GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 6: SPURS VS. LAKERS, 3-11-2019, 6PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

We're back home battle tested and ready to protect our court. We've found ways to win with different aspects of our game leading the way, and as we progress we need to put together all the parts for the full 48: intensity, movement, communication, and execution. High level consistency of focus and play as well as our depth will be central to pulling through today.

WHERE: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

WHEN: Sunday, November 3, 2019, 6pm (CT)

Read on Twitter

GO SPURS GO!!!

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

Hmm I thought for sure Jakob would start tonight for the height. I hope we watch their P&Rs and alley oops. Have to get at it defensively to pressure them before they can make good passes.

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

A game of halves, a game of contrasting styles, not just versus our opponent, but within our team.

I liked how we started defensively, active hands deflecting passes, getting steals, collapsing in the key to contest, and showing good D to O transition throughout the game. But their P&R was a challenge. We didn't react to these too well (though in fairness it's hard for any opponent), but we also had lapses in running back on defense and gave up easy points.

A lot was even in the game: rebounds, turnovers, poor 3 shooting. They had a 50-36 points in the paint advantage, but we countered by dominating 23-5 off of turnovers. Once again, we excelled in one area of shooting, but not in others. FT's were terrific (24-29) but our 24% from 3 and almost 40%FG are below where we need to be. Our shots weren't falling and we laboured to score, especially in the first half.

They had fewer O boards and the same number of 3s, but their timing was critical. My internet connection was intermittent for much of the third Q so I missed the 19-point deficit, but it's a big positive that we fought our way back to tie it in the fourth Q. Those O boards and putbacks and 3s against combined with turnovers and missed shots by us put us behind for good. All plays accumulate, but ones that creep up consistently - DeMar's late-game lost ball dribbling into the key with multiple defenders, other players with bad passes, stepping out of bounds - are issues of habit and focus.

We frankly need more consistent fire from LMA; in our two losses to both LA teams, he scored in single digits. Nine shot attempts tonight just doesn't cut it. Our bigs in general did not provide nearly enough scoring (LMA, Jacob, and Trey combined for 12 shot attempts) and that put a lot more pressure on the guards. Hardly any of our guys shot well, or were threats on O and it's a pity because we did well to fight back and give ourselves a chance.

Beli's strengths of off ball movement and quick points are being offset by his poor shooting and DeMarre's defense and scoring more in 5 minutes than Beli in 15. He's taking uncontested leaning shots for whatever reason. It's his 'thing' but when the shot's not falling, you can't help but wonder whether balanced shots wouldn't be better.

Rudy led the bench in scoring, but he can get ISO tunnel vision rather than making the right play; on a fast break he didn't pass ahead to team mates on the wings and took a contested J; he had a mismatch advantage a couple of times but chose to post up and take Js. When we attacked and drove we had good results that got us to the FT line.

It had to feel good for Trey to get some nice passes from Dejounte on his cut to the basket for a dunk, and for his J outside the paint. Good on Dejounte for facilitating for him. Simple, effective plays. Trey is more assertive in taking his shots, so that's a positive, too.

While Patty and Bryn had an off night, Dejounte and Derrick led us with their energy on both ends. Derrick stepped into a charge, drove hard and paid the price with a body slam - he earned those FTs. Dejounte was a one-man comeback show getting blocks and steals, leading the fast break, hitting 3s, Js, drives, and FTs. It's scary to think they're both scratching the surface of their talent.

And with that talent, a style of play is emerging that at times conflicts with what some players are used to. The second unit is more cohesive in how they play, but at times our first unit with Dejounte and Bryn in up tempo mode (Trey can run the floor, too), and DeMar and LMA more comfortable in half court can trip over one another. Dejounte is a cheetah, and when we run and pass to, say, DeMar or LMA, it can turn into a half court game and guys have to adjust on the fly. DeMar and LMA like to get into rhythms and to do that they slow the game down. This at times gets us out of sync and we're scrambling to recover and end up with sub-optimal or late clock shots. We could benefit from LMA running down the court more and sealing out his defender sooner, for instance. It's not about playing only one style, but about cohesion and comfort in them.

We're witnessing a transition and accompanying style of play to this becoming Dejounte's team if we can say that there's a player who's emblematic of the way we do things on and off the court. And to the extent that it has been a shared foundation in the past, Derrick is emerging as a part of that core.

After the game, Dejounte said Timmy wanted to see him be better on defense. Imagine a guy who was the best player and taken to task by Pop now telling our best defender that he has to be better at the thing he's best at. And so Dejounte poured it on in the fourth on both ends. It felt like a passing of the torch moment.

[imagump1313]

Not as detailed as Grey,

We struggled shooting all night, made way too many needless mistakes.

It was a nice run to tie it back up but we lost the game when KCP hit 2 wide open, uncontested threes that he usually bricks to put us down 6 with under 2 minutes left after tying it up. That was the game. The way we were defending them he was going to be open and I'll take that every time. He just hit them.

I'm not going to react too much to a November game. We just have a lot to work on. Taking better care of the basketball is again, our biggest fault.

[Ballings7]

Both losses to LA teams weren't overly bad, both were winnable games, but turnovers and lack of LMA hurt the team for sure in both.

Derrick and Dejounte continue to be bright spots for the team on both ends, along with Forbes, Gay, and Mills... DeRozan and Aldridge I think are still getting going and will be interesting to watch them.

Derrick taking on the Ginobili role is really good for the team.