Game Thread: Spurs vs Grizzlies — May 19, 2021 - 6:30pm CT

[John B]

https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1395206377081999361

It begins...
Jak has no idea that it’s a competitive sports, not just playing in the gym.

[tbdog]

Every other star player has developed a three point shot because of defensive strategies like this. Young LeBron for example. Demar's own fault he has no space.

Also, he was surrounded by three point shooters in Toronto and they regularly choked in the postseason. At some point, you gotta point your finger at the REAL source of the problem

Perhaps he isn't the number one option for the team. If DDR is say the 30th best player in the league, he would miss the playoffs almost all the time.

[Barfunk]

Smh Rachel Nichols. Interviewing Tim on his enshrinement and making it about Lebron.

[Chomag]

We coming back with the same team Fellas lets rejoice! Thanks Pop..

[Kurgan]

So if we lost 10 more games, we’d be in the lottery with good odds of a top 3 relatively speaking. We win ten games to lose to the Grizzlies in the play-in. I just don’t see how that was worth it. Now we have the 11 or 12 pick.

That's the Demar era in a nutshell. Treadmill teams get treadmill picks which result in middling talent with role player ceilings. If there was ever a time to tank, it was the past two seasons of pandemic ball. Every team is hurting without fans in the stadiums so it wouldn't matter if the Spurs were bad. Now, it's going to be hard to justify a tank when everything reverts back to normal and the Spurs owners demand butts in the seats.

[ragas]

Jak has no idea that it’s a competitive sports, not just playing in the gym.

What do expect him to say?

[Kurgan]

Perhaps he isn't the number one option for the team. If DDR is say the 30th best player in the league, he would miss the playoffs almost all the time.

He missed the playoffs the past two seasons. He hasn't been an all-star in three seasons since leaving the East. It's time to give up on the notion that he's a star player. He's an upjumped Lou Williams

[PhantomDashCam]

https://twitter.com/N_Magaro/status/1395201080426905600?s=20

[GAustex]

Notice when the effort gets cranked up DDR can’t get his business. Regular season game. Pressure on- he has no counter.

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395210101259227138

Live and die, boys!!

[NASpurs]

https://twitter.com/N_Magaro/status/1395201080426905600?s=20

#playoffexperience

#winning

#closer

#bigcontract

#killme

[timtonymanu]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395210101259227138

Live and die, boys!!

Oh god like we need derozan impacting the young guys with his loser mentality.

[Dejounte]

https://instagram.com/stories/spurs/2577374288756603409?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&utm_medium=share_sheet

[PhantomDashCam]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395210101259227138

Live and die, boys!!

https://media.giphy.com/media/10M2ZnecwCMVGg/giphy.gif

[J_Paco]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395210101259227138

Live and die, boys!!

Well then, maybe they should package Keldon and the number 11 or 12 pick to get up and get someone of note?

If they gonna "ride or die" with DeMar then something has to give cause they badly need an infusion of talent and three - point shooting.

And props to Keldon and Jakob for sticking by their teammates and saying the right things. Team still needs to do what's best and move on from Patty, Rudy & DeMar, though.

[SAGirl]

The silver lining... marginally better draft position. DeRozan off this team... I am tired to see him choking in the playoffs. Seriously... tired!
This.

[Kurgan]

#playoffexperience

#winning

#closer

#bigcontract

#killme

We hired someone from the Pistons front office as our GM. We have Demar as our first option and Rudy as our 6th man. Spurs have fused into a bad combo of the loser Raptors and the treadmill Pistons. It's a bad sign when you have no faith in your players OR your front office. We've become the Western Conference version of the Orlando Magic

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1395214115522572294?s=19

[Dejounte]

IMO, it's natural for players to stick up for their teammates and want to play with them forever. Talent may be needed, but we don't have any snitches in the locker room. Ultimately it's up to the FO to do what they want with DeMar and it's a good sign already that he wasn't extended earlier this season. These post game comments mean squat.

Last year, DeMar actually said he wanted to run it back when they were eliminated from the Bubble. This year? It's "I haven't thought about what I'll do next".

