Game Thread: Spurs @ Pacers 10/21/2022 - Tank Showdown

[rjv]

6:00 CST. I'll take the Pacers in this early showdown of bottom 4 contenders.

[pookenstein]

Loose this one and there is a decent chance to not win a game until Nov 15th.
Philly (A)
Wolves two times (A)
Bulls (H)
Wolves (H)
Raps (H)
Clips (H)
Nuggets (A)
Nuggets (H)
Grizzlies (H)
Bucks (H)
Warriors (A)

Blazers (A) might be the first winnable game. Brutal stretch of games.

[GAustex]

Will the last two lotto picks be even a little bit positive and influential?

[MultiTroll]

GSG

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/CSzU0FWldy1q8NrwTG6WeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ4MA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/uA0D7illtDRg_bi62DNfKw--~B/aD0xMDAwO3c9MjAwMDthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/insider_articles_922/35fc899d4f5dd59f6a7ab999d13b4b14

[RC_Drunkford]

another must lose game. This L will be super important to secure our 0-10 run to start the season

[rjv]

myles turner still out. i guarantee someone paid that ball boy to take him out.

[Leetonidas]

Loose this one and there is a decent chance to not win a game until Nov 15th.
Philly (A)
Wolves two times (A)
Bulls (H)
Wolves (H)
Raps (H)
Clips (H)
Nuggets (A)
Nuggets (H)
Grizzlies (H)
Bucks (H)
Warriors (A)

Blazers (A) might be the first winnable game. Brutal stretch of games.

We suck, so we are the trap game now :lol one of them will take it easy and end up losing to our guys

[spurs1990]

McDermott's 3 point bombs hot streaks will get some wins this year. Not sure who else on the roster is decent 3pt shooter but if they get hot it's a likely Spurs win

[BillMc]

Go Spurs Go!

[pookenstein]

We suck, so we are the trap game now :lol one of them will take it easy and end up losing to our guys

Yeah, most likely. Maybe a team on a b2b takes us too lightly. That, combined with a good night from our guys could get us a W here and there. But I don't see more than 3 or 4 wins in that stretch.

[Seventyniner]

We suck, so we are the trap game now :lol one of them will take it easy and end up losing to our guys

Even a terrible team will win 15 games or so in a season. I think the Spurs will find a way to surprise us and will start the season 2-8.

[poopbox]

Turner out gives us a chance. But I've seen bigs on 10 day contracts skull fuck Poeltl so it won't be much of a chance

[heyheymymy]

I prefer the approach of front loading losses at the start of the season so by the last 30 games or so you have ensured your 14% odds and from there can actually win up relative to any possible wiggle room the other tanking teams may provide you insofar as it still preserves the best possible 14% odds of the #1 overall pick in 2023's draft. Will overlap with the best possible integration of the development of our roster so Spurs could actually test run some full team genuine effort without jeopardizing the pick odds.

[John B]

I don’t mind the L. But at least give me 3 quarters of good basketball.

[rjv]

I don’t mind the L. But at least give me 3 quarters of good basketball.

that's be a perfect outcome.

[KingKev]

I don’t mind the L. But at least give me 3 quarters of good basketball.

That was my thoughts for last year but this year I’d kind of like to cut to the chase.

[heyheymymy]

I don't mind the L

But at lest give me some flashes from Jones, Colins, Primo and Sochan as well as others. Would be cool to also see stuff like Roby settle into a role or something wild card like Lang busting out completely unforeseen lol /blue font

I wanna feel something building and I can be patient as f esp with this draft class coming up

[poopbox]

I don't mind the L

But at lest give me some flashes from Jones, Colins, Primo and Sochan as well as others. Would be cool to also see stuff like Roby settle into a role or something wild card like Lang busting out completely unforeseen lol /blue font

I wanna feel something building and I can be patient as f esp with this draft class coming up

Hard to know what we are building without a franchise player to build around tbh.

Let's say we do get tall tony parker. That doesn't automatically mean he meshes with the players we already have on the team. Chicken before the egg problem.

[heyheymymy]

But I still say guys need 10-15 games to even get into rhythm and get their reg season legs underneath them physically speaking. Younger squad than historically typical so probably get their stamina a little faster than Spurs fans may be used to over the historically typical timeframe but still.

Then you have to factor in the minimal corporate knowledge and it gonna take sec for guys to mesh more together on court and start knowing new teammates strengths and hitting them in their spots. Let alone learning the playbook enough to be consistently plus contributors within that system.

Thirdly, the 1-3 year kids Spurs now disproportionally have against historic norms of general recency are still putting together core skills and tall asks from the coaching staff and wrapping their heads around the load staff hopes to develop them into possibly carrying and seeing if they can build that into their budding game. That takes time.

And even then, maybe some are like Walker IV and will never really get there.

[baseline bum]

Loose this one and there is a decent chance to not win a game until Nov 15th.
Philly (A)
Wolves two times (A)
Bulls (H)
Wolves (H)
Raps (H)
Clips (H)
Nuggets (A)
Nuggets (H)
Grizzlies (H)
Bucks (H)
Warriors (A)

Blazers (A) might be the first winnable game. Brutal stretch of games.

They're all brutal when you have a G-League roster tbh. We going for 8-74 this year.

[baseline bum]

I don’t mind the L. But at least give me 3 quarters of good basketball.

Too dangerous. Prefer 0 quarters of good basketball like the Charlotte game. Get skullfucked by the Terry Roziers of the world every night, hell every quarter. Whatever it takes to be able to actually draft some talent.

[heyheymymy]

Hard to know what we are building without a franchise player to build around tbh.

Let's say we do get tall tony parker. That doesn't automatically mean he meshes with the players we already have on the team. Chicken before the egg problem.

Good point and if you are building the supporting crown to drop the cherry-on-top jewel into you def want the crown to be compatible with the gem. Feels like Spurs are building the crown to drop the crown jewel into and time will tell who compliments it the best.

Worse case is hopefully if Spurs think a piece is non-complimentary to Wemby they could possible trade them after using this season to renovate their value. Jettison anyone that looks like a hindrance to a Wemby constructed roster/system and take the picks. If Spurs can flip Thad I believe in their salesmanship for anyone else SA still has but perhaps last deadline was pure luck.

[Seventyniner]

I don’t mind the L. But at least give me 3 quarters of good basketball.

https://i.imgflip.com/6xtqqz.jpg

[RC_Drunkford]

Excited to see the Spurs run around like loose chickens again :bobo

The most exciting part is which jerseys will they wear?

[Mugen]

This might end up being a huge game when it it comes to tiebreakers come season end. Those matter for draft odds yeah? Either way, need to get this L.

[Mugen]

I don’t mind the L. But at least give me 3 quarters of good basketball.

3 Quarters? I'm not even sure they're winning the layup lines tbh :lol

[BillMc]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FfoMGiVWAAANRyE?format=jpg&name=900x900

[heyheymymy]

hoping to see some Mathurin tonight his offense seems legit

[offset formation]

Will the last two lotto picks be even a little bit positive and influential?

I haven't started studying them yet like I do before the draft but everything I'm seeing says there's a huge falloff in talent and potential for superstardom after Wembanyama and Scooter.

Of course those predictions have been wrong before but it appears these two guys have the ability to be special, especially of course Wembanyama.

[BillMc]

Hope we play ALL rookies tonight.

[PhantomDashCam]

Would rather win this one as the next stretch of games looks bleak.

Tanking is definitely the end goal but you don’t want to trot a demoralised team out on a night to night basis.
Non-competitive basketball, I would argue, can actually hinder player development.

:flag:

[BillMc]

3 Quarters? I'm not even sure they're winning the layup lines tbh :lol
:rollin

[BillMc]

Would rather win this one as the next stretch of games looks bleak.

Tanking is definitely the end goal but you don’t want to trot a demoralised team out on a night to night basis.
Non-competitive basketball, I would argue, can actually hinder player development.

:flag:

Agreed. It could lead to bad habbits: poor defense, selfish "I get mine" play, and a desire to be elsewhere.

[spurraider21]

:lmao vassell

[heyheymymy]

Pacers more like the Indianapolis Shouda Coulda's with Duarte and Hali

[spurraider21]

sochan being able to defend haliburton is cool

[slick'81]

Spurs gonna get this W

[BillMc]

I swear Sochan's shorts are shorter than others. Looks like something from the 80's.

[jjspur]

This might end up being a huge game when it it comes to tiebreakers come season end. Those matter for draft odds yeah? Either way, need to get this L.

That's what the spurs were thinking with the Charlotte game. Probably the same mindset for this game and the next 50 games or so. They might decide to compete after that.

[spurraider21]

vassell doesnt know how to offense

[slick'81]

Vassell looking good early for the tank

[slick'81]

This pacers team is absolutely garbage

[SPURt]

Can’t lose them all I guess?

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs are playing too well. Pop should play some of his mad scientist line ups so we can secure the L

[timtonymanu]

Wow Pacers are pretty bad.

[RC_Drunkford]

somehow this Pacers team beat this Spurs team last year, so no reason to win tonight

[heyheymymy]

3rd Q should see some Dieng & Lang crackpot lineups if we are still leading.

[slick'81]

Pacer's definitely in the victor race. That starting lineup makes our guys look all world

[offset formation]

3 Quarters? I'm not even sure they're winning the layup lines tbh :lol

Primo is likely to turn it over with a forced pass...lol

[Rito3d30]

Is Doug trying to do an early impression to play his way out of the team

[Thomas82]

Up by 10 at the end of the 1st quarter.....I guess we can't lose them all.

[NASpurs]

Such loser talk in here that this Pacers team is bad and the Spurs are going to get the W.

Still lots of time to choke this shit away.

Believe.

[emanueldavidginobili]

No one there to run and help Sochan up smh

[poopbox]

I remember being intrigued by Bitidaze...now every time i see him i am like this guy still in the league

[davi78239]

Feeling team tank gonna be disappointed tonight. Here’s hoping I’m wrong and they choke it away

[SPURt]

How is Mathurin not starting? He’s a monster

[Thomas82]

How is Mathurin not starting? He’s a monster

Good question!!

[SPURt]

Is Tre Jones > Avery Johnson?

[Mugen]

Damnit :lol

[heyheymymy]

Jones showing things

Dare I say he nears the turn of a corner here?

[SpurSpike]

I think Tre J's new found range is real.

[poopbox]

Keldon has really turned into a knock down open 3 point shooter

[NASpurs]

Don't worry guys, early season jitters by the Pacers.

They got this.

[lefty20]

It'd be nice to see Primo hunt for his own shot one of these days.

[RC_Drunkford]

I don't like how this is going

[Thomas82]

I don't like how this is going

Me either.

[spurs1990]

This is a good win. It would be a bad look to start out 0-for something. Spurs proved they’re a level better than Indiana

[heyheymymy]

If I'm a desperate GM on the cusp of contention JR is worth a 1st to me easily. No doubt that can get done if Spurs are looking

[slick'81]

There are apparently teams worse off then us

[RC_Drunkford]

I'm really disappointed in TJ McConnell. He was going off against us last year. Haliburton also. I don't know what's wrong with these guys

[heyheymymy]

still close enough to 'choke' away in the 3rd or 4th

[poopbox]

Tank might need some maintenance after tonight :cry

[heyheymymy]

Spurs shooting lights out from range, nice.

[Dejounte]

Primo’s PG duties are dwindling by the minute. He’s losing Pop’s and probably his teammates’ trust in that role with each bad decision.

[Leetonidas]

Take a look at the upcoming schedule and just enjoy the potential win y'all. :lol

[lefty20]

J-Rich out there ripping the treads off our tank and killing our dream... trade him rn

[spurs1990]

This blowout win has me thinking play-in. Three-pt their way to a 8th seed

[BillMc]

Wahoo! Good half!

[rankingtear]

Is LAL watching this game. I think our package is now ahead of IND.

[RC_Drunkford]

there's no way this team should ever be able to score 70 points in a half

[spurraider21]

J-Rich out there ripping the treads off our tank and killing our dream... trade him rn
dudes a bayraktar drone tonight. just decimating the tank

[offset formation]

Primo’s PG duties are dwindling by the minute. He’s losing Pop’s and probably his teammates’ trust in that role with each bad decision.

This implies he has ever earned it though I agree with the sentiment

[heyheymymy]

Spurs 3PM = 12/20 - 60% at the half

[Russ]

Primo’s PG duties are dwindling by the minute. He’s losing Pop’s and probably his teammates’ trust in that role with each bad decision.

Yeah, most PGs don't run down the floor (without the ball) and set up in the corner.

[BillMc]

Primo’s PG duties are dwindling by the minute. He’s losing Pop’s and probably his teammates’ trust in that role with each bad decision.

He had 5 assists. Didn't look too bad to me,

[Mugen]

I haven't felt this disappointed since Ray Allen in the corner tbh

[Seventyniner]

He had 5 assists. Didn't look too bad to me,

Spurs as a team have 22 assists at the half, which is pretty insane.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Play Primo on the wing for ffs. At least Dejounte brought the ball up while he was at Washington, Primo barley brought the ball up in college if ever, and now Pop is trying to do it all of a sudden in the NBA while he's one of the youngest in the league. Just doesn't make sense. Instead of the coaching staff playing to his strengths they're putting him in an uncomfortable position.

[heyheymymy]

Primo with 5 asst but 2 TO

I believe Primo can improve on that in time.

[NASpurs]

Sickening display of team basketball.

[heyheymymy]

Spurs largest lead of the night at 18

[emanueldavidginobili]

He had 5 assists. Didn't look too bad to me,
He can pass and has vision, but I think he is much better at receiving the ball and making a quick decision than meticulous trying to make a play.

[Mal]

I mean Pacers are bad, but Spurs are not looking like bottom 3 team tbh

[heyheymymy]

Spurs getting out tanked

This is the kind of thing that burns you in april

[heyheymymy]

Pacers are tanking and without Turner.

I'm taking this performance with a grain of salt but it sure looks good.

[Russ]

The Spurs' defense looks like night and day from the opener.

[murpjf88]

Nets are tanking harder than the Spurs, tbh.

[PhantomDashCam]

Man Vassell has taken some contact over these first couple of games. Going have to work on protecting his body when landing.

[bdictjames]

I can't believe we are winning :lol

[Mugen]

Devin Jordan tbh

[poopbox]

Primo and Jakob with something that was no alley and all oops :lol

[heyheymymy]

Jones with the BB IQ

[BillMc]

Nets just don't care....

[poopbox]

Tre really hustles

[mystargtr34]

Lol that lazy Primo pass to Jones in the backcourt that nearly got picked got Pop stressed

[spurraider21]

Don’t like getting this win but good to see vassell show off his offensive game. Him becoming a player would be nice going forward

[Dejounte]

Lol that lazy Primo pass to Jones in the backcourt that nearly got picked got Pop stressed

He does that shit a lot. So careless with the ball. Super low bbiq in that regard.

[poopbox]

Weight room move by Primo. Not mad at him

[mystargtr34]

Damn I hope Pelinka is watching Richardson go off and outplay Hield lol. He has to be.

[Leetonidas]

Primo looking terrible again smh

[NASpurs]

Get Richardson off the team. He's being an anti-tank commander.

[NASpurs]

Too late to put Beli in Richardson's role?

[Mugen]

BWrong better be blasting Pelinka's beeper after this game. We gotta get JRich and Doug off this team ASAP :lol

[Seventyniner]

This version of Josh "Steph Who?" Richardson is easily worth a first to a contender.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

spurs wtf. these are the games we have to lose

[heyheymymy]

Yeah get JR off the team.. For a 23 FRP

[spurraider21]

Ship JR for a late first and start giving branham some run

[mystargtr34]

Carlisle trying to tank Poeltl trade value

[DeRozan m8]

Stupid bald cunt...you want to lose, wtf is he doing?

[poopbox]

these are two very low iq teams playing right now

[Mugen]

Mathurin gonna be a 25pt+ scorer in this league tbh. Might give up 30 on the other end but kid looks like a natural.

[poopbox]

Why doesn't Pop just put Collins in :lmao

[DAF86]

We are going to win a game we shouldn't for not trading Poeltl and Richardson :hang

[timtonymanu]

Spurs got saved by their 3 point shooting otherwise this should have been an easy loss lol

[daslicer]

Spurs could still find a way to lose this game.

[Seventyniner]

Pacers are playing this endgame like a college team.

[Leetonidas]

:lmao

[timtonymanu]

Gawd both teams are so bad lol

[poopbox]

We are watching one of the greatest collapses in nba history :lmao

[daslicer]

:lol Spurs trying to tank this game.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

poeltl now is not the time to improve to become a below-average ft shooter

[Seventyniner]

Poeltl discovering how to bank in FTs.

[timtonymanu]

Can’t even handle inbound pressure from one of the worst teams. Nothing to teach here, Bill and Sean :lol

[daslicer]

:lol Spurs trying everything they can to lose this game.

[poopbox]

:lmao

[timtonymanu]

Good grief. Can’t handle pressure defense lol

[bdictjames]

SHEESH

[Barfunk]

Feck it, let's go for the greatest Cinderella run in history...

[PhantomDashCam]

Spurs whether tanking or competing for ‘chips are the worst inbounders in NBA history :lol

[timtonymanu]

We can still go 1-81.

[baseline bum]

Can we bring Forbes back? What a disgraceful performance not being able to pull out that much needed L tonight.

[bdictjames]

Well, at least it's not a winless season, ladies and gentleman. Wonder when our next win is going to be...

[Mugen]

:lmao gonna be a fun season tbh

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

fuk carlisle schooling pop per par

[bdictjames]

Spurs are 9th in the West right now, good for a play-in spot :lol

[rankingtear]

Just 1 win guys, no need to meltdown.

[BillMc]

Victory! :flag::downspin:

[timtonymanu]

More wins than the Lakers :lol

[Mr. Body]

Spurs got saved by their 3 point shooting otherwise this should have been an easy loss lol

Yeah, you usually win games by scoring.

[spurs1990]

For all sky-is-falling posters, they’re not gonna hit 17 3’s regularly. I know it’s disappointing but better days ahead. Just keep the faith

[timtonymanu]

Yeah, you usually win games by scoring.

I mean they hit 17 3s tonight. That won’t happen again. Still they almost blew away the game. :lol

[Trill Clinton]

Okay time to trade J. Richardson.

[Jordan Jackson]

They needed this win because it looks like a potential 10 game losing streak is incoming.

Maybe they get a game off the Twolves, possibly Bulls. Otherwise - this is going to get ugly real fast.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

More wins than the Lakers :lol

:toast

[emanueldavidginobili]

When shit got tough this team absolutely folded against a bottom 3 team. Spurs have a legitimate shot at having a chance for the 1st overall pick this year. I just hope throughout this season we can see some progression with these young cats. J Rich and Jakob need to fuck off and get traded. Their stock are bullish after this game, hopefully they can string some more good games together like tonight but lose them and try to get a good return for them two.

[Mugen]

They didn't even try to tank that game, that's just a Pop coached team for the last 7 years :lol

[Barfunk]

We should get blown out at Philly tomorrow.

[wildbill2u]

He does that shit a lot. So careless with the ball. Super low bbiq in that regard.

He's good for at least 2 lazy passes a game for TOs. That is simply not professional TBH/

[SPURt]

McBuckets and JR could definitely help a contender.

[objective]

Why was McDermott ever signed?

I know the excuse was something like, "But with his movement he opens the offense! You can't expect young players to grow without a McDermott to give them the nutrients of ball movement!"

Meanwhile he only played 12 minutes against another trash team. Get this McD out of here and give those minutes to Malaki.

[lefty20]

Embiid better go off for 50 tomorrow, we need that L.

[alex40214]

Well his 13M salary is a big chunk of money to keep their team salary above the minimum. Probably a decent piece to trade with teams for picks as well.
It's actually a good sign i think.

[Russ]

Embiid better go off for 50 tomorrow, we need that L.

I wouldn't be too concerned.

