying his career high with 15 rebounds, DeMar with a team-high 8 assists, Jakob blocking their C to stop a potential dunk and keep up our momentum. DeMar followed with a J for a 4-point swing in our favour, and a 110-97 result.

There’s been a different more positive spirit and energy to our games, like we’re focused on moving in the same direction and that has a kind of synergistic flow to it.

We did well to clog up our key on drives, stay in front of drivers with quick feet and hands up or out, force them off the arc, deflect passes, strip them of the ball before they shot, force shot clock violations, and have several players get after rebounds. We created a lot of stops, but we do need to work on generating more points from those chances. Sometimes we gave it right back with turnovers of our own, but we didn’t get down about these. We also need to make sure we do not give up so many points off our turnovers. We only had 11, but cost ourselves 19 points (they had 16 turnovers that we converted to 15 points).

We won the interior battles, dominating 52-38 points in the paint and 46-38 rebounds (10-9 on O). It was great to see several of our players drive at them assertively throughout the game (fewer missed bunnies!), and break up their alley oop and dunk attempts on the other end. We’re feeding off of each player’s hustle on both ends. Shout out to Pau for his support and positivity, and to the bench for their enthusiasm.

I like that we’ve started asserting our game plan early and forcing opponents to adjust rather than waiting to respond to what the other team presents to us. It shows more of a confidence in our system, regardless of opponent. The ball is also not sticking with any one player for too long; we’re swinging it, spreading the floor, guys are moving quickly and making smart cuts (and I love the bounce passes to cutters for easy buckets while giving up fewer of such, both of which we’ve been succeeding at more of late).

With more guys contributing, the main scorers can now get more rest and our minutes are more balanced. We still need great out put from our main three guys, and we did tonight – LMA (20 on 10-15, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist), DeMar (26 on 10-23, 6-6FTs, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 block), and Rudy (23 on 10-16, 3-4FTs, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block). That said, Bryn continues to be a revelation, stepping in with confidence to a pressure situation and contributing (15 on 6-8, 1-1 from 3, 2-2FTs, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block) and White is looking more confident in just his second start (6 on 3-6, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals). LMA got into foul trouble, but with the game now coming together for Jakob, he has stepped in to fill meaningful minutes. He set great screens, had a team-high 4 O boards (6 overall) with 2 assists and a key block. He does many fundamental things the right way like keeping a rebound high and pivoting to find open teammates or taking the pass right to the basket without dribbling preventing defenses from recovering. He may not have high stats this game, but their timing was crucial, like the 2 great O boards he got late in the game, both of which we scored on to keep up our lead. It’s wonderful to see him playing more minutes and contributing. He, Patty (8 on 3-9, 2-5 from 3, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), and Beli (10 on 4-9, 2-6 from 3, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block) were our bench in this game for the most part, and while Patty has been showing up more often than not, it’s Jakob’s and Beli’s positive input of late that has helped balance our team.

Rudy’s terrific play of late has steadied us as well. I’m so pleased to see him come alive on the court again. His highlight rebounds, putbacks, and dunks in addition to crafty Js have been a huge emotional lift for us, and it gives us some breathing room when he’s so engaged.

We have been showing many more Spursy details to earn a couple of payback wins. It feels like we’re righting the ship and enjoying it. Fair winds of home court are a timely advantage, still, it’s up to us to continue to do the right things and steer the right way, and most importantly, together.

Noteworthy achievements

POP:
* With win #1210, Pop is now tied with Pat Riley for fourth all time! :clap:

BRYN:

DEMAR:

RUDY:

LAMARCUS: