Grades: Spurs vs. Mavericks - Feb. 26, 2020

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-san-antonio-spurs-dallas-mavericks-february-26-2020/

tl;dr: Aldridge didn't play. DeRozan whined a lot. Spurs lost.

[tholdren]

Instagram lol. Hairdo lol
Gay lol

[ZeusWillJudge]

A loss to the Magic this weekend could be one of the final nails in their lottery-bound coffin.

People have been saying, "This game is a must win if the Spurs are going to make the playoffs" for some time. If you're saying it, the end really is near. I'm looking forward to you doing game grades next season when we have a totally new-look roster, and a bunch of energetic young guys who will at least provide some variety. The best part is, the expectations for Pop will be so low that it's going to be easy for him to earn some B's.

[tbdog]

I still like our young players. We played too slow. Without LMA, you run.

[ginobilized]

Thanks for the grades!

Any thoughts on Pop mentioning that his game plan was poor?

Sounds like what people have been clamoring for here for years. First time I’ve heard that this season, maybe ever?!?! I, for one, agree with him 100%.

[ginobilized]

I still like our young players. We played too slow. Without LMA, you run.

That’s just what they’d be expecting. Small and slow is crazy enough it just might work!

[lmbebo]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-san-antonio-spurs-dallas-mavericks-february-26-2020/

tl;dr: Aldridge didn't play. DeRozan whined a lot. Spurs lost.


business as usual

[EasyMoney]

This team is far better with Aldridge as the #1 option than demar. More playing time for the younger guys while Aldridge spaces the floor

[baseline bum]

Forbes should be getting 40 minutes a night to help with the tank.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

Forbes should be getting 40 minutes a night to help with the tank.
He's doing a great job at it already at 27 mpg :lol

[team-work]

Perhaps I spent the prime of my life rooting for the Spurs throughout the 5 :lobt:. But this is nothing compared with OP taking the trouble to watch films endlessly and grade. As a spectator, I thought Pop losing connection with players, and other important people (not necessarily high-ranking) in the FO,...that really matters.

[RC_Drunkford]

A loss to the Magic this weekend could be one of the final nails in their lottery-bound coffin.


People have been saying, "This game is a must win if the Spurs are going to make the playoffs" for some time. If you're saying it, the end really is near. I'm looking forward to you doing game grades next season when we have a totally new-look roster, and a bunch of energetic young guys who will at least provide some variety. The best part is, the expectations for Pop will be so low that it's going to be easy for him to earn some B's.




yeah totally new roster. Same roster with a rookie and Quindary added. Totally different team :lol

[team-work]

Compared with the Big 3 era. That probably is too high a standard.

[team-work]

How much could be done better by a coach who has the best "in-game adjustment"? Likely not much. But how about creating chemistry among vets and younger ones? Or even about the personnel selection in whole organization where Pop has at least a say.

[ZeusWillJudge]

yeah totally new roster. Same roster with a rookie and Quindary added. Totally different team :lol

Heh. If they can dream about the playoffs, I can dream about a new roster.

The bit about Pop was irony. A whole new lineup with Pop fucking up the rotations. Yay.

[itzsoweezee]

This team is far better with Aldridge as the #1 option than demar. More playing time for the younger guys while Aldridge spaces the floor

This is absolutely true. It is impossible to win in today's NBA with your number 1 option being a shooting guard that can't shoot and doesn't play defense. They should've shipped off demar last off-season but they were stupid and now they're in a even worse situation. Just complete incompetence by the front office

[rjv]

i'm at the point where that conditioned part of me still roots for the win but the more pragmatic part of me wants us to slip to 13th in the West just so as to potentially increase our chances for a higher lottery pick.

[SpursDynasty85]

This team is far better with Aldridge as the #1 option than demar. More playing time for the younger guys while Aldridge spaces the floor

Aldridge shot lights out when he first started shooting threes but he was bound to come back down to earth. There is no way he can keep up the 3 production as a number one option. Unfortunately mid range guys like Aldridge who operate half in the post and mid range are a dinosaur unless NBA changes the rules and helps the bigs like they do the guards. Derozan would be a pretty good #1 option if he only had defense. I think Derozan just doesn't want to accept his shortcomings as a #1 option so he whines to the refs that he should be treated like one. At least we will have a semi-decent pick this year. A top 8 pick would be a pretty good take away considering we should have cap space this season (trades) or next offseason.

[John B]

Thanks Timvp. I would've given Pop a lower grade, an F. As he himself said, his game plan was poor and got taken advantage by Carlisle. Geez I hate that guy. I think starting Ewwbanks over Lonnie for PF would've been a better choice. My problem with this team is the over emphasis on offense over defense. Spurs has historically won because of their defense. Why a combo of Mills/Forbes out there? Sure Beli got 14 points, but how many layups did he give away, while already strutting back to look for his shots? White? Yes he showed a late showing, an emphasis on the late. White is very capable of scoring and taking command. And on the night without Aldridge, White should've started over Murray imo, if Pop was starting Walker. There was just not enough offense in that starting line-up. It was a silly gamble, and a costly one with Spurs now on the 12th spot. Geez.

I want my refund on my league pass. :bang

[HankChinaski]

This season started out questionable with the Marcus Morris backpedal. His position within the roster was suppose to in my opinion help stem the issues we had at Forward position. If the Spurs knew he was going to do that they would have kept Bertans. Bertans in the rotations Pops has been using would have been more effective.

Pop has made questionable decisions in game all year, but the roster this season due to F.O. last second shifts in acquisitions and the rapid decline in vets I.E. Gay, etc. has really left the coaches with little else to do. I'm surprised they have come out at times looking stronger than they are.

Playing the younger guys is pretty much waving the white flag. They have potential to be something more but they just look lost or unpolished in aspects of their game in certain areas. Mostly defensive shifts in schemes.

This season is and always has been a battle of attrition. The team just needs to finish the season and walk into the off-season looking to make a tonal shift with the makeup of the vets and construction of the team.

I see Aldridge staying, but i don't think Derozan stays on this team for another year.

This last leg of the season once it has been determined the playoffs are a wash will see the younger players getting more minutes.

Other than that. It is still always a pleasure to read your insights to the games and the work you have to put in with your evaluations with the individuals performances TIMVP is greatly appreciated.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

If the Spurs are contemplating keeping DeRozan OR LMA next season, my hope is that LMA stays. Last night's game was a great example of Demar putting up hollow statistics. His numbers looked great but the rest of the team didn't do well around him.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

And yeah, when I saw Marco, Forbes and Mills out there I knew I didn't need to watch the game.

[Dex]

And yeah, when I saw Marco, Forbes and Mills out there I knew I didn't need to watch the game.

I've become convinced this is Pop's way of tanking without making it completely obvious to the Spurs casual fanbase.

[Slippy]

I've become convinced this is Pop's way of tanking without making it completely obvious to the Spurs casual fanbase.

You aint the only one.

Lonnies second half d particularly that 4th was special. Pop not resorting to benching him every time he fouled was progress i guess.

[MultiTroll]

Why a combo of Mills/Forbes out there? That's an easy automatic F.

[spurs10]

I've become convinced this is Pop's way of tanking without making it completely obvious to the Spurs casual fanbase. You know you never know...??? I've long felt that he knows we aren't going anywhere and is more interested in some 'long game' even though he isn't obviously tanking. It's a curious thing because in the end I don't think he's tanking, but like you propose.....who the fuck knows.

[poopbox]

Timvp deserves some award for having to watch all of these games to do a write up tbh...

I'd rather stick my entire arm up my ass and lick whatever comes out that have to write about how bryn forbes performed in every basketball game this year...

[ducks]

Tom Orsborn
Tom_orsborn
·
Feb 26
Pop shoulders some of the blame for this one: "I think the game plan I came out with was poor, and they took advantage of it in the first quarter." #Spurs