Post#3 » by G R E Y » Sat Mar 24, 2018 3:53 am
MONSTER game from LMA.
CLUTCH FREE THROWS from LMA (6-8), MANU (5-5), and PATTY (7-7).
Some things to clean up, like 41-point 4th quarters by opponents, but this is an incredible win for us. We defended well in overtime, and were great on boards all night. Tremendous effort from Pau, LMA, Manu, Rudy, Murray, and Kyle on the boards where we had a 46-32 advantage, including 11-5 on the O boards.
That Murray foul on Inlges looked a bit suspect (not being a homer, have to see the replay, if Dejounte touched him, fair enough, but thank God it was a 2). Pop looked disgusted lol Great game management with Danny in foul trouble.
LMA got a career-high 45 points in addition to a team-high 9 rebounds and 3 blocks (at the half he was 12-16, 1-1 from 3, 3-4 FTs for 28 points, already surpassing his 22.7PPG season average); the rest of Spurs shot 9-25 so LMA had more makes than the rest of our players combined after 24 minutes. WOW). Incredible support from Patty with 25, and Rudy (15 points) who was key for us when LMA rested and allowed us to stay afloat and Manu (18 points) with incredible, aggressive drives, key rebounds and clutch FTs from the bench.
Utah doubles ball handlers aggressively late in close games, especially if they get opponents on the sidelines. In our previous game against them, we turned it over and they got points off of our giveaways, and that helped them come back from behind and win.
They tried it again in this game, but we did a much better job protecting the ball. Even players like Bryn who don't normally handle the ball managed to get out of doubles. Like LMA and Rudy, he found open teammates to maintain the possession. Not giving up such costly four or five points swings made a big difference in a close game.
The roster is settling in in the final games of the season, and Bryn is getting some minutes which is good for him, but I do not trust him in close tight situations. He seems nervous to not make the wrong play, and it results in a slower choice that is so deliberate that it tips off defenders, for instance, like when he telegraphed a couple of passes to LMA that got picked off. He's a flow player, but at this point, I don't yet trust him to be cool in close games late.
As heart-wrenching and heat-pounding as this game was, especially late, it was good for us to go through the pressure of an opponent going on a run and us maintaining enough resilience and fight on both ends to persevere and turn the tide in our favour. This was an important improvement. But we came together, asserted our D and got balanced O for another important victory.
We bent, but did not break, extended our winning streak to a season-high six games, and kept pace in the playoff race while putting some space between ourselves and teams below us in standings. Full. Team. Gutsy. Win. I love our team.
GO SPURS GO!
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
