With the emotional catharsis out of the way, here's hoping we are absolutely refocused on and recharged for the games ahead. First up is the front end of a NY back-to-back. Seaming together complete games for a successful string to end the rodeo road trip is the singular priority for us.
WHERE: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
WHEN: Sunday, February 24, 2019, 6:30pm (CT)
GO SPURS GO!!!
GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
Moderator: G R E Y
GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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G R E Y
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GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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ducler
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
Nightmare scenario in a trap game. We did several things well last game but apparently didn't bring them with us.
We have been vulnerable with Derrick out, and he was held out so as to not tax him as he returns from injury. Still, this was the game that made sense for him to not play on a B2B. With LMA getting into foul trouble after a hot early shooting start, and just about everyone not named DeMar and LMA shooting poorly, we did not defend nearly well enough to bridge the gap. Davis, Bryn, and Beli combined for 0 points after the first Q, and by the half, Rudy, Davis and Bryn combined for 3-13.
We gave up four 30+ quarters, losing each one. Each time we cut it close, like to within 5 towards the end of the half, we allowed consecutive points (4) to them to end the half during which we shot 21-53 for 39.6FG% and only 4-13 from 3 for 30.8% along with 7-8FTs while giving up 25-52 for 48.1FG%, 8-18 from 3 for 44.4% (4-6FTs). We had only 1 turnover in the first half, but also only had 5 assists.
They were more desperate for the win, and we allowed them to keep taking 3s. Even though they missed, they got the chances as we did not do a good job forcing them off the arc, and sure enough, they got hot. They also controlled the pace better, and gave themselves more opportunities to score as a result.
Our defensive rotations, close outs, and overall intensity was sorely lacking - not sure why, other than we have had a tendency to play to the level of our opponents, and to an opponent's record rather than the fight they present before us, and of course, we start showing desperate intensity too late.
The other couple of culprits were that when we got defensive stops or when they missed consecutive shots, we did not take advantage, either by missing shots ourselves or turning the ball over. We only had 7 turnovers, but several were of the more costly variety because of their bad timing. We got it handed to us largely because we did not play grit defense when our shots were not falling. In the second half, they ballooned their lead to 23 (90-67 with 4:40 in the third), but Pop put in guys who showed some gumption - Q, Dante, Bryn, Rudy, Jak - and we cut it down to 11 by the end of the third. Cue the fourth, LMA and DeMar went back in, and we cut it to 9 (102-93) on Beli's 3 FTs with 9:16 left. They missed their next shot, we got the rebound, and it was here that a series of missed opportunities largely sealed our fate. Yes, every play counts, and here were three consecutive ones after which we did not do enough to try and recover again:
From that 9:16 mark to 7:36 neither team scored, but of course we needed to take advantage of their misses and turnovers and did these ourselves instead until they hit a 3 and ended up scoring more points in the 4th than in any other. We had a better second half, but not enough and too late and they won the game, deservedly so.
Mental approach and momentum had a lot to do with it, so with Derrick out, rather than double down on defensive intensity to compensate for missing him, we just did not put in the requisite effort - not running back, not blocking out (even though we won the rebound battle, just, 50-49 and 14-12 on O boards, again, the timing hurt; their getting several late broke open their lead with putbacks and fouls against us), not forcing them off our arc for which they tuned us up for 16-34 from the 3 for 43.2% to add to their 51FG% overall (50-98) while we put up fewer shots and connected at a worse rate - 42-94 for 44.7FG%, and especially from the 3 where we shot a mere 6-24 for 25%. Our FTs kept us in it - 28-31 for 90.3%, but again, this was well after LMA was taken out of the game with his fourth foul within the first minute and a half of the third Q and didn't return until 9:37 of the fourth. Jakob held the fort well in a good consecutive game, but we go as our main guys and our defense goes. With our D wavering and our shots not falling (Davis is streaky - when he's hot, he's blazing; when he's not, he's ice cold. Bryn's shot has become inconsistent again, especially early in games), we did not do nearly enough to get this.
Our mental toughness needs fortifying, and our defensive identity needs to catapult to quick improvement from that mental toughness. Nothing is stopping us from running back faster, or running out for great shadow D on ball handlers, or rotating to close out shooters, at least forcing them second shot options or to bad passes. They only had 6 turnovers - too clean a game, and too physical game against us allowed.
When we were on a solid winning streak, it stemmed from imposing our game on O, taking our sets to opponents, and being flat out mindful to defend; we finally made the switch to our game stemming from solid D out to assertive O. In losses, we get on our heels early defensively, and we are allowing this to affect our O which in turn affects our D.
I don't think we took our opponents lightly tonight so much as we did not match their desperation and physicality and intensity for the win. I feel like this game was about just flat out deciding and resolving that we would not get outhustled or out competed and we did. Despite our not so great shooting, we still scored 118 points (5.5 above our average) which should have been more than enough for a win, but we gave up 130 to a desperate team that averages 105.7. We were hurt by our lack of flinty intensity. Going forward, we have to individually draw a line beyond which we decide that opponents will not cross, and have that collectively raise our overall compete level.
Most importantly, we must stay together and be accountable each to a man and for one another now more than ever. We know we can do better because we have dug deep and figured it our and played far better before. It's within our power to right the ship and steer it in a positive direction.
We have been vulnerable with Derrick out, and he was held out so as to not tax him as he returns from injury. Still, this was the game that made sense for him to not play on a B2B. With LMA getting into foul trouble after a hot early shooting start, and just about everyone not named DeMar and LMA shooting poorly, we did not defend nearly well enough to bridge the gap. Davis, Bryn, and Beli combined for 0 points after the first Q, and by the half, Rudy, Davis and Bryn combined for 3-13.
We gave up four 30+ quarters, losing each one. Each time we cut it close, like to within 5 towards the end of the half, we allowed consecutive points (4) to them to end the half during which we shot 21-53 for 39.6FG% and only 4-13 from 3 for 30.8% along with 7-8FTs while giving up 25-52 for 48.1FG%, 8-18 from 3 for 44.4% (4-6FTs). We had only 1 turnover in the first half, but also only had 5 assists.
They were more desperate for the win, and we allowed them to keep taking 3s. Even though they missed, they got the chances as we did not do a good job forcing them off the arc, and sure enough, they got hot. They also controlled the pace better, and gave themselves more opportunities to score as a result.
Our defensive rotations, close outs, and overall intensity was sorely lacking - not sure why, other than we have had a tendency to play to the level of our opponents, and to an opponent's record rather than the fight they present before us, and of course, we start showing desperate intensity too late.
The other couple of culprits were that when we got defensive stops or when they missed consecutive shots, we did not take advantage, either by missing shots ourselves or turning the ball over. We only had 7 turnovers, but several were of the more costly variety because of their bad timing. We got it handed to us largely because we did not play grit defense when our shots were not falling. In the second half, they ballooned their lead to 23 (90-67 with 4:40 in the third), but Pop put in guys who showed some gumption - Q, Dante, Bryn, Rudy, Jak - and we cut it down to 11 by the end of the third. Cue the fourth, LMA and DeMar went back in, and we cut it to 9 (102-93) on Beli's 3 FTs with 9:16 left. They missed their next shot, we got the rebound, and it was here that a series of missed opportunities largely sealed our fate. Yes, every play counts, and here were three consecutive ones after which we did not do enough to try and recover again:
From that 9:16 mark to 7:36 neither team scored, but of course we needed to take advantage of their misses and turnovers and did these ourselves instead until they hit a 3 and ended up scoring more points in the 4th than in any other. We had a better second half, but not enough and too late and they won the game, deservedly so.
Mental approach and momentum had a lot to do with it, so with Derrick out, rather than double down on defensive intensity to compensate for missing him, we just did not put in the requisite effort - not running back, not blocking out (even though we won the rebound battle, just, 50-49 and 14-12 on O boards, again, the timing hurt; their getting several late broke open their lead with putbacks and fouls against us), not forcing them off our arc for which they tuned us up for 16-34 from the 3 for 43.2% to add to their 51FG% overall (50-98) while we put up fewer shots and connected at a worse rate - 42-94 for 44.7FG%, and especially from the 3 where we shot a mere 6-24 for 25%. Our FTs kept us in it - 28-31 for 90.3%, but again, this was well after LMA was taken out of the game with his fourth foul within the first minute and a half of the third Q and didn't return until 9:37 of the fourth. Jakob held the fort well in a good consecutive game, but we go as our main guys and our defense goes. With our D wavering and our shots not falling (Davis is streaky - when he's hot, he's blazing; when he's not, he's ice cold. Bryn's shot has become inconsistent again, especially early in games), we did not do nearly enough to get this.
Our mental toughness needs fortifying, and our defensive identity needs to catapult to quick improvement from that mental toughness. Nothing is stopping us from running back faster, or running out for great shadow D on ball handlers, or rotating to close out shooters, at least forcing them second shot options or to bad passes. They only had 6 turnovers - too clean a game, and too physical game against us allowed.
When we were on a solid winning streak, it stemmed from imposing our game on O, taking our sets to opponents, and being flat out mindful to defend; we finally made the switch to our game stemming from solid D out to assertive O. In losses, we get on our heels early defensively, and we are allowing this to affect our O which in turn affects our D.
I don't think we took our opponents lightly tonight so much as we did not match their desperation and physicality and intensity for the win. I feel like this game was about just flat out deciding and resolving that we would not get outhustled or out competed and we did. Despite our not so great shooting, we still scored 118 points (5.5 above our average) which should have been more than enough for a win, but we gave up 130 to a desperate team that averages 105.7. We were hurt by our lack of flinty intensity. Going forward, we have to individually draw a line beyond which we decide that opponents will not cross, and have that collectively raise our overall compete level.
Most importantly, we must stay together and be accountable each to a man and for one another now more than ever. We know we can do better because we have dug deep and figured it our and played far better before. It's within our power to right the ship and steer it in a positive direction.
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
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G R E Y
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Re: GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 61: SPURS AT KNICKS, 24-2-2019, 6:30PM (CT)
POST-GAME INTERVIEWS
POP (Oh man... I mean, he's right, no sense in sugar coating it):
DEMAR:
POP (Oh man... I mean, he's right, no sense in sugar coating it):
DEMAR:
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX