Game Thread: Pacers (34-27) at Spurs (12-48) 6:00 pm Central US, 2:00 am Riga

[Seventyniner]

Let's get a game thread up in this. See if the Spurs can build on their one-game win streak.

These are the second (Pacers, 102.4) and third (Spurs, 101.6) fastest teams in the league in terms of pace. The Spurs (#24, 118.3) and Pacers (#25, 119.3) also occupy consecutive spots towards the bottom of the defensive rating ranks.

The over/under is a deservedly high 243.5 and the Pacers are favored by 6.5.

It should be a good game for lots of players to get big counting stats. It is probably the most favorable game on the schedule for Victor to get his first 40-point game.

[r0drig0lac]

https://twitter.com/N_Magaro/status/1764415487335637467

[LeBowen]

As those numbers you pointed out say, this could get really ugly if Spurs aren't on point.
But then on the other hanf, Pacers often go cold and lose random games.

[SouthernFryd]

Geesh. Branham or Champagnie as starters?

"Put me in coach. I'm ready to play...today."

[spurs10]

GSG!!

[r0drig0lac]

It's still unbelievable that Spurs probably drafted the goat

[LeBowen]

Great start, enjoyable until Collins and Keldon get on the floor.

[Pauleta14]

Impressive to see how they've been refusing any shot in the paint bc of Victor... wow

[poopbox]

Wemby really got Myles spook. Dude is scared to death to shoot around the rim.

[poopbox]

Uh oh here comes Collins. Turner about to go on a 10 - 0 run

[MultiTroll]

No Doughie McDermott Welcome Back Promotional Night?

No Doughie period.

[poopbox]

Get this bum Sochan out of here. How on earth this dude find so many ways to jump in the air and just throw the ball to the other team. What a waste of a pick.

[r0drig0lac]

blakesanity

[Pauleta14]

BLAAAKKEEE!!!!

[poopbox]

Mcconnell averaging 8 points a game and has scored that in like 3 minutes against our bench :lol

[MultiTroll]

WTF they called that a blocking foul on Wesley?

Use your damn challenge Crater.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

they play a hell of a lot better at home.

[Chinook]

I remember when Pacers fans wanted Jones and two firsts for Nembhard.

[MultiTroll]

Craig Popplevich is giving the appearance of caring whether or not the Spurs win.

Will this last into the 3rd quarter?

[poopbox]

Keldon about to have one of those 1 for 12 nights. Dude missing everything

[MultiTroll]

Chucky Johnson after another brick going for the stupid steal attempt.

Failed, easy 5 on 4 for Pacers leading to layup.

His IQ is sub zero. Just a playground chucker.

[Pauleta14]

It's not so much his miss than his decisisons that bother me with Keldon

Wasted offensive rebound for ex

[MultiTroll]

Good block by Wemby but honestly really stupid shot attempt by Math.

[MultiTroll]

Wemby doing more highlight shots.

Left handed extended finger roller.

Loved it.

[poopbox]

Can't believe I am saying this but Wesley is playing REALLY smart tonight.

[MultiTroll]

Branham gets playing time exactly why?

Sub zero IQ.

[LeBowen]

This is ridiculous, he's already the best defender in the league.

[SpursFan86]

Victor is fucking insane…I truly think he could be a top 3-5 player in the league by next season.

[Mal]

Wemby post-RRT is possesed

[r0drig0lac]

nice move by Zach

[MultiTroll]

McConnell having a career game. :lol

[SpursFan86]

Wemby post-RRT is possesed

What’s scary is it doesn’t feel like a “hot streak”. He’s just improved an absurd amount from the start of the season until now.

[NASpurs]

Wemby only has two blocks? Feels like he has like 8 :lol

[poopbox]

Sochan and Johnson just running around getting cardio in tonight

[ginobilized]

4/120 million deal incoming to McConnell.....from us

[Pauleta14]

Victor's left hand extended hook shot is as beautiful than it's impossible to defend without help

Signature move

[Pauleta14]

Sochan is really not sharp ffs :lol

[slick'81]

Wemby is him

[MultiTroll]

Welp at least they didn't shit off the entire lead. :lol

[MultiTroll]

I'm ordering pizzas.

Anybody want some?

[Pauleta14]

Great timming Pop, Vic was alone upfront

[Rubberducky]

Pacers side line announcer is named Jeremiah Johnson.

[Splits]

Toronto wins!!!

[r0drig0lac]

superstar Wemby

[poopbox]

Aint no way Victor really made that pass to Branhim :dramaquee

[SpursFan86]

Holy shit

[SpursFan86]

We really lucked into the next GOAT :lmao

[lonrot]

Wemby :bobo

[Pauleta14]

Vic has sparks that are unreal :lol

[Mal]

French scrub with 0 steals, so 5x5 aint happening

[LeBowen]

He just decides to take over every aspect of the game.

