SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 15* (NBA CUP GAME 2): SPURS VS. THUNDER, 19-11-2024, 8:30PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

3RD Q: SPURS 93 THUNDER 77

Like I said,

Another great Q.

Limited TOs.

Shot lights out.

All heart and hustle together.

Stay poised, stay hungry, keep pushing, Spurs!

[G R E Y]

10-0 run!!!!!!!

[G R E Y]

Not to be nitpicky but we have to finish steals and layups.

No quarter given.

[G R E Y]

We are getting beaten down court in transition.

Wake up and increase the hustle, Spurs!

[G R E Y]

Also please get Branham off the **** court.

Sidy needs these minutes.

[G R E Y]

Can Julian make a shot under pressure?

Inquiring Spurs fans want to know.

[G R E Y]

Bassey to the rescue.

[G R E Y]

Barnes in for Branham finally thank goodness.

[G R E Y]

PROTECT.

THE.

BALL.

SPURS!!!!!!!

Poise.

[G R E Y]

Box out.

Hustle after 50/50 balls.

FOCUS, Spurs!

[G R E Y]

Can we make our **** layups, please?

Thank you.

[G R E Y]

Great O board work by Barnes.

[G R E Y]

Oh ffs, Collins!

Make a **** shot at the **** rim you're the tallest player there!!!

[G R E Y]

Keldon, mate, now is the time to drive.

[G R E Y]

Holy **** it's raining 3s!

Deluge!

[G R E Y]

YYYYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSAS!!!!!!!

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 110 THUNDER 104

Last season we'd have fallen apart at the late opponent run.

But we withstood it, and punched back just enough.

Sure they missed a lot of 3s, but we've had games where we couldn't hit a shot either.

The game plan of pounding a small team inside was sound and soundly executed, with a good rotation infusion of Bassey paying huge dividends. Bassey gave us 12 huge points on 5-6, 8 boards (2 on O, and he disrupted a lot more), 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Talk about making the most of his opportunity!

I don't love that we took 46 3s out of 84 shots. I get we're playing a team that puts up a lot of them and can't keep exchanging 2s for 3s, and I get that we were making them at a good rate (41% this game is great for us) but we also have to be more mindful about not settling for or resorting to them late in games when going inside for fouls was so good for us especially in the first half, well especially when Bassey was playing.

Loved his energy, special awareness, coverage on help D, and terrific reads/instincts/athleticism combo.

This leads me to a roster construction point. We had to get bigger and more physically imposing and tough, painful to play against and we did that. Barnes is big; Bassey is back; Keldon Wilder is still bullying his way through; Castle is a tank; Sidy is huge and strong; Mamu is a bigger dude; drafted Harrison who is thicker, too.

We just have to get a bit better at picking our spots for which shot, when. That'll come with some more experience, but this was a great lesson. There's some film about shot construction and selection but it feels good to take those in after gutting out a game.

Surprised Blake got no burn. His D could have helped more than Branham's lack of O hurt. 3 assists is ok, but you have to make your bread and butter stand out but he just has not put it together. Poor handles and spacial awareness relative to defenders, tunnel vision, and inefficient, in addition to porous D. Oof.

What can you say about great CP3 has been for us? It's SUCH a great fit because our guys are hungry for instruction and he is tough on them, in their ear all the time. Not everyone is receptive to that style of leadership but you can see the confidence and steadiness he instills in the group. But he's also super competitive and a player. Him contributing 14-11-5 on great 5-10 (4-7 from 3) in 31 minutes is a masterclass.

Barnes was steady and terrific inside and out, too, with 20-8. Led us with 5-8FTs. I've been critical of his early demeanour and effort but he's really stepped up and come through for us, no drama, all pro and effort.

Zach had a good birthday game filling in with 12 (5-7, 1-2 from 3)-7-3. He was able to work more inside to better success.

Julian chipped in with 12 (2-7 from 3) and 7. Good movement.

Castle is a **** stud. Struggled to score but made a clutch late getting 3 and a clutch late game block. There's already a LOT to get excites about and once he gets more efficient he's going to be even more special. Team high 35 minutes. Eight assists. Pushed it to get to the FT line 3-4. Has to improve efficiency consistency and TOs (but he did play a rough D team). I'm thrilled we got him, thrilled with his mature poise and smart play, thrilled with his impact.

Keldon balled the hell out. He was focused on in the second half after exploding in the first, and it would be great if he could better use his size late in games rather than taking 3s (of course it's harder to say when he had such a great game from the arc making 6-12). He's got the breadth to his game to score in many ways, having improved his touch and handle and toolkit. He still ended up leading us in scoring with 22 on 7-15, along with 5 boards, and 4 assists.

All five starters scored in double figures, seven in total out of ten players who played, CP3 with our lone double double.

We somehow pulled through despite 21TOs(!) which cost us 20 points and making only 13-19FTs.

Making 19 3s ended being big for us even if I griped about the number taken. Generating 32 assists played to our strengths which overcame us reverting to our weaknesses.

Overcoming a tough team that pressures the ball well (16 steals), outpacing them at their best game (19-16 3s), and withstanding their run while executing and coming through with clutch plays from both vets and youth - fitting that the most crucial ones were from the oldest and youngest Spurs - made for a very satisfying win.

GO SPURS GO!!!

[G R E Y]

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[G R E Y]

HIGHLIGHTS AND INSIGHTS

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter