Game Thread: Spurs @ Celtics - Jan. 8, 2020 @ 6:00 PM CT

[sasaint]

"Spurs did a really great job at developing him. Really good NBA player." - Celtics announcers on Forbes

I would love to see him in Celtic green!

[james evans]

Pop finally playing the right lineups has massively raised this team's ceiling. Can you imagine what our record would be right now if he had done this from the start?
Nope. He gotta throw a quarter of the season just to finish strong so it makes him look like a genius that figured it out. He knew those rotations were bullshit

[TDomination]

We’re gonna do our best to make sure it’s close

[sasaint]

Pop is serious about this game. Derrick and Dijon together.

[ZeusWillJudge]

"Spurs did a really great job at developing him. Really good NBA player." - Celtics announcers on Forbes



Now that he's just the way you want him, let us sell him to you. Cheap.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Smart move by DDR. Get him in the air and lunge into him. I hate it, but that's the way the game is played. At least he did something to stop the bleeding.

[RD2191]

Pop finally playing the right lineups has massively raised this team's ceiling. Can you imagine what our record would be right now if he had done this from the start?

20-15 instead of 15-20 at least tbh. A solid 6 or 7 seed.

[benefactor]

Winds of change are blowing gents

[ZeusWillJudge]

Lonnie committed that foul (it was dumb). We may not see him for a while.


Well good... he's back. :lol

[spurs1990]

Maybe Marco will pull a 2010 Mike Finley and ask for a release to join a contender

[james evans]

Lonnie committed that foul (it was dumb). We may not see him for a while.
Yea. Unfortunately you may be right

[apalisoc_9]

fools gold

[r0drig0lac]

now trade Forbes, Marco and Carroll for anything

[JPB]

If they can win these next 2 or 3 then I'll believe, not yet.

Yeah, a little winning streak could really get their season going.

Get another prosac, though.

[RD2191]

Has Carroll looked worse than Gay this season?

[Slippy]

Huge win on the road

[ZeusWillJudge]

Has Carroll looked worse than Gay this season?

I don't know. I blinked.

[JPB]

Even Carroll scored... lol, Celtics.

[212094ever]

now trade Forbes, Marco and Carroll for anything

Picks preferably

[BillMc]

Victory

[GAustex]

What hell got into this team?

[RD2191]

I don't know. I blinked.

:lol

[Mr. Body]

Holy shit, the Spurs just crushed the top two teams in the East back to back.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Those technicals were really a turning point in this game.

[ace3g]

https://a1.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/sa.png&h=100&w=100 Spurs



Starters
MIN
FG
3PT
FT
OREB
DREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
+/-
PTS


T. Lyles (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136196/trey-lyles) PF
17
4-4
1-1
0-0
2
3
5
0
1
1
2
2
+9
9


L. Aldridge (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2983/lamarcus-aldridge) C
32
5-11
1-5
2-3
0
6
6
4
0
2
1
2
+11
13


D. Murray (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907497/dejounte-murray) PG
28
5-9
0-0
0-0
1
6
7
4
2
0
1
2
+7
10


D. DeRozan (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3978/demar-derozan) SG
34
10-17
0-1
10-10
0
6
6
4
1
0
4
0
+18
30


B. Forbes (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2994526/bryn-forbes) SG
26
5-10
4-9
1-1
0
3
3
6
2
0
0
2
+8
15


Bench
MIN
FG
3PT
FT
OREB
DREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
+/-
PTS


D. Eubanks (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3914285/drew-eubanks) PF
2
1-1
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
-2
2


R. Gay (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3005/rudy-gay) SF
21
2-8
0-4
0-0
1
6
7
0
1
0
4
4
+7
4


D. Carroll (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3970/demarre-carroll) SF
1
0-0
0-0
1-2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
-2
1


J. Poeltl (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3134908/jakob-poeltl) C
14
1-3
0-0
0-0
4
4
8
4
0
1
0
4
+6
2


D. White (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3078576/derrick-white) PG
20
5-6
0-0
5-5
0
3
3
1
0
2
0
1
+10
15


P. Mills (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4004/patty-mills) PG
21
3-7
1-4
2-2
0
0
0
4
1
0
1
2
+7
9


L. Walker IV (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277890/lonnie-walker-iv) SG
19
7-11
2-5
3-3
0
3
3
1
1
0
1
4
-2
19


M. Belinelli (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3190/marco-belinelli) SG
2
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-2
0


TEAM

48-87
9-29
24-26
8
41
49
28
9
6
14
25

129




55.2%
31.0%
92.3%

[Degoat]

But.... but... but.... Spurs can’t win on the road :flag:

[cjw]

Demar since the Clippers game has been super efficient ... could it be Lamarcus extending range and opening things up for him (plus improved shooting by guys like Dejounte)?

9/14 LAC
10/11 MEM
8/15 DAL
13/16 DET
11/18 GS
13/25 OKC
8/14 MIL
11/15 MIL
10/17 BOS

93 for 145, or 64% from the field

[Mr. Body]

We're finally seeing what many hoped to see from the three young guards. When those guys are confident and clicking, a totally different team.

[TDomination]

I hate seeing them play like this!

because then I get excited and gives me hope! Lol

[JPB]

What hell got into this team?

Roids.

[BackHome]

People were right if we had landed Morris we would be legit top 4 team.

[Robz4000]

Fun game

[JPB]

Demar since the Clippers game has been super efficient ... could it be Lamarcus extending range and opening things up for him (plus improved shooting by guys like Dejounte)?

9/14 LAC
10/11 MEM
8/15 DAL
13/16 DET
11/18 GS
13/25 OKC
8/14 MIL
11/15 MIL
10/17 BOS

93 for 145, or 64% from the field

Demar has been pretty solid those 5-6 last games.

[daslicer]

SPURSREF is MVP of the GAME


https://twitter.com/KwaniALunis/status/1215086894041784326

LETS BE HONEST FOLKS

Mills was holding Kemba back from going off on the ref. That stood out to me.

[poopbox]

Lonnie with an effortless 19...

[KimmyGib]

Belinelli finally where he belongs in the rotation. That until recently this guy's been playing 18mpg is absurd. Still no guarantee Pop doesn't go back to him soon, or even in the playoffs :bang

[sasaint]

Those technicals were really a turning point in this game.

Spurs were well on the way to blowing this game until the Ts.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Lonnie with an effortless 19...


Hell of a game by Lonnie. Great on court interview after. They asked him about playing time, and he handled it really smart. :tu

[ZeusWillJudge]

Spurs were well on the way to blowing this game until the Ts.


But you know... we complain when the Spurs aren't smart and lose games. Same goes for opponents.

Lonnie and DDR really stabilized things after those T's.

[sasaint]

Belinelli finally where he belongs in the rotation. That until recently this guy's been playing 18mpg is absurd. Still no guarantee Pop doesn't go back to him soon, or even in the playoffs :bang

Yep, soon - like next game.

[KimmyGib]

Demar since the Clippers game has been super efficient ... could it be Lamarcus extending range and opening things up for him (plus improved shooting by guys like Dejounte)?

9/14 LAC
10/11 MEM
8/15 DAL
13/16 DET
11/18 GS
13/25 OKC
8/14 MIL
11/15 MIL
10/17 BOS

93 for 145, or 64% from the field

DeMar has been great, tbh. Never really hear anyone praising him around here though, no matter how well he plays.

[Proxy]

guess this squad is going for the old 'come together by RRT and go into the playoffs hot' strategy

[Mr. Body]

Spurs were well on the way to blowing this game until the Ts.

Nah the Celtics are always gonna make a run.

[3&D_TBH]

How big of a deal is it that LA is now a legitimate three point threat? It sure looks like it is making a huge difference. It looks like Demar has much more room to operate. It’s crazy that one simple adjustment is making that much difference. Or is it something else that is doing it?

[GAustex]

Got to give DeRozen credit and I don’t very much.
He has been playing great lately.

[r0drig0lac]

How big of a deal is it that LA is now a legitimate three point threat? It sure looks like it is making a huge difference. It looks like Demar has much more room to operate. It’s crazy that one simple adjustment is making that much difference. Or is it something else that is doing it?

nah, that's exactly it

[sasaint]

But you know... we complain when the Spurs aren't smart and lose games. Same goes for opponents.

Lonnie and DDR really stabilized things after those T's.

The Spurs don't have a monopoly on stupidity. I'll take the W. Just saying but for the C's meltdown, I think this one was an L. Even with the Ts, I was surprised that we had answers for them every time they cut the lead to 13-14.

[GAustex]

Walker
White
Murray
Excellent from the young guards
Hell even Forbes played well for him.
Need to some synovial fluid in Gay’s joints.

[FkLA]

https://a1.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/sa.png&h=100&w=100 Spurs



Starters
MIN
FG
3PT
FT
OREB
DREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
+/-
PTS


T. Lyles (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3136196/trey-lyles) PF
17
4-4
1-1
0-0
2
3
5
0
1
1
2
2
+9
9


L. Aldridge (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2983/lamarcus-aldridge) C
32
5-11
1-5
2-3
0
6
6
4
0
2
1
2
+11
13


D. Murray (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907497/dejounte-murray) PG
28
5-9
0-0
0-0
1
6
7
4
2
0
1
2
+7
10


D. DeRozan (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3978/demar-derozan) SG
34
10-17
0-1
10-10
0
6
6
4
1
0
4
0
+18
30


B. Forbes (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2994526/bryn-forbes) SG
26
5-10
4-9
1-1
0
3
3
6
2
0
0
2
+8
15


Bench
MIN
FG
3PT
FT
OREB
DREB
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
PF
+/-
PTS


D. Eubanks (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3914285/drew-eubanks) PF
2
1-1
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
-2
2


R. Gay (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3005/rudy-gay) SF
21
2-8
0-4
0-0
1
6
7
0
1
0
4
4
+7
4


D. Carroll (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3970/demarre-carroll) SF
1
0-0
0-0
1-2
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
-2
1


J. Poeltl (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3134908/jakob-poeltl) C
14
1-3
0-0
0-0
4
4
8
4
0
1
0
4
+6
2


D. White (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3078576/derrick-white) PG
20
5-6
0-0
5-5
0
3
3
1
0
2
0
1
+10
15


P. Mills (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4004/patty-mills) PG
21
3-7
1-4
2-2
0
0
0
4
1
0
1
2
+7
9


L. Walker IV (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277890/lonnie-walker-iv) SG
19
7-11
2-5
3-3
0
3
3
1
1
0
1
4
-2
19


M. Belinelli (http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3190/marco-belinelli) SG
2
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-2
0


TEAM

48-87
9-29
24-26
8
41
49
28
9
6
14
25

129




55.2%
31.0%
92.3%













Forms 26
White 20
Lonnie 19

Great win but that's absolutely gross. The ceiling becomes so much higher if you just take 10-15 mpg from Forms and give them to White/Lonnie.

[sasaint]

nah, that's exactly it

LMA's change of roles has completely changed the Spurs. I suspect he is very happy with it, too. He still gets touches and points.

[wildbill2u]

Looking like we are working out the transition rotations from the vets to the young guards. We are going to be a running small ball team. Win or lose that is usually a fun and exciting style of ball

[sasaint]

Trey's box score looks great. I don't think he played the last +/- 18 minutes of the game. I don't remember seeing him. Pop just stuck with Rudy while he was point shaving... Pop ain't gonna change ALL of his spots.

[SpurPadre]

LMA's change of roles has completely changed the Spurs. I suspect he is very happy with it, too. He still gets touches and points.

I'm not sure he's happy just yet. He's having a harder time getting to 20 points. Remember, he wasn't happy after going to the WCF, the farthest he's ever reached, just a few years ago.

[Budkin]

It's wild how different this team looks with LMA playing this new role and Pop playing the guys he should be.

[SpurPadre]

I missed the game but looking at the box score, aside from being happy for blowing out a quality team on the road, my first reaction is to be pissed that Forbes had a good offensive showing lol. I mean, I just the bum out of the starting lineup for good.

[tholdren]

I missed the game but looking at the box score, aside from being happy for blowing out a quality team on the road, my first reaction is to be pissed that Forbes had a good offensive showing lol. I mean, I just the bum out of the starting lineup for good.

Higher plus minus than walker. Over 40pct from 3. Led team in assists. Had some steals. Stop hating.

[tholdren]

It's wild how different this team looks with LMA playing this new role and Pop playing the guys he should be.

That was my biggest takeaway. Lma out of sight out of mind. Good to see all the players contributing without trying to do too much.

[SpurPadre]

Higher plus minus than walker. Over 40pct from 3. Led team in assists. Had some steals. Stop hating.

Stop using plus minus as a useful stat because it is most definitely NOT.

[tholdren]

Stop using plus minus as a useful stat because it is most definitely NOT.

Oh really? This is totally news to me

[ducks]

Jay King
@ByJayKing
Gordon Hayward said he could hear the beer hit the court, it was almost full: “Certainly, no matter what happens on the court, you can’t have anybody throwing stuff from the fans. That’s not what it should be. So I definitely don’t appreciate that. And I love our fans.”

[ducks]

See new Tweets
Conversation

Jay King
@ByJayKing
Brad Stevens just said he apologized to the Spurs, told Pop he was really sorry he had to experience a fan throwing a drink onto the court. Stevens said he hopes that fan isn’t allowed into any more games.

[SpurPadre]

Oh really? This is totally news to me

That's the problem, that it is news to you. Real plus minus is more useful than regular plus minus numbers and those stats show Forbes among the lower tier of real plus minus numbers among all SG.

[NASpurs]

I come back to the wtf of the season when I checked the box score

[tbdog]

Celtics fan furious with LMA hard screen that cost Kemba the ejection. The screen was legal.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Stop using plus minus as a useful stat because it is most definitely NOT.


Every season there are a few boneheads who have to get beat down over treating the +/- like it shows who the best player is. Come to think of it, THoldren may be one of the ones every year.

[Slippy]

LMA's change of roles has completely changed the Spurs. I suspect he is very happy with it, too. He still gets touches and points.

You suspect? Banging in the post is hard work. Spotting up for threes is easy in comparison. It's less wear and tear on a 35yo body so I'm sure it's appreciated.

[SpurPadre]

Celtics fan furious with LMA hard screen that cost Kemba the ejection. The screen was legal.

I just saw a clip and it wasn't legal, let's be honest. It was a hard screen that the Dubs always got away with during their dynasty run.

[objective]

Don't be fooled by the box score, Forbes still played some typical Forbes trash defense getting backdoored for easy scores more than once and each time doing his typical routine of punching downwards in helpless disgust, "I'm so mad at myself! Look how disappointed I am in me!". So tired.

[SpurPadre]

Every season there are a few boneheads who have to get beat down over treating the +/- like it shows who the best player is. Come to think of it, THoldren may be one of the ones every year.

It's laughable, really. Simple plus minus numbers would indicate that fucking Bonner was an all-world player. :lol

[sasaint]

You suspect? Banging in the post is hard work. Spotting up for threes is easy in comparison. It's less wear and tear on a 35yo body so I'm sure it's appreciated.

Yeah. That’s exactly what I was thinking. As soft as LMA is, this new role is perfect for him.

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN/status/1215046140070113280

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/MyBookieNBA/status/1215105287549542400

https://twitter.com/bigtyler1/status/1215104123638624256

[Seventyniner]

Celtics fan furious with LMA hard screen that cost Kemba the ejection. The screen was legal.

I didn't see it live, but while I think it probably should have been called an offensive foul, I have seen much worse slide by. Kemba flopped some too. LMA would have had to shove him pretty hard to get him to snap back like that, and LMA didn't move his feet or extend his arms at all.

The first tech was a bit iffy, the second wasn't justified imo, unless Kemba was saying some really choice words.

[KobesAchilles]

Get in my thread and apologize to Forbes you faggots :lol

[Chinook]

I didn't see it live, but while I think it probably should have been called an offensive foul, I have seen much worse slide by. Kemba flopped some too. LMA would have had to shove him pretty hard to get him to snap back like that, and LMA didn't move his feet or extend his arms at all.

The first tech was a bit iffy, the second wasn't justified imo, unless Kemba was saying some really choice words.

I'm thinking the ref also believed Walker flopped on that play. If a guy is going to fake getting fouled and then complain about the call, I can understand the tech. The ref did seem to have a really short fuse on the second tech though. I'm assuming Walker did more than complain. He seemed irrationally angry over the whole thing, especially given the Celtics had the momentum clearly at the time and it was early in the second half. It was a DeRozan-esque meltdown on his part, and there was no excuse.

[Sugus]

This shit is over, I guarantee it.

How low has the value of guarantees fallen these days :lol

[NASpurs]

Don't be fooled by the box score, Forbes still played some typical Forbes trash defense getting backdoored for easy scores more than once and each time doing his typical routine of punching downwards in helpless disgust, "I'm so mad at myself! Look how disappointed I am in me!". So tired.

I watched the highlights on YouTube and watching Forbes getting backdoored by Haywood over and over in the third was infuriating. Pop got tired of that shit and yanked him out. Just needs to yank him out altogether now.

[Sugus]

Higher plus minus than walker. Over 40pct from 3. Led team in assists. Had some steals. Stop hating.

Bad troll tbh

[KobesAchilles]

Historically, Forbes has played very good defense on Kemba. Brown this year is up and down and I fully expect him to play badly. Look for Forbes to have another breakout game

Called it again. 100% on point. But these anti-Forbes losers are avoiding me like women avoid Spurts.

[ducks]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jmcdonald_saen/status/1215046140070113280/photo/1

[MannyIsGod]

I watched the highlights on YouTube and watching Forbes getting backdoored by Haywood over and over in the third was infuriating. Pop got tired of that shit and yanked him out. Just needs to yank him out altogether now.
That moment gives me hope that at some point there is a change coming.

[John B]

This was the best I've seen the whole team, for the exception of Gay, played well. The Celtic commentator kept praising the Spurs cutting, constantly moving, just day and night compared to the team they played earlier the season.

[stu scotts eye]

https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN/status/1215046140070113280

Why. Did it take him so long.

To figure that out?

Stubborn.

[Fireball]

despite Rudy Gays best efforts for us to lose this game they did not ...

[NASpurs]

Us "edgelords" as referred on here or "shut-ins" by Jeff McCukold are taking over. :cry

1215092051454369792

[tbdog]

I didn't see it live, but while I think it probably should have been called an offensive foul, I have seen much worse slide by. Kemba flopped some too. LMA would have had to shove him pretty hard to get him to snap back like that, and LMA didn't move his feet or extend his arms at all.

The first tech was a bit iffy, the second wasn't justified imo, unless Kemba was saying some really choice words.

From what I read from the lip syncing Reddit expertsz Kemba said.

1st T. That's a fucking foul.
2nd T. What the fuck are you going to do.

[UZER]

https://twitter.com/MyBookieNBA/status/1215105287549542400

https://twitter.com/bigtyler1/status/1215104123638624256

Damn what an arm. Just a few feet shy and he nails one of the players on the bench.

[FkLA]

Damn what an arm. Just a few feet shy and he nails one of the players on the bench.

From that distance, with a full beer can if he hit someone in the head we're talking some serious damage.

If only he had hit Brent Forms. Sigh.

[UZER]

From that distance, with a full beer can if he hit someone in the head we're talking some serious damage.

If only he had hit Brent Forms. Sigh.

:lol