Game Thread: Spurs @ Rockets, 7pm CST, 1-25-22

[KingKev]

John Wall out for Rockets (although he is working on his conditioning and could join the team soon) while the Spurs sent Zach Collins back to Austin for a few more games to continue his conditioning.

I’m seeing Spurs favoured -3.5 on the spread at the time of writing but still a very losable game.

Sitting 6th in the tank currently; 3 games back behind the Rockets for 4th. We play them again next Friday and subsequently on March 28th so lot’s of opportunity to make some ground up before year end.

Between tonight and next Friday’s home game vs the Rockets we have a pretty tough schedule: Grizz, Bulls, Suns, Warriors, Heat. After that the 8 game Rodeo Road Trip begins. That stretch should put the nail in the coffin for any hopes of a play in appearance.

For anyone interested in updated lottery odds see here:

https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds

[John B]

Spurs Injuries: Zach Collins (Out — On Assignment) Josh Primo (Out — On Assignment), Joe Wieskamp (Out — Two Way), Devontae Cacok (Out — Two-Way)
Rockets Injuries: John Wall (Out — Not With Team), Daishen Nix (Out — Two Way), Usman Garuba (Out — On Assignment), Trevelin Queen (Out — On Assignment)

A very winnable win, but somehow Spurs loses to the worst teams. Still I’m hoping Spurs will show up and maybe spin some wins together. Again I’m rooting for Lonnie to beast mode and consistently show he belongs. Devin as well, I like him to be more aggressive. I was hoping to see Zach and what he can bring at the 4, but this has to wait. I am hoping for a blowout and see more Landale. Spurs by 18 pts :flag::flag::flag:

[heyheymymy]

:flag:

[exstatic]

BTW, looking at the inactives reminded me that Usman Garuba is straight trash. Saw him during the RGV/Austin MLK game, and he’s Charles Barkleys proverbial deer. No discernible bball skill, and fouled out of a gleague game.

[offset formation]

BTW, looking at the inactives reminded me that Usman Garuba is straight trash. Saw him during the RGV/Austin MLK game, and he’s Charles Barkleys proverbial deer. No discernible bball skill, and fouled out of a gleague game.

Wasn't someone here very high on him?

[exstatic]

Wasn't someone here very high on him?

A number of posters were.

Cacok, undrafted in 2019, is a far superior player. This is what happens when you draft for physical tools. Cacok was awesome in college, but he was 6’7”, and was overlooked. Wish we could take the credit, but it was the Lakers, originally.

[BatManu20]

Rockets tanking like no one’s business. Spurs victory incoming tbh.

[John B]

Here’s another triple double for Murray

[exstatic]

Here’s another triple double for Murray

Prolly. It’s not like Houston plays defense, or gives a ton of effort. They just Chuck 3s, and see what happens,

[KobesAchilles]

Taking my son to the game. Mainly so I can tell him, "see son we don't have the worst future of our division."

[BatManu20]

Respect to big dick Dirk.


1485773285464096769

[MultiTroll]

Respect to big dick Dirk.
meh still not forgetting when he called Kirby the best he ever played against.
Bitch move.

[absoloot66]

:wowThere's a player in the NBA named Travelin Queen?

[KingKev]

:wowThere's a player in the NBA named Travelin Queen?

James Harden’s drag name?

[slick'81]

Yea this is definitely the type of game the spurs need to lose. So a W incoming for the good guys

[emanueldavidginobili]

1486079909822926854

[KingKev]

1486079909822926854

Maybe we get to see some minutes from Juancho Hernangomez aka Jehova, Spurstalk’s new fantasy saviour ready to take us back to the promise-land.

[ginobilized]

Maybe we get to see some minutes from Juancho Hernangomez aka Jehova, Spurstalk’s new fantasy saviour ready to take us back to the promise-land.

Let’s hope Jauncho doesn’t end up in the Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program.

[RC_Drunkford]

Need more Ls. Gon be tough to out tank Houston

[mystargtr34]

This would be a good loss tbh. Would bring us to within 2 in the loss column to Houston. If the Spurs can somehow come last in the West theres a good chance of a top 3 pick and potentially the number 1 pick.

[heyheymymy]

Looks like Sengun will suit up for this one. He's at shootarounnd

[SpurSpike]

I didn't even see any contact on the "foul"...