[slick'81]

Spurs just beating the team their supposed to i guess. Dare we dream of the playin ?

[Mr. Body]

Spurs just beating the team their supposed to i guess. Dare we dream of the playin ?

Easily. We're standing at .500 right now.

[BackHome]

Okay time to trade J. Richardson.

He is going to get us a 1st round pick for sure....:clap

[offset formation]

For all sky-is-falling posters, they’re not gonna hit 17 3’s regularly. I know it’s disappointing but better days ahead. Just keep the faith

:spin

[rankingtear]

Primo still can't dribble anywhere close to those small defensive guards.

[jjspur]

Easily. We're standing at .500 right now.

This is the last time you'll see us at .500 for a long time.

[GAustex]

Will the last two lotto picks be even a little bit positive and influential?
So how did they do?

[siraulo23]

well we cant go 0-82 right

[SpurPadre]

This isn't how you get Wembanyama, Spurs, smh.

[mystargtr34]

Spurs still need to showcase Poeltl Richardson and McDermott somewhat. Let’s hope a few teams in win now mode get off to poor starts and get desperate ala Lakers and start offering 1sts for these guys.

[poopbox]

Why was McDermott ever signed?

I know the excuse was something like, "But with his movement he opens the offense! You can't expect young players to grow without a McDermott to give them the nutrients of ball movement!"

Meanwhile he only played 12 minutes against another trash team. Get this McD out of here and give those minutes to Malaki.

We thought we could be a competitive treadmill playoff team when we signed him at the beginning of last year. He doesn't have a place on a tanking team.

[heyheymymy]

suns blazers heating up

[Spurs Homer]

Mathurin looks like byron scott/lakers from decades ago…

[heyheymymy]

suns blazers goes OT

[Mr. Body]

Spurs still need to showcase Poeltl Richardson and McDermott somewhat. Let’s hope a few teams in win now mode get off to poor starts and get desperate ala Lakers and start offering 1sts for these guys.

Yeah because no one has ever heard of these players before.

[heyheymymy]

damn jock had a chance to force double OT but missed

[CGD]

Interesting side note -- the Pacers have the two dudes drafted immediately after Vassel and Primo, in Halliburton and Duarte. Feeling better about the trajectory of our guys over those at the moment.

Obviously Halliburton is a good player, but I dont feel there is some insurmountable gulf between him and Devon -- more like a respectable gap.

Confident is saying Primo has a better future ahead than Duarte. The bigger question will be whether he'll be a better prospect than Trey Murphy or Sengun who where selected after him in the draft (and maybe Moody if you buy Warrior hype machine). Very much TBD, but I'm not feeling bad about passing on Duarte in 2021.

[Dejounte]

The Pacers are supposedly a tanking team this early on yet their coach (it’s obvious NBA players are never going to have that attitude) tried so hard to win with that tactic he tried to pull. Makes the first few pages of this thread nonsensical.

[rankingtear]

Interesting side note -- the Pacers have the two dudes drafted immediately after Vassel and Primo, in Halliburton and Duarte. Feeling better about the trajectory of our guys over those at the moment.

Obviously Halliburton is a good player, but I dont feel there is some insurmountable gulf between him and Devon -- more like a respectable gap.

Confident is saying Primo has a better future ahead than Duarte. The bigger question will be whether he'll be a better prospect than Trey Murphy or Sengun who where selected after him in the draft (and maybe Moody if you buy Warrior hype machine). Very much TBD, but I'm not feeling bad about passing on Duarte in 2021.

Hali is such a media whore with a lot of holes as a primary.

Primo has a better future than Duarte, Sengun and Moody for sure. 2 of those has lateral quickness issues and the other one is 25.

[Mr. Body]

Interesting side note -- the Pacers have the two dudes drafted immediately after Vassel and Primo, in Halliburton and Duarte. Feeling better about the trajectory of our guys over those at the moment.

Obviously Halliburton is a good player, but I dont feel there is some insurmountable gulf between him and Devon -- more like a respectable gap.