[Slippy]

When your two ball dominant players go a combined 9 of 39 - your team will always be playing from behind. Atleast DJ looked to get his teammates involved.

[Brazil]

This season is not an entire loss, seeing Leonard being a big pussy losing on purpose last two games to avoid lakers is :lmao tbh

[J_Paco]

IMO, it's natural for players to stick up for their teammates and want to play with them forever. Talent may be needed, but we don't have any snitches in the locker room. Ultimately it's up to the FO to do what they want with DeMar and it's a good sign already that he wasn't extended earlier this season. These post game comments mean squat.

Last year, DeMar actually said he wanted to run it back when they were eliminated from the Bubble. This year? It's "I haven't thought about what I'll do next".

Totally agree.

We can still get a solid piece with the 11th or 12th pick, but the team needs to start investing in their younger players (with bigger roles + more minutes) & moving on from the 'Mediocre 3" is imperative.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

They probably still want him back too. :lol. Really going to be interesting to see how they spin this one.
Theirs just no way they can spin it. If he’s back on the team next year I swear I won’t watch anther second :lol

[tim_duncan_fan]

https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1395203502402465800

Those are big words for two guys who saw us losing today and didn't show any aggression.

Devin better hit the weights and take his dribble game from a C- to a B this summer.

And Keldon better really nut up over the summer the way he passes up shots currently.

Right now this is very much just talk.

[slick'81]

Theirs just no way they can spin it. If he’s back on the team next year I swear I won’t watch anther second :lol


i pray spurs arent standing around with all that $$ and nobody to spend it on. Then they start looking at defraud again:td

[PhantomDashCam]

Totally agree.

We can still get a solid piece with the 11th or 12th pick, but the team needs to start investing in their younger players (with bigger roles + more minutes) & moving on from the 'Mediocre 3" is imperative.

I agree, I don’t think you can keep any of them as they will not accept a reduced role and Pop won’t give it to them.

Looking forward to the draft, FA and Summer League.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

i pray spurs arent standing around with all that $$ and nobody to spend it on. Then they start looking at defraud again:td
That’s my biggest fear. It’s like they’ve forgotten what a winner is like. I’d rather lose with young players who play D and try hard all day then watch another second of Derozan

[Dejounte]

I agree, I don’t think you can keep any of them as they will not accept a reduced role and Pop won’t give it to them.

Looking forward to the draft, FA and Summer League.

Riight, the Spurs have never put the same SL for consecutive seasons. There's bound to be a new starter next year. We'll see who.

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395220878397485056?s=19

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395220999906410499?s=19

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395210101259227138

Live and die, boys!!

Y'all didn't really expect any of the players to say "that guy sucks" did you?

[Kurgan]

Those are big words for two guys who saw us losing today and didn't show any aggression.

Devin better hit the weights and take his dribble game from a C- to a B this summer.

And Keldon better really nut up over the summer the way he passes up shots currently.

Right now this is very much just talk.

Murray has the opposite problem from the other youngsters in that he's never seen a shot he doesn't like lol. Took the worst attribute from Demar/Rudy's game. Regardless, all the youngsters needs to lock themselves in the gym and shoot nothing but threes.

[Kurgan]

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395220878397485056?s=19

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395220999906410499?s=19

Maybe he can learn better shot selection this summer...or pick up a three point shot while he's at it.

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395221800825540608?s=19

Can't tell if he's crying...

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/KSATRJ/status/1395223228830867457?s=19

At the end of this clip, he's talking about the Spurs in past tense...

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395222849573507072?s=19

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395223184199270406?s=19

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395224803901071360?s=19

[Kurgan]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395221800825540608?s=19

Can't tell if he's crying...

That's the sound of a broken man. Getting benched the entire 2nd half will do that to a young player

[J_Paco]

https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn/status/1395224803901071360?s=19

Shit, we need Samanic to be out there working with them and actually cracking the rotation. He should glimpses of being a rotation guy, but Pop was always gonna go with Rudy Gay over him.