[Leetonidas]

Murray looking way too nonchalant to start

[PhantomDashCam]

Seems like every time Vassell checks into the game he’s picking up a foul or giving up a back door cut.

[PhantomDashCam]

Can’t wait ‘til they change that shi**y token foul teams take after turnovers.

[BatManu20]

Yea this rockets team is horrible. Literal G-League team.

[r0drig0lac]

lol

[lefty20]

That's some serious back acne on Sengun, ngl.

[Degoat]

Holy shit dougie!

[PhantomDashCam]

You can see the talent Sengun has on Offense but damn he looks like Enes Kanter on some of these switches…

[Leetonidas]

That's some serious back acne on Sengun, ngl.

Dudes back and shoulder look fuckin disgusting tbh...poor guy

[Dverde]

Last time the Rockets were in a Final Series….Batman Forever was the #1 movie.

[PhantomDashCam]

DJ’s barely touched ring on a couple of layups tonight. Looks a little gassed tbh

[Degoat]

I haven’t watched much of him but from what I have seen Jalen Green looks pretty bad for a number 2 pick tbh

[Leetonidas]

Wood on that 24 second violation:lmao

[SPURt]

The future is DARK in H-Town! Damn! Who are they excited about? Porter or Wood?

[Leetonidas]

Idk how Jalen green went 2 overall. He's been complete garbage as a rookie.

[Dex]

The future is DARK in H-Town! Damn! Who are they excited about? Porter or Wood?

Wood is a good, young player or them, but I don't think he will ever be an All-Star.

Same goes for a lot of our guys, tbh.

[heyheymymy]

Damn Jalen Green looks like he needs a lot of work.

[heyheymymy]

I'll say the top 2 picks are total projects. I'd rather have Primo ten picks later.

[Dejounte]

Any thought of Sengun playing the 4 should die now. Dude jogs up and down the court and our guys just drive past him. He also provides NO interior presence.

[Mr. Body]

Wasn't someone here very high on him?

He was among those like Jalen Johnson who were adored by some.

[Mr. Body]

I haven’t watched much of him but from what I have seen Jalen Green looks pretty bad for a number 2 pick tbh

He's awful. Don't draft Ignite guys in the lottery.

[Mr. Body]

I'll say the top 2 picks are total projects. I'd rather have Primo ten picks later.

Honestly thought Scottie Barnes was the best player in that range before the draft.

[heyheymymy]

Agreed about Barnes. Mobley has looked solid too.

[Sugus]

My God, are the Rockettes terrible. :cry b-but they have picks!!! :cry

It's looking like it'll be impossible to overpass them in the tank race. It'll take some good ping pong luck to overtake them at all in the draft, but I'm liking the Spurs' recent chances...

[BatManu20]

Last time the Rockets were in a Final Series….Batman Forever was the #1 movie.

Such a shitty Batman movie… 2nd worst only to Batman & Robin.

[Thomas82]

Can't lose them all I guess.....

[Sugus]

Wood is a good, young player or them, but I don't think he will ever be an All-Star.

Same goes for a lot of our guys, tbh.

Nah, Wood's not that good and not a big part of the Rockettes' future. He's a mercenary - I've seldom seen players who so visibly are playing for only themselves on a team. It's ridiculous. Serious tunnel vision and a stats chaser. He'll get his, regardless of the outcome of the game... And give terrible effort on D along the way. I haven't been impressed with him at all even though he's a good shooter at his size.

Rockettes fans are actually excited about KPJ, ignoring his character and player concerns completely, Tate to an extent, and sniffing on that hopium on Green's unlikely development into a star. Oh, Sengun too, he's a nice piece. Not much else there beyond that, and none of those pieces (except maybe Green) really project to be anywhere beyond what Dejounte is right now.

[MannyIsGod]

Man Christian Wood could not look any less interested in playing good basketball. Sad.

[MannyIsGod]

Nah, Wood's not that good and not a big part of the Rockettes' future. He's a mercenary - I've seldom seen players who so visibly are playing for only themselves on a team. It's ridiculous. Serious tunnel vision and a stats chaser. He'll get his, regardless of the outcome of the game... And give terrible effort on D along the way. I haven't been impressed with him at all even though he's a good shooter at his size.

Rockettes fans are actually excited about KPJ, ignoring his character and player concerns completely, Tate to an extent, and sniffing on that hopium on Green's unlikely development into a star. Oh, Sengun too, he's a nice piece. Not much else there beyond that, and none of those pieces (except maybe Green) really project to be anywhere beyond what Dejounte is right now.

