Grades: Spurs vs. Trail Blazers - Nov. 7, 2024

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-blazers-2025-game-9/

[timtonymanu]

We got 4 wins! Earlier than where we were last year :lol.

Can’t put too much into this cause the Blazers suck worse than us but a win’s a win.

[John B]

With 8 players in double figures is a good win in my book even against scrubs. The guys were finding each other, sharing the ball and playing team basketball. Wemby struggled shooting, but found ways to contribute with 12 pts, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks But the story of the game is Castle having the best game of his rookie year, and Wesley who seemed to have found a good rhythm. I hope it continues. A win’s a win. Nice to see them bounced back.

[heyheymymy]

Was cool to see the two former UCONN players face each other

[Obstructed_View]

Castle just keeps passing the eye test. I don't know what that's worth, but he's very calm and very team aware. I love that he's trusted with bringing the ball up, even when paired with CP in the backcourt.

Good on Wesley for looking like an NBA player again. Hope he can sustain it.

Feeding Vic in the high post has been a disaster, mainly because his teammates stand around to watch him do something amazing. Defenders can double team from any direction and cause a turnover. That set needs to die.

Anybody else think the pick and roll defense is better without Pop? The bigs are showing hard and the dribblers can't just waltz into the paint. It's refreshing.

[polandprzem]

2/6 from 3pt range is a progress for Wemby, he must be proud of himself.

I like when Wemby made a three and in next action he attempted another and Elliott said "Heat check" - hahahha :lmao


Tbh we has to play HC offense more because Wemby can't keep up. Every team that runs will kill Wemby who mostly is late.
He is such a poor rebounder or maybe I can say lazy. He might have one 50-50 ball all night on rebounds.


Castle had a great game, Spurs hit pretty nice from three, Keldon was energetic and I think that has won us a game.

[RC_Drunkford]

basically everybody played well except Wemby, who can only play 5 minutes and then needs rest.

[Mugen]

If we could play tanking teams every night, we'd be golden tbh.

That said, good bounce back game after the embarrassing Houston game. Would be nice to end this homestand hovering @ .500 tbh.

[Dex]

Castle just keeps passing the eye test. I don't know what that's worth, but he's very calm and very team aware. I love that he's trusted with bringing the ball up, even when paired with CP in the backcourt.

Good on Wesley for looking like an NBA player again. Hope he can sustain it.

Feeding Vic in the high post has been a disaster, mainly because his teammates stand around to watch him do something amazing. Defenders can double team from any direction and cause a turnover. That set needs to die.

Anybody else think the pick and roll defense is better without Pop? The bigs are showing hard and the dribblers can't just waltz into the paint. It's refreshing.

Double-teaming isn't necessarily a bad thing...Wemby just needs to get better at passing out of those situations and finding the open man instead of trying to do it all himself. And for god's sake, stop trying to dribble there.

[TheChillFactor]

If Castle can start making threes we will have a very high level player on our hands.

This is a huge part of the plan for Wemby's future and i feel like it gets overlooked constantly when criticizing PATFO.

"Sniff, sniff" i guess, according to the bigoted Auerbach-level basketball minds on this board.

[Mr. Body]

Double-teaming isn't necessarily a bad thing...Wemby just needs to get better at passing out of those situations and finding the open man instead of trying to do it all himself. And for god's sake, stop trying to dribble there.

Duncan had a lot of trouble with double teams early on iirc.

[Mr. Body]

If Castle can start making threes we will have a very high level player on our hands.

This is a huge part of the plan for Wemby's future and i feel like it gets overlooked constantly when criticizing PATFO.

"Sniff, sniff" i guess, according to the bigoted Auerbach-level basketball minds on this board.

I feel like Castle is going to be high level even if his shot doesn't get that good. And I feel like it will. It looks good, just needs work.

[Davidicus]

Is it just me or is Wemby still gassed? There were sections of the game (I forget when) he looked like he was borderline walking on defense, and on offense hands on his knees in the corner.

Castle looked great. Just keep doing what you’re doing big dawg and you’ll improve.

Blake lookin like Tony Parker out there with the speed and wrap-around assists. His next step since last year has always been can he do this consistently. He’s gotta show that before Tre gets back if he wants minutes.

Looking forward to seeing Vassell hopefully tomorrow

[Mr. Body]

A lot of fretting about VW but worth mentioning are Blake, who is doing so much better at recognizing when he can get to the hoop and when to make other decisions.

And Branham was looking great until of course he gets hurt. This is the MB I think the team sees. He's staying with guys on defense and is no longer nearly as painful there, and if he keeps building his offensive threat then he can be at least really solid.

[spurraider21]

A lot of fretting about VW but worth mentioning are Blake, who is doing so much better at recognizing when he can get to the hoop and when to make other decisions.

And Branham was looking great until of course he gets hurt. This is the MB I think the team sees. He's staying with guys on defense and is no longer nearly as painful there, and if he keeps building his offensive threat then he can be at least really solid.
Blake still looks like he can only go in one speed but he was able to harness it a lot better yesterday

[rjv]

castle looks like a more natural playmaker than scoot does.

[spurraider21]

castle's passing vision is just really, really good. theres always the obvious "one pass away" kickouts, but his ability to make soft little passes in the thick of traffic, or identifying available skip passes is really impressive. and he throws those skip passes with good zip as well

[rjv]

and if champagnie stays in the starting lineup, it will be interesting to see how the duo of him and devin will help out with the spacing on the floor and whether or not his will help out wemby. obviously, it's going to take devin a bit of time to get his legs under him.

[Mr. Body]

castle's passing vision is just really, really good. theres always the obvious "one pass away" kickouts, but his ability to make soft little passes in the thick of traffic, or identifying available skip passes is really impressive. and he throws those skip passes with good zip as well

He locates the passes well, too. He's really good in tight spaces, whether dribbling and moving in clusters of bodies or how he navigates screens on defense. It's pretty impressive for a player his age. But yeah, the passes he sees when dealing in those clusters is pretty impressive. In part because he knows where players are going to be -- he understands the playbook -- but he sees them moving. There's a lot of confidence there.

[LeBowen]

and if champagnie stays in the starting lineup, it will be interesting to see how the duo of him and devin will help out with the spacing on the floor and whether or not his will help out wemby.obviously, it's going to take devin a bit of time to get his legs under him.

I'd really like to see Castle/Devin/Champagnie/Barnes/Wemby lineup at some point.
Want to see how Castle does with our three best shooters around him.
Theoretically it should be our most functional lineup as he's a good point of attack defender and we wouldn't need to cross-match anything.

[Bruno]

We got 4 wins! Earlier than where we were last year :lol.

Can’t put too much into this cause the Blazers suck worse than us but a win’s a win.

This is exactly what I wanted to point out.

Last year, Spurs got their 4th win after 24 games and after a 18 games losing streak. Schedule might have been a little easier this year but it's also that the team is way more solid than last year. Spurs can get some wins even when they aren't firing on all cylinders (Wembanyama struggling and injuries).

[spurraider21]

minnesota is the only playoff team we've beaten. wins against jazz/blazers and going 1-2 against Houston arent really huge signs of encouragement.

[rjv]

minnesota is the only playoff team we've beaten. wins against jazz/blazers and going 1-2 against Houston arent really huge signs of encouragement.

we weren't' even getting those last year, early on. the debacle (on our home court) against a pitifully depleted memphis team comes to mind.

[spurraider21]

we weren't' even getting those last year, early on. the debacle (on our home court) against a pitifully depleted memphis team comes to mind.
2 of our early wins last year were b2b against phoenix

[exstatic]

minnesota is the only playoff team we've beaten. wins against jazz/blazers and going 1-2 against Houston arent really huge signs of encouragement.

They are compared to last year. Walk before you run. We’re walking. Last year, we were drunk staggering and falling.

[exstatic]

2 of our early wins last year were b2b against phoenix

And then we lost 18 in a row. I’ll take more wins against worse teams. Phoenix wound up being absolutely shitty in the playoffs, anyway.

[spurraider21]

And then we lost 18 in a row. I’ll take more wins against worse teams. Phoenix wound up being absolutely shitty in the playoffs, anyway.
yeah that fucking loser anthony edwards did them in

[polandprzem]

This is exactly what I wanted to point out.

Last year, Spurs got their 4th win after 24 games and after a 18 games losing streak. Schedule might have been a little easier this year but it's also that the team is way more solid than last year. Spurs can get some wins even when they aren't firing on all cylinders (Wembanyama struggling and injuries).
Yea I am predicting Spurs in playoffs. Tough to do in West but achievable

[Seventyniner]

We got 4 wins! Earlier than where we were last year :lol.

Can’t put too much into this cause the Blazers suck worse than us but a win’s a win.

It was nice to get the 4th win before losing 18 in a row this time.

[Obstructed_View]

Double-teaming isn't necessarily a bad thing...Wemby just needs to get better at passing out of those situations and finding the open man instead of trying to do it all himself. And for god's sake, stop trying to dribble there.

Agree with everything you said. He can learn to get out of doubles, but teams being able to swarm him because his stupid teammates are standing around is no bueno.

[Mr. Body]

Agree with everything you said. He can learn to get out of doubles, but teams being able to swarm him because his stupid teammates are standing around is no bueno.

Bruh, spotting up when a player is getting double teamed is what should be going on.

[Obstructed_View]

Bruh, spotting up when a player is getting double teamed is what should be going on.
I wasn't standing around, coach, I was spotting up. We were all just waiting on that kick-out. :lol

[Mr. Body]

I wasn't standing around, coach, I was spotting up. We were all just waiting on that kick-out. :lol

Yeah, when someone is double teamed you want to punish the man leaving with kick-outs.

[exstatic]

Bruh, spotting up when a player is getting double teamed is what should be going on.

No, Sochan showed us what should be going on. Nonshooters, especially, need to be diving to the hoop.

[TrainOfThought5]

2 of our early wins last year were b2b against phoenix

they were magical, tbh.

[Dex]

No, Sochan showed us what should be going on. Nonshooters, especially, need to be diving to the hoop.

A little of both can apply.

We can't just go full 4-Down because that is too predictable for today's NBA. But for the most part, guys spacing around him with a good cut here or there SHOULD be enough to keep the defense honest and give Wemby room to work.

It doesn't help that our guys are terrible shooters, so teams are able to sink into the paint without much fear of being burned.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah, when someone is double teamed you want to punish the man leaving with kick-outs.
Let's have the double team coming from any of four places at any given time because nobody is cutting or back screening or ... moving. All Victor's fault.