SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 62: SPURS AT HEAT, 26-2-2022, 7PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

There he goes again **** ball hog J miss.

[G R E Y]

Primo makes the stupid turnover then fouls Butler and both Beadle and Sean Elliot at the same time praise him for not being afraid....

OMG 3 plays later they are still talking about it. "If you just tuned in, you wouldn't know he was 19 years old" STFU!!!!

Don't think that Pop doesn't see it, though, which is ultimately what matters. For all the nice words publicly, Pop pushes Primo plenty:

Read on Twitter

(Then Lonnie got an earful a little later lol)

Ha, I remember seeing that.

Pop's blunt, eh? I love that about him but if he talked to me like that I'd probably cry or something

[G R E Y]

Primo fouled out lol

[imagump1313]

Pop's blunt, eh? I love that about him but if he talked to me like that I'd probably cry or something

He's actually pretty tame compared to back in the day coaches but that's what makes him great. He's evolved with the times and understands what works with who.

[imagump1313]

WTF? These refs need to understand that we are going to foul there. They are going to get someone hurt. Just stupid...

[Phreak50]

Good effort and shows that Murray's assists are just there to be had. Whenever he's been out, the starter often has double digit or similar assists.

It's the way the team plays. Yet, the ball doesn't stop as much since Murray still thinks he is a better shooter than he actually is.

Lonnie and Devin played fine.

These are all guys that would be solid pieces but the fact is this team is going nowhere unless we sign or trade for a superstar.

If they can't get that player, best to go the OKC route and trade Murray and others for picks.

[imagump1313]

Good effort and shows that Murray's assists are just there to be had. Whenever he's been out, the starter often has double digit or similar assists.

It's the way the team plays. Yet, the ball doesn't stop as much since Murray still thinks he is a better shooter than he actually is.

Lonnie and Devin played fine.

These are all guys that would be solid pieces but the fact is this team is going nowhere unless we sign or trade for a superstar.

If they can't get that player, best to go the OKC route and trade Murray and others for picks.

As much as we keep saying playoff push I still think we are silently tanking.
Why would you play Poeltl against no one in particular against the Wizards then sit him against Adabayo (who destroyed us) if you really really wanted to win?

Also Murray just played in the ASG. If you were really tring to win both of those games and knew he was going to sit one, wouldnt you rather have him against Lowry and Butler to match their scoring? It makes no sense.

Then tonight it was a nice comeback effort but Pop was subbing in the end of the bench with 6 minutes to go.

Again, I really don't care if we win or lose this year but it seems curious to me the things we do.

[G R E Y]

Good effort and shows that Murray's assists are just there to be had. Whenever he's been out, the starter often has double digit or similar assists.

It's the way the team plays. Yet, the ball doesn't stop as much since Murray still thinks he is a better shooter than he actually is.

Lonnie and Devin played fine.

These are all guys that would be solid pieces but the fact is this team is going nowhere unless we sign or trade for a superstar.

If they can't get that player, best to go the OKC route and trade Murray and others for picks.

Mate he's averaging a double double, near triple double this month on like 56% shooting. He really IS important for us and the handful of games without him have been losses. And it's not just because of his O, but his D as well. This is like the worst season to go at him for empty stats. Yes we have a movement oriented game, but DJ does a lot of things that few others do. Even though we're a movement team, DJ's actually third in the league in assists. It should be more distributed if we're using all the players to pass. He's also first in the league in steals per game. He's very important for us, and looking at a single stat of assists as empty because of our system really takes away from the full contribution he provides. Sorry, not having a go at you, but I just don't get this focus.

His value replacement over another player is highest on the team.

Tre is a back up PG, a good quality one, and he will get better, but it's also the first time in his pro career he reached double digits in assists (plus 4 TOs). I love his game, but we can't just dismiss all of what DJ provides.

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 129

HEAT 133

Well that was more entertaining than I thought it would be. Loved our hustle and fight from up big to giving up the lead to fighting back from down 16 ourselves to get it to within 4, to giving up another bigger lead before making it very interesting late in the game.

Too many TOs and too much inexperience and game coordination from Zach and Primo and WOW so many bloody FTs for them - huge difference maker, as in this is the most they've taken all season lol - but it's on us to not reach in and move our feet ALL game.

I thought for sure this would purely be a development game and it wouldn't be close but I found myself wanting the win. Given the result, we'll have to settle for the moral victory, and refocus on the development after all.

We were playing with a nothing to lose attitude and were quite loose on O and several players had career nights.

