Post#42 » by G R E Y » Thu Feb 17, 2022 5:39 pm
4TH Q: SPURS 114
THUNDER 106
On the one hand I can’t see how we lost to this team previously, but then again, I can.
It wasn’t exactly a 4TH Q meltdown despite only scoring 10 points by the half way point (again) but it was a slow cooling off from the first half burn until the second half of the final 12 minutes when we finally caught fire again, at least enough to put just enough distance between us.
And even then we went away from what was successful into irate Pop territory. There he was on the sideline with his arms up when Jakob was defending on the perimeter. Jakob must have seen him as he was all but facing Pop. Didn’t do it until he had to contest the shot. Then Jakob did it again as Pop was on the sideline showing what he wants. At least Jakob has the length to block shots. Keldon and Doug less so.
It’s one of those games where when a player gives you 20 points on 10-14, 0-1FT, 17 boards (6 on O) along with 5 assists and 2 blocks and disrupted several more shots near the rim, you don’t want to nitpick. But it’s still in Pop’s nature to keep teaching to do better where needed.
Jakob was our cog in this game as we had a clear advantage down low and used it well. He had no help scoring-wide from Zach who was 0-2, 0-1 from 3, but given the opportunities he had, we clearly weren’t looking to set him up. Zach pretty much did clean up duty as his 16 minutes provided rest for Jakob and he grabbed 6 boards (1 on O), make 1 assist, and get 1 block. Our Cs each had 3 TO’s, so not the cleanest game.
We had 13 TO’s but gave up only 10 points off of them. The TO’s by our bigs were offset by the boards work, which we won 57-50 overall, down one 15-14 on O. Our Cs combined for 23 of them (7 on O) and combined for 6 assists. Solid extra help for our team.
Although Devin struggled to score again (15 on 6-14, 2-8 from 3, 1-1FT) but it was encouraging that he was second to DJ with 6 assists to go along with 5 boards (1 on O), and 1 block. He defended well, actively grabbed rebounds from opponent grasp, and when he drove to the rim it was with an aesthetic beauty and pretty finger roll reminiscent of Gervin. I would like to see Devin start driving to the rim to get his shot going. Other than that, he had a solid all around game with improvements in areas beyond scoring.
A contrasting style is Keldon’s physical, energetic drives and yells, leading us with 22 on once again efficient 7-14, only 1-4 from 3, but led us with an excellent 7-7FTs. He added 7 boards (3 on O), 2 assists, 2 steals. He once again needed to keep his hands up on D, has to rotate out better to contest. He did terrific work on the boards and drives, and we really needed his energy when the team was in the doldrums.
Doug was his driving and 3s shooting self – something I think I write after every game – but it goes to his steadiness and reliability for us. In this game he scored 16 on 5-11, 3-6 from 3, 3-4FTs, with 3 boards (1 on O). Doug got lost rather badly on screens, however, and it made for a lot of open shots as he couldn’t decide whether to go over or under and the open shots went up. He gets switched on when games are close as opponents seek the advantage his leaky D provides. He was a plus player tonight thanks to his efficiency, but we lucked out that a lot of opponent shots missed.
That leaves DJ as the minutes leader at 36 along with DJ and frankly we needed both of them to play these minutes even though our opponent has a worse record and were without six players. DJ scored 18 on 8-18, 1-3 from 3, 1-1FT, with 7 boards (2 on O), team high 8 assists, and 1 steal. He was a surprising 1 as he was tasked with guarding two young PG both of whom outscored him. He gave us enough even as he was pushing to find his shot. Some were uncharacteristically ill-advised like a 3 early in the clock off his dribble in the 4TH Q when we needed steady leadership with the ball to preserve an increasingly precarious lead. He missed. Pop called a timeout. What’s a coach to do? Teach and keep teaching.
And it’s not that we don’t know better. We do and we’ve shown it in other games, but we frankly had an air at times of not taking this opponent too seriously and it was to our own detriment. I really REALLY didn’t like the barrage of 3s we chose to bloody take too early in the clock in the 4TH Q. We KNOW we should execute our sets and run the clock. We KNOW we shouldn’t take the open 3 in that situation but at least wait so as to control the time and limit opponent chances if nothing else. The cherry on top was the bloody TO’s again. Just... uuugh...
But if you look at DJ’s Instagram, the team was clearly in celebration for vacation mode in the locker room, and overall I’m glad we staved off a bitter pill we’d have to be digesting for the next nine days. Just...
What pushed us over the top was one Lonnie Walker IV, who shot the ball come hell or high water. He was the sixth Spur in double figures, leading the bench with 17 on a rough 6-16, 2-7 from 3, 3-4FTs, along with 5 boards, 2 assists, and 1 block in bench high 28 minutes. He was second to DJ in FGAs so he was in green – light mode to shoot and shoot some more – decisions which need a LOT of bloody work. Like how do you not notice that you’re once again sucking from 3 and once again taking 3 after 3 without passing and so early in the clock? How? BUT we frankly do not with without his contribution in the game.
Pop ran a tne-man unit, but the other bench players combined for SIX points. Primo looks out of his depth quite a lot of the time. He tries hard to recover on drives when beaten by a screen or first step and at times gets the contest or block and at others get put on a driver’s hip which is used to create space. Play and learn. Like a lot of rookies getting minutes at the next level, he struggles with efficiency, going 0-5, 0-3 from 3, 1-2FTs. Five boards and 2 assists filled out his 12 minutes. Diop had some good defensive moments with his length bothering shooters, but otherwise quiet 11 minutes. That leaves us with new Spur Josh Richardson. He’s not shy in taking 3s which is actually good for us, and that was the only make for us as he went 1-2 from 3 and 1-4 overall. But what really stood out is his defensive intelligence. He always positioned himself to get into passing lanes, he got good position on the man he had to defend down low, he read the oncoming switch and sagged under screens well before they could be set – THIS is how it’s done! He’ll fit right in. Smooth release, intelligent defense. He added 2 assists, and 1 block and so was a Spursy team high +14 in 14 minutes. Welcome to the team, Josh.
We had a solid 29 assists, got back to taking and making more 3s (10-34), drove downhill and with physicality to get the the FT line where we made 18-22, and still won points in the paint 60-54. Our repeat patterns that we need to clean up include settling for outside shots too early in the clock when we are trying to preserve a lead. Why we tried trading baskets like it was some W/L roulette game is beyond me. It baffled Pop, and commentators alike, yet there we were giving up 4-6 point swings with their quick makes from outside or on drives in exchange for our quick misses. I really do think we were in AS vacation mode, and it was a distraction as the game progressed. We poured in 73 points in the first half but only 41 in the entire second half, meaning we scored two fewer points in the final 24 minutes than we did in the 2ND Q. Having given ourselves a cushion, we rode it out. Bumpy final stretch, but we made enough stops, ran enough plays, got lucky enough with enough of their misses and withstood their final push. We did hustle for rebounds and loose balls, give a good defensive push back in the final few minutes in which we had a hard time scoring, and pulled through with enough of a cushion lead to absorb the mistakes along the way.
We have a great camaraderie that helped get us through the rough part of the game, even if a lot of them were self-inflicted. Our opponent did make an earnest push and we did enough to make sure we protected our lead and secured a crucial win. A hard earned rest now to reward this young developing team that has already won more games on the RRT than the vet-reliant one last season. We have a challenging finish to the RRT when we return, so let’s rest up and come back ready to finish strong.
The Spurs Way
Thinking of you, Pop
#XX
