GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 49: SPURS AT CLIPPERS, 3-2-2020, 9:30PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

Finishing well at home is a good boost going into our annual Rodeo Road Trip which starts tonight in, of course, tough fashion as the first of a back-to-back. We are actually playing well versus good teams, so hopefully that bodes well and the trend continues. We frankly need our best from each player individually and all collectively, being ever mindful of playing hard, being defense-first, and staying poised throughout the first stop and the rest of our 6,721 mile journey.

WHERE: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

WHEN: Monday, February 3, 2020, 9:30pm (CT)

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GO SPURS GO!!!

[ducler]

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[G R E Y]

Uuuuuugh... Bryn is in fact staring. Why? WHY??! His starting is incompatible with our desire to make the playoffs.

Unless he's out there for like two to three minutes and then gets yanked when he isn't scoring, mayyyybe, but Jesus, I can't stand seeing him out there flapping about. He better bring it and shut me up.

[G R E Y]

I like our D strategy of doubling high at the arc to force passes, and we're doing it well when we get to it quickly.

We're shooting great, but need to limit our fouls, and get to the FT line ourselves. We are relying on outside shots too much and need to move and make weakside and back door cuts for some baskets inside, FTs, and their foul trouble.

Keep up the intensity and focus.

Also, Lonnie, DJ, Derrick, and Jakob need to get their O going.

[G R E Y]

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[G R E Y]

Well, a familiar pattern that led to this result. Scoring droughts at the worst times are plaguing us this season; our clutch capability sorely needs improving this season:

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We started out so well, disciplined in our execution, moving well, getting a lead and maintaining it. Thirty-nine points in the 1st Q was impressive as was our balanced scoring from most starters except DJ (0-1). DeMar led the way with 21 first-half points, torrid pace, but also a lot of pressure on one guy to keep it going. Our bench hadn't scored yet, not ideal, and by half the second unit had 10 points, with DJ still struggling by the break (1-5). He gets into these droughts, more on his efforts later.

DJ, Derrick, and Lonnie didn't give us anything on O in that half, and Rudy struggled from outside (he shot 2-5 overall - those two makes being right at the basket - all in the 2nd Q) and that put more pressure on the guys who had it going. When they were pressured to give the ball up to those who weren't scoring, we had the result we did in the 3rd Q. I thought we settled for outside shots too much and ought to have driven more (only 6-6FTs at the half).

It was the early part of the 3rd Q in which we made it hard on ourselves. They turned up their defensive intensity and forced not only some end of clock shots, but we even ended up missing open ones. They went on a 18-4 run to get a five point lead oof! before we started to make some good defensive plays - blocks by Derrick and Jakob, a couple of steals - that finally led to some points in transition. From up 9 at the half to down 3 by the end of the 3rd Q was a big swing against, but we found our footing and closed the gap.

A 6-0 mini-run gave us a back our lead 88-85 and after a LMA 3 and good Pop challenge to overturn a foul on LMA it felt as if the tide was turning in our favour; they didn't get FT's and we got the ball and scored to keep up our lead 93-89. Up 102-97 is when the tide turned back. One drive on Lonnie down the key (welcome to the league, young man, now guard a great driver late in the game. Sometimes experience stings) and they went on a 7-0 run to take the lead 104-102.

It was details at crucial moments that caused us to let the game slip away. Late in the clock on the next possession DeMar passed up a shot at just about the 3-point range to pass to Derrick who hit a 3 but just after the shot clock expired. This is something DeMar has done enough times as to be noticeable this season - too long a shot too late in the clock so he passes and forces a heave from a teammate. Not good time management, followed by worse decision at the end of it. After they finally missed, we set up a great shot for Patty but he missed the open 3 at the top of the arc. They scored again for a 106-102 lead, then Patty made a 3, and we were then on the wrong end of fouling to stop the clock with not enough time on it for a tough three-point loss.

They closed on a 11-3 run, so that familiar pattern of closing out games with the lead - again - reared its head.

We had a lot of front of rim misses. Not sure it 'means' anything other than we could notice it sooner and adjust better to maybe put more force into shots or use legs more. Sometimes it indicates rushed shots, and we did get pressured into several late clock Js. Something to work on in terms of getting passes, coming to passes, generally faster movement to get more open shots.

In a broader sense of game management, the beginning of that 3rd Q in which they went on a big run is a pattern we need to limit. Teams will go on runs, and we do as well, but it's the combination of quality of shots we got - settling for outside too much, not driving enough, and the shots we gave up - not reading plays to better contest their drives and shots inside that put us on our heels and resulted in being outscored 50-30.

They adjusted on DeMar and he shot 1-10 in the second half after a blazing 11-13 with 4-6FTs, 5 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals. He couldn't do it alone, and LMA remained steady the second half; 4-8 in the 1st half, 5-9 in the second with 7-7 FTs, 9 boards, 5 assists and 2 blocks. He's been such a rock for us in unsteady times, but it is interesting that we move the ball better when he's not in because when he gets it in the block, that's his shot and takes the time it does to get the shot off. Still very effective, but it's encouraging we are also effective in other styles of play.

