SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 31: SPURS AT LAKERS, 23-12-2021, 9:30PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

Our last road and pre-Christmas tilt has us on the same court as the last game so hopefully familiarity and rest continue our consistency and results. It's really about a pro mental approach to every game, and staying focused on nothing but the task in front of us. Let's give ourselves something extra to celebrate.

WHERE: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

WHEN: Thursday, December 23, 2021, 9:30pm (CT)

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GO SPURS GO!!!

[imagump1313]

Doesn't matter if we win or not because LeBron says the Lakers are the only team in the league thats shorthanded.........

[G R E Y]

Doesn't matter if we win or not because LeBron says the Lakers are the only team in the league thats shorthanded.........

It's either warming up the motivation or excuse so he's covered either way.

[ducler]

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[G R E Y]

Not a clean start. We're sort of feeling them out rather than pushing hard. We're getting our shots but playing tentatively. Too many missed bunnies, too.

Decent D, but we're sagging too much in the key for their too open Js.

[G R E Y]

Jock first big off the bench again, impactful on both ends again.

[imagump1313]

Landale kicking ass and chewing bubblegum again

[G R E Y]

1ST Q: SPURS 33

LAKERS 24

Slowish start, but we picked it up as the Q progressed. I like the subs rotations that Pop has now. Jock as the first big of the bench was immediately impactful with O boards and terrific passes out for 3s, and then he tipped it just in time for out final basket in the 1ST Q.

Derrick is solid on D but has to .. get a bucket. Tre's sort of erratic, too.

But solid D, good push in transition, some deft passes to Jakob inside by DJ.

We're hitting the 3s at a good clip plus getting our points inside plus getting to the FT line plus getting rebounds. Terrific start.

[G R E Y]

Another mismatch on LBJ, another made shot with too much space given, a quick Pop timeout despite the lead. Love it. We have to do something to contain him, starting with ensuring he doesn't get the mismatches he's hunting for.

[G R E Y]

Derrick's and DJ's passes are so sweet. Drive and kicks, P&Rs, skip passes, horn, high low. Just the gamut so far. Terrific off ball movement by our guys to facilitate their end, too.

[G R E Y]

2ND Q: SPURS 66

LAKERS 55

We now have two 30+ point Qs, but I thought we let up for a stretch there as they trimmed our 15-point lead to single digits. Still, getting back up to a double digit lead is a solid effort, though I don't like some of the shots we settled on. Usually it's of the one and done variety, and Lonnie was the one who took them too early in the clock. It was an open shot, I just don't like the timing of it. Better recognition.

They resorted to bully ball pushing into us inside and getting more physical on O boards for secondary possessions and made shots. We had the rebounding lead after the 1ST but they caught us to tie it, so expect more bully ball inside. I thought we settled for some 3s too much, even as we've already made 9-23. There have been games when that was the result, so terrific effort for us to not only increase the volume, but to make sure the quality of the shots from the arc was good. I didn't love the 3s in transition attempts, I think it's better if we spread the floor but push inside. The more we can get them into foul trouble the better it will be for us inside.

Derrick bounced back with a good 2ND Q as he made two 3s so that now all of our starters have scored. Doug leads us as the sole starter in double digits with 10 points, but we also have had quality support from the bench where three players are in double digits - Jock, Lonnie, and Diop.

Loving the rotations that Pop is putting out there.

We have 6 steals on their 9TOs so active hands and good awareness to impose our D.

I suspect they'll try to bombard us inside and from the 3 in the second half to we need to be mentally ready for the battle, push in transition and impose our speed and movement O game, protect the ball, and make sure we run back on D and limit second chances.

Tre, however, is looking like the odd man out the last several games. Not controlling the game on O, rushing his shots, and that mismatch on LBJ, well, we can't have that again.

[G R E Y]

UUUGH hustle plays getting to us. I thought they'd start this bully ball sooner but it's coming now and we have to be ready for it.

[G R E Y]

Lonnie to early 3 in the clock after nobody touches them, long rebound, they drive and Lonnie fouls them. Just can't have these micro breakdowns on both ends. Critical to stay focused and hustling back especially after a bad O decision.

[G R E Y]

3RD Q: SPURS 105

LAKERS 92

The bad news is that we have given up another 30+ point Q, but the godo news is that we've outscored them. Still, 37 points isn't exactly a defensive clinic. We can't stop you know who, nobody is big enough, but we have to be careful about secondary chances and momentum swings to get the crowd in it.

We can't get into a shootout with them and just focus on getting clean stops, getting right rotations, protecting the ball, and ensuring we control the clock on the other end. Move the ball, move off ball, run the clock, execute our sets.

[imagump1313]

IDK who I hate more, Fizdale or Howard.......

[imagump1313]

Now the Lakers will get 30 FTs to finish the game

[G R E Y]

Just keep our composure and energy and focus as they try to suck us into their mindset and scramble to try to get us off our game.

[G R E Y]

We're exchanging early clock 3 misses for their drives and fouls to stop the clock. Think it through, Spurs, and RUN THE DAMN CLOCK AND RUN OUR SETS.

[imagump1313]

At least we know to attack with whoever Isiah Thomas is guarding.

[G R E Y]

Pop trolling with the super small ball line-up: DJ, Derrick, Lonnie, Keldon, Diop hahahahahahaha!