Grades: Spurs vs. Magic - Mar. 12, 2021

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-san-antonio-spurs-orlando-magic-game-34/

Let's just ignore that first quarter.

[Mr. Body]

I figure having DDR out caused some issuese -- they depend on him a bit still.

Meanwhile... imagine playing Orlando four times a year instead of two. And Cleveland. And a number of usually shitty EC teams.

[Mr. Body]

Also, please no more Trey Lyles. His ceiling is mediocre and invisible. Give Luka the minutes, who might make mistakes, but is clearly a better defender and more aggressive rebounder already, plus the opportunity for dividends down the line.

[John B]

Thanks for the grades Timvp. Spot on. Just a comment on how this team usually starts slow both in the 1st and 3rd quarters. I think Elliott mentioned before about a better pre-game getting them ready, more aggressive from the get go. I would like if they emphasize on their speed instead of walking and setting a half-court offense. I don’t know the fastbreak points, but I think that’s what gave them the lead and separation. Lonnie can really do wonders when he penetrates. I wish he doesn’t stop after outrunning everyone and just pass. All in all, it’s a great come back and adjustments after the dismal start.

[RC_Drunkford]

as soon as Lyles went to the bench we started blowing them out. What a surprise

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/PaulGarciaNBA/status/1370744454999650305?s=19

[Dex]

After allowing 29 points in the 1st, the Spurs allowed only 48 through the last three quarters :wow

Also Lyles posting a -8 in a 27 point victory where Orlando scored only 77 points :lol smh

[Mr. Body]

as soon as Lyles went to the bench we started blowing them out. What a surprise

He's like going with four players.

[Truth4sale$]

Good write up. The Trey Lyles experiment as a starter should be over. If u start and score 1 pt in 12 minutes against Orlando, you should never leave the bench. Lyles starting with Poertl creates 2 NON offensive players. Trey has peaked, and at best he should play along a superstar like Lebron to hide Trey's deficiencies but on the spurs he is a 10th man. Lonnie should have gotten the start, nobody on the Spurs goes as well to the basket as Lonnie except Demarr-thats why he is valuable.

[GAustex]

Keldon goes to the hoop “pretty well”

[siraulo23]

evrerybody played well except for Lyles basically

[rankingtear]

Lowe 10 things


8. The state of Rudy Gay (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3005/rudy-gay)'s one-on-one gameWith the LaMarcus Aldridge (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2983/lamarcus-aldridge) news out (https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31041481/the-best-lamarcus-aldridge-trade-buyout-destinations), Gay becomes the next Spurs veteran to watch at the trade deadline.
Gay is a plug-and-play type: a shooting power forward who might buy you a few rickety minutes at small forward. He has transitioned well into a low-usage bench role.
But part of his value still lies in going one-on-one late in the clock and against mismatches, and his efficiency in those situations has cratered this season. The Spurs have scored 0.756 points per possession when Gay shoots out of an isolation, or passes to a teammate who fires -- 148th out of 167 players who have recorded at least 25 isos, per Second Spectrum.
This isn't just Gay missing a bunch of long 2s. He has hit 42% of midrangers -- around his career average, per Cleaning The Glass.
Gay looks like he has lost a bit of athleticism and oomph. He can't gain separation or bulldoze smaller defenders as easily. He's getting to the line at a career-low rate.
(A minute earlier, Gay missed a similar fadeaway over Tim Hardaway Jr (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2528210/tim-hardaway-jr). -- someone he should overpower.)
Defenses have sniffed this out. They aren't sending as much help toward Gay. He has barely recorded any assists out of isolations or post-ups, per Second Spectrum. He has launched field-goals on 82% of his isos -- the 10th-highest rate in that 167-player group.
Gay can still help the right contender. He has hit 37% from deep. He's a smart defender. Maybe his one-on-one game will perk up. But as we have seen with Danilo Gallinari (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3428/danilo-gallinari) in Atlanta (until the past few games), stretch-4s who lose some effectiveness exploiting mismatches can be liabilities on the wrong night.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Thank you TIMMVP as always for the nice writeup! My writing skill has improved over the years after I started reading your analysis. Thank you!

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Thank you TIMMVP as always for the nice writeup! My writing skill has improved over the years after I started reading your analysis. Thank you!<br>&nbsp;

[Seventyniner]

https://twitter.com/PaulGarciaNBA/status/1370744454999650305?s=19

Too bad @cleantheglass is a pay site. I have never liked stats that include garbage time, but that's all there is on bkref.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

The Spurs actually played pretty crappy last night. 27 of the other teams in the league might have beaten us. Orlando is just bad, and missing whatever little talent they do have. Their offense was disjointed and they got tired by Q4.

But, if this win starts getting guys back to the form they had at the beginning of the RRT, then maybe the Magic can be our slump buster.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Pop should get an F every game he continues to trot out Lyles and Eubanks while Luka sits.

:td