Post#10 » by G R E Y » Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:01 am
As much as we played well enough the last game, but let it slip away, we struggled through much of this one, but came together late to get the win. We were tired and looked a bit deflated. The previous game took some of our moxie, and the schedule – another back-to-back, also on the road, the fifth game in seven nights, seemed to have taken a toll.
We started the game with LMA, Pau, Bryn, Anderson, and Tony, but we were out of sync and vulnerable on both ends, shooting just 1-9 at the outset. There were some bad possessions, passing between Kyle and Bryn without purpose or movement, and we didn’t go to LMA enough early; he didn’t get his first shot opportunity until 6:48. We also had defensive breakdowns so that, like in the previous game, the Kings were carving us up inside; WCS was in double figures in the first Q alone.
Pop’s timeout and subbing in of Bertans, Murray, and Paul about half way through the quarter, and later Patty, generated some better energy on O, and we shot 8-12 in the remaining time. In the second quarter, there was no timeout to be had when we got down 13; Pop looked on, letting them play through it. Sometimes, there’s only so much you can say. You have to give players enough rope; they’ll either hang themselves or rescue themselves with it. We ended up chipping away at their lead by scoring 46 points in the first half, and were down by 10.
We scored 61 in the second half, but along the way had the lead just once in the third. For the most part, Pop’s been positive with the young guys on the court, but at one point in the third, Murray got more stick than carrot for not executing a pass to an open Bertans; a missed opportunity in a close game is not something to take lightly. The very next play, Murray telegraphed a pass to a well guarded Bertans; it’s a learning curve. But we started to show more cohesive play, getting into a rhythm and hitting several shots in a row, contesting their shots, getting up on opponents to force turnovers, and brought the lead down to 3 by the end of the third.
Down 7 with about six minutes to go in the 4th, Pop called a timeout after the Kings made four shots to our one. Something finally clicked, and we raised our team level on both ends. Bertans blocked Bogdanovich, poked the ball forward for a D rebound possession, passed to Bryn for a corner 3, and made three 3s of his own – he had a wonderful all around game; Anderson forced two turnovers by twice poking the ball away, got to the FT line (made one), passed to Bertans for one of his 3s, and made an off-balance, off-glass, slo-mo shot that would have made Manu proud; LMA made a putback dunk, drove for a made bucket and hit the foul shot, got to the foul line again (hitting one of two, Pop encouraging him after a miss); Mills passed to Bertans for another of his 3s, forced a turnover by intercepting a pass, and made the layup. We ended up shooting 60%FG in the fourth, including 5 of 8 from the 3. It was a string of Spurs-esque plays on both ends: excellent recognition for passes, quick feet, proper positioning, hands in passing lanes, and team rebounding. Just a great team effort, just in time.
Of course, it was LMA’s and Bertans’s consistent high level of play throughout the game that kept us in it and allowed us to take advantage of a late second wind. LMA got 31 points (13-20, 5-6FTs), 12 rebounds (4 O, 8 D), an assist, and a block, and Bertans had his best game as a Spur with 28 points (11-15, 6-9 from the 3), 3 assists and 2 blocks. Joining them in good shooting were Mills with 14 (6-13) 5 assists and a steal, and Bryn with 12 (5-13) and one each of a rebound, assist, and steal. Murray had a solid all around contribution with 7 points (3-6), 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, 2 steals and a block.
With Anderson (1-3FG), Pau (1-8), and Tony (3-9) combining for only 12 points, it seems a wonder we got the win, but Anderson contributed with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals and Pau pitched in 9 rebounds (3 O, 6 D), 2 assists, and a steal. I love it when Spurs keep going and look for ways to help the team even when their shots aren’t falling.
We improved in each of the quarters in points, got 11 steals, had a very good assist-to-turnover ratio of 23 to 10, and got 24 points off of turnovers. Going in to this game, we were 0-4 on the second night of a back-to-back when both were on the road, so this grind-out comeback win was a solid effort to keep improving our road record. I love the way we finished.
I love this team. GO SPURS!
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
