Game Thread: Spurs vs. Blazers - Dec. 2, 2018 @ 6:00 PM CST

[sasaint]

Physically, LMA, Gay and Derozan are bigger and stronger. Have seen them post up and draw fouls or create double teams (LMA specially)... the Blazers are two small guards who like to shoot and CJ is having a bad shooting game. playing at home, you'd think the Spurs should win this.

Thanks. I thought "they" was the bad guys, Spurs being "we".

[Robz4000]

Guests gonna guest.

[SAGirl]

DeKobe

[Spurs da champs]

DeRozan bullying the midgets in this 2nd half, finally.

[anon]

Double digit lead counts as a blow out, right? Come on work with me. I have to justify my invested time.

[Mirrornick]

DeKobe

this

[BatManu20]

This one's over. Spurs pulling away. They got this.

[Robz4000]

Still plenty of time to choke.

[skin27]

No lead is safe on this team

[sasaint]

Derrick White looks like he should be starting at this point.

This should have been just about the point after his return from injury when he worked his way into the SL after getting back to form playing off the bench. I did not like how Pop handled that, and I am glad that Derrick looks resilient enough to bounce back.

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs playing smart Basketball. Creating missmatches, making smart passes for easy buckets and good rotation and effort on defense. Guess Pop did some work in practice

[SpurPadre]

That is not a pretty visual!

I was wrong. Only Forbes is getting skull fucked, as usual,, tbh.

[DAF86]

And here I was hoping that the one that would get in for Forbes would be Bertans.

[r0drig0lac]

derozan in god mode

[JPB]

Spurs on a one game winning streak.

[NASpurs]

Flukey game

[Mirrornick]

DeKobe

[sasaint]

Spurs playing smart Basketball. Creating missmatches, making smart passes for easy buckets and good rotation and effort on defense. Guess Pop did some work in practice

Maybe listened to an assistant...

[sananspursfan21]

Kiss my black and silver ass Portland

[JPB]

Blazers should tank tbh.

[Robz4000]

Now it's over.

[sasaint]

Flukey game

Maybe, but that won't stop my enjoyment.

[anon]

WCF here we come! Watch out Clippers!

[skin27]

DeKobe


You’re alive now

[TheGreatYacht]

Good bye Zion

[BlackAndWhite]

What a night

[NASpurs]

Maybe, but that won't stop my enjoyment.

Don’t get me wrong, it was fun.

[sasaint]

Now it's over.

Lots of time. Don't jinx us.

[Kori Ellis]

So the key to the Spurs winning is to mis-date the game thread (this one said Nov 2).

[sasaint]

I thought White got screwed on that call. Good D.

[Lonnie Walker IV]

So the key to the Spurs winning is to mis-date the game thread (this one said Nov 2).
timvp. :lmao

[NASpurs]

So the key to the Spurs winning is to mis-date the game thread (this one said Nov 2).

OP is a retard so common mistake

[JPB]

So the key to the Spurs winning is to mis-date the game thread (this one said Nov 2).

This and Marco not bricking one gazillion shots.

[BackHome]

Stop screwing with our lottery pick Pop!!!

[Kurgan]

DeKobe

Kmart Kobe

[emanueldavidginobili]

Man I’m impressed with whites defense wow

[sasaint]

Terrible call on White.

[Spurs da champs]

Man I’m impressed with whites defense wow

He can hang surprisingly well with much bigger players.

[RC_Drunkford]

like I said Derrick White got Danny Green potential on defense

[sasaint]

Make up call against Dame.

[objective]

10, 5 rebounds, 6 assists for White

He's just settling in

Of course once Marco comes back White's minutes will suffer

[Kurgan]

Good bye Zion

Hello first round elimination by sweep

[skin27]

Gay dagger

[JPB]

When was the last time two spurs cracked (or close to) 30 in a same game ?

[Budkin]

Bullshit foul call. SMH

[anon]

I've only noticed half the lower bowl seats are empty on a Sunday, likely due to the recent slump. Maybe that's why the team played like the game meant something tonight. The bottomline trickled down.