Confident is saying Primo has a better future ahead than Duarte. The bigger question will be whether he'll be a better prospect than Trey Murphy or Sengun who where selected after him in the draft (and maybe Moody if you buy Warrior hype machine). Very much TBD, but I'm not feeling bad about passing on Duarte in 2021.

I'm unsure about Sengun. He's flawed but clearly a gamer. Trey Murphy is surprising me, but then everything NOP is doing is gold. I still think Haliburton was a better pick than Vassell but it's still early and last night Vassell looked good.

[R. DeMurre]

If nothing else, this keeps Richardson, Poeltl, and McDermott on the radar as potential trade deadline targets for GMs of playoff teams, and that's a good thing.

[R. DeMurre]

There's a lot of nuance & debate in the terminology of tanking, and I think lots of people overestimate what a tank is and isn't. If a GM is trading away impactful players for future draft choices, but the coach is still coaching to win, the franchise as a whole is still "tanking." Tanking doesn't imply that the coaches & players in the huddle are drawing up ways to let the opposing team score, or to get terrible looks for themselves. Last year at the end of the season, OKC started three G League guys in their last 5 games, with Presti hoping (I'm sure) to go 0-5, but Jaylen Hoard had other ideas and played well enough to help them to win 2 games. Coach Daigneault was still coaching to win, but it'd be crazy to say they weren't tanking by sitting starters and starting recent G League call ups.

[Dejounte]

The whole argument behind “front office is behind the tanking, not the players or the coaches” is thrown out the window when you see that in every game thread, majority of the posts consists of “wHy iSnT pOp pLaYiNg the RoOkiEs? TheReS nO pOiNt iN WiNnIng” aka posts about coaches affecting the tank. If that argument was true, you’d have a lot less complaining and fans less reactive to ingame decisions if it had no impact on winning or losing.

[R. DeMurre]

An argument isn't thrown out the window because a few anonymous & biased internet folks have a difference of opinion. Lots of homers on the internetz say that Lebron sucks, or Bill Russell was overrated. It doesn't make it true. In the world of sport bros, it's easy to find contrarian opinions on pretty much any topic.

[spurs1990]

And really no minutes for Wesley and Branham. The 10 guys in front are legitimately deserving of getting PT. There’s no Forbes, eubanks, nor 2019 circa Belinelli to whine about. Albeit Bates-Diaw is approaching that. His slot should open up to one of the rooks soon enough

[Dejounte]

An argument isn't thrown out the window because a few anonymous & biased internet folks have a difference of opinion. Lots of homers on the internetz say that Lebron sucks, or Bill Russell was overrated. It doesn't make it true. In the world of sport bros, it's easy to find contrarian opinions on pretty much any topic.

Yet here you are, one of the anonymous & biased internet folks, giving his opinion and throwing a blanket definition over what tanking means and we are supposed to take your word for it?

[heyheymymy]

There might be a perceptions difference between a top 10 pick and 20 plus in terms of immediate readiness. Sochan might be on a different expectation timeline than the later 2 picks from 2022.

Bran actually does looks pretty ready from SL and preseason samples so maybe he should see more floor arguably but all summer long ST seemed to agree Blake should spend time in Austin and now we are angry when Blake doesn't get burn in game 2 of the season.

[R. DeMurre]

Yet here you are, one of the anonymous & biased internet folks, giving his opinion and throwing a blanket definition over what tanking means and we are supposed to take your word for it?


Well, no one is more thin-skinned and biased than you. Besides, if you read what I wrote, I specifically said it's nuanced and then went on to give a clear example of a time when the players and coaches were trying to win in a situation that was clearly tanking, i.e., starting three G Leaguers and sitting your starters despite being a team with a losing record. Sorry you're so touchy & exasperated about everything and a week never goes by where you don't get into a long drawn out insultfest with a fellow spurstalk member. Hope that makes you feel better.

[Dejounte]

Well, no one is more thin-skinned and biased than you. Besides, if you read what I wrote, I specifically said it's nuanced and then went on to give a clear example of a time when the players and coaches were trying to win in a situation that was clearly tanking, i.e., starting three G Leaguers and sitting your starters despite being a team with a losing record. Sorry you're so touchy & exasperated about everything and a week never goes by where you don't get into a long drawn out insultfest with a fellow spurstalk member. Hope that makes you feel better.

