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Busy time now, and if we thought things were progressing quickly already, we're a mere three weeks away from the start of the season! Until then, this is the thread for developments leading up to it:

MEDIA DAY 1: 1-12-2020

Pop presser:

Good news to start


Yes!


Well damn. That's blunt. Sounds like the message has been sent and players - all players - are to fall in line. No more catering to star pet preferences and all that. We're ready to unleash our bubble play on the season. I all kinds of love it!



p.s. The first official training camp practice will be this Friday per Pop.

Jesus. H. Christ. Another start to the season with not everyone ready. FFS. So Q had knee surgery, so understandable, and I'd forgotten Derrick had the toe surgery:

Ok, on to a better POV: Pop said they may likely miss games to start the season. It's not a given so let's keep our fingers crossed they'll be back fully healthy ASAP. Rebounding with the jokes:

Here's a link to the entire media session video interview with Pop. I LOVE this time of the year, regardless of when it happens!

https://attcenter.app.box.com/s/permfvc5r8cm9e3tzc934kf8evfs46ra/file/748317408718

Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2020/12/2/21905058/takeaways-from-gregg-popovichs-media-day

MEDIA DAY 2: 2-12-2020

The Media Week continues today with LMA and Patty.

Presser #2:

Ok. I'm back on the LMA train as of now. He's committed to our new style of play and excited to contribute to it after training for the upcoming changes.



Here's the media session video interview:

FIBA Patty can only be a huge benefit for us:

This transformation is not only important for the team in terms of style of play but also as an example for the young guys. I love the continuity of culture and everyone buying in:



We all do, Patty! Good insights here about the uni, too:

A couple of video excerpts with Patty before the full interview is released:



EDIT to add: Patty's full video interview link
https://attcenter.app.box.com/s/4ueoeljfit6fxtvqc6mla9ror7exbqgp/file/748669151294

Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2020/12/5/22156247/the-goal-for-the-spurs-remains-the-same-to-make-the-playoffs

Interesting that we're keeping Zeller (for now) and have an 18-man roster rather than the 20 allowed. It may have to do with a truncated schedule so there's less room for working out guys 19 and 20 to see if they fit.

MEDIA DAY 3: 3-12-2020

Lonnie and Rudy were interviewed today. Some good insights. It's clear that this team is on a mission. Just the way they talk about the discussions they had throughout the off-season, what they left on the table that they want to take now, now united and energized everyone is from Pop to the vets to the young group.

Some highlight excerpts:


Love hearing this from Lonnie. He's come a long way just in his first year, but handles and finishing at the rim (and with his left hand) lagged.


Small sample size, but I like the deliberate repetitions of the moves and the sidestep shot. He didn't have these before:


Full interview with Lonnie. Love seeing how he's growing. Hitting all the right points:

Love the attitude and vibe:


He does look more svelte. You can see it on his face. Smart for a vet to trim down. I think LMA did, too. That with the young guys getting stronger should balance us better in terms of running and asserting ourselves physically:



The full interview with Rudy:

MEDIA DAY 4: 4-12-2020

Practice 1

We're one of several teams that began practicing today rather than next week because we finished testing everyone early. Practice is closed to media so no video snippets, only info about it:

The Spurs had their first day of group workouts Friday after three days of individual workouts capped at four players and four team staff members at one time.

https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Murray-says-Spurs-have-to-earn-respect-of-networks-15777572.php

But it's great to hear of the guys happy being back together and of the positive energy among everyone as they prepare for the season.

Today DJ and Trey were interviewed.

There's definitely a shift towards the younger group getting bigger responsibilities, and the collective energy is palpable. They're all talking about the focus, the determination, and the playoffs. There's also an unspoken understanding that the roles of the vets will change accordingly, and they frankly have to fall in line with the bubble style of play. There will be no more catering to half-court, left-block or right elbow hierarchy of touches. We saw DeMar and Rudy adjust very well in the bubble. Patty's raring to go, saying we'll see more of his FIBA version. LMA has been training to prepare for a different role. DJ's remarks about it were interesting:


DJ really sounds like he's stepping up as a leader. In the video, the spirit with which he said the above was really more inclusive than how the words came across initially when read out of context. That context is everybody's on board with the new style of play. Still, you really get the sense that shift in priorities has taken place from Pop on down to all the players interviewed so far. There's a tacit understanding that it will no longer be the young guys complementing their games around those of stars but a more equitable, reactive, D-oriented style will take precedence, with the benefit of us knowing we can dip into the vet bags of tricks when we need them.

Oh and there's also this:


Here's a link to the full interview with DJ. Good insights. I'm getting really excited about this season:
https://attcenter.app.box.com/s/bc004mty3zwx4yiziokprxucy9mgfzl9/file/749548491937

Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2020/12/5/22156247/the-goal-for-the-spurs-remains-the-same-to-make-the-playoffs

Some highlight quotes from Trey's interview. Sounds like he's feeling very comfortable with us and wants to stay. Sometimes players are noncommittal and play (or feel they need to for the business side of things) up the options they may have or explore, so it's refreshing to see a player express this sentiment and desire to do what he can to be here:




Also, clearly more indication of the direction and message about it has been laid out to everyone:



Here's a link to the full interview with Trey:
https://attcenter.app.box.com/s/bc004mty3zwx4yiziokprxucy9mgfzl9/file/749549350472

Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2020/12/5/22156247/the-goal-for-the-spurs-remains-the-same-to-make-the-playoffs

MEDIA DAY 5: 5-12-2020

Practice 2

DeMar and Drew spoke to the media after the team's second practice today. Again, there's a consistent message about everybody buying in to the new style of play and after last season's exit leaving a bad taste, resolute about their reaching the collective goal of making the playoffs.

DeMar's highlight comments:



Here's DeMar's full Q&A session:

Very happy for Drew and that he's with us. He's earned it, he's a great fit, and now he's expanding his role. A strong, likeable, hard working guy who working on being more versatile in our new style of play:




Here's the full interview:

MEDIA DAY 6: 7-12-2020

Practice 3

I miss the days when we had 45-second clips of practice. But Pop's post-practice evisceration of certain current topics made up for no practice snippets. We heard from Devin for the first time, too. Not sure what's happening with the Austin Spurs / g'-League yet, but I hope we get to see him and Tre play some minutes with the big club this season.

Some highlights from Pop's Q&A:






Full media interview:

This is where some practice videos are most enticing - getting to see the rookies. We have instead Devin's first impressions, which brought some insights even as he's a little nervous and reserved, but personable throughout. He had some nice words about Tre who's also practicing with the team.

Full interview:

Well of course he is:


The positive is Lonnie will return soon. We're still waiting on Derrick, Keldon, and Q but best to get these out of the way now and be ready the rest of the way.

MEDIA DAY 7: 8-12-2020

Practice 4

Finally some images at least from practice! I'm not sure these are all from today, and it's not as good as a video, but it still gets me excited as the season nears:



The extra ones here are cool, too. Love the one of Patty and Devin and the black and white one of Tre:


Some great ones from practice. I love black and white photos: