Game Thread: Spurs @ Bucks -- Mon. (1/4) - 7:00PM CST (3:00AM Riga Time)

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Western Conference


Western
W
L
PCT
GB
CONF
DIV
HOME
ROAD
L 10
STREAK


Golden State (http://www.nba.com/warriors)1
31
2
0.939
0.0
20-1
8-0
16-0
15-2
8-2
W 2


San Antonio (http://www.nba.com/spurs)2
30
6
0.833
2.5
17-3
4-2
20-0
10-6
9-1
W 5


Oklahoma City (http://www.nba.com/thunder)3
24
11
0.686
8.0
16-3
6-0
16-5
8-6
7-3
L 1


L.A. Clippers (http://www.nba.com/clippers)4
22
13
0.629
10.0
13-10
4-3
11-6
11-7
7-3
W 6


Dallas (http://www.nba.com/mavericks)5
19
15
0.559
12.5
12-8
3-5
10-6
9-9
6-4
L 2


Memphis (http://www.nba.com/grizzlies)6
18
17
0.514
14.0
10-10
4-3
11-6
7-11
5-5
L 1


Utah (http://www.nba.com/jazz)7
15
17
0.469
15.5
8-12
3-5
10-7
5-10
5-5
W 2


Houston (http://www.nba.com/rockets)8
16
19
0.457
16.0
11-11
3-5
10-9
6-10
4-6
L 4


Portland (http://www.nba.com/blazers)
15
21
0.417
17.5
13-12
5-3
8-6
7-15
4-6
W 1


Sacramento (http://www.nba.com/kings)
14
20
0.412
17.5
6-14
2-6
9-9
5-11
5-5
W 2


Denver (http://www.nba.com/nuggets)
12
23
0.343
20.0
9-19
3-7
5-11
7-12
1-9
L 6


Minnesota (http://www.nba.com/timberwolves)
12
23
0.343
20.0
6-11
2-4
5-13
7-10
3-7
L 3


New Orleans (http://www.nba.com/pelicans)
11
22
0.333
20.0
9-13
4-3
7-7
4-15
5-5
W 1


Phoenix (http://www.nba.com/suns)
12
25
0.324
21.0
9-17
3-5
8-10
4-15
1-9
L 9


L.A. Lakers (http://www.nba.com/lakers)
8
27
0.229
24.0
2-17
1-4
4-9
4-18
4-6
W 3




:pctoss

[r0drig0lac]

and choked away the other one the next week despite being up like 14 halfway through the 4th

refs marked two fouls in Giannis early in the third period, then came the GSW run

[sasaint]

Of all the good things Simmons did, he got to the FT line 7 times. That's a pet stat of mine, and something the Spurs are sorely lacking. A guy who can get to the line is a huge addition. It means he's pushing the opponents hard enough that they feel like they have to foul him. And the ability to make points with the clock stopped is huge when the team is behind at the end of games. That will get him playoff minutes if he can keep it up.

Great observation. Tony doesn't get to the line like he once did, and neither does Manu - not that Imwant to see him throwing his body around, drawing fouls as he once did! But Simmons' ability to get to the line is, indeed, big. Good observation. :toast

So, maybe Simmons is moving closer to supplanting Danny in the SL. We might be getting more threes, not fewer - just of the old fashioned kind! :lol

[LakerHater]

Good game of dunks by the spurs!

Simms showed alotta aggression!!

[sasaint]

Based on the on the court interactions I've seen... The vets love him.

Our vets, especially Tim are incredible about encouraging and mentoring young guys. I think they do really like Simmons.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

refs marked two fouls in Giannis early in the third period, then came the GSW run

they were still up 12-14 midway through the 4th quarter before Jungle Animal Green made like 4 or 5 unanswered buckets in a row in like 90 seconds and the rest was history.

[ceperez]

Great observation. Tony doesn't get to the line like he once did, and neither does Manu - not that Imwant to see him throwing his body around, drawing fouls as he once did! But Simmons' ability to get to the line is, indeed, big. Good observation. :toast

So, maybe Simmons is moving closer to supplanting Danny in the SL. We might be getting more threes, not fewer - just of the old fashioned kind! :lol

Simmons had the highest +/- on the team at 21. Scoring 18 points in the process. Definitely changes the dynamic of the offense if your guards are a legitimate threat in scoring in the paint. He had 6 points in the stripe and the remain 12 points were all layups and dunks? Did he even take a jumpshot?

[steeledl]

Our vets, especially Tim are incredible about encouraging and mentoring young guys. I think they do really like Simmons.


One of the many things that makes Tim so great.

[BillMc]

Victory!:flag:

[sasaint]

One of the many things that makes Tim so great.