[Splits]

wtf was that. block, assist, bring the ball up the court, drill a 3. jfc

[Brazil]

Dat French kid is not bad after all

[r0drig0lac]

18/4/4 for Malaki, not bad at all

[TheBallsbreakers]

Victor's handles has gotten tighter, and he's shooting way better no. Unreal.

[SpursFan86]

Not that it makes up for the 3 months that he was dogshit, but Collins has been solid the past few games :lol

[Rosewood]

In like a 5 minute stretch, Vic made multiple buckets, had multiple rebounds, had multiple blocks and had multiple assists.

the question is definitely when not if on quad double.

[heyheymymy]

nice game from Bran so far

[heyheymymy]

Jesus Wemby

[heyheymymy]

brill cutting move to the basket by Bran

[Splits]

Wesley D not bad in the 3rd, lots of movement and energy

[Splits]

Nice last-sec sub by Pop to get Sochan in for D prevented a bucket

[Splits]

Now everyone stand up and love the USA for killing thousands of brown people "I'm proud to be an American"

[Brazil]

Now everyone stand up and love the USA for killing thousands of brown people "I'm proud to be an American"

:lol

[poopbox]

The usual scrubs scrubbing it up to start the 4th

[poopbox]

Wemby carry this Branhim Wesley Osman lineup he should get a purple heart tbh:clap

[Robz4000]

Now everyone stand up and love the USA for killing thousands of brown people "I'm proud to be an American"

'Murica!

[Pauleta14]

If Brahman does do a moving screen... could be +14

[NASpurs]

Collins 0-0 from 3 for this game. Good to see.

[poopbox]

Don't think TJ McConnel has missed 10 shots in his career against the spurs

[Tyronn Lue]

Victor to the bench, defense to the shithouse.

[Pauleta14]

Please Pop put Victor back, he can handle it ffs

[TimDunkem]

Sochan...


https://youtu.be/m4OvQIGDg4I?si=VcdNRw2oVNmDOqK6

[Splits]

lmao great job Pop

[SpursFan86]

Just totally falling to shit as soon as Victor goes to the bench :lol

[Brazil]

:lol Victor can’t rest in the 4th

[Splits]

what in the holy fuck was that lineup. Branham, Zollins, Sochan, Wesley, Vassell? Just got nailed on an 0-8 run in like 20 seconds

[BatManu20]

Lol classic Spurs 4th quarter meltdown

[JeffDuncan]

Now everyone stand up and love the USA for killing thousands of brown people "I'm proud to be an American"


Oh please. We also kill black people, white people, yellow people, red people, and any other color of people. We do not discriminate by color when we kill people. So knock it off with the slander and lies.

[Splits]

Oh please. We also kill black people, white people, yellow people, red people, and any other color of people. We do not discriminate by color when we kill people. So knock it off with the slander and lies.

:lol true

[Barfunk]

Be awesome to see Wemby get his first 40oz, but probably not enough time left.

[heyheymymy]

Yikes lol

[Tyronn Lue]

Victor is from another planet.

[thiste]

Not a good game tonight for Tre

[r0drig0lac]

Well...champ..were go

[Brazil]

Victor became the best at everything of this team, defense 3 pts shooting, offense, free throws, playmaker, assist, blocks… everything

[Manu-of-steel]

2 game winning streak!!

[LeBowen]

Never losing again, tbh.

[Uriel]

:wow Was that OKC win the turning point of the season?

[Pauleta14]

There's never been a player capable of EVERYTHING ... ever :lol

[Brazil]

:cry dat winning streak

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Is Wemby still growing?

[Brazil]

Easy on the wins guys we have a tank job to preserve

[Brazil]

Rookie wall ? What rookie wall ?

[Pauleta14]

2 games winning streak .... against quality teams!

[Uriel]

Any chance we can still catch the Hornets in the standings? And if so, would it be a good idea? :lol

[poopbox]

Easy on the wins guys we have a tank job to preserve
I know last thing we need is these bums going 12 - 8 or some shit and Pop says they "turned the corner" and run it back next year :cry

[Manu-of-steel]

Wemby is a BAD man!

[sananspursfan21]

34-48 calling it now

[DAF86]

In the East Wemby probably sneaking into the play-in and making it all the way to the NBA finals, tbh.

[Tyronn Lue]

Good win, solid showing for Victor. Chet is probably eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's right now, watching Lifetime.

[Barfunk]

2 game winning streak!!

Thanks for reminding me. Lemme fix that. :pop:

[TekXX]

Is Wemby still growing?