Hopefully, that changes next season. *Praying dog GIF*

[tbdog]

He missed the playoffs the past two seasons. He hasn't been an all-star in three seasons since leaving the East. It's time to give up on the notion that he's a star player. He's an upjumped Lou Williams

Which is my point. Have a look at Curry, top 3 best player. Won 6 more games than the Spurs. My point is because DDR cannot lead a team to the playoffs doesn't mean he is bad. He is still very very good.

[SpurPadre]

They may be just words but I really liked all the things the players said in postgame. I've made my opinions known about how we should've handled the last couple weeks of the season but I'm hopeful about these young guys. Should be a very interesting offseason even though I'm not as high on this free agent class as some of you seem to be.

[dbestpro]

Rudy Gay had 20 points on 8 for 21. On what planet does old ass Rudy take 21 shots.

[Kurgan]

Which is my point. Have a look at Curry, top 3 best player. Won 6 more games than the Spurs. My point is because DDR cannot lead a team to the playoffs doesn't mean he is bad. He is still very very good.

Curry led his team to an 8th seed which is playoffs. Demar, these past two seasons, has led the Spurs to 11th last season and 10th this season. That's non-playoffs in a normal year(play-ins are bullshit). I'm not sure why you want to give somebody props for leading a team to a treadmill finish two years in a row. He's not good enough to build a pretender, let alone a contender. What's the point of having him? If you want to miss the playoffs, the youngsters are perfectly capable of doing that on their own. If anything, his inability to lead the team to the playoffs has proven how much of a failure the Kawhi trade was. They wanted to "compete" instead of blowing it up. Instead, they've done neither and are worse off for it. Three wasted years of Demar isos leading to mediocre picks and flawed prospects as a result.

[daslicer]

Curry led his team to an 8th seed which is playoffs. Demar, these past two seasons, has led the Spurs to 11th last season and 10th this season. That's non-playoffs in a normal year(play-ins are bullshit). I'm not sure why you want to give somebody props for leading a team to a treadmill finish two years in a row. He's not good enough to build a pretender, let alone a contender. What's the point of having him? If you want to miss the playoffs, the youngsters are perfectly capable of doing that on their own. If anything, his inability to lead the team to the playoffs has proven how much of a failure the Kawhi trade was. They wanted to "compete" instead of blowing it up. Instead, they've done neither and are worse off for it. Three wasted years of Demar isos leading to mediocre picks and flawed prospects as a result.

Agreed. If Demar was a legit star he would managed to get the Spurs in the playoffs the last two years.

[tbdog]

Curry led his team to an 8th seed which is playoffs. Demar, these past two seasons, has led the Spurs to 11th last season and 10th this season. That's non-playoffs in a normal year(play-ins are bullshit). I'm not sure why you want to give somebody props for leading a team to a treadmill finish two years in a row. He's not good enough to build a pretender, let alone a contender. What's the point of having him? If you want to miss the playoffs, the youngsters are perfectly capable of doing that on their own. If anything, his inability to lead the team to the playoffs has proven how much of a failure the Kawhi trade was. They wanted to "compete" instead of blowing it up. Instead, they've done neither and are worse off for it. Three wasted years of Demar isos leading to mediocre picks and flawed prospects as a result.

You didn't read anything I said.

[tim_duncan_fan]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395221800825540608?s=19

Can't tell if he's crying...

He's definitely crying and that's frustrating because he wasn't pushing himself hard at all.

[ismael-robert]

For those saying well least we didn't hurt our draft pick yall realize winning this game wouldn't have affected that right

[SAGirl]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1395221800825540608?s=19

Can't tell if he's crying...
That hurts but it’s the kind of thing that I hope builds mental toughness, and competitive desire. The playoffs aren’t for the faint hearted and is full of heartbreaks even if you get to it bc there’s only one champion at the end. Demar isn’t the kind to teach mental toughness.

Guys have to feel like they left it all on the court and draw confidence from that, then come back better. That’s the only way to handle it, I think. He looks like he’s crying yeah. He needs a vacation, I bet the end of the season (so many losses in a row) and this ending is mentally draining and exhausting.