[NASpurs]

Key to the game: held them under 130 :tu

[sasaint]

10, 5 rebounds, 6 assists for White

He's just settling in

Of course once Marco comes back White's minutes will suffer

Nah, Pop likes him. He started him his first game back from injury.

[K...]

youd think they'd run clock, buth chuckig is more importnt

[sasaint]

Key to the game: held them under 130 :tu

Spurs' D!

[skin27]

Victory!!

[NASpurs]

Spurs' D!

Probably move up to 25th after tonight :wow

[JPB]

Gay dagger

Nice spoonerism.

[RC_Drunkford]

Marco Belinelli not playing was the key to winning this. Really makes a difference if you give his 15 shots per game to DeRozan, who would've thought?

[SAGirl]

It looks to me like this success is probably replicable. The Spurs are a top-heavy team and need to play like they are.

[sasaint]

Victory!!

We hustled and played very well and played smart for the most part. Maybe something they can build on.

[SpurPadre]

Feels good to beat a team that has a Leonard, tbh.

[BillMc]

Victory!!!

[siraulo23]

yay spurs win

[sasaint]

Probably move up to 25th after tonight :wow

:lol

:tu

[anon]

Marco Belinelli not playing was the key to winning this. Really makes a difference if you give his 15 shots per game to DeRozan, who would've thought?
What's the reason for Petrrari's absence? Official site doesn't have him as a dnp.

[SAGirl]

This should have been just about the point after his return from injury when he worked his way into the SL after getting back to form playing off the bench. I did not like how Pop handled that, and I am glad that Derrick looks resilient enough to bounce back.
I don't want White starting with Forbes there though. Let the Davis experiment run a bit longer... Forbes needs to go to the bench and cut into Cancernelli's minutes when he gets back.

[John B]

Oh yeah, oh yeah. Spurs won, Spurs won. :elephant

[RC_Drunkford]

What's the reason for Petrrari's absence? Official site doesn't have him as a dnp.

neck injury

[JPB]

What's the reason for Petrrari's absence? Official site doesn't have him as a dnp.

DNP sucking

[siraulo23]

really good win but spurs had to shoot 60% from the field to pull out a W, got damn

[sasaint]

We hustled and played very well and played smart for the most part. And we played an exciting game, too. Win or lose, I was entertained. Maybe something they can build on.

[SpurPadre]

This may very well have been a flukey win but it was a great response after two of the worst Spurs performances in the Pop era.

[anon]

We hustled and played very well and played smart for the most part. Maybe something they can build on for summer camp.
FTFY. Keep the tank rolling!

[CitizenDwayne]

Aldridge and DeRozan combine for 60, spurs will always win. They have to be incredibly consistent for us to have a chance

[sasaint]

I don't want White starting with Forbes there though. Let the Davis experiment run a bit longer... Forbes needs to go to the bench and cut into Cancernelli's minutes when he gets back.

I want White and Bertans both starting, beginning next game, and Forbes coming off the bench.

[anon]

neck injury
:lol almost don't want to ask how. Hope it's malignant.

[sasaint]

This may very well have been a flukey win but it was a great response after two of the worst Spurs performances in the Pop era.

:tu

[SAGirl]

I want White and Bertans both starting, beginning next game, and Forbes coming off the bench.
yup that is what i would do. Let's see how far they go with that group. Forbes and hopefully Walker when he's ready should take some Cancernelli minutes (Pop is still going to play him bc he's a vet but I can hope).

[BillMc]

Start a Latvian, get a win.

[Mugen]

Hiccup for the tank, but pretty good effort from them overall tonight. D will always be atrocious but they showed their offensive ceiling tonight.

Aside from LA and DD tonight, liked what I saw from DWhite and Poetl.

[SAGirl]

This may very well have been a flukey win but it was a great response after two of the worst Spurs performances in the Pop era.
I mean they shot very well and scored 131 points but this is the team they were supposed to be... good offensive/bad defensive team. Lately they were just bad at everything, basically an abomination.

