GT: Spurs vs. Sixers

[Nolan]

When: 5:00 PM MT, Jan 3rd 2018
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia PA

Seems like just about everyone is out for this one so the bench mob and the youngins are going to have to step up big time!

Go Spurs!!

[imagump1313]

I know its frustrating to some people but I think it actually brings more interest to a ho hum game in January where we can see what these guys have for an extended time.
It will also make us better in April and May IMO.

I do find it funny how some Philly fans are complaining about it though when they have been sitting people for years.

[imagump1313]

Aldridge and Gasol will have to be the go-to guys when we need a basket tonight. If that happens we will be in it.

We are already starting with the lazy turnovers. Not a good sign...

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

So we're without three starters, and two key bench players. Holy moly...

Truly a night for 'next guy up'.

[Sixerscan]

I know its frustrating to some people but I think it actually brings more interest to a ho hum game in January where we can see what these guys have for an extended time.
It will also make us better in April and May IMO.

I do find it funny how some Philly fans are complaining about it though when they have been sitting people for years.

No complaints here... thanks guys. Rooting for you in the west.

[Nolan]

All things consider we put forth a pretty valiant effort last night. Embiid had the paint locked down and both LMA and Gasol had trouble getting anything going in the paint in the first half.

Things I liked:

Kyle Anderson - Really stepped up and was just excellent on both ends. Showed a ton of poise and leadership.

Patty - Needed a big game from him off the bench and he delivered. Played with tons of energy.

LMA - DIdn't do much in the first half but really turned it on in the 2nd half.

Things I didn't like:

Murray - This game was great opportunity for him and he really didn't do much with it. Showed some flashes but really struggled.

Overall solid game, back to backs on the road are rough.

[G R E Y]

Well I’m of two minds about this one, wavering between managing expectations and disappointment. On the one hand, we were without significant contributors so to have expected the same level as when they’re playing was not realistic. On the other, we came back several times from big leads, and even led late, but after all that, failed to execute well to put the game away.

Despite a depleted line-up, it didn’t seem like a ‘scheduled loss’ (don’t like that concept) seeing as how Pop didn’t let the young guys get away with poor play; the unavoidable roster changes were less an excuse than an opportunity. To that end, Forbes and Bertans stepped up and did a great job. We got the good side of Bryn’s streaky game. In a team-high 41 minutes, he was 6-11 for 15 points, and Bertans came off the bench to score 13 points (4-10, 3-9 from the 3). He had some lapses that resulted in four turnovers, but was really active on D, and grabbed 5 boards.

There was some stealth trickery what with the alarm getting pulled in the Spurs hotel at 1am, bringing everyone out of their rooms, and then with the very late announcement that Embiid would play after all. It took us at least a quarter to get used to just how long and agile Embiid is, and it showed with his four blocks in the first Q alone.

Pau seemed off all night, not getting any points in only four attempts, while grabbing 3 rebounds, and a team-high 4 assists – this is both good and bad considering our two PGs had ONE between them. Yikes. As Nolan said, Murray showed more of ‘still learning’ rather than ‘watch my game’. I guess it’s harder for young guys to just step in after few to no minutes, but that’s their job, after all. No assists and 2-5 for Murray, but it was an off game after he’s had some good ones. Lauvergne, on the other hand, really needs to start producing more than a crafty pass now and again. Just an underwhelming night from him overall, 1-6, 4 rebounds (3 on O), 2 assists. It’s nights like these that show we’re a bit thin at the 5. When Pau has an off night like tonight, the next guy up has to fill in, and once again Joffrey didn’t do enough.

Still, Anderson, Mills, and the ever steady LMA were excellent throughout the night and actually threatened to steal a win. Anderson’s got this cool sleepy rhythm to his game that lulls defenders into moments of complacency and then he gets by them. He was all around excellent with 14 points on near perfect 7-8 efficiency, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and an assist. Team-high 5 turnovers levelled an otherwise great night. Patty only had one assist, but stepped up for 26 points (7-17, 4-11 from 3, 8-8FTs); it was one of those nights of controlled energy reaping big and timely rewards, especially in our explosive 3rd Q in which he shot 4-5, including two 3s. For all the talk about Embiid’s impact, LMA actually outrebounded him with 14 (5 on O, 9 on D) and put up 24 points on 10-21 (3-4 in the 3rd). (We’re going to have to make some difficult decisions as both Bryn’s and Kyle’s contracts are up this year).

Their excellent play and the team’s great 87% FTs were wasted with frustratingly sloppy execution late in the game that pretty much gave away the win. Up 103-101, we proceeded to turn it over, break down on D for a Philly inbounds dunk, get called for goal tending, and miss four 3 attempts, all in the last two minutes, and that’s game.

We lost 3 of 4 quarters, had a bad 15 assists to 15 turnovers ratio, and gave up way too many points when Philly had seven fewer shots (87-80). A glaring stat was the 43(!) foul attempts we created in part by employing the ugly hack-a Simmons strategy. Philly had more makes (33) than we did attempts (23).

While we weather the schedule and these roster fluctuations where we have to balance the now with the grind of what’s ahead, games like this teaser will happen. Hopefully the young guys play more consistently along the way, but I can’t wait until we get a full, healthy team flowing in time for the post-season.

I love this team. GO SPURS!