timvp
01-04-2019, 04:00 AM
https://i.imgur.com/rgjFrSQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MkpZAei.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/utYOyW7.jpg
San Antonio’s regular season Super Bowl was a rousing success. The crowd was into it from the pregame introductions until all the players had made their way through the tunnels after the game. On the court, the Spurs couldn’t have played much better against the Raptors.
The good guys came out energized to the max, played with an edge, followed the smart gameplan and basically ended the game in the first quarter. Kawhi Leonard had an and-1 to begin the scoring but missed the free throw as a chorus of boos rained down within the AT&T Center. Bryn Forbes answered with a three-pointer … and the Spurs would never trail again.
With the Spurs already up 21-11 with 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter, San Antonio continued the early avalanche by scoring the game’s next 13 points as the crowd roared with approval. From then on, Toronto never made a serious run as the basketball game basically turned into a two and a half hour cathartic fiesta where all the confusion, hurt and betrayal of the previous year was laid bare.
Obviously, the 125-107 victory was fun to witness as a Spurs fan. It couldn’t have played out much better. Revenge was served.
-------------
LaMarcus Aldridge
https://i.imgur.com/1nluyNF.png
LaMarcus Aldridge put together another very good performance. And, again, what made him so impactful was his physicality, relentless running of the court and consistently gaining deep post position. Aldridge recognized early that he was too big and too strong for anyone on the Raptors to deal with, particularly starting center Serge Ibaka. Not only did Toronto begin the game by putting a smaller defender on him, they were initially hesitant to send double-teams. Aldridge eventually forced their hand -- but when the double-teams started to arrive, he continued to torture the Raptors with his passing. Defensively, he sagged too far a lot of the night and wasn’t an asset on the glass. That said, his transition defense was a lot better than usual, as were his rotations.
Grade: A
Summary: The struggling Aldridge of earlier in the season is now a memory.
-------------
DeMar DeRozan
https://i.imgur.com/ZKxGADZ.png
I loved DeMar DeRozan’s approach to the game. He was obviously extremely motivated but he directed his energy in beneficial ways. He grabbed eight first quarter rebounds, played better than usual defense, feverishly pushed the pace and attacked the backpedaling Raptors in transition. Outside of a couple out-of-control possessions, DeRozan stayed within the offense and patiently made plays for himself and teammates. In storybook fashion, the man who thought he was a Raptors lifer had his first career triple-double in his first career game against the Raptors. Well done, man.
Grade: A+
Summary: DeRozan decimated his former team.
-------------
Rudy Gay
https://i.imgur.com/vqYr2we.png
Early in the day, it didn’t look like Rudy Gay would play. His wrist was in a brace and his movement was still limited. But, give him credit, he got his wrist loose and suited up to help out his teammates. Given the circumstances, the Spurs couldn’t have asked for much more. Defensively, he rebounded well and played physical defense. He did get in foul trouble but most of his fouls were when he was hustling to try to help a teammate. Offensively, he hit his first three-pointer after 12 consecutive misses, ran the court well, picked his spots well and made a couple of fantastic passes.
Grade: B+
Summary: The Spurs needed Gay. Gay showed up.
-------------
Bryn Forbes
https://i.imgur.com/yXVIEAs.png
It might be time to admit that Bryn Forbes is pretty damn good. At the very least, he has been on fire over the last eight games: 15.5 points per game on 55.3% shooting from the floor and 52.2% shooting on three-pointers. Against the Raptors, his outside shot looked even more beautiful than usual; the rotation on his shots was perfect and his touch was pillowy soft. In addition to his career-high six three-pointers, Forbes passed the ball well, took on extra ballhandling duties and played hard on defense. He had trouble at times staying in front of players but that was about the extent of his struggles on that night.
Grade: A
Summary: Forbes is blazing.
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Derrick White
https://i.imgur.com/IrTA2dV.png
Heading into the game, I was pessimistic about Derrick White’s ability to defend Kawhi Leonard. I thought Leonard would use his size advantage in the low block … but that never happened and I was wrong to doubt White. The second-year guard was really good defending Leonard. Yes, the former Spur shot well and got his points but White made him work, forced turnovers and really bothered Leonard’s ballhandling. I was impressed. A point guard legitimately able to defend a Leonard? Whoa. Oh, and White was good on offense, too. Really good. With confidence abrimming, White didn’t hesitate to call his own number, whether on the drive or from three-point land (he has now hit at least one three-pointer in six straight game, while shooting a sizzling 53.3%). And, per usual, his court vision and passing were sensational.
Grade: A
Summary: This kid good.
-------------
Davis Bertans
https://i.imgur.com/ucY2jSF.png
Davis Bertans didn’t post gaudy stats but he aided the cause. He launched whenever he could see a sliver of the rim, which helped spread the court. He kept the ball hopping when he didn’t have a look. His off the ball movement was even swifter than usual. Defensively, I thought he did okay. He cut off drivers and rebounded better than usual.
Grade: B
Summary: Solid, if not spectacular, performance by Bertans.