He's 20, my fear was he would keep growing, it is possible.

[Splits]

https://i.ibb.co/p3brgtP/image.png

wtf?

[baseline bum]

Love seeing some 5-down

[heyheymymy]

Wemby def put on muscle between summer league and start of season but it looks like he has put even more muscle on from what I've noticed in his most recent media appearances

[CGD]

https://i.ibb.co/p3brgtP/image.png

wtf?

I know it’s military appreciation night, but gotta say I’ve never seen that one

[Tyronn Lue]

https://i.ibb.co/p3brgtP/image.png

wtf?
Murica

[John B]

I like seeing them playing well, but I rather get the L and get two lottery picks. Great game though. Now let’s see the haters twist this and blame for not securing the picks.

[AusSpur]

I like seeing them playing well, but I rather get the L and get two lottery picks. Great game though.

If it makes you feel better, our draft pick will still very much be in the lottery despite this win.

[Chinook]

I like seeing them playing well, but I rather get the L and get two lottery picks. Great game though. Now let’s see the haters twist this and blame for not securing the picks.

The Spurs win doesn't jeopardize them having two lotto picks. It just makes one of them possibly worse.

[rascal]

I like seeing them playing well, but I rather get the L and get two lottery picks. Great game though. Now let’s see the haters twist this and blame for not securing the picks.

You mean stay in the bottom three.

[DAF86]

I like seeing them playing well, but I rather get the L and get two lottery picks. Great game though. Now let’s see the haters twist this and blame for not securing the picks.

Relax. we're so far behind that we can safely root for wins.

[thiste]

31 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast, 6 blk on 65/75/86% +19

The quad-double is really just a question of time.

[KobesAchilles]

I can’t wait until he actually has a squad around him and not scrubs. Multiple championships if we manage that feat

[John B]

You mean stay in the bottom three.

Exactly as long as they stay at the bottom 3. But Wemby seems determined to get that ROTY and maybe even the DPOY in the bag.

[barakz21]

https://i.ibb.co/p3brgtP/image.png

wtf?

Air Assault!

[Pauleta14]

Now imagine with just a little bit more talent in playmaking and passing...

[CGD]

31 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast, 6 blk on 65/75/86% +19

The quad-double is really just a question of time.

what a bust, he only had one steal!

Seriously, that stat line and those splits are breaking my brain. Unbelievable.

[CorrectCrusader]

That was a joy to watch

[TekXX]

Considering no one can tell you who were tanking for i say fuck the tank, go for wins

[Raven]

very nice to see pop adjusting and putting sochan on tj

[Mr. Body]

very nice to see pop adjusting and putting sochan on tj

Absolutely. He smothered him.

[z0sa]

The stealth tank crowd is upset with this win.

[RC_Drunkford]

WTF was up with Branham? He actually played good defense and looked better than Champagnie

[SouthernFryd]

Nobody in the league could look worse than Champagnie.

Regardless, Branham looked good. Real Good.

[JPB]

In all fairness, that Pacers defense was absolutely atrocious last night. Gave open lines all game long to spurs perimeter guys. Made Branham and Wesley look like al stars... It was open bar.

[rankingtear]

In all fairness, that Pacers defense was absolutely atrocious last night. Gave open lines all game long to spurs perimeter guys. Made Branham and Wesley look like al stars... It was open bar.

That was their defensive scheme, they stay home on shooters so they have the break advantage.

[CGD]

In all fairness, that Pacers defense was absolutely atrocious last night. Gave open lines all game long to spurs perimeter guys. Made Branham and Wesley look like al stars... It was open bar.

The Pacers defense is ALWAYS atrocious, which is why they have to score 150 points or whatever to win. What’s more impressive is that the Spurs held them to 105 and Halliburton to just 12 points.

[Rocalcio]

We knew Wemby would be good at many things, but we didn't see his passing ability coming. The kid really surprised me on that matter, and it's clearly a matter of time before he notches a quadruple double.

[Pauleta14]

Jokic might be the only player in the league I wouldn't trade for Wemby NOW

[tonight...you]

Is Wemby still growing?
I was wondering that myself. It certainly looks like he is, but what do I know?

[The Truth #6]

Feels like pop is actually coaching again, meaning he seems engaged in yelling and stuff. If so, curious what led to this change? A preconceived timeline? "After rodeo road trip, start to give a shit again and hold the players to higher standards." Or is he feeling heat from the media and Wemby's camp and having flashbacks of Kawhi? Sort of joking.

[Maddog]

Feels like pop is actually coaching again, meaning he seems engaged in yelling and stuff. If so, curious what led to this change? A preconceived timeline? "After rodeo road trip, start to give a shit again and hold the players to higher standards." Or is he feeling heat from the media and Wemby's camp and having flashbacks of Kawhi? Sort of joking.
Probably
He's done this in the past. Even in the heyday of the big 3.
The same with the experimentation with the lineup, substitution pattern.

