Post#104 » by G R E Y » Sun Mar 12, 2023 10:35 pm
4TH Q: SPURS 128 NUGGETS 120
We earned it.
Coming back from a 15-point deficit, holding the opponent to one 30+ point Q, scoring at least 30 in three Qs ourselves; coming back from being initially outrebounded to winning the boards 50-33 including 13-8 on O which both limited their second chance points and creating more for us; picking up the pace to get a 94-90 FGA edge; coming back from 1-8 from 3 to catching them for 13 made per team; we had more TOs (18 to their 14) but we scored more off of theirs (18-16); although we had 6 fewer points at the FT line (our 13-17 to their 19-20) we ended up going from tied in PITP to walloping them 68-54.
It wasn't only the bigger points in our favour in key categories but that we came from behind, trending the right way as the game progressed. And it wasn't only coming from behind in these categories but that we maintained them despite our double digit lead dwindling down to 4 points a couple of times in the final Q. We not only showed resilience to stay in the game and chip away at a deficit but poise in withstanding runs and pulling away.
Hustle and effort got better. Pace increased with some coaxing from Pop (we started with a Sunday trot; finished with a gallop). Energy fed energy.
With three players (Blake, Barlow, and Julian) sent to Austin for their game, with Collins tech'd out of the game, with Pop not playing Graham who has averaged around 27MPG, with Romeo not yet available, that left us with a choice between uber vet Dieng and uber guy picked off waivers in Mamu. Dieng actually averages slightly more points on near identical (and low) efficiency from 3.
Pop did what he has done throughout the season - stay true to the development mantra, put out multiple young guys together, often from necessity of rotating available players, other times to see how we respond to teaching and pressure. And so into the balanced nine-man rotation Mamu went, playing all 12 of his minutes in the final Q with Collins not available.
Mamu was great scoring 11 on 4-5, 2-3 from 3, 1-2FTs along with 4 boards (1 on O) and 2 assists. His post-game interview was so endearing, talking about the support he's gotten from coaches and teammates, how he loved the Spurs growing up because of all our European players, how he wanted to bring his A game when facing Jokic. I really like Roby but he plateaued and was redundant with Diop, Sochan, Barlow all similar sized with inside/out games; Mamu is younger, cheaper, fills a need that gives us a different look with his 4/5 ability, size, terrific court vision. I was impressed with his passing, sweet touch, and assertiveness. Smart, simple basketball of cleaning the glass and pick and pops.
Sochan showed some beautiful flashes on drives, was efficient even with 0-3 from 3, was a defensive pest, moved well off ball, and showed some point-forward confidence. He'll learn not to pass in the air when he is two feet away from the basket, a near sure basket at hand. Really like how he’s using that fadeaway J regularly now. On drives he’ll have to learn to protect the ball better to avoid getting stripped.
Keldon had a nice broader overall game, really paying attention to his role within our O and how to consciously facilitate it. Throughout the game he made quick outlet passes, passed the ball to keep possessions going rather than mostly being the end point of them, and used his physicality and balance, as well as the glass much more consistently. He resisted tunnel scoring more than before. It's fine to want to get practice being the go-to in these situations but he wants to win so badly that he tends to rush and go away from things that helped him score like using glass and looking for open team mates. What stood out well was the starter high 6 assists, the starter high three made 3s, the starter high 4-4FTs, and the starter high 2 steals. That his 3s attempts comprised only 5 of 17FGAs is good shot distribution. He didn't force them (all three makes were from passes) but took them within the flow of our O. Though he missed the two non-paint 2s, I like that he attempted them. Making a couple of left finishes was a positive, too. These, along with yet another strip of the ball on opponent drives, are valuable expanding circles of influence additions to his game.
Off ball movement on O needs work as Keldon tended to stand around beyond those times when he was in the right place in the corner. He’s one of those body types that is harder to start moving from a stationary position. Keldon tends to take a couple of hops in doing so though I wonder whether the boxing practice is a good reminder of the value of not being flat footed and constantly moving, especially in misdirection cuts and changes of pace. On D those instances when he didn't really bother fighting screens and sagged into the paint only to stand and watch his man move and shoot were frustrating. Subsequent Pop timeouts support it.
Malaki struggled to score and struggled to not foul, much to Pop's ire about how he was getting them. Team high 5 on reaching in or over on rebounds, for instance, are the kinds of impulses we want him to curb. He's got freakish arm length but has to use his feet and body positioning first. He'll get there. But there's now a shorter patience leash with these types of mistakes.
Devin is a star in the making. That left baseline cut and beautiful reverse finish is a glimpse into more creative reactions to contests. He sees and reads defenses faster and figures out countermeasures better. He also uses this outward turnaround spin away from the key to create space, balanced two-foot jump for a straight up or fadeaway J that is becoming near unstoppable. Some front of rim misses on distance shots should hit the basket once he gets his legs under him. Devin’s improving handles stood out well, too.
Tre’s return continues to show how crucial a true PG is, especially one who facilitates first and has a particular skill set to create his own shots. His finishing in the key with floaters and at the rim using his size to his advantage with timely and varied releases help, too. The 3 will have to come along. But until then, he’s already a confident facilitating cog and a driving threat. He led us with 8 assists, with 3 steals, with 4-5FTs, scoring 14 on 5-7, and team high +21.
Diop was a defensively disruptive, offensively efficient contributor who led us with 3 O boards. Great hustle and movement, using his length on both ends.
Doug was his good self, the sole vet glue guy whose skillset offset his D. A specialist in shooting and movement is an excellent example for the young guys to emulate. Both Doug and Keldon wore this thumb brace attached to the wrist on their shooting hands. Worked well.
Not running back well in transition D was an early frustration, too, but one we improved as the game progressed with better hustle, strips, and fight for rebounds. We went at Jokic time and again and this seemed to wear him down, break down their D, and we fed off of both.
We had seven Spurs in double figures on 31 assists, shot above our averages in FG%, 3s%, and FT’s%, and did well enough defensively to get enough stops. Ten steals and terrific collective rebounding on both ends, keeping up the fight, and maximizing our strengths in executing the game plan had us rewarding ourselves for good habits individually and collectively pushing through. Fun game. Happy for our guys to show a higher level of play.