Devin scored a career high 22 points, one of three Spurs with the same point total. But Devin actually reached that total by the end of the 3RD Q. He was 0-4 in the 4TH Q i several clutch situations. Add that to the clutch end of 3RD Q 3 he missed, and we've got a pattern that's continued for much of the year in his missing these types of shots. Not a huge deal for now as he's just been given a bigger role on both ends to adjust to, but given his pure shooting mechanics and hot near perfect start, it's part fatigue but also part mental. You know he wants it so it's not something I'm worried about, and it's good that he's taking them, just wished I could will them in tonight. He was 8-17 and more importantly 3-6 from 3 and 3-3FTs. He also contributed 5 boards (1 on O), 4 assists (good!), a steal and a block (plus 3 TOs). Terrific all around game, and in showing more of his O game, his athleticism continues to impress. This was all in 27 minutes after yesterday's double OT grind.

The minutes were a factor tonight as Doug, for instance, played only 20 but that's also a factor of his not scoring well at all tonight. Only 2-6 and 0-2 from 3 for a guy averaging double digits in scoring is a what could have been had he made his average in scoring, but that's how it goes. He's actually near the top of the league on 3s accuracy, but he's either feast or famine on them.

It's a pity that he and Zach combined for 9 points but the latter was on a minutes restriction with he actually exceeded by 2 minutes. So his 2-4 was low but he was also doing a lot of work down low on the boards, getting a team second best 7 (3 on O) along with 2 assists. He got a team high +13 despite just the 5 points and team high 5TOs (several of these were from his losing the ball to defenders from passes that were ill timed or ill advised or too low into too congested a key, and also from Zach not establish positioning) but a lot of it had to do with his being on the court when we made a big early run. Zach has a nice touch around the rim, bodies up well on D, competes well, but it will take some time for his legs to look like they're part of the top part of his body. I understand why they're not coordinate, but it's weird to see. It's like they're doing their own thing or the signals from the brain to his legs take a while to get a response and what results looks like something got lost in translation. He hardly has lift in them, too, so hopefully he gets more confident and acclimated. It was actually good to see him playing tonight overall as he was previously on a no back-to-back regimen. So he's been upgraded, even if on minutes restriction.

Tre and Keita showed out very well. Tre had a career high in points with 19 on an excellent 9-13, along with 11 assists, 6 boards, and 1 steal. He looked more comfortable running our team, used screens well, passed deftly, and had his driving and floater game going. Absolutely LOVED his hound dog mentality on man D. So impactful in preventing easy passes, in fighting over screens, in staying with drivers, in contesting shots. His 0-2 from 3 shows the one glaring weakness of his game. He just doesn't look comfortable taking it yet and both the attempt numbers and no makes attest to it. But if this part of his game comes along as the rest has, it'll really help stretch the floor and his game.

Here's how Tre's fared in his starts:

Read on Twitter

Like gump said, Keita impresses more often than not when he gets bigger minutes. In second to Tre's 36 minutes, Keita poured in 22 points on a stellar 9-10, 3-3 from 3, 1-2FTs, team high 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. It took all of that just to get +3. His counterpart PF ended up carving us up inside as our PF position continues to be an experiment in fit and development. I really like Keita's game, too, with his solid D, cartoonish wingspan, quiet competitiveness, and surprising feline body control and touch impress whenever he gets a chance to show it. He is undersized in terms of bulk, though, and when we don't get in front of inside passes we continue to get bodied and scored on. Still, for what his role is, he definitely exceeded expectations. Perhaps we should be adjusting them now? It'll be interesting what we do with him as we surely continue to restructure our front court. Hes a great team mate and talented, so hopefully we keep him.

Jock went from some DNPs to leading the bench with 26 minutes and was second in scoring with 14 on 5-11, which is decent but affected by 1-6 from 3. In theory we now have two bench players who can stretch the floor but he and Zach combined for 1-6 as Zach didn't attempt any 3s, so like with our back court (Devin and Tre combined for 3-8), our front court searching for 3s continues to be a work in progress. It's a wonder we take and make more than in previous seasons. But I do like how he and Zach are good passers. We used more high low passes to back door cutting guards and forwards to good effect thanks to their touch and accuracy in dishing. Just goes to show how making a concerted effort team wide can do, both in terms of assists and in the 3s.

Lonnie led the bench with 22 on 8-14, 4-6 from 3 (finally!), 2-3 FTs in 24 minutes. It's a wonder, then, that he was second worst -12. I'm really not picking on him, I thought he made an important contribution on O for us and stayed with drivers and stood well physically on post up D, but in terms of improvement, his O focus can sometimes take away from his D. It's his D that kept giving him minutes when his O wasn't clicking, but he still has a tendency to reach in and swipe at the ball in the key rather than using his feet to get to the right spot, and maddeningly he still at times gets to a position to contest but doesn't bother getting his hands up. What's the point of doing all that work to run up to the shooter if you aren't going to do the last most important part? Devin actually blocked a jumper and we got a steal off it. But it's not about block but habits, habits that lead to good results. Even if he doesn't block it, he can alter it or force a secondary option. He also tends to over dribble (though it's not as bad as it once was) and pick up his dribble too early when he gets into a congested area. Some things to work on.

