GAME DAY, BALA! GAME 54: SPURS VS. BLAZERS, 16-4-2021, 7:30pm (CT)

[G R E Y]

The ever dangerous swing home game in the midst of a road trip can feel like an away game and its just as well. It's tricky going from west to east to west, but this is the challenge we face and we aren't the only ones having to do so. We can't use is as an excuse and must lock in together for more consistent play. We've shown we can play far better; we know what we need to do to get to that level of play again.

WHERE: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2021, 7:30pm (CT)

Earn The Stripes Mode: Man up. Protect home court.



GO SPURS GO!!!

[ducler]

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[G R E Y]

Solid!

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[G R E Y]

Better energy to start the game.

Sort of feels at times as each Spur is waiting for another to "do something".

Rudy settles for outside shots too much as soon as he gets in. Post up, fake, drive, something...

Not loving Lonnie's decision besides his clever drive earlier. Needs more purposeful movement with the ball.

Imagine if Jakob had Drew's hustle, finishing ability at the rim and FT efficiency. (He'd cost twice as much even without stretching the floor).

We need to get our hands on D boards more - though as the game is now in the 2ND Q, we are collapsing, tracking, hustling after, and holding onto it better.

[G R E Y]

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DeMar's come to play - good efficiency and passing. Just wish he wouldn't try to bait for fouls - can't get vertical rather than in a forward motion and expect the whistle. Also, for some reason he tends to finish too low at the rim in end of Q situations - weird pattern.

Patty hasn't made a shot but but his man D has been disruptive and got after rebounds.

We adjusted on Melo well, putting a bigger body on him and providing great help D. Keep it up!

Only two starters attempted 3s. It's a harder O to construct when two other starters don't even take them. We had an inbound I think in the 1ST Q where we passed it to DeMar and the D just sagged. Meanwhile if he had ever developed his 3 he could've had an open shot quicker rather than us working to creating just about anything else. Something to address for next season.

Derrick's next step is working on his handles. He gets caught TO'ing it or picking up his dribble when pressured.

We are doing a better job getting after the rebounds. Really like our intensity and hustle. Good job getting the lead back. Keep it up, Spurs!

[G R E Y]

I can't explain how much I loathe the last two sequences by DeMar to end the 3rd Q - a DD ISO spin missed bunny, followed by a DeMar heave juuuust after the horn rings to call end of Q - if you can shoot it just after, you can shoot it just before!

I don't like our O decisions in the 3RD Q - not great fundamentals on what were supposed to be fast breaks, settled for contested outside shots.

We took 3s when we didn't need to, then they had a long rebound and momentum to hit 3s. These 5- and 6-point swings took our lead away.

Patty needs to sit. Can't hit a damn thing.

Loving the Drew energy! Hopefully all other Spurs channel their inner Drew and bring it!

[G R E Y]

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Uuuuugh...

Another missed opportunity. We can't stay in front when we get leads anymore. I thought we settled for outside shots too much. We got hacked on the last possession a couple of times, but it was really the 7 TO's that led to their 9 points in the 4TH Q that sealed it.

I did NOT like ISO DeMar tonight. He was baiting refs all night long but also settling for outside shots. He put Lonnie in a near impossible position after dibbling the **** air out of the ball and being defended he had nowhere to go and shoved a bad pass to Lonnie with like 3 seconds left in the clock and Lonnie, not expecting it, lost the ball in his feet, they stole it, and drove for what I think ended up being the last winning basket.

I also didn't like DeMar taking the final shot in the game. But Jakob did a great job to secure to O board, and when Derrick had the ball, I thought he sort of flaked out after faking the 3 shot - he had a floater available to take but chose to pass back to Rudy for the 3 miss. We didn't need a 3... *sigh* just bad decisions throughout the game, and once they matched the rumble tussle style, we got put our heels.

We need some toughness and a clear secondary scoring option as well as clear 3 shooters. We need to get back to .500 and take it from there.

This, after two 15+point leads takes the wind out of our sails, but there's room to improve. Less DD ISO, quicker decisions with the ball, Patty making a SINGLE shot - unusual, right? There are several spots where you could say, well that's game right there. TO's, shot construction, shot selection. I did like our fight in this game. And we from now on have to develop the mindset that the calls will NOT come and take them for what they are - surprise bonuses. Don't leave it up to anyone else. It's on us to fix this.

[G R E Y]

Grrreeeeeaaaaaaaat. And that's why Pop was in the ref's ear after the game. And that's why the NBA HAS to figure out a way to get these right in real time. Everyone saw they missed the call. Make it count IN the game!

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