[SAGirl]

Start a Latvian, get a win.
:) grats :tu

[SpaceCoast Spursfan]

I don't mind if Pop sticks with tonight's SL a few games, but if White can show a bit more consistency I wouldn't mind seeing him replace Forbes, would certainly help defensively. Probably also depends on White showing he can do better shooting the 3

[SpurPadre]

:tu

That being said, it would be really interesting to see what we can do with White and Bertans starting, Walker getting minutes off the bench and less minutes for Forbes, Marco and Cunningham.

[NASpurs]

I mean they shot very well and scored 131 points but this is the team they were supposed to be...good offensive/bad defensive team. Lately they were just bad at everything, basically an abomination.

The Dante Cunningham effect

*edit* fixed: bolded the wrong part :lol

[Barfunk]

Missed the game but was actually predicting a win today.

[BillMc]

:) grats :tu
:lol:toast

[sasaint]

FTFY. Keep the tank rolling!

Pop ain't ever gonna tank. So, I just root for our guys.

[BillMc]

Wahoo! Game Grades not Game Thoughts tonight from TIMVP. :hungry:

[anon]

Hiccup for the tank, but pretty good effort from them overall tonight. D will always be atrocious but they showed their offensive ceiling tonight.

Aside from LA and DD tonight, liked what I saw from DWhite and Poetl.
No worries, the consistency from the two stars will only reappear against the soft-ass Blazers, Twolves, Suns, Magic, Hornets, Wizards and Bulls of the world tbh

[SpurPadre]

I mean they shot very well and scored 131 points but this is the team they were supposed to be... good offensive/bad defensive team. Lately they were just bad at everything, basically an abomination.

It also bears repeating that Forbes shooting less than DeRozan, LMA, and Gay a game should lead to more success offensively.

[sasaint]

That being said, it would be really interesting to see what we can do with White and Bertans starting, Walker getting minutes off the bench and less minutes for Forbes, Marco and Cunningham.

Hopefully LWIV will get up to enough speed by mid-January to give us a glimpse. :tu

[anon]

Pop ain't ever gonna tank. So, I just root for our guys.
I root against them when there aren't any games on, then revert to old habits when I see them live. Head still says a tank endgame by whatever means is the shrewd long-term move to escape the treadmill.

[Mugen]

Bryn gets less minutes than DWhite and Fatty and the Spurs win, weird... who whoulda thunk it? Old man about 10 games behind as always.

[BillMc]

It also bears repeating that Forbes shooting less than DeRozan, LMA, and Gay a game should lead to more success offensively.

This.

[skin27]

Aldridge and DeRozan combine for 60, spurs will always win. They have to be incredibly consistent for us to have a chance


Problem is they are inconsistent, sure next game one of them will lay an egg

[NASpurs]

Bryn gets less minutes than DWhite and Fatty and the Spurs win, weird... who whoulda thunk it? Old man about 10 games behind as always.

The same man that makes the obvious adjustments when the Spurs are down 3-1 in a series.

[SAGirl]

No worries, the consistency from the two stars will only reappear against the soft-ass Blazers, Twolves, Suns, Magic, Hornets, Wizards and Bulls of the world tbh
Not even. I recall losses to the Twolves, Suns and Magic. They almost lost to the Bulls. They are a mediocre team. They won't lose enough games to truly bottom out though.

Hopefully, they build off of this in terms of rotations, (fewer minutes for cancerous players) and improve as a team. I don't think they will really be all that consistent but can be better than they have been.

[SpurPadre]

This.

And the only way he shoots less than them is to cut down on his minutes. Otherwise his chucking, no defense playing ass will shoot indiscriminately even when those 3 are firing on all cylinders.

[BillMc]

And the only way he shoots less than them is to cut down on his minutes. Otherwise his chucking, no defense playing ass will shoot indiscriminately even when those 3 are firing on all cylinders.

In 2014 he was really only useful because he was paired with Manu.

[sasaint]

I root against them when there aren't any games on, then revert to old habits when I see them live. Head still says a tank endgame by whatever means is the shrewd long-term move to escape the treadmill.

I hear ya. It would be a better strategy. Rather than tank, though, I would prefer see us re-tool around players other than LMA and DeMar.