But credit again where it's due for asserting himself on O, for driving into defenders and absorbing their physicality and looking for his shot. When he can find a balance between taking it and passing it along and actually running our plays so he's not a predictable ball stopper he's be even more lethal. It reminds me of when Keldon was a black hole in this respect and as the season's progressed he's become more trusting that he'll get the ball back. Also, now that his O is primary, he's not providing in other areas (3 boards, no assists - the only Spur not to register one, steals, blocks) so hopefully his game expands to be even more impactful. When his shot isn't falling, it's these other contributions that can keep him on the floor. Until then, Lonnie getting to the basket for his awesome flying dunks and having to tilt his head so he wouldn't hit it on the bottom of the backboard is ridiculous athleticism.

JRich also played 26 minutes and looked like he belonged. A quick 3 and a pretty curl drive for a left side layup provided a small early sample of what he can contribute. He scored 10 on 4-8, 2-3 from 3, along with 4 boards (3 on O!) and 4 assists which is terrific. He's a confident, good BBIQ defender, an experienced player, who isn't shy about taking his shot. Good blend of decision making for passing and scoring. Good defender. He's long wanted to play for Pop so it's a nice fit. Good positive +5 contribution.

The anti-Lonnie is Cacok who seemingly stuffs the stat sheet each time he gets to show his game. In only 13 minutes, he was 2-3 from 4 points, bench high 6 boards (2 on O), second highest 3 assists, and team high 2 steals. Even though he's a bit undersized, he's built like a bull and uses it that way, too. I like his game and think it does translate to the NBA with his all around game and effort.

That leaves us with Primo. He looks most like he needs seasoning even as he's already in this weird in-between place of excelling in G-League but not quite ready for the NBA level. He shows flashes of nice moves, and then flashes of inexperience and poor decisions. He was a team worst -18, and although that's a nebulous stat (sometimes a player plays great for us and we wouldn't win without him even though he also ends up with a negative +/-), this time it passed the eye test. He fouled out (even though a couple calls were questionable), made some weak one handed, telegraphed passes after getting too deep into a drive and therefore too close within a defender's reach, sometimes over dribbling into too contested a space, too, so some things to work on. He did get 2 assists, and he drove confidently to lead us with 4-5FTs. In 16 minutes he scored 7 points on 1-3, 1-2 from 3, so at least he wasn't in shoot no matter what mode and was more selective but drove well instead. I did like how he stayed with drivers after getting beaten on a first step (he tends to give too much space and doesn't yet have the right body angles all the time on them) and ran down layup attempts. But he does need a lot of seasoning. Pop confirmed that Primo will not be going down to the G-League for the rest of the season so we're looking to increase his learning curve in the last quarter or so of the season. Let's see how he does with more fire and pressure versus grown experienced vets on one end and demanding exacting Pop on the other. It's made everyone else's game grow, so if Primo's temperament is as positively described, I'm looking forward to the leap forward.

Weird game in that we took and made more shots overall, took and made more 3s, won the rebounding battle46-32 including 12-4 on O (!), and got 32 assists. As much as we and the commentators lamented all the fouls that were called on us, a lot of them were of the 3-point variety so we either have to not foul or foul harder to prevent the +1s. They made 27-38 to our 15-19, so our need to get to the FT line more is also a factor. But it was the 20 TOs - TWENTY! - which cost us a whopping 30 points! that was a huge deciding factor. In a close game there are many factors to point to. Shots will go in or not (we took enough of them), but we can and need to control the lost points on the turnovers, especially the unforced ones. Did you see Pop's face when we got called for a 5-second inbounds violation? A mix of pure disbelief and disgust lol I'd love to be a fly in a film room session. We are one of the best teams in limiting turnovers, so ball protection responsibility is usually a positive for us, but we've been lax of late so we'll need some reminders.

We're now 4-3 on this RRT which is already more wins than I don't recall in however many seasons. Considering the relentless fight we put forth in this game after already getting four wins, we showed a lot of good that you can't really teach. Perseverance, compete level, hustle, and finding ways to punch back versus a talented vet-laden team built for and expected to compete in the post season showed a lot of positives. In terms of development, with the three starters who played over 40 minutes last game not playing it gave lesser used guys to step up and show more of their game as well as earn more minutes in upcoming games. Also, as much as the trade was shocking, there's no denying that it give more minutes for other guys to step up from Devin to Lonnie to Tre to Primo. Steeper climb, bigger roles, higher expectations, let's see who grows from and into them all.

[mzfk69]

Tre is a back up PG, a good quality one, and he will get better, but it's also the first time in his pro career he reached double digits in assists (plus 4 TOs).

11 assists vs Pistons (2021-12-26)

[G R E Y]

Tre is a back up PG, a good quality one, and he will get better, but it's also the first time in his pro career he reached double digits in assists (plus 4 TOs).

11 assists vs Pistons (2021-12-26)

Thanks!