The image of Tim warmly greeting Ayres every time he came off the floor, as if the guy was a real contributor, is forever etched into my brain. Leadership like that is so much more remarkable and rare than is apparent to us Spurs fans who have basked in it for over two decades now. We just kind of unconsciously expect it from our team. It is beautiful to stop and see it for the remarkable thing it is from time to time.

[BatManu20]

684218390110711808

[weeks]

38yo Manu laying out on a Monday night in January. One of a kind.

you look at these pictures of him making hustle plays and he has this wild joy in his eyes
this is why he plays the game

[siraulo23]

Man, the Bucks jumped on the spurs early in the game and played with a lot of energy. I thought its gonna be a tough one to win but spurs quickly responded with their own physicality and just schooled the bucks

Great sign for this team and a good win :tu

[sasaint]

Simmons had the highest +/- on the team at 21. Scoring 18 points in the process. Definitely changes the dynamic of the offense if your guards are a legitimate threat in scoring in the paint. He had 6 points in the stripe and the remain 12 points were all layups and dunks? Did he even take a jumpshot?

If he did they are completely overshadowed by his spectacular dunks in my post-game mind.

[Mel_13]

you look at these pictures of him making hustle plays and he has this wild joy in his eyes
this is why he plays the game

Indeed.

[BatManu20]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CX7TZDeUMAAYKks?format=pjpg&name=large

[Knoxxx]

Can someone You Tube the Simmons highlights please?

[Splits]

684189199281467392

:lol I was trying to figure out what they were chanting

[Kawhitstorm]

:lol I was trying to figure out what they were chanting

He pointed to the logo in front of his jersey & walked off:worthy:

[LakerHater]

Can someone You Tube the Simmons highlights please?

NBA.com

[SpurSwag]

He pointed to the logo in front of his jersey & walked off:worthy:

if true that's fuckin awesome tbh

[ace3g]

https://s.yimg.com/sr/imgv1/1/91421788-0de0-3d39-b619-1f27ec528d7d

[Arcadian]

He's the perfect backup for Kawhi.

[GSH]

The image of Tim warmly greeting Ayres every time he came off the floor, as if the guy was a real contributor, is forever etched into my brain.


I'm glad you mentioned that. I'm used to Tim being the last Spur off the floor every game, and he gives every teammate a high-five or a head rub as he walks back to the locker room. Tonight it looked like Tim walked back before everyone was off the floor. I couldn't be sure, but that's what it looked like? Anyone else see that? That's a tradition that I would hate to see ending.

[GSH]

38yo Manu laying out on a Monday night in January. One of a kind.

They showed a camera angle of him laying on his stomach, watching to see how the fast break came out. The guy is such an amazing competitor. Argue all you want about his plusses and minuses, but he has the heart of a lion, and the will to win like nobody else I've watched.

[sasaint]

I'm glad you mentioned that. I'm used to Tim being the last Spur off the floor every game, and he gives every teammate a high-five or a head rub as he walks back to the locker room. Tonight it looked like Tim walked back before everyone was off the floor. I couldn't be sure, but that's what it looked like? Anyone else see that? That's a tradition that I would hate to see ending.

I didn't see the end of the game. But in a game back in November (IIRC), I was gratified to see LMA hanging back with Timmy in his traditional last man off the floor mode. Have you noticed any of that?

[GSH]

I didn't see the end of the game. But in a game back in November (IIRC), I was gratified to see LMA hanging back with Timmy in his traditional last man off the floor mode. Have you noticed any of that?

No, but I'll watch. Maybe it's another way of passing the torch. Good on LMA if he's thinking about those kinds of things.

[sasaint]

No, but I'll watch. Maybe it's another way of passing the torch. Good on LMA if he's thinking about those kinds of things.

Yeah, absolutely. I hope he is.

[LakerHater]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CX7p0t_UsAEXU37.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CX7p03nUQAE44yM.jpg

[SAGirl]

Tbh, Anderson acquitted himself well, albeit in garbage time. I wish he had taken the trey that Patty set up for him instead of dribbling in for the nice one-legged deuce. Nice shot in the end, but he has develop the ability to take and make those open treys.

He did take a corner 3 that he missed but his preferred spots are from the midrange. I think he hesitated and his shooting window was closed up, sign of clearly not comfortable shooting from that spot. Something I do want him to get over very much with that smooth shot he has from the midrange he should be shooting the 3 better. But I will say this for him, he's not a chucker. If he lost his shooting pocket, he didn't chuck and improvised well.

[steeledl]

He did take a corner 3 that he missed but his preferred spots are from the midrange. I think he hesitated and his shooting window was closed up, sign of clearly not comfortable shooting from that spot. Something I do want him to get over very much with that smooth shot he has from the midrange he should be shooting the 3 better. But I will say this for him, he's not a chucker. If he lost his shooting pocket, he didn't chuck and improvised well.