[SAGirl]

It also bears repeating that Forbes shooting less than DeRozan, LMA, and Gay a game should lead to more success offensively.
he played 23 minutes tonight. I'd say send him to the bench and keep him under 20 minutes. The bench will surely need scoring and he is more efficient than Cancernelli.

[sasaint]

Not even. I recall losses to the Twolves, Suns and Magic. They almost lost to the Bulls. They are a mediocre team. They won't lose enough games to truly bottom out though.

Hopefully, they build off of this in terms of rotations, (fewer minutes for cancerous players) and improve as a team. I don't think they will really be all that consistent but can be better than they have been.

This.

[SpurPadre]

In 2014 he was really only useful because he was paired with Manu.

I meant Forbes but you're right about Marco, too.

[BillMc]

I meant Forbes but you're right about Marco, too.

Yeah, I know you were talking about Forbes. I just wasn't thinking right.

[Collins21]

Where are the cowards who show up with their schtick after every loss? It seems like those cunts root for everything but the Spurs.

[SAGirl]

I hear ya. It would be a better strategy. Rather than tank, though, I would prefer see us re-tool around players other than LMA and DeMar.
It will not happen while you have LMA and prime Demar. You really want to rebuild that means firesale and tank.

In that sense it would have been better off for your wish that they lost this game and the alarm started wailing. I don't really, really like Dekobe, but whatever... Pop isn't going to tank so meh.

[anon]

Not even. I recall losses to the Twolves, Suns and Magic. They almost lost to the Bulls. They are a mediocre team. They won't lose enough games to truly bottom out though.

Hopefully, they build off of this in terms of rotations, (fewer minutes for cancerous players) and improve as a team. I don't think they will really be all that consistent but can be better than they have been.
I saw those games too. Calling them mediocre would be an understatement when placed alongside those losses. I'm saying moving forward, with the positive roster changes listed in this thread incorporated (White starting pg, Bertans starting sf, Walker when healthy starting sf, Bertans pf, Gay bench scorer, no Beli and Cunni) you can expect to have 60pt combined outings from the stars against those teams because the roleplayers do a more efficient job of prevent the opposing d from loading up.

[sasaint]

he played 23 minutes tonight. I'd say send him to the bench and keep him under 20 minutes. The bench will surely need scoring and he is more efficient than Cancernelli.

And this. I think he could be valuable leading the second unit. Pop has just been trying to force him into an ill-fitting role - like Mills. Demanding too much of guys who have good value in limited roles.

[spin8]

I think this game says more about the Blazers than it does the Spurs. They are currently 7th in the West and I think after these last few losses (I watched their loss to the Nuggets on Friday), I think that's where they are. A bottom of the West playoff team.

Blazers rely too much on Dame, and if CJ stinks it up (which he did tonight), opposing teams can just take Lillard out. Not that hard of a defensive scheme to execute honestly. Their bench is awful too, which is why they allowed the Spurs to get right back in it in the 3rd. They could have put the Spurs away then just when it seemed that San Antonio was about to shit its collective pants, but as soon as their starters left, they lost the lead in an instant. At that point it was probably a good sign that they were going to lose.

Also, their defense is middle of the league bad, almost as bad as the Spurs. Lillard and CJ are a terrible backcourt defensively, due to size and effort, especially against more physical guards like DeRozan.

Honestly, it's not too surprising Portland dropped this one, especially on the road against a wounded team trying to rally after getting blown out in the last two games. The Blazers are what we thought they are. A first-round playoff exit unless something gives.

[sasaint]

It will not happen while you have LMA and prime Demar. You really want to rebuild that means firesale and tank.

In that sense it would have been better off for your wish that they lost this game and the alarm started wailing. I don't really, really like Dekobe, but whatever... Pop isn't going to tank so meh.

No, I think the team could get some value for LMA and DeMar - which in my mind would be a start to a re-tool, not a tank.

[SAGirl]

No, I think the team could get some value for LMA and DeMar - which in my mind would be a start to a re-tool, not a tank.
I see what you did there. :tu Doubt that happens too though. Specially if they are playing well and the team is playing well. In that case for your wish to come true, you'd still need the team to be really bad so PATFO is forced to retool. He won't go there willingly.