Agree 100% on wood. Hate to see it honestly. The rockets broke this kid.

[Barfunk]

Nothing much to look forward to this season other than Pop's record, draft position, and stat watching. Would like to see DJ average around 21, 9, and 9 by season's end.

[MannyIsGod]

This rockets team is the exact reason I never want our young core to go through a full tank. Shit is not conducive to good player development.

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs up by 25 points. Drew Eubanks +3 :lmao

[heyheymymy]

Time to see what Juancho can bring

[heyheymymy]

This lineup is testing MCD with a bench unit?

Jones
Walker
Vass
MCD
Eubanks

[Barfunk]

DJ now a triple threat in his sleep.

[RC_Drunkford]

this honestly would've been the perfect game to give Zach Collins some run

[Sugus]

Thad Young :lol

[heyheymymy]

Thad showcase, FRP come to daddy

[heyheymymy]

JUANCHO

[RC_Drunkford]

https://twitter.com/justesbaraheni/status/1486096797227536385?s=21

in other news

[Degoat]

Thad and Lonnie suck so hard lmao

[MultiTroll]

Thad Young :lol
Craig Pop :lol

[itzsoweezee]

Young showing out

[itzsoweezee]

Is this dude licking the ball on his free throws? Wtf

[Dejounte]

https://twitter.com/houstonrockets/status/1486160148418777089?s=21

[John B]

Is this dude licking the ball on his free throws? Wtf

Nah he talks to it. I think Malone did that too?

Great win for the Spurs. :flag:

[Dejounte]

Jalen “Corey Brewer” Green :lmao :lmao

Rockets flush with talent :lmao :lmao

Exhibit E of Spurs fans overrating the fuck out of non-Spurs players

[GAustex]

The product Houston puts on the floor is poor.
Really bad.

[Slippy]

Rocketts, what a seriously bad team defensively. On offense almost as bad. A lot of individual play and hardly used the guys that killed the spurs last game in Eric Gorden and Kenyon Martin jnr .

Better tankers than the spurs tbh

[ismael-robert]

Lol great win? What's great about beating rockets

[TDomination]

I always enjoy a Spurs victory! Go Spurs!

[sananspursfan21]

Only 3 pages? Wow :lol

[Robz4000]

Only 3 pages? Wow :lol


Hard to give a shit when its a mediocre team going against a garbage team, especially when Houston runs a g-league offensive and defensive system.

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1069403041940602880/Bb1X4Bjr_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) Tom Petrini (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) realTomPetrini (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini)




The Spurs have had four games this year with 6 free throw attempts or fewer, tied for the most by a team in a season ever according to the Rockets' information folks.
11:03pm · 25 Jan 2022 (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1486202992810467328) · Twitter Web App (https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/how-to-tweet#source-labels)

[DAF86]

How the fuck do you score 134 without a single player getting 20?

[Robz4000]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1069403041940602880/Bb1X4Bjr_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) Tom Petrini (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini)real (https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=6855)TomPetrini




The Spurs have had four games this year with 6 free throw attempts or fewer, tied for the most by a team in a season ever according to the Rockets' information folks.
11:03pm · 25 Jan 2022 (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1486202992810467328) · Twitter Web App (https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/how-to-tweet#source-labels)


:lol yet they're a top five paint scoring team in the NBA
:lol NBA not even trying to hide their disdain for San Antonio

[Barfunk]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1069403041940602880/Bb1X4Bjr_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) Tom Petrini (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) realTomPetrini (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini)




The Spurs have had four games this year with 6 free throw attempts or fewer, tied for the most by a team in a season ever according to the Rockets' information folks.
11:03pm · 25 Jan 2022 (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1486202992810467328) · Twitter Web App (https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/how-to-tweet#source-labels)

Holy shit, only 6 free throw attemps?

[John B]

Lol great win? What's great about beating rockets

Early blowout and getting the starters legs fresh for tomorrow’s game

[Barfunk]

:lol yet they're a top five paint scoring team in the NBA
:lol NBA not even trying to hide their disdain for San Antonio

ESPN's influence rears its ugly head. They absolutely DESPISE San Antonio and the Spurs. I can't pinpoint exactly why, but I think it might be rooted in prejudice, and also because they hate Texas teams. ESPN hates Texas teams in general, but they REALLY have a disdain for San Antonio.