[Mr. Body]

Feels like pop is actually coaching again, meaning he seems engaged in yelling and stuff. If so, curious what led to this change? A preconceived timeline? "After rodeo road trip, start to give a shit again and hold the players to higher standards." Or is he feeling heat from the media and Wemby's camp and having flashbacks of Kawhi? Sort of joking.

He was always coaching, but letting the young pups make mistakes and gently correcting them. Now that a huge amount of work has been done, he's shifting into holding them much more accountable because they're ready for it now. The expectations have changed.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I was wondering that myself. It certainly looks like he is, but what do I know?

I have been talking with people at work and while it may be true there are two things.

First he is undoubtedly adding muscle mass. His shoulders standout on this regard.
Indiana played a lot of smaller lineups.

[The Truth #6]

Probably
He's done this in the past. Even in the heyday of the big 3.
The same with the experimentation with the lineup, substitution pattern.

It makes sense. He openly said he was going to take a step back and observe, which was smart, and preferable to micromanaging immediately. But the question became: when/is he going to hold higher standards? But the timing in doing so is good.

If they were tanking this year, it's kind of an interesting way to do it: throw games early in the season which no one typically ever does, but then instead of throwing away games at the end, instead, actually turn up the heat to try and win. Any victories are helpful at this point, especially for morale. As we get even closer to the end of the season , we will play some teams that are definitely trying to lose, which can be fool's gold in evaluating, but for me at this point, who cares.

[cjw]

Jokic might be the only player in the league I wouldn't trade for Wemby NOW

I might take Wemby and $40 million of other things to do with my salary cap over Jokic for the next three years…

And that’s not to take anything away from the best player in the world.

Only consideration is it’s easier said than done to actually USE that $40 million of cap space when it generally goes to guys who aren’t worth that salary. Would want to do better than Keldon + Collins + $5mm, for instance.

[spurraider21]

couldnt watch most of the game live, but went back and re-watched, and the ball movement was just great. a lot of sequences of quick 1-2 passes, give and goes, extra passes between non-stars like sochan, branham, wesley, collins, etc... as really promising to see those guys being able to create their own offense

[Mugen]

The best thing about the last 2 games is the resiliency the guys have displayed when the opposing teams make their inevitable run. Too often this season, Spurs get up to a double digit lead before folding as soon as the opponent punches back.

But they hung in there and fought back even after OKC/Indy came back to take the lead these last 2 games. That's a pretty big sign of maturity and a good step going forward tbh. Hope they keep it up.

[Mr. Body]

The best thing about the last 2 games is the resiliency the guys have displayed when the opposing teams make their inevitable run. Too often this season, Spurs get up to a double digit lead before folding as soon as the opponent punches back.

But they hung in there and fought back even after OKC/Indy came back to take the lead these last 2 games. That's a pretty big sign of maturity and a good step going forward tbh. Hope they keep it up.

Totally agree. Other than working on individual skills, game management and reading what's happening throughout the game seem to be really hard to learn together. I guess you take your knocks. But really good teams know how to wipe out worse teams down the stretch. You often see a bad team hanging in, but the contenders know how to - as a group - throw it up a notch or two when needed and maintain those leads or get them back. Matching the intensity and knowing what to do with it. The Thunder win was really impressive.

[couchman]

Wemby keeps upping his game. I'm blown away.
And it's not just one thing that he's suddenly adding to his game:
Handling, 3pts off the dribble, blocked shots, and passing have all improved dramatically in 6-8 weeks.

The only thing holding him back at all is conditioning.
I'm not convinced he can play more than 32 min right now.
I wonder how much weight and strength he can add without hurting his cardio.

[Pauleta14]

I might take Wemby and $40 million of other things to do with my salary cap over Jokic for the next three years…

And that’s not to take anything away from the best player in the world.

Only consideration is it’s easier said than done to actually USE that $40 million of cap space when it generally goes to guys who aren’t worth that salary. Would want to do better than Keldon + Collins + $5mm, for instance.

I agree, hence the “NOW”…

it’s out of financial or long term considerations, just if I had to switch one player for this season.

If Victor’s keeps the same rythm of progression, he’ll be the best player in the world by mid next season :lol

[Pauleta14]

A small detail I want him to work on is his grip and his defensive agressivity

Wether it's opponents or his own teammates, he's missing too many boards for his size and timing

[CGD]

Vic has definitely been working on his post game and it shows these past few games. He’s clearly also gotten stronger which helps.

I still can’t believe how spoiled we are as a fans.