SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 82: SPURS VS. RAPTORS, 13-4-2025, 2:30PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

Quality 5-1 high low pass Mamu bounce to Blake cut for the off glass finish.

Nice to see.

[G R E Y]

Can we take the lead and keep it already?

[G R E Y]

Hey we lead by 2 on Branham's FTs!

[G R E Y]

I wonder who screwed up when Castle waved for Branham to move and he stayed in the right corner and we had to set up something else on the fly?

[G R E Y]

Simple right side P&R and four Spurs defenders couldn't handle it...

[G R E Y]

Come on, CP we don't need the early clock 3 ISOs.

Rarely say that, rarely have to.

[G R E Y]

Castle tough TOUGH bucket for the +1.

[G R E Y]

KJ great O board.

CP great second chance bucket.

[G R E Y]

KELDON

****

WILDER

JOHNSON!!!


O board. Putback. Foul.

[G R E Y]

Lmao CP down to the last seconds being CP.

[G R E Y]

**** Jacob announcer jinxing CP FTs.

[G R E Y]

CP steal. CP pass. Keldon finish.

[G R E Y]

First Keldon getting the name chants.

Now CP3 is also appreciated in a crowd chant at the end of the game.

Awesome.

[G R E Y]

CP3 takes us home. Secures end of game rebound. Dribbles it out. Fitting.

Congrats, Spurs.

You earned it!

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 125 RAPTORS 118

Well we saved ourselves from ourselves by managing to invert the first half effort. It was a tale of two epitomies of our season: a team that at times maddeningly took Qs and halves of, and a team that most often showed a lot of fight and resilience. In a game that didn't matter for any standings, we took a stand and competed for its own purpose and that was reason and purpose enough to find higher gears in the second half.

As he's done countless times, we were fuelled by the endless competitive fire of CP3 who would not let us let up, contributing 15-7-6 (tied for team high), and team high 4 steals in 34 minutes. Much as I've advocated for fewer vet minutes, I was sure glad the unc were so featured this game.

Barnes with an ever steady 18-5-1 and 3 steals, hitting 3s (ok an off 2-7 game but he's shot a career high 43.3% this season) and getting to the FT line (8-8).

These two were understated and maybe overlooked FA and trade acquisitions that were actually hugely beneficial for a young group thirsting for vet leadership and for a team needing a proper PG and SF. Add the community commitments and drama-free professionalism for all 82 games and they were the perfect Spurs.

We were led in scoring by our longest tenured, ever most spirited Spur, Keldon. An efficient 23, team high 9 boards (team high 3 on O) in bench high 27 minutes. He too epitomizes our Spurs culture, taking strong instruction, taking on various roles, always doing what's asked and rising to the task each time. As I've said often this season, underrated.

Appreciation also goes to Bismack who was woken up by our call to extend his NBA career for another 28 games, 26 of which he started for us, averaging 5.1, 5.6 in 18.8MPG. BB has been a solid rim protector, a better than expected blocker, and a reliable big presence on man and help D.

As much maligned as Champagnie has been, an undrafted 3s shooter averaging 37.1% playing all 82 games on career high 23.6MPG despite being put in fewer starting games yet stepping to do just that in 29 games this season. He just finished the second of a four-year contract totalling $12M. Not only is $3M a year a super bargain, but it is a decreasing percentage of the cap, which will be less than 2% for the next two years. It's really a dream scenario for us, especially with Julian in an adjusted role this season, and surely more so to come. Available, reliable, amenable to various roles and minutes and expectations. In the right role, and with future huge contracts needing to be worked out, he is actually going to be an increasingly important part of our team. This game, another 14 points on 5-9, 4-6 from 3, 6 boards (1 on O), 1 assist, 1 block in 35 starter minutes reminds us of the value for role and contract to come.

His beffie Mamu has gotten more minutes and a bigger chance to show his game and has on the whole has gained confidence in showing better flashes of flair and substance in the limited role asked of him. Twelve points on 6-8, 4 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal in only 19 minutes. If there's one impression that sticks of Mamu it's that he's always ready and he's always packing a lot of effort and all around contribution into a few minutes. I guess that's several equally impressive impressions. I hope we keep him.

We ran a mostly 9-man unit with Blake who like Mamu has benefitted from more minutes later in the season and seldom used Branham. Blake has shown a resoluteness in being a defensive stalwart, an identity and role that has been his foundation in wedging his foot back in the door for more minutes. He has a more confident jumper, fundamental mechanics in the stroke, and even took the open 3s. He is right to hitch his hope to his D though as his speed and tenacity are still by far his best features. And so in 20 minutes he was true to type, chipping in 8 on only 2-5, 0-2 from 3, but 4-4FTsa long with 1 board, tied for bench high (with Mamu) 4 assists, and bench high 2 steals.

Fellow draftee of 2022, Branham, got to do what he does best and poured in the points, 11 on perfect from everywhere efficiency, 3 boards (1 on O), and 1 steal in 17 minutes. He has sat on the bench long enough to buy into making extra passes even if the D that got him sat to begin with is what it is. Put Blake and Branham together and you've got an interesting player...

McLaughlin filled in 3 minutes and scored, ensuring everyone who played registered points.

And that brings us to the best part of the rest of the season that turned sideways, Stephon Castle.

Another game, another 20 point performance, though struggling through inefficiency(5-16, 1-3 from 3), still pushing through with his strengths (game high 9-9FTs on improving efficiency), starter high 9 boards (1 on O), and tied for team high (with CP) 6 assists. Passing to where guys ough to be and some unfocused handles in tight spaces resulted in 4TOs as well but there he was doing more in a bigger role and contributing on both ends. Each month he's improved and taken on starter and bench responsibilities with the same mental and physical toughness we've already grown accustomed to expecting. Big season, and bigger expectations as a result. I can't wait to see how his game grows.

We finished with 22 assists (another 20+ game in that department), 12TOs, with more boards, fewer 3s but got to the FT line well. We finished with the crowd chanting Keldon's then CP's names, and finished the season in fine come from behind fashion that has come to define us as tougher to play against than perhaps expected without our top talent available. We were 12 wins better than last season so watch out with all our talent top to team back, with some lotto picks in the fold, and with some new acquisitions aboard. Lots to be excited about going forward.

GSG