GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 35: SPURS AT 76ERS, 14-3-2021, 5:30PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

We embark on a five game, seven day East road trip book ended by back-to-backs. That's challenging enough with a full team, though we begin this first game with each team missing its best O player. We will need the best out of each player as well as our team best for full support and strengths to shine through: communication, rotations, and hustle on D; transition, movement, decisive assertiveness on O. Let's start the road trip the right way!

WHERE: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

WHEN: Sunday, March 14, 2021, 5:30pm (CT)

Earn The Stripes Mode: Learn and earn!



GO SPURS GO!!!

[ducler]

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[G R E Y]

Pop said DeMar is with his family but will join the team sometime during this road trip.

[G R E Y]

Poor shooting - that will happen. We do need to move their D to open up some driving lanes.

They are shooting 5-8 from 3 - that can't happen. Better, faster, harder rotations and close-outs. Force them off the arc, force them to miss or pass. Anything but open 3s.

[G R E Y]

In case people have forgotten, THIS is what Derrick brings:

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[G R E Y]

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Only Keldon, Derrick, and Lonnie are shooting well. Everyone else is struggling. Jakob is so tentative, just not dunking - why? Why?! WHY??!

Trey starting because we need a big is understandable but he's just not productive out there so far.

Our D has had some miscommunications, but it's really our O that needs a jolt. Rudy and Patty combine for 0 points.

Lonnie looking great... More of what he's doing!

It would be great for Luka to get some of Trey / Rudy minutes.

[Phreak50]

We have no idea how to run an offense when Demar isn't out there doing his thing.

So much passing the ball for the sake of it and one on one hero ball.

I'll keep saying it till I'm blue in the face too, but Murray and White are not a backcourt you can pair up and expect to compete with.

[G R E Y]

Yeah I think we've established Rudy doesn't have "it" today. Let's get Lonnie, Keita, and Luka out there!

[G R E Y]

DeMar making a case for himself for us with his absence lol

[G R E Y]

Plays like THAT are the kinds that are maddening about Lonnie - you just got the ball stolen from you. You're the sole guy running back and the sole guy to contest. And so you... STOP RUNNING??!

* Pop timeout *

[G R E Y]

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I was really hoping he'd get some Trey minutes. Now Luka surely has to.

[G R E Y]

Ass whoopin'

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[imagump1313]

DeMar making a case for himself for us with his absence lol

No. Please, just no....

[G R E Y]

DeMar making a case for himself for us with his absence lol

No. Please, just no....

Sorry, man, didn't mean to add to your misery lol

I honestly wouldn't mind it if the term - duration - were favourable for us, but given he's already adamant about a long deal, I'd be surprised if both sides could come to an agreement. Not impossible, just improbable...

[Phreak50]

Whether you like Demar or not, to win you need a go to scorer, a constant familiar set of plays.

An unselfish team full of good players who can all help will give you positive feels and happy stories but you're never winning that way.

Over the years since Duncan and to a lesser extent, Kawhi, we've struggled when Aldridge or Derozan is out.

You look at all the successful teams in forever, including the current league and the real contending teams have that go to (or two).

Without Derozan we look absolutely lost.

[G R E Y]

lol yep

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[imagump1313]

DeMar making a case for himself for us with his absence lol

No. Please, just no....

Sorry, man, didn't mean to add to your misery lol

I honestly wouldn't mind it if the term - duration - were favourable for us, but given he's already adamant about a long deal, I'd be surprised if both sides could come to an agreement. Not impossible, just improbable...

Whether you like Demar or not, to win you need a go to scorer, a constant familiar set of plays.

An unselfish team full of good players who can all help will give you positive feels and happy stories but you're never winning that way.

Over the years since Duncan and to a lesser extent, Kawhi, we've struggled when Aldridge or Derozan is out.

You look at all the successful teams in forever, including the current league and the real contending teams have that go to (or two).

Without Derozan we look absolutely lost.

I guess I wouldn't be totally depressed if DeRozan stays if we somehow can get someone else like Vucevic as a scorer.
We will simply not win anything ever as long as DeRozan is our number one scorer. Never. He does not know how to win. He does not know how to play when it absolutely counts. He is a garbage stat stuffer who is only effective when its not important. I could stomach him as a number two but him thinking he is the guy is painful to watch.

[G R E Y]

No. Please, just no....

Sorry, man, didn't mean to add to your misery lol

I honestly wouldn't mind it if the term - duration - were favourable for us, but given he's already adamant about a long deal, I'd be surprised if both sides could come to an agreement. Not impossible, just improbable...

Whether you like Demar or not, to win you need a go to scorer, a constant familiar set of plays.

An unselfish team full of good players who can all help will give you positive feels and happy stories but you're never winning that way.

Over the years since Duncan and to a lesser extent, Kawhi, we've struggled when Aldridge or Derozan is out.

You look at all the successful teams in forever, including the current league and the real contending teams have that go to (or two).

Without Derozan we look absolutely lost.

I guess I wouldn't be totally depressed if DeRozan stays if we somehow can get someone else like Vucevic as a scorer.
We will simply not win anything ever as long as DeRozan is our number one scorer. Never. He does not know how to win. He does not know how to play when it absolutely counts. He is a garbage stat stuffer who is only effective when its not important. I could stomach him as a number two but him thinking he is the guy is painful to watch.

Aaaw look we're all in sorta kinda agreement, gents!

Phreak's point is clear, and I think it's a natural part of a team - missing it's best scorer it's harder for the supporting guys to step into the main role. If it were easy, the #1 guy wouldn't be the #1 guy.

Now to gump's point, yes, having DeMar as the #1 guy isn't winning a championship. But we're not quite there yet. As good as our bubble line-up is, it was instructive in proving that we could transition to a new desired style of play catering to the athleticism of the young guys, and transitioning away from a LMA-centric one. Both important points to get us to where we are now.

It also points out some work PATFO needs to do in terms of shoring up our 4/5. So we're not quite at the competing for championship level, and for the level we're at, DeMar suits us very well. You can see his influence on DJ and Lonnie in their use of screens and finding pockets of mid range space for easy points, and in KJ's attempts at footwork and finishing in a bigger variety of ways at the rim. The more they can soak in all the shot creation skills the better while we're together. But to keep us competitive while we learn, we need a guy like DeMar until we are more balanced roster-wise and more skilled then level up.

We've been patient and developing despite trials and tribulations, and we're staring to see the rewards of not skipping steps. We're building a solid foundation on which to grow together and to which we can add the next level talent. I'm curious to see to what extent our group steps up in the meantime, but we do still need that central cog that gets the attention and opens up opportunities for the rest of the guys.