[ismael-robert]

Already cursed with loss for posting too soon

Called it...real reason we lost...thank op everyone

[TDomination]

That hurts but it’s the kind of thing that I hope builds mental toughness, and competitive desire. The playoffs aren’t for the faint hearted and is full of heartbreaks even if you get to it bc there’s only one champion at the end. Demar isn’t the kind to teach mental toughness.

Guys have to feel like they left it all on the court and draw confidence from that, then come back better. That’s the only way to handle it, I think. He looks like he’s crying yeah. He needs a vacation, I bet the end of the season (so many losses in a row) and this ending is mentally draining and exhausting.

This will make making the playoffs in the future with this young core that much more meaningful. Especially if we can do it with this young group.

[cd98]

One more rant and then I'm done. Pop wanted the young Spurs to experience a playoff game feel. Walker got 17 minutes and VAssell got 10. Jones, Weatherspoon, and Diop got zero. DDR got 38 minutes, Rudy Gay got 27 minutes, and Patty Mills got 30 minutes. So we made the play-in so that Vassell could get 10 minutes of playoff basketball experience?

[Prose]

I don't get why drew Ebanks didn't get any time. Jacok was clearly being outplayed and or needed another big to help get rebounds especially after he would rotate to protect the rim. Jonas was the MVP of the game by far for the Grizz. Strange considering Ebanks played a lot this year and was the reason we dropped Metu. Also I don't get why for the love of god pop dosent use challenges. There was a clear instance where the grizz got a 3 point shooting could when Jaren Jackson clearly was not shooting and pop didn't challenge...and we lost by 4, small stuff like that adds up

[KingKev]

My prediction: DDR goes 5-19, gets an ill advised T after giving up a 3pt play and misses a crucial free throw down the stretch of a Spurs loss.

GSG!!!

Prophetic

[Prose]

Oh look another coach about to successfully use a challenge while Pop forgets he has one

[Prose]

Pop removes gorgie

called it

also memphis immediately challenges

pop never challenged jacksons bullshit 3 free throws

[Prose]

Looks like we won't ever even tie it this game

thats the infamous "getting over the hump" effect.

[Prose]

would probably be best tbh

[tmtcsc]

[*Goes and checks boxscore*]

Their defense is the only reason they're still in this game, TBH, and the fact that Memphis isn't a high volume three - point team.

Memphis' lack of making wide open shots was why the Spurs were still in the game. They got great looks and blew by Spurs defenders whenever they wanted.

[BatManu20]

Spurs would’ve been destroyed had we made the playoffs anyways. This was the best possible outcome tbh.

[daslicer]

Spurs would’ve been destroyed had we made the playoffs anyways. This was the best possible outcome tbh.

Agreed the Jazz would have swept them by 20 points in every game. There is no point to be in the playoffs if you are just going to get your ass whooped every game. That's basically like not being there.

[Sugus]

One more rant and then I'm done. Pop wanted the young Spurs to experience a playoff game feel. Walker got 17 minutes and VAssell got 10. Jones, Weatherspoon, and Diop got zero. DDR got 38 minutes, Rudy Gay got 27 minutes, and Patty Mills got 30 minutes. So we made the play-in so that Vassell could get 10 minutes of playoff basketball experience?

Yeah, that was real BS. The only young player who might've gotten something out of last night's game is DJ, tbh. Lonnie I feel would've been better off if he'd missed the game altogether :lol 10 measly minutes, some shots that didn't fall, then Pop banishes him to the bench for the rest of the game. What's that supposed to do for his confidence, especially as he sees the vets chuck away the loss? Vassell too, hardly any floortime. Keldon was disappointing but at least he played, too. And wasn't Tre Jones talking shit on IG a couple days ago? My guy saw literally 0 minutes :lmao

It's no mystery to see why the young guys consistently defer to the vets. When you have such a glaring disparity in playing time, shot orders, and hierarchy set in place by the coach, what are they supposed to do? Rise up against their own coach, freeze out the vets? Nah....

