A quick review of impressions of a live game.
First, this is the lineup Pop put out there:
Well, he's stayed true to the development mantra all year and why should it be any different now? The hope of watching Sochan live continues, keeping fingers crossed for the Austin games.
If there's any complaint that we rest healthy players just because, well here you have it, three starters out in a game in which the top 3 pick was all but secured.
Anyway, AT&T Center was packed. Lots of good energy in the building, even more so that Manu, David, and Artis were highlighted on the screens. RC, Wright, and Barry were there, too.
There was even a fan who not only had some sort of Pop photo medley shirt on but also got Pop's face shaved and coloured on the back of his head! I planned a trip to another country around my Spurs tickets but that's where I draw the line lol
Speaking of Pop, I've often commented how I love his interactions with our players, those moments of instruction when someone is taking FTs, for instance, and when the camera doesn't control what you look at you see just how many of these there are in a game. He's always teaching whether it's calling something out to a player on the court or calling him over or talking to the bench during the game.
Then there are those other moments when he *just* told a guy what to do and watches as the player does not do that right off the bat. The physical angst, head rolling and arms slapping the sides
It's like, "WTF did I JUST say?!" Yeah well that's the other side of teaching and teaching young guys who still need the reinforcement even at this late stage of the season.I've long said this, too, but who better to teach our players and who better for them to learn from?
It was a competitive first half even if throughout the game we made THT look like **** prime Wade out there. Barely any resistance at the rim. The boxing out issues look just as glaring in person, too.
Blake is an absolute blur. He was the fastest player on the court. Competitive, too. But also raw. Has a long way to go before the first decision being the right one and made quickly becomes more ingrained. But you could see where he could be in flashes.
Tre is more assertive and those floaters will help keep him in the league for a long time. Really nice passes. Mamu, too.
We cut well. And P&Rs and pops look good, too. Nice ball movement.
But we get into these ruts where the focus snags and we look like we're playing together for the first time. Well this starting five WAS brand new, but it's not necessarily or solely a function of new guys together but also of reps at the pro level.
Again, constant teaching and repetition of good habits. This is where the Austin influence shows, too. Guys who've played together in the G-League show some familiarity with one another and what we run. Good to see.
Limiting those ruts and continuing consistency together to raise the fundamentals floor is our collective task.
Very fun night to cheer on my favourite team in person, to see all the little interactions of instructions and laughs between Pop and the players and the players with one another. You could tell we're a tight group. And after the season we're having, that's as big a success and as a big part of the development as the on court skills.
Looking forward to more all together!
p.s. that 50th Anniversary gift book for fans is incredible! Thank you, Spurs!!!
