Grades: Spurs @ Pelicans - Dec. 22, 2022

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/spurs-pelicans-grades-31/

[JuneJive]

Sochan and Stanley standouts.

I don't see why Stanley can't keep it up in the future.
He's even a solid choice for next yrs rotation.

[tbdog]

It's hard to pay attention to our team when we just get beat so badly. Let alone do grades. Thanks again.

[Robz4000]

First game I got to watch live in a while. If Sochan can shoot even close to how he did tonight regularly he's an all star tbh.

[jjspur]

For a 15th guy , Stanley Johnson is actually showing something. Compare his stats to the last 15th guy we had and it makes sense to play him more, besides some player is always hurt or kept out of the line up for whatever reason. Stanley is making good use of his time, whether its to remain here or for his next gig.

[exstatic]

For a 15th guy , Stanley Johnson is actually showing something. Compare his stats to the last 15th guy we had and it makes sense to play him more, besides some player is always hurt or kept out of the line up for whatever reason. Stanley is making good use of his time, whether its to remain here or for his next gig.

He’s like a bigger version of Romeo. Kind of waiting for the carriage to turn back into a pumpkin with his shooting, though. Based on his career marks, this won’t last.

[exstatic]

It's hard to pay attention to our team when we just get beat so badly. Let alone do grades. Thanks again.

We lost by 9. Perhaps dial back the drama a bit.

[exstatic]

First game I got to watch live in a while. If Sochan can shoot even close to how he did tonight regularly he's an all star tbh.

Did we just draft an All D candidate 6’9” PG?

[Mr. Body]

I noticed Pop pulled all the players who were playing well with like 2:45 left in a game where the momentum had clearly swung. That was still a winnable game. Hmm...

Branham - The confidence seems fully there with the shot now. I don't find myself cringing as much at the defense. Next steps are to learn that this team doesn't need him to exist in the margins, but to actively seek his spots and score. If he maintains a general 10-14 ppg for the rest of the season, that would be a huge first year for him. His potential to score is high.

Vassell - Next step, if he can get there, is to score and produce no matter what. McCollum insisted on taking over the game when they were dragging; he was unstoppable. Vassell isn't the same natural scorer, but to move up he needs to learn how to take on the productive load. Can he do this?

Stanley Johnson - If this continues (if), how was he not on a team? Even if he loses his shot, he's a dynamic player who does heady, possession-turning stuff regularly. No joke this game turned on a dime when he came in, the lead ballooned when he came out, went back down when he came back. He needs minutes ahead of KBD.

Sochan - Is this an image of the future? Goodness. A big, aggressive PF who is fleet as a SF, fluid and strong enough to get into the lane against anyone smaller than him and blow past anyone larger. He has good court awareness and vision and his handles are already good, esp. for his size. Next step for him is realizing this team needs him and it's his team as much as any. Once he does, and I think that's happening, it transforms the Spurs. His point of attack is almost... anywhere?

[Joseph Kony]

We lost by 9. Perhaps dial back the drama a bit.

To be fair, the final score was a lot closer than the actual game. Spurs were down 20 after 1 and never really threatened NOP until the 4th briefly until CJ shit all over them. aside from a couple mins in the 4th, SA was never really in this game

[Mr. Body]

To be fair, the final score was a lot closer than the actual game. Spurs were down 20 after 1 and never really threatened NOP until the 4th briefly until CJ shit all over them. aside from a couple mins in the 4th, SA was never really in this game

I wonder when people will realize at this point it's less about winning than developing individual and team skills?

[Spurs Homer]

Any info on tre jones hand getting injured by that dirty play?

on any other team jones would be out maybe a game

on the spurs im thinking jones might be out 3-4 weeks?

[exstatic]

To be fair, the final score was a lot closer than the actual game. Spurs were down 20 after 1 and never really threatened NOP until the 4th briefly until CJ shit all over them. aside from a couple mins in the 4th, SA was never really in this game

If it weren’t for CJ, this would have been an unfortunate win. Even with him stroking, we were +10 in the second half. We lost but tbdog was overly dramatic about it.

