ROUND 1, GAME 4: Spurs (7) @ Ws (2), 930PM Central- Ws Lead 3-1

[-Sammy-]

Is it the end of the road, or do we have an upset in us? The way Gino played Sunday, almost nothing would surprise me, but we're going to have to be nearly-perfect on both ends to overcome not only the talent disparity but the incredible energy the home-crowd is going to bring. Keep the faith and GO SPURS!

(Sammy's on mobile, so apologies for the lack of formatting/gameday info)

[imagump1313]

I really thought we were done Sunday so this is gravy for me. Whatever happens, happens. I don't see how we can win though. Even if we keep it close we have too many guys who play tentative and are careless with the basketball.

[G R E Y]

WHEN: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 9:30PM CT

WHERE: ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA

Thinking of you, Pop, sending warm thoughts. I hope R.C. can let us know now and again about how Pop is doing. I wish there were something more impactful to offer, but these words will have to do...

Spurs Family

Manu, forever a warrior:

Read on Twitter

http://kwese.espn.com/video/clip?id=23304235

GO SPURS GO!

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Well, here we are at the end of a season that saw us struggle but with pride, stumble but with perseverance, endure difficulties but stay together throughout it all. And we needed to especially when we fought to get into the playoffs – how crucial that six-game home winning streak was! - and then compete in the post-season.

Here, as with all teams, our strengths and weaknesses were magnified: LMA once again led us in scoring with yet another double double of 30 points (8-18, 14-14FTs) and 12 rebounds, along with 4 assists and a steal; Patty was his spark plug self with 18 points (7-15 with 4-10 from 3) and 5 rebounds; Rudy in the starting role gave us an O threat even if he had a poor shooting night for 9 points to go along with his 4 rebounds and 2 assists; Murray is still defining himself so these few playoff games have been a great education for him as he found openings on drives and jumpers for 6 points and was ever reliable in grabbing 8 rebounds. Joining them with good games were key bench contributors Kyle who was back to his Swiss army knife self with 10 points on 5-5FG, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, and Manu who conjured some magic with 10 points (3-7 with 1-4 from 3, 3-3FTs), 5 rebounds, and a team-high 7 assists – few things exemplify him more than that stat on this night.

LMA has been our O cog, but all season long we have needed scoring by committee around him. Different Spurs have stepped up throughout the season, but it’s also because they’ve taken turns having poor shooting nights. Sure enough, Danny, Pau, Bryn, Davis, and Tony combined for 8 points. They contributed beyond scoring, but our road shooting woes for whatever reason have been an ongoing issue and this group was emblematic of it tonight.

On the other end, our D and hustle that defined us and from which our O has been generated was largely present in the whole series, and in this game, too, as we came back from a 16-point deficit to cut it to 2. Then KD did KD things and since you can’t teach height, he just shot over us to bring up their lead. Still, we held them to 99 points, rather fitting given our OPP PPG was a league-leading 99.8.

We didn’t reward ourselves for our good D with points the other way. There were several 4-6 point swings when we stole the ball but didn’t score and when they got a rebound, they pushed it quickly in transition for points. That and second chance opportunities (even though we outrebounded them on O 13-8) hurt us. Also, our fast break points – 0 to their 21 – is another aspect of our game that could use tweaking. We’re not the type of team to run and gun, but we had fast break chances and didn’t execute or settled for harder outside shots, so that’s on us; we have to do better in maximizing the opportunities we generate.

I loved our tenacity and hustle throughout the game, that we didn’t just hang our heads when they got a double digit lead, that we made a team effort to rebound (48-47), to get back on D and turn up the pressure, to keep taking it into the paint (42 to their 44), all to get to within a basket late in the fourth. It was a team effort on both ends, as it has been all season long. We had to adjust our expectations for success this season, but raise our effort to reach them as new and young players were learning the corporate knowledge.

Adversity from injuries, and the necessity of multiple starting line-ups and broadened roles could have fractured us, but Pop led our players through the challenges of the season, so that this 47-35 season was in many ways his best as a coach.

That togetherness has never been more important than off the court now as the Spurs players and the extended Spurs family support Pop and his family who are facing the passing of their dear Erin.

Thinking of you and yours, Pop, as always sending warm thoughts and hoping you are somehow finding your way through this most trying time xx Spurs Family

I’m grateful that I got to watch the Spurs play and despite the ups and downs, navigate their way through to reach the playoffs once again. I love our team. You lot, fellow Spurs fans, have been great along the way, too