GT: Clippers vs. Spurs

[Nolan]

When: Nov 7th, 2017
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio TX

We started the season 4-0, then lost 4 and now we're on a 2 game winning streak. Hopefully we can keep that streak going tomorrow night against the Clippers.

The Clippers have been an interesting team so far this year. They play a similar style to us (inside out) and while they've looked really good at times they have also had their struggles.

The key to this one is going to be the battle in the paint. If we can control the glass and limit Blake and DJ this should be an easy win. That's going to be tough though and its going to be interesting to see who Pops puts on who. Pau isn't exactly well suited to defend either Blake or DJ so he could be our weak link in this game.

Go Spurs!!

[ducler]

[alexb618]

this game was summed up when patty mills boxed out deandre jordan for an offensive rebound in the 4th when the clips still had a chance.

good numbers from pau finally.

[Nolan]

Very similar game to the previous one against the Suns. Our poor first half defense allowed the Clippers to stay in but we opened things up in the third and took over.

Things I liked:

Our play in the paint - I was legit worried about Blake and DJ killing us in the paint but our guys did an excellent job winning that battle. We kept DJ off the glass and made life difficult for them.

LMA - Scored in a variety ways including a couple 3's. But I was most impressed with his defensive effort, did an excellent job on Blake in the 2nd half. Kept him away from the rim and forced him to take tough contested shots.

Gasol - He needed this game badly. His play at the rim still worries me but he did a good job knocking down jumpers, put in work on the glass, made quick and excellent passes and that up and under on Reed was some classic Pau.

Danny - I'm actually starting to get excited when he puts the ball on the floor. Just a great all around effort last night.

Kyle - Didn't have huge numbers but was super solid. He defended whoever the Clippers had running the point and willingly switched onto the big off the P&R. He then used his length to negate those plays and that seemed to be the focus of Doc's gameplan last night and Kyle single handedly threw a wrench in those plans.

Gay - Was pure fire off the bench. Took some ballsy three's and made em.

Murray - Not an outstanding performance but a solid one. Got to the line at will in the 3rd and really pushed the pace.

Pops - Big fan of the way he used Kyle on Beverly to blow the Clip's P&R's and loved the way he had the guys playing DJ when we went smaller. Essentially treated him as a non threat and sent a 2nd guy to shade Blake then when the shot went up we crashed the glass as a team and just overwhelmed him. Also loved how the offense flowed throughout the game, ball kept moving and we always seemed to have a 2nd option if the play broke down.

Things I didn't like:

1st half defense again - It was shakey but we did adjust and turn things around. Guys got a little lost at times and we gave up a few too wide openish 3's.

[G R E Y]

I loved the can of whoop ass the Spurs opened in the third Q. Gave a chance for some bench players more minutes in the fourth.

It seems like league-wide, the shortened pre-season has resulted in sloppier team play. Spurs are looking more like they're finding their rhythm and team cohesion.

[Nolan]

I loved the can of whoop ass the Spurs opened in the third Q. Gave a chance for some bench players more minutes in the fourth.

It seems like league-wide, the shortened pre-season has resulted in sloppier team play. Spurs are looking more like they're finding their rhythm and team cohesion.

I feel like the start of every season is sloppy. Teams are just using the shortened pre season as an excuse now.

[G R E Y]

I loved the can of whoop ass the Spurs opened in the third Q. Gave a chance for some bench players more minutes in the fourth.

It seems like league-wide, the shortened pre-season has resulted in sloppier team play. Spurs are looking more like they're finding their rhythm and team cohesion.

I feel like the start of every season is sloppy. Teams are just using the shortened pre season as an excuse now.

Teams may be using that as an excuse, but it's more of an observation I've noticed comparing about the same number and variety of games I've watched this year and previous years. I'm also influenced by the freak injuries that occurred so far, but maybe that's just a weird coincidence; need a larger sample size to determine whether it's coincidence or causality.

Maybe it's also player movement (or in the case of teams like the Spurs, and to a lesser extent, Boston, missing important pieces to the line-up) that is affecting cohesive play, but it seems like in previous seasons it took maybe three to four games for teams to start settling in, now it's taking about ten? Then again, Magic and Knicks fans are probably loving the start of this season.

There are always outliers, but the better teams eventually separate themselves. It'll be interesting to see how fewer back-to-back games and shortened road trips affect standings, too. Seems like the league has sought to balance out less early preparation with more rest.