GAME DAY, BALA! PRE-SEASON GAME 2: SPURS VS. PISTONS, 5-10-2018, 7:30PM (CT)

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Our second pre-season game and another opportunity to see how we're gelling together after some practices. Looking for continuity / chemistry building, fewer turnovers, attention to details, taking advantage of multiple scoring chances created, and team-wide defensive intensity.

WHERE: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

WHEN: Friday, October 5, 2018, 7:30pm (CT)

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GO SPURS GO!

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Interview with Derrick from today's shootaround:

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Interview with Rudy from today's shootaround:

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Interesting...

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^Jak didn't put up a shot...

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[Kabookalu]

Not liking DeMar playing SF. The best part of him is his ability to switch between running the pick and roll and posting his man up. Playing SF completely takes away the latter aspect of his strength as a player.

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Not liking DeMar playing SF. The best part of him is his ability to switch between running the pick and roll and posting his man up. Playing SF completely takes away the latter aspect of his strength as a player.

He got his post-up chances, and they ran some nice sets with him and LMA, but the starting line-up was molasses today. Just not clicking. Stagnant, no off-ball movement. The one with Rudy in the starting role was better. Some choices to be made.

Jak didn't last long in it in the first half. Jak's still more of a utility, transition, clean-up guy rather than a reliable scorer. Nice touches around the rim, and grabbing boards, but learning to play a role like Pau does with facilitating, getting the ball to cutters, high / low is yet to come. In some ways, he's more raw than I anticipated, in others like D rebounds and passing out quickly and running the floor, knowing where to go, he's good.

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56.1% FGs

42.9% from 3

82.6% FTs

It doesn't look like getting the 3 up a lot was a priority tonight, but when we did, we shot it at an improved rate. We still put up many more points than our average last year; good sign we don't need to rely too much on the 3, but have it in the toolkit.

Only 8 O boards (needs some work), but outrebounded them 53-39 overall

26-15 assist-TO ratio, better, needs some work (in the second Q for a stretch there we got our minds off the game and committed a series of them)

Starting line-up wasn't clicking. Too much standing around, not enough off ball movement. I liked the DD/LMA sets we've seen a couple of times now where DD passes back to LMA for a wide open J. DeMar made some good passes tonight overall. I like that he is looking to contribute beyond scoring, which is very balanced for us this year.

Really liked the D energy and compete level and contesting.

Jak was a bit tentative tonight, but ran the floor and fought for rebounds on D well. O rebounding needs work. DeMar's getting driven by on D, but he should contest the shots as he's close enough. More compete level needed there. He's good at deflections and steals so far.

Dejounte's shot is MUCH improved. Has better court vision and understanding of how to facilitate. Better balance of involving teammates and getting his own shot, too, which looks great. Confident, high release stroke.

Bryn and Patty came back down to earth on O but were very good on D.

White is a very capable back-up so far. Playing within himself, calm floor general, looks for his shots, drives aggressively.

Rudy and Marco are consistently giving us what we need on O - jolts of scoring in a variety of ways.

Davis is an energetic hound on boards, runs the floor very well, finishes inside, outside, good passer. Rounding into form. Fits well with a variety of line-ups, too, just knows where to be, gets there quickly, and knows what to do when he gets there.

Davis and Pau were perfect on O for the night. Pau quietly lead the bench in scoring and rebounds. Great facilitator. I hope Jak comes along quickly to give Pau more chances to rest. He's got his legs under him and we need fresh him late in the season.

Dante - great D anchor and rebounder tonight

Q-Pon - bulldozed guys on both ends and has the fouls to prove it. Very physical, played like he had something to prove, maybe too aggressive as a result. Drove and finished well when he got the chance.

Really liked the line-up of Dante, Lonnie, Metu, Davis, and White in the fourth. Excellent stifling defense, quick D to O transitions, quick set ups of Davis screens for White drives, the recognition by Lonnie to cut to the basket and Metu to bounce a pass to him for a dunk (Lonnie was 3-3FGs before he hobbled off the court; looks like he tweaked something). Smart, energetic, cohesive, intelligent unit that moved well and with purpose on both ends.

Overall, most guys are showing the compete level that will get them minutes - or a job. Having players competing for floor time and spots is bringing up the intensity team-wide. I love the variety in our scoring options. It's a relief to see that there are so many scoring combinations to put out there. We're moving better, can play faster if we want, and have a variety of offensive threats. I like the 3 contesting tonight too, and the concerted effort to position ourselves to do so.

If we can hone the D some more - and it's off to a solid start, but for the stretches of malaise in the second tonight - and keep working for O combinations, many of which are coming along well - we'll be a far more balanced O team with a strong D foundation. The transition of incorporating 11 new guys is coming along well with the hope that each stage of progress is the new floor.

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Pop's post-game interview:

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Dejounte's post-game interview (LOVE his attitude about the team and approach to the game):

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