Glad to see you still around. I was worried..... Tbh.

[SAGirl]

No, but I'll watch. Maybe it's another way of passing the torch. Good on LMA if he's thinking about those kinds of things.


Yeah, absolutely. I hope he is.

He has a funny personality, at least from interviews I have seen from him and obviously is more talkative and older than Kawhi. He has also always talked well if our young players. And I remember watching a game he played poorly and came out with something like 8 pts and some TO. (Maybe one of the Minnesota games) but Boban had an awesome game. He was laughing and cheering for Boban without disregard to his own struggle. We won the game thanks to Boban quite honestly.

I keep liking Lamarcus more and more. What a gem if a loss by Lillard. No wonder he was salty.

[sasaint]

He did take a corner 3 that he missed but his preferred spots are from the midrange. I think he hesitated and his shooting window was closed up, sign of clearly not comfortable shooting from that spot. Something I do want him to get over very much with that smooth shot he has from the midrange he should be shooting the 3 better. But I will say this for him, he's not a chucker. If he lost his shooting pocket, he didn't chuck and improvised well.

:lol No, nobody can accuse him of being a chucker!

[SAGirl]

Great observation. Tony doesn't get to the line like he once did, and neither does Manu - not that Imwant to see him throwing his body around, drawing fouls as he once did! But Simmons' ability to get to the line is, indeed, big. Good observation. :toast

So, maybe Simmons is moving closer to supplanting Danny in the SL. We might be getting more threes, not fewer - just of the old fashioned kind! :lol

More than the starter, I see him as you do, like Manu's role he's better bringing energy off the bench and changing the dynamic a bit, since you can't run transition offense most of the game as you will get exhausted and not take advantage of your best defensive players, the big men are not suited to that kind if game. But for sure a closer, better than Danny who can't improvise in tight game situations and you still need Manu at this point. He's getting better with more playing time and he's undaunted by the competition. I liked that despite getting blocked or stripped in his first few transition dunks (terrific defensive plays by Mil) he kept putting pressure on them, and eventually git to the line or dunked. He ran them ragged.

[BatManu20]

684248387512856576

[BatManu20]

684247667648638976

[SAGirl]

:lol No, nobody can accuse him of being a chucker!

A pet peeve among many I had with Daye. Kept chucking despite not having the range or something. As much as I want him to get that 3, if he didn't have it, better to not take it.

[SAGirl]

Hopefully GSW loses tonight or a few more soon. If we went 3-1 against them we would be at 33-7 and they would be 32-5 not counting any other future games of course. If we swept them it would be us 34-6 and them 31-6. We already control our own destiny against them!

Kawhi is 11 of 14 on threes his last 5 games! :worthy:

And those were difficult 3s he made with guys on his face. He just let it go as soon as he got the ball and it is tough to really block that shot or impossible fir perimeter players. It was really the kind of attention he drew that opened up lanes that Simmons capitalized on. Kawhi is looking more and more like a playmaker and it is starting to get to the transcendent point for a superstar. Although it was Simmons and others scoring at times, just his presence made everything easier on everyone. Why do you think Simms game although always explosive and athletic looks different in garbage ed time? He doesn't have lanes or guys worried about Kawhi. Devastating combo.

[sasaint]

More than the starter, I see him as you do, like Manu's role he's better bringing energy off the bench and changing the dynamic a bit, since you can't run transition offense most of the game as you will get exhausted and not take advantage of your best defensive players, the big men are not suited to that kind if game. But for sure a closer, better than Danny who can't improvise in tight game situations and you still need Manu at this point. He's getting better with more playing time and he's undaunted by the competition. I liked that despite getting blocked or stripped in his first few transition dunks (terrific defensive plays by Mil) he kept putting pressure on them, and eventually git to the line or dunked. He ran them ragged.

"Undaunted" is a very good description. The guy is showing great determination as well as resiliency. Never see him hang his head. He just keeps plugging. He already seems to be developing better judgment and avoiding a lot of the situations he forced himself into, causing most of his TOs. I am now extremely hopeful. My inclination to trade him for Jordan Clarkson just took a big hit tonight!

[SAGirl]

Glad to see you still around. I was worried..... Tbh.

:toast was in and out things at home.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

:toast was in and out things at home.

Anderson had a bucket in the 4th

[SAGirl]

"Undaunted" is a very good description. The guy is showing great determination as well as resiliency. Never see him hang his head. He just keeps plugging. He already seems to be developing better judgment and avoiding a lot of the situations he forced himself into, causing most of his TOs. I am now extremely hopeful. My inclination to trade him for Jordan Clarkson just took a big hit tonight!