Poke holes in their argument and they come back with an attack that has nothing do with basketball :lmao name a better combo for this loser

[R. DeMurre]

Poke holes in their argument and they come back with an attack that has nothing do with basketball :lmao name a better combo for this loser

"if you read what I wrote, I specifically said it's nuanced and then went on to give a clear example of a time when the players and coaches were trying to win in a situation that was clearly tanking, i.e., starting three G Leaguers and sitting your starters despite being a team with a losing record."

Kinda sounds like a very specific basketball response.

[Dejounte]

"if you read what I wrote, I specifically said it's nuanced and then went on to give a clear example of a time when the players and coaches were trying to win in a situation that was clearly tanking, i.e., starting three G Leaguers and sitting your starters despite being a team with a losing record."

Let me break it down for you.

1. Your key argument from your post is this: Whatever the players and coaches do is irrelevant because ultimately, the what the FO does is directly tied to what “the franchise is doing as a whole”. Just to be clear before I move onto point #2, this is an opinion. And let me say that I agree with the fact that it’s nuanced, and what I disagree with is your use of a blanket statement over the meaning of tanking. Basically, you were making good points but somehow arrived to a conclusion that contradicts your own evidence. In my opinion, anyway. You can’t list examples of how coaching affects tanking and then turn around and say that the franchise is tanking as a whole. Players are part of the franchise. The coach is a part of the franchise. That is not the “franchise as a whole”.
2. I point out that if only what the FO does is what affects tanking (again, the blanket statement) was true, there wouldn’t be a majority of posts in game threads commenting about how ingame decisions affecting the tank because what Pop does wouldn’t matter.
3. You respond by saying well those are just opinions by random internet folks.
4. I point out that your original point was an opinion.
5. Somehow you took offense to that.

[R. DeMurre]

Let me break it down for you.

1. Your key argument from your post is this: Whatever the players and coaches do is irrelevant because ultimately, the what the FO does is directly tied to what “the franchise is doing as a whole”. Just to be clear before I move onto point #2, this is an opinion. And let me say that I agree with the fact that it’s nuanced, and what I disagree with is your use of a blanket statement over the meaning of tanking. Basically, you were making good points but somehow arrived to a conclusion that contradicts your own evidence. In my opinion, anyway. You can’t list examples of how coaching affects tanking and then turn around and say that the franchise is tanking as a whole. Players are part of the franchise. The coach is a part of the franchise. That is not the “franchise as a whole”.
2. I point out that if only what the FO does is what affects tanking (again, the blanket statement) was true, there wouldn’t be a majority of posts in game threads commenting about how ingame decisions affecting the tank because what Pop does wouldn’t matter.
3. You respond by saying well those are just opinions by random internet folks.
4. I point out that your original point was an opinion.
5. Somehow you took offense to that.


I didn't "take offense" to anything. That's you, once again, the most thin-skinned & argumentative person on Spurstalk who regularly has fights and personal vendettas with multiple people at all times. This is your continual issue, that anyone who doesn't agree with you is "offended."

[Dejounte]

I didn't "take offense" to anything. That's you, once again, the most thin-skinned & argumentative person on Spurstalk who regularly has fights and personal vendettas with multiple people at all times. This is your continual issue, that anyone who doesn't agree with you is "offended."

Yes, you did get offended. This argument took its turn when you brought up claims about me after I said you, too, were a “random and biased internet poster”… which were your own words, by the way. So unless you think you’re different than anyone else on here, I’m not sure what the point was for you to all of a sudden bring up things unrelated to our discussion. Calling me touchy, exasperated, and thin skinned out of the blue? You’re denying that’s not taking the conversation off-road? If that’s not a sign of being offended, then I don’t know what to tell you. Especially since nothing should have sparked that kind of response.

Figures. I gave you a proper rebuttal and gave you a chance to respond back in a civil manner yet you refused, likely because you know your argument is flawed and you’ve hit a brick wall. Sucks that you resort to this childish madeup fantasy in order to deflect away from the conversation at hand.