Heck Nephew had to go on a strike with cancerous behavior to get out of SA. LMA didn't get traded when he wanted to either.

[SpurPadre]

And this. I think he could be valuable leading the second unit. Pop has just been trying to force him into an ill-fitting role - like Mills. Demanding too much of guys who have good value in limited roles.

I still see Mills as leading the second unit but Forbes would still be somewhat effective off the bench in small doses.

[anon]

I hear ya. It would be a better strategy. Rather than tank, though, I would prefer see us re-tool around players other than LMA and DeMar.
The argument against this has always been the Spurs are perennially impoverished of assets as bargaining chips for trades, right? I mean if they had assets in the first place the roster wouldn't look so bad. Every roleplayer above the age of 25 has to go and be replaced with upgrades if we expect a core of career losers in Aldridge and Derozen to take us anywhere. That's even more unlikely than the Spurs drafting another Leonard. Or Curry.

[SpurPadre]

he played 23 minutes tonight. I'd say send him to the bench and keep him under 20 minutes. The bench will surely need scoring and he is more efficient than Cancernelli.

Seeing how this team is not going to tank the season willingly, PATFO have to think about getting rid of at least one of Marco, Mills or Forbes. They are 3 of the worst players on D in the league their offense just won't negate that fact.

[Immortal Spur]

Well I hope that was as good for you as it was for me San Antonio :smokin

[JPB]

I think this game says more about the Blazers than it does the Spurs. They are currently 7th in the West and I think after these last few losses (I watched their loss to the Nuggets on Friday), I think that's where they are. A bottom of the West playoff team.

Blazers rely too much on Dame, and if CJ stinks it up (which he did tonight), opposing teams can just take Lillard out. Not that hard of a defensive scheme to execute honestly. Their bench is awful too, which is why they allowed the Spurs to get right back in it in the 3rd. They could have put the Spurs away then just when it seemed that San Antonio was about to shit its collective pants, but as soon as their starters left, they lost the lead in an instant. At that point it was probably a good sign that they were going to lose.

Also, their defense is middle of the league bad, almost as bad as the Spurs. Lillard and CJ are a terrible backcourt defensively, due to size and effort, especially against more physical guards like DeRozan.

Honestly, it's not too surprising Portland dropped this one, especially on the road against a wounded team trying to rally after getting blown out in the last two games. The Blazers are what we thought they are. A first-round playoff exit unless something gives.

At this point, it looks like no west team will get past the first round tbh.

[sasaint]

I still see Mills as leading the second unit but Forbes would still be somewhat effective off the bench in small doses.

In my world, we would move Mills for an asset that might be useful in future plans. (I have been telling the forum that Patty would never be traded for over a year, so I do see my own inconsistency - :lol)

[sasaint]

The argument against this has always been the Spurs are perennially impoverished of assets as bargaining chips for trades, right? I mean if they had assets in the first place the roster wouldn't look so bad. Every roleplayer above the age of 25 has to go and be replaced with upgrades if we expect a core of career losers in Aldridge and Derozen to take us anywhere. That's even more unlikely than the Spurs drafting another Leonard. Or Curry.

It seems like one of us is misunderstanding the other. I am advocating trading LMA and DeMar rather than building around them.

[JPB]

As much as they can be freaky, I think spurs are due to a winning streak like any other team at some point... Win another 2 games and you're back in the mix...

Right ?

[Mugen]

The same man that makes the obvious adjustments when the Spurs are down 3-1 in a series.

https://www.nexxt.com/data/articles/images/fashion-and-retail/Retail%20woman%20points%20up.jpg

[wildbill2u]

In my world, we would move Mills for an asset that might be useful in future plans. (I have been telling the forum that Patty would never be traded for over a year, so I do see my own inconsistency - :lol)

How do you trade a guy with too much money in his contract, suspect defense, and a streaky shot? We'd wind up paying some other team $50 million. I think he tries hard to spark the team, but without some headliners taking the pressure off, he is in a bad place. My guess is we have to live with it.