[John B]

ESPN's influence rears its ugly head. They absolutely DESPISE San Antonio and the Spurs. I can't pinpoint exactly why, but I think it might be rooted in prejudice, and also because they hate Texas teams. ESPN hates Texas teams in general, but they REALLY have a disdain for San Antonio.

I watched and I didn’t really see any missed calls. The other night Spurs had 20 FT’s. And it’s a blowout and it’s not like the refs would start calling fouls in the fourth

[Mr. Body]

ESPN's influence rears its ugly head. They absolutely DESPISE San Antonio and the Spurs. I can't pinpoint exactly why, but I think it might be rooted in prejudice, and also because they hate Texas teams. ESPN hates Texas teams in general, but they REALLY have a disdain for San Antonio.

ESPN has always hated the Spurs, but it went into overdrive when the FO failed to send Kawhi to Los Angeles. They campaigned for it ferociously and will never forgive.

[XDT76]

:lol yet they're a top five paint scoring team in the NBA
:lol NBA not even trying to hide their disdain for San Antonio

Our guys shooting floaters and avoiding contact didn't help. In addition, our guys seldom fake and having basic handles also don't bait opponents into fouling.

[Fusternino]

Liked Landale and Young playing together at the end. Sick of these micro ball lineups.

[Fireball]

why is Eubanks suddenly in front of Landale in the rotation? i mean showcasing Drew makes no sense ... nobody wants him anyway

[tbdog]

Didn't watch the game. Were we good or rockets bad?

[KingKev]

Didn't watch the game. Were we good or rockets bad?

Rockets pretty bad. We are definitely a top 5 team in the Southwest though, just behind Memphis, Dalas and NO.

[TDomination]

why is Eubanks suddenly in front of Landale in the rotation? i mean showcasing Drew makes no sense ... nobody wants him anyway
That’s what I’m wondering

[Dejounte]

“Nobody wants Forbes anyway”

[Seventyniner]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1069403041940602880/Bb1X4Bjr_normal.jpg (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) Tom Petrini (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini) (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini)real (https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=6855)TomPetrini




The Spurs have had four games this year with 6 free throw attempts or fewer, tied for the most by a team in a season ever according to the Rockets' information folks.
11:03pm · 25 Jan 2022 (https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1486202992810467328) · Twitter Web App (https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/how-to-tweet#source-labels)

This isn't terribly surprising tbh. The Spurs are dead last in FT/FGA (free throws divided by field goal attempts) at 0.146, and the league average has been declining for years; its current value of 0.185 is the lowest in league history (other than 1946-1947).

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html

It's also hard to get a lot of free throws when the opponent just plays matador defense and doesn't touch you. (Caveat: I only watched part of the second half, were the refs allowing a lot of contact or were they just not fouling and giving up layups instead?)

[Dex]

One more win closer for Pop, but let's take everything else with a grain of salt...the Rockets are just better at not winning games than we are.

[Dex]

This isn't terribly surprising tbh. The Spurs are dead last in FT/FGA (free throws divided by field goal attempts) at 0.146, and the league average has been declining for years; its current value of 0.185 is the lowest in league history (other than 1946-1947).

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html

It's also hard to get a lot of free throws when the opponent just plays matador defense and doesn't touch you. (Caveat: I only watched part of the second half, were the refs allowing a lot of contact or were they just not fouling and giving up layups instead?)

Lot of open layups and dunks, both in transition and the half-court. Hard to get fouled when there isn't a defender within 5 feet of you.

[MultiTroll]

I watched and I didn’t really see any missed calls. The other night Spurs had 20 FT’s. And it’s a blowout and it’s not like the refs would start calling fouls in the fourth
Extreme tanking by Houston as ordered?

[RC_Drunkford]

How the fuck do you score 134 without a single player getting 20?


it happened because Murray was stat padding

[KobesAchilles]

it happened because Murray was stat padding
:lmao

[DAF86]

it happened because Murray was stat padding

Homers just won't let go. :lol

Fwiw, dude grabbed just 5 rebounds and we won by 30. :wakeup

[talkspurs]

Homers just won't let go. :lol

Fwiw, dude grabbed just 5 rebounds and we won by 30. :wakeup

I think it has to do more with who we were playing then him only getting 5 rebounds. if he was trying to stat pad rebounds this would of been a good game for him to do it.