I really liked Trey asserting himself and showing more of his game (4-8, 2-6 from 3, 5 boards - 2 on O, 1 block). He's making better decisions faster. I have to say I didn't think I'd see this side of his game, but all that faith as a starter and expanding his game game bit by bit from rebounder, to stronger defender, to 3 shooter, to now driver or faking and stepping in for a 2 is paying off. He is a bright spot, and a player whose growth is most noticeable this season.

Our starting back court combined for 10 points. Yeah, that's not going to get it done. DJ with 1-7 and Bryn with 2-8 (2-7 from 3) and 2-2FTs hurt us a lot. All of Bryn's shots were outside, that's his function (well, making them is, but that's belabouring the point by now). He gets on these streaks in which he hits nearly everything and then drops off badly. In this game he started 2-3 in the 1st Q and then proceeded to miss everything for the rest of the game. Can't have that if that's your bread and butter.

All of DJ's shots were Js, two close to the elbows, all others non-paint 2s. Sometimes it's what a defense gives you, but I thought he ought to have been more assertive in looking for open lanes and driving. I noticed when he shoots that his knees are caving in again. It doesn't affect whether he scores, but I recall from his rehab videos that his legs were parallel in his shooting motion and now he's reverted to his previous comfort zone position. Not sure if it's something that affects his joint, but I'm curious about the mechanics and wear over time, even for someone with a more slight physical frame.

His defense was really good, solid positioning and instincts of when to pounce on steals (2) and rebounds (5, 1 on O) stood out against a tough assignment. He's still learning the game, balancing when to drive (and how to finish), when to take his shot, when to pass, etc. No assists in this game for a PG is sub-optimal. It's a hard position to learn. Makes me appreciate those who make it look so effortless.

Derrick also struggled on O (2-7, 0-3 from 3) but I liked his willingness to drive; half of his attempts were at the basket, balanced well with some J and 3 attempts. Very solid defense with two more blocks, 8 boards, and getting other involved - team-high 6 assists.

Patty led the bench unit again with 18 points all on 3s - can't ask more of a vet who's fulfilling his role. But at this stage, he really should be outscoring our PG tandem so much so often. Getting good shots and executing has to be a priority from our young PGs so as to take pressure off the main guys. Our SG tandem hardly fared better with Bryn and Lonnie (1-4) combining for 3-12. Lonnie has had some drives blocked or has been fouled at the rim so maybe using a high floater in the paint more could help. But in general he's been showing a varied shot selection. When he gets a feel of when to do what more, he's going to be a scary scoring threat.

Their shooting woes are of representative of our season - when we're on we can beat anybody; several other times we have an imbalanced contribution. Not everyone will shoot well all the time, but we do tend to have feast or famine percentages so working towards some leveling would be good. Part of that comes from mechanics and part from getting better shots. And fundamentals of using the glass.

Whereas LMA found his shooting touch, Rudy is still looking for his. His decline in his shooting and how he looks when he drives is more noticeable this season. Part of that decline manifests in inconsistent scoring, part of it in how he looks to get points. Shooting under 20% from 3 in the last 10 games means he hasn't been scoring well in aaa-while. His front court partner Jakob was only 2-3, a pity considering the great O output in the previous game. We could have used him more inside. He was a defensive beast as always with 6 boards (3 on O) and 3 blocks plus 2 assists. Jakob was also the only bench player to get to the FT line - that's not nearly good enough as a team whose bench is support crucial to our success. Our bench was outscored 39-32, and 6-9FTs for their bench.

I liked our game plan of doubling #2 and I have to say Bryn did a good job with a wide big stance of staying in front of him and bringing him to a help D double; it was effective enough to give us a chance to win. We only had 6 turnovers (to their 12), got 9 blocks (to their 2), and had 5 steals (to their 3). But we connected on only 12 of our 37 attempts from 3, and got to the FT line 13-16; we left too many shots on the floor. That 50-30 points-in-the-paint deficit was bizarre in that we kept having too many players with our backs to cutters down the middle for dunk after dunk without adjusting well to it.

It's a game of mitigating mistakes, weathering runs, and adjusting to defenses to find ways to score. In a make or miss league, we have to hit the open ones. We had a solid plan in place, competed well, and even with those inside points against, executed well consistently enough to put ourselves in a solid position to win. The small details hurt us, and though there are no points for moral victories, there were some good things we can take from this game. We've been in so many games right to the wire. The main goal now is being resilient late in games to keep our leads. It's a tough stretch in which to try do it, but we've had plenty of chances before it to improve so it's up to us to push through.

Minor point but it stood out: the douchebag arrogance of #2 not bothering to acknowledge Pop after the game speaks for itself. No fig leaf. No surprise.

On to the next one.