[cjw]

How do you trade a guy with too much money in his contract, suspect defense, and a streaky shot? We'd wind up paying some other team $50 million. I think he tries hard to spark the team, but without some headliners taking the pressure off, he is in a bad place. My guess is we have to live with it.

You realize he only has $27 million left on his deal after this year. Let’s stop talking about it as if it’s a $100 million weight. He’s moveable now if they wanted to trade him. And certainly would be next year, which I see as more likely timing if the team isn’t competing.

[sasaint]

How do you trade a guy with too much money in his contract, suspect defense, and a streaky shot? We'd wind up paying some other team $50 million. I think he tries hard to spark the team, but without some headliners taking the pressure off, he is in a bad place. My guess is we have to live with it.

My guess is we have to live with him because Pop will never trade him. But to more directly address your question, Patty has started playing better in recent games, so I think his value has improved some. Plus, there are teams that really need some outside shooting. I don't think he is an albatross as I once did; he's just Pop's pet.

[LakerHater]

https://s2.gifyu.com/images/dd41731d8919ba616d.gif

[Mirrornick]

You’re alive now

I came back as soon as we win. What a coincidence

[Mirrornick]

When lma and dd combine for 60 points then life is good.

[Spurtacular]

I wasn't as impressed with SA as much as I was unimpressed with Portland, tbh. For the first time, I find myself not caring much about whether or not I catch a Spurs game...

[r0drig0lac]

This and Marco not bricking one gazillion shots.
this



Key to the game: held them under 130 :tu

https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smilol.gif nba = fucked


That being said, it would be really interesting to see what we can do with White and Bertans starting, Walker getting minutes off the bench and less minutes for Forbes, Marco and Cunningham.

would be too perfect with the list we currently have, so this is certainly not happening, but Murray / Walker / White is an incredible defensive potential

[Fireball]

nice win ... go Poeltl!

[boutons_deux]

nice win ... go Poeltl!

he's beginning to play like his college/rookie highlight films

big men usually take a couple of seasons to develop fully. JP could be ahead of schedule, if given the minutes. He's desperately needed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Ah2ayKG6w

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586

[DAF86]

The Bertans effect.

[JPB]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586

Easily reproducible tbh.

[boutons_deux]

Black Swan, never to be seen again

"we just made some shots"

[r0drig0lac]

Easily reproducible tbh.

tbh

[spurs10]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586 Thanks for posting this. I didn't look at the boxscore because I was at the game. It obviously felt good, but this is surprising. 60/70/90 is mighty great.

[RC_Drunkford]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586

so is the other game Game 3 of the 2014 Finals?

[sasaint]

so is the other game Game 3 of the 2014 Finals?

Last time was 1995. I took that to mean for any team.

[NASpurs]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586

Just something that hasn’t been done in 23 years in the NBA for a win. :lol oh man

And the Blazers shot 50/40/100... that’s like a win 95% of the time

[r0drig0lac]

Just something that hasn’t been done in 23 years in the NBA for a win. :lol oh man

And the Blazers shot 50/40/100... that’s like a win 95% of the time

no defense game

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656


https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586

Damn

[TDomination]

no defense game

just how the nba wants it

[SpurPadre]

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069639196804038656

https://twitter.com/AirlessJordan/status/1069633367480643586

You'd think we'd have won by 40 with that mark...

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

60/70/90...whatever. How many times have teams made over 10 threes in a game while shooting 70% or better...probably not much. These random "records" folks come up with now make me laugh. I'm laughing.

[sasaint]

You'd think we'd have won by 40 with that mark...

Another indication of why that game was just so much fool's gold.

[Fireball]

he's beginning to play like his college/rookie highlight films

big men usually take a couple of seasons to develop fully. JP could be ahead of schedule, if given the minutes. He's desperately needed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Ah2ayKG6w

I am just glad he seems to adjust ... everytime I watched a Raptors game last season I was impressed by him ... now we finally see hard screens and blocked shots from him

[BatManu20]

Lonnie Walker IV (https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=51724) where’s the GT brah

[Lonnie Walker IV]

Lonnie Walker IV (https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=51724) where’s the GT brah

That mtfknkent started it in the am. And now we got back to back losses. :lol

I'm making the next one. :lol