Well I was never high on Clarkson to begin with and wouldn't have traded any of our guys plus a 1st. I think Pop and the guys have encouraged him to be aggressive. POP loves that. I have realized that this season since we have so many new players who have real talent. Our most recent past projects were very limited guys with no upside and I have been following the Spurs for only a couple of years. But Pop will be tolerant of certain offensive mistakes if it is in the interest of guys being aggressive. Even Boban looked very very marginal early on, but he's also been getting better. Kyle is the most hesitant of the bunch and may really need to ride the bench from now on, but has to keep his aggressiveness in his chances. You never know when he could be needed (injuries). And I do think he has a role further down the road.

POP has just really encouraged these guys to be aggressive and Simmons nature and motor is suited to play like that anyways.

I think even Danny, Lamarcus had to be encouraged to take their shots and be aggressive.

[SAGirl]

Anderson had a bucket in the 4th
:toast
:flag:

[sasaint]

Well I was never high on Clarkson to begin with and wouldn't have traded any of our guys plus a 1st. I think Pop and the guys have encouraged him to be aggressive. POP loves that. I have realized that this season since we have so many new players who have real talent. Our most recent past projects were very limited guys with no upside and I have been following the Spurs for only a couple of years. But Pop will be tolerant of certain offensive mistakes if it is in the interest of guys being aggressive. Even Boban looked very very marginal early on, but he's also been getting better. Kyle is the most hesitant of the bunch and may really need to ride the bench from now on, but has to keep his aggressiveness in his chances. You never know when he could be needed (injuries). And I do think he has a role further down the road.

POP has just really encouraged these guys to be aggressive and Simmons nature and motor is suited to play like that anyways.

I think even Danny, Lamarcus had to be encouraged to take their shots and be aggressive.

Every new Spur seems "daunted" to one degree or another by the Spurs mystique/system/philosophy/heritage. Simmons pretty much stands out in my mind as being "undaunted" by that as well - in a good way. I don't think he is cocky or anything, just willing to go out and give what he has to give. His approach seems a little like Kawhi's in that regard. Kind of "If Pop says go do it, I just go do it." Soldier-like, really.

[Nathan89]

Kawhi shooting 50% on 3's after this game and not peep or headline to be found in the sport world.

[SAGirl]

Kawhi shooting 50% on 3's after this game and not peep or headline to be found in the sport world.

Hmmmm. This was the Simmons game, much as last game made news bc Danny strung together his (maybe 1st for the season?) multiple 3s in a row (was it 6?) and kept us in a game we had a very bad start in. Kawhi is making all these shots with guys in his face, that is what is astonishing to me. Definitely needs mire attention. When Korver had that hot streak last season it garnered attention and was a big deal.

[SAGirl]

Every new Spur seems "daunted" to one degree or another by the Spurs mystique/system/philosophy/heritage. Simmons pretty much stands out in my mind as being "undaunted" by that as well - in a good way. I don't think he is cocky or anything, just willing to go out and give what he has to give. His approach seems a little like Kawhi's in that regard. Kind of "If Pop says go do it, I just go do it." Soldier-like, really.

Not sure about the past, like I said have only been following recently, but could it be a sign if how much they need him? Particularly this game in the road, everyone bricking 3s early, not defending. What we saw was by Pop's design.

[Kawhitstorm]

Every new Spur seems "daunted" to one degree or another by the Spurs mystique/system/philosophy/heritage. Simmons pretty much stands out in my mind as being "undaunted" by that as well - in a good way. I don't think he is cocky or anything, just willing to go out and give what he has to give. His approach seems a little like Kawhi's in that regard. Kind of "If Pop says go do it, I just go do it." Soldier-like, really.

Simmons is reckless like Stephen Jackson, Kawhi is ultra disciplined

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Hmmmm. This was the Simmons game, much as last game made news bc Danny strung together his (maybe 1st for the season?) multiple 3s in a row (was it 6?) and kept us in a game we had a very bad start in. Kawhi is making all these shots with guys in his face, that is what is astonishing to me. Definitely needs mire attention. When Korver had that hot streak last season it garnered attention and was a big deal.

http://1389blog.com/pix/race-card-EXPIRED.gif

[sasaint]

Simmons is reckless like Stephen Jackson, Kawhi is ultra disciplined

Yes, I agree, their execution isn't a point of comparison. But their mentality seems rather comparable. When the commanding officer yells, "Charge!" those two jump from the foxhole and engage the enemy. Most new Spurs climb out more gingerly. They both have seemed pretty "undaunted" from the get-go.

[wildcardX]

Full game highlights if you missed the game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWIAdMJUDI

[TheDoctor]

YES! 5 games up on the Thunderefs :toast
Yeah but we dont want OKC to lose too much ground and concede that 3rd seed to LAC. Unless we grab the 1st seed down the road. As of now, we want the Worriers & Clipps destroy each other in Semis.