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Marco Belinelli
https://i.imgur.com/hP9vIFY.png
It wasn’t a pretty shooting night for Marco Belinelli. However, to his credit, he was forced into some bad shots in garbage time (in the last three minutes, he was 1-for-5 from the field). Offensively, he never found a groove but had a few positive plays. Defensively, he was more active than usual and got a couple deflections. All in all, Belinelli wasn’t too good but also wasn’t as bad as the numbers suggest.
Grade: C
Summary: Belinelli didn’t have it going.
-------------
Patty Mills
https://i.imgur.com/gTa4B5z.png
This is the version of Patty Mills that has been missing as of late. When he plays with maniacal passion, it’s easier for me to live with his shortcomings. Against the Raptors, he was all over the place. That allowed him to not get bulldozed on defense and survive a messy, poor shooting night offensively. What the statistics don’t show was how he pushed the tempo, made decisive cuts to the basket and played swarming help-defense.
Grade: B+
Summary: Mills was oozing passion.
-------------
Jakob Poeltl
https://i.imgur.com/FUIlW00.png
The good: Jakob Poeltl had a couple really impressive offensive rebounds that he snatched in crowds. His passing was a plus and his running of the court helped create space for shooters. The bad: Poeltl’s post defense was lacking. His help-defense wasn’t as fast as usual. He was also too timid when rolling and didn’t hold his space well in the paint on either end.
Grade: C+
Summary: Poeltl had a run of the mill game against his former team.
-------------
Pop
https://i.imgur.com/x7B1It7.jpg
This had to be Pop’s best coached game of the season. His defensive gameplan against Leonard worked to perfection. He used White as the primary defender but then also loaded the strong side with an extra defender and then zoned the weakside. That alignment took advantage of one of Leonard’s few weaknesses: his court vision, particularly his weakside court vision. When White wasn’t on Leonard and mismatches occurred, the gameplan was to send harder double-teams. Those varied looks kept Leonard off-balance and forced to either shoot midrange jumpers or try to go through multiple defenders. On top of that defensive look, I also loved Pop’s rotation. He didn’t panic and go with Dante Cunningham versus Leonard. He didn’t try to shoehorn Pau Gasol into the rotation. He leaned on White, used Bertans as his sixth man, and provided adequate rest for DeRozan and Aldridge. I couldn’t ask for more.
Grade: A+
Summary: Perfection.
Looking ahead: What a great win. Enjoy that one, Spurs fans.
Next up, the Spurs have a home game against the Grizzlies. Let’s see if they can avoid an emotional letdown. Honestly, San Antonio should beat a struggling Memphis squad.
Keep it rolling.
https://i.imgur.com/MkpZAei.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/utYOyW7.jpg
San Antonio’s regular season Super Bowl was a rousing success. The crowd was into it from the pregame introductions until all the players had made their way through the tunnels after the game. On the court, the Spurs couldn’t have played much better against the Raptors.
The good guys came out energized to the max, played with an edge, followed the smart gameplan and basically ended the game in the first quarter. Kawhi Leonard had an and-1 to begin the scoring but missed the free throw as a chorus of boos rained down within the AT&T Center. Bryn Forbes answered with a three-pointer … and the Spurs would never trail again.
With the Spurs already up 21-11 with 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter, San Antonio continued the early avalanche by scoring the game’s next 13 points as the crowd roared with approval. From then on, Toronto never made a serious run as the basketball game basically turned into a two and a half hour cathartic fiesta where all the confusion, hurt and betrayal of the previous year was laid bare.
Obviously, the 125-107 victory was fun to witness as a Spurs fan. It couldn’t have played out much better. Revenge was served.
-------------
LaMarcus Aldridge
https://i.imgur.com/1nluyNF.png
LaMarcus Aldridge put together another very good performance. And, again, what made him so impactful was his physicality, relentless running of the court and consistently gaining deep post position. Aldridge recognized early that he was too big and too strong for anyone on the Raptors to deal with, particularly starting center Serge Ibaka. Not only did Toronto begin the game by putting a smaller defender on him, they were initially hesitant to send double-teams. Aldridge eventually forced their hand -- but when the double-teams started to arrive, he continued to torture the Raptors with his passing. Defensively, he sagged too far a lot of the night and wasn’t an asset on the glass. That said, his transition defense was a lot better than usual, as were his rotations.
Grade: A
Summary: The struggling Aldridge of earlier in the season is now a memory.
-------------
DeMar DeRozan
https://i.imgur.com/ZKxGADZ.png
I loved DeMar DeRozan’s approach to the game. He was obviously extremely motivated but he directed his energy in beneficial ways. He grabbed eight first quarter rebounds, played better than usual defense, feverishly pushed the pace and attacked the backpedaling Raptors in transition. Outside of a couple out-of-control possessions, DeRozan stayed within the offense and patiently made plays for himself and teammates. In storybook fashion, the man who thought he was a Raptors lifer had his first career triple-double in his first career game against the Raptors. Well done, man.
Grade: A+
Summary: DeRozan decimated his former team.