[Sugus]

I don't get why drew Ebanks didn't get any time. Jacok was clearly being outplayed and or needed another big to help get rebounds especially after he would rotate to protect the rim. Jonas was the MVP of the game by far for the Grizz. Strange considering Ebanks played a lot this year and was the reason we dropped Metu. Also I don't get why for the love of god pop dosent use challenges. There was a clear instance where the grizz got a 3 point shooting could when Jaren Jackson clearly was not shooting and pop didn't challenge...and we lost by 4, small stuff like that adds up

In case it wasn't clear enough, this game made it painfully obvious: the Spurs do not have a PF. DeMar at the 4 is a joke, no explanation needed; Keldon is woefully undersized - even if he can "hold his own" against bigger players on man-to-man D (his team defense yesterday was nonexistent), he lacks every single instinct that makes PFs valuable, lackluster rebounding for his position, no box-outs, no perimeter threat unless it's a wide-open C&S, etc. And Rudy Gay is just.... Old. Way too old to be helping Jakob do the dirty work on the glass and on D. Guy's closer to retirement than he is to pull contested offensive rebounds, tbh.

I urge anyone who doesn't believe me to pull some tape from the middle-of-the-season games where Luka was played alongside Jakob. Luka, while not the best rebounder, is a really good presence when he's given minutes - he's got the height, adequate length, can box-out, pull boards, and most importantly, be a presence in the paint to deter rim shots when Jakob's pulled towards the perimeter to defend guards and wings. Which guard in the NBA is scared by seeing DeRozan alone in the paint, waiting for them, tbh? :lmao

Jonas is the better player than Jak, but he's not as good as we made him look last night, or close to it. Spurs need to get bigger in the worst ways. Hopefully Luka's hand heals soon, because I really like the defensive potential of a DJ-White-Keldon-Luka-Jak lineup, or Vassell at the 3.

[RC_Drunkford]

Those are big words for two guys who saw us losing today and didn't show any aggression.

Devin better hit the weights and take his dribble game from a C- to a B this summer.

And Keldon better really nut up over the summer the way he passes up shots currently.

Right now this is very much just talk.

this is like when the team talked at the beginning of the season: "We know what we're capable of", "We will be back in the playoffs" and all that other bullshit. They were talking about being able to win games like it was winning the championship :lol

[John B]

Called it...real reason we lost...thank op everyone

burn at the stakes :madrun:madrun:madrun

[tim_duncan_fan]

this is like when the team talked at the beginning of the season: "We know what we're capable of", "We will be back in the playoffs" and all that other bullshit. They were talking about being able to win games like it was winning the championship :lol

I'm just annoyed they can't do simple math. Everyone told them since before LAST season ended that they ALL needed to come back shooting 3s. Who listened? Just injured Fathead2.

[SAGirl]

thats all we could ask for

derozan finally overcoming lebron :wow
Captain Hindsight:
Derozan isn’t even overcoming Brooks

[JeffDuncan]

Captain Hindsight:
Derozan isn’t even overcoming Brooks

Lol. All too true.

[SAGirl]

Y'all are acting like Dillon is a scrub. He averaged 17 ppg this year and plays awesome defense. Personally hope the Spurs go after him this summer.
He’s on the first year of a 3 year deal. Won’t be a FA for 2 more summers after this one ...

[Dex]

Captain Hindsight:
Derozan isn’t even overcoming Brooks

Sadly, Brooks did everything that gets in DeRozan's head.

Played him physical. Didn't jump on pump fakes or swipe his arms, but definitely bodied and bumped him constantly. Some of those bumps should have been fouls that weren't called....but that gets DeMar into pouty mode where he is more worried about the refs and trying to draw contact than he is actually playing basketball.

I think DeMar can be a great player, but he needs to stop being a crybaby on the court. That is no way to lead a team.

[lefty]

https://media.tenor.com/images/07d353ba86b2d22d37c4c4400cdbf2f3/tenor.gif