[Joseph Kony]

I wonder when people will realize at this point it's less about winning than developing individual and team skills?
No shit. my response to exstatic was regarding his comment that we only lost by 9 when someone said it was hard to watch the team this season. my point was the game was not as close as the final score. i dont give a shit about winning games, i want them to lose as much as possible :lol

[Joseph Kony]

If it weren’t for CJ, this would have been an unfortunate win. Even with him stroking, we were +10 in the second half. We lost but tbdog was overly dramatic about it.

you could say the same thing for us - if it weren't for Sochan we lose by 40+. hypothetical exercises are pointless. Spurs were outclassed from the moment the game tipped off and NOP was missing their two best players. it's not being dramatic, it's just factual imho

[exstatic]

you could say the same thing for us - if it weren't for Sochan we lose by 40+. hypothetical exercises are pointless. Spurs were outclassed from the moment the game tipped off and NOP was missing their two best players. it's not being dramatic, it's just factual imho

Throw out all hypotheticals, then. We lost by nine. That’s not some terrible awful loss. In fact it’s the best kind: single digits and competitive.

[JeffDuncan]

“Sticktoitiveness” - well done, sir!

Insightful comments, as usual. That kid with the prismatic hair continues to fascinate. I wonder how good he’ll become.

[Mr. Body]

No shit. my response to exstatic was regarding his comment that we only lost by 9 when someone said it was hard to watch the team this season. my point was the game was not as close as the final score. i dont give a shit about winning games, i want them to lose as much as possible :lol

People was meant to refer to people generally.

[John B]

You got me at sticktoitiveness :lol:lol But that's exactly what the Spurs did to be close despite the woeful shooting, especially Vassell. I think he deserves better than C- as he rebounded 9, passed 5 and made steal 3 despite his 4-13 shooting. But the story of the night was Sochan. I agree his new found success in the FT line gave him confidence to attack with gusto, not worrying getting fouled. I think we will see more of Sochan being aggressive as a result. Stanley Johnson is also becoming a good pick-up. He's a big body who does not shy from contact, and can hit the 3's. I thought Pop should've played Bassey on Valunciunas. Poeltl and Zollins seemed overwhelmed by the Lithuanian. Malaki I like the effort. I think he's getting more and more aggressive as he sees his shots falling. I think Pelicans just got lucky their shots were falling while Spurs' were not. But it's a needed Loss, so it was good :toast

[Joseph Kony]

Throw out all hypotheticals, then. We lost by nine. That’s not some terrible awful loss. In fact it’s the best kind: single digits and competitive.
fair enough i guess, but we both know this loss wasnt particularly competitive minus a 4-5 minute stretch out of 48 minutes

[rascal]

Throw out all hypotheticals, then. We lost by nine. That’s not some terrible awful loss. In fact it’s the best kind: single digits and competitive.

Spurs were never in this game. NO clearly are the better team.

Lucky to cut it to 9 on the final gun to make the game look closer.

[heyheymymy]

It's not even about the loss differential. tbdog said the team was hard to watch cause they don't win and I disagree. They could lose by 21 and if Sochan and Stanley and crew are generating such novel data I don't care how much they lose by. Hey, the team is tanking, gonna be some losses.

The real question is, how was the development? Especially when SA has projects at nearly every slot on the roster right now. There's prob gonna be some significant showcasing and growth every game. That's been a surprising thrill for me this year. I'm enjoying the process. The kids are doing their part by coming with new tricks almost every game to keep it interesting. I'm here for the extrapolation.

[Dejounte]

They need to pass it to the post more for Sochan. He’s money down there.

[heyheymymy]

that finish off contact with the friendly bounce on the rim for that and-1 was some prime time shit from Sochan

incredible touch

[Mr. Body]

It's not even about the loss differential. tbdog said the team was hard to watch cause they don't win and I disagree. They could lose by 21 and if Sochan and Stanley and crew are generating such novel data I don't care how much they lose by. Hey, the team is tanking, gonna be some losses.

The real question is, how was the development? Especially when SA has projects at nearly every slot on the roster right now. There's prob gonna be some significant showcasing and growth every game. That's been a surprising thrill for me this year. I'm enjoying the process. The kids are doing their part by coming with new tricks almost every game to keep it interesting. I'm here for the extrapolation.

People bitch about not tanking, then they bitch about not being competetive, then they barely understand that the piont is developing the players and seeing change. A couple weeks ago the team was horrendous and didn't look watchable at all. Now, we have Branham and Sochan showing signs of moving forward and that's great.

Let's all pick a lane. If you're team-tank or are okay with losing, either don't watch the games and stay away or watch the games and don't bitch about them. If you're, somehow, thinking this team will make the play-in, then go ahead a watch and bitch.

[heyheymymy]

agreed Mr. Body

I mean if you're here to see the team secure the best percentage odds to land a crown jewel like Wemby, last nights game and L was the fuckin Superbowl

And if you're here to see our #9 pick (and crew) show signs he is going to contribute meaningful production beyond "role player" for a small market team that will not get talent any other way, last nights game was the fuckin Superbowl

Those are the two options, how is this lose-lose unless you want the postseason this year which is just not on track with anything this franchise has shown you at all this season since June. What planet are you on?

[R. DeMurre]

Wow, that was a vision of what future Sochan can look like, and it looks good.

[The Truth #6]

Last night showed perfectly how you need players who can take over. McCollum completely led their team. And for a few moments, Sochan did so for us. Sochan rebounding and going coast to coast is basically our best offense so far.

[tbdog]

We lost by 9. Perhaps dial back the drama a bit.

We were down 20 after the first. And they were missing their two best players.

[heyheymymy]

We were down 20 after the first. And they were missing their two best players.

you're not wrong I'm just saying last night was still fun to watch with Sochan breaking out.

are you not entertained.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/88/a6/7e/88a67eb7bc87ac6aac8cb7112a6bcf52--gladiator--russell-crowe.jpg

[wildbill2u]

Bassey needs to hold his position on picks in the pnr. He releases too soon, probably hoping to get a pass so he can score, but in reality he's just messing up the play by (s)letting the defense stay with the guard/forward he's supposed to be setting the pick for, and (b) his defender can stay with him as he drops down in the paint and block or deter any pass that might come his way. He really screws up any option his teammate might have.
S. Johnson has been proving he belongs in the rotation in every game. Compared to Diop, he is the better player right now. Diop has so many games where he just does nothing.
J. Richardson is so good at a lot of things without being a star. I will miss him if he is traded.
Hard to figure out Vassell not scoring better, but I guess the problem is the Pels figured him out.

[exstatic]

Bassey needs to hold his position on picks in the pnr. He releases too soon, probably hoping to get a pass so he can score, but in reality he's just messing up the play by (s)letting the defense stay with the guard/forward he's supposed to be setting the pick for, and (b) his defender can stay with him as he drops down in the paint and block or deter any pass that might come his way. He really screws up any option his teammate might have.
S. Johnson has been proving he belongs in the rotation in every game. Compared to Diop, he is the better player right now. Diop has so many games where he just does nothing.
J. Richardson is so good at a lot of things without being a star. I will miss him if he is traded.
Hard to figure out Vassell not scoring better, but I guess the problem is the Pels figured him out.

Vassell is streaky at times, and one of those players that REALLY mmeds to see his first or second shot go in. Also, Herb Jones.

[exstatic]

We were down 20 after the first. And they were missing their two best players.

If you want to pick one particular moment in a game, and dwell on how awful things were at that moment like a Debbie Downer, well, you do you. I’ll look at the WHOLE game, and take what positives I can.

[slick'81]

We were down 20 after the first. And they were missing their two best players.


we weren't winning either way. Just enjoy the shit show