-------------
Rudy Gay
https://i.imgur.com/vqYr2we.png
Early in the day, it didn’t look like Rudy Gay would play. His wrist was in a brace and his movement was still limited. But, give him credit, he got his wrist loose and suited up to help out his teammates. Given the circumstances, the Spurs couldn’t have asked for much more. Defensively, he rebounded well and played physical defense. He did get in foul trouble but most of his fouls were when he was hustling to try to help a teammate. Offensively, he hit his first three-pointer after 12 consecutive misses, ran the court well, picked his spots well and made a couple of fantastic passes.
Grade: B+
Summary: The Spurs needed Gay. Gay showed up.
-------------
Bryn Forbes
https://i.imgur.com/yXVIEAs.png
It might be time to admit that Bryn Forbes is pretty damn good. At the very least, he has been on fire over the last eight games: 15.5 points per game on 55.3% shooting from the floor and 52.2% shooting on three-pointers. Against the Raptors, his outside shot looked even more beautiful than usual; the rotation on his shots was perfect and his touch was pillowy soft. In addition to his career-high six three-pointers, Forbes passed the ball well, took on extra ballhandling duties and played hard on defense. He had trouble at times staying in front of players but that was about the extent of his struggles on that night.
Grade: A
Summary: Forbes is blazing.
-------------
Derrick White
https://i.imgur.com/IrTA2dV.png
Heading into the game, I was pessimistic about Derrick White’s ability to defend Kawhi Leonard. I thought Leonard would use his size advantage in the low block … but that never happened and I was wrong to doubt White. The second-year guard was really good defending Leonard. Yes, the former Spur shot well and got his points but White made him work, forced turnovers and really bothered Leonard’s ballhandling. I was impressed. A point guard legitimately able to defend a Leonard? Whoa. Oh, and White was good on offense, too. Really good. With confidence abrimming, White didn’t hesitate to call his own number, whether on the drive or from three-point land (he has now hit at least one three-pointer in six straight game, while shooting a sizzling 53.3%). And, per usual, his court vision and passing were sensational.
Grade: A
Summary: This kid good.
-------------
Davis Bertans
https://i.imgur.com/ucY2jSF.png
Davis Bertans didn’t post gaudy stats but he aided the cause. He launched whenever he could see a sliver of the rim, which helped spread the court. He kept the ball hopping when he didn’t have a look. His off the ball movement was even swifter than usual. Defensively, I thought he did okay. He cut off drivers and rebounded better than usual.
Grade: B
Summary: Solid, if not spectacular, performance by Bertans.
-------------
Marco Belinelli
https://i.imgur.com/hP9vIFY.png
It wasn’t a pretty shooting night for Marco Belinelli. However, to his credit, he was forced into some bad shots in garbage time (in the last three minutes, he was 1-for-5 from the field). Offensively, he never found a groove but had a few positive plays. Defensively, he was more active than usual and got a couple deflections. All in all, Belinelli wasn’t too good but also wasn’t as bad as the numbers suggest.
Grade: C
Summary: Belinelli didn’t have it going.
-------------
Patty Mills
https://i.imgur.com/gTa4B5z.png
This is the version of Patty Mills that has been missing as of late. When he plays with maniacal passion, it’s easier for me to live with his shortcomings. Against the Raptors, he was all over the place. That allowed him to not get bulldozed on defense and survive a messy, poor shooting night offensively. What the statistics don’t show was how he pushed the tempo, made decisive cuts to the basket and played swarming help-defense.
Grade: B+
Summary: Mills was oozing passion.
-------------
Jakob Poeltl
https://i.imgur.com/FUIlW00.png
The good: Jakob Poeltl had a couple really impressive offensive rebounds that he snatched in crowds. His passing was a plus and his running of the court helped create space for shooters. The bad: Poeltl’s post defense was lacking. His help-defense wasn’t as fast as usual. He was also too timid when rolling and didn’t hold his space well in the paint on either end.
Grade: C+
Summary: Poeltl had a run of the mill game against his former team.
-------------
Pop
https://i.imgur.com/x7B1It7.jpg
This had to be Pop’s best coached game of the season. His defensive gameplan against Leonard worked to perfection. He used White as the primary defender but then also loaded the strong side with an extra defender and then zoned the weakside. That alignment took advantage of one of Leonard’s few weaknesses: his court vision, particularly his weakside court vision. When White wasn’t on Leonard and mismatches occurred, the gameplan was to send harder double-teams. Those varied looks kept Leonard off-balance and forced to either shoot midrange jumpers or try to go through multiple defenders. On top of that defensive look, I also loved Pop’s rotation. He didn’t panic and go with Dante Cunningham versus Leonard. He didn’t try to shoehorn Pau Gasol into the rotation. He leaned on White, used Bertans as his sixth man, and provided adequate rest for DeRozan and Aldridge. I couldn’t ask for more.
Grade: A+
Summary: Perfection.
Looking ahead: What a great win. Enjoy that one, Spurs fans.
Next up, the Spurs have a home game against the Grizzlies. Let’s see if they can avoid an emotional letdown. Honestly, San Antonio should beat a struggling Memphis squad.
Keep it rolling.