Grades: Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs Game #22

[Ocotillo]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-bulls-2025-game-22/

Oof:cry

[Ocotillo]

Vooch is formidable on offense and we really showed the lack of depth after Vic last night. Collins always struggles with burly 7 footers. Bass is undersized and playing a 6'8" Sochan on a legit 7 footer is almost as ugly as him playing the point.

[spursparker9]

:lol How did Zollins end up with +/- 0? I swear that Vooch feasted on him every possession

[sananspursfan21]

I don’t know why this loss was so much more defeating than the Suns. Our guys competed better (not saying much). It’s a long season and they’re still young, but I’m getting a little concerned that they might be regressing to the team they’ve always been instead of being the drastic improvement we thought they might be showing.

[J_Paco]

The Spurs offensive game plan was bad and they should've been attacking the paint all game (not just in the second half/fourth quarter).

The team defense absolutely plummets when Victor is out (still), and they did a terrible job of getting out on shooters.

Hopefully, they'll have a better effort and outcome against Sacramento.

It blows my mind that they gave up 139 points in regulation, but this is the modern NBA.

[Mugen]

Not sure how the team collectively averaged a C grade when they got blown out by Bulls at home tbh :lol

[Mugen]

The SL needs a change, just can't be down by 8-10 after every 1st qtr.

Incorporating guys like Vassell and Sochan back into the rotation isn't easy and it's showing tbh. Not a ton of cohesion out there.

[Splits]

1 step closer to getting the Bulls pick this year so we can trade it for a 20132 pick

[Dex]

1 step closer to getting the Bulls pick this year so we can trade it for a 20132 pick

By that time, we should have the technology to clone Tim Duncan using DNA from an old Gatorade bottle, so we'll be fine

[SouthernFried]

Time to look at what we could get for Wemby. I truly think he's not going to be what everyone is expecting him to be. He can be the best player on the court...and he can be the worst. I don't think I've ever said that about a true star...'cept Iverson maybe.

A top 10 big and 3 point shooting SF...and another solid Big I would think

Could we get 3 great players for Wemby? I don't think his value is going to greater than it is now. The League loves him. So...trade him while they do. :)
:stirpot:

[sananspursfan21]

Not sure how the team collectively averaged a C grade when they got blown out by Bulls at home tbh :lol

And with several key Bulls rotation players sitting :rolleyes

[sananspursfan21]

If I’m Mitch at the 10 minute mark of the 4th, I’m telling every guy in silver and black to attack that paint every play because the Spurs were in the bonus for 10 minutes in the fourth. Not sure if they remembered that as they abandoned the paint…again.

[rjv]

:lol How did Zollins end up with +/- 0? I swear that Vooch feasted on him every possession

certainly seemed that way.

[Davidicus]

Felt like the game would have been completely different if Vic played. We switched to super run and gun and tried to beat the Bulls at their own game. Didn’t work. Giving up 139 ain’t gonna get you a dub.

Silver linings:

Sochan is looking great out there. 6 OREBs. Loving his energy. It feels noticeably more positive since he returned.

Castle continues to work through issues and come into his own. 8 of his 12 points came from free throws. A couple jaw-dropping passes.

Smart to see Keldon take advantage of the fast pace of play with his body.

[scott]

The Spurs should have had a throwback night to celebrate the 2022-23 season. Maybe even host this game in the Alamodome. This game had everything from that glorious season: a humiliating blowout featuring horrible defense, piss poor shooting, embarassing levels of awareness, and Keldon Johnson putting up a nice individual stat line.

While it looks like Keldon had a great game, and he earned an A- grade here, this game is the perfect illustration of why he needs to be moved. The circumstances and game flow that allow Keldon to put in an "A-" graded game are the same ones that get us blown out at home to a crappy team in the midst of their own tank. Keldon Johnson Takeover Games are highly correlated with demoralizing losses, because he is not a winning basketball player. Ever notice how the Spurs look best when Keldon is only scoring 8 points, or isn't on the floor at all? This is not a coincidence.

[Collins21]

The Spurs should have had a throwback night to celebrate the 2022-23 season. Maybe even host this game in the Alamodome. This game had everything from that glorious season: a humiliating blowout featuring horrible defense, piss poor shooting, embarassing levels of awareness, and Keldon Johnson putting up a nice individual stat line.

While it looks like Keldon had a great game, and he earned an A- grade here, this game is the perfect illustration of why he needs to be moved. The circumstances and game flow that allow Keldon to put in an "A-" graded game are the same ones that get us blown out at home to a crappy team in the midst of their own tank. Keldon Johnson Takeover Games are highly correlated with demoralizing losses, because he is not a winning basketball player. Ever notice how the Spurs look best when Keldon is only scoring 8 points, or isn't on the floor at all? This is not a coincidence.

[Collins21]

This is Bullshit. In fact, if we fed Keldon more, we would have won the game last night. He's one of the few players who can make plays for himself. The biggest problem with the team is that outside of KJ and Vassell who do you trust to be able to put the ball on the floor and finish?

[rascal]

This is Bullshit. In fact, if we fed Keldon more, we would have won the game last night. He's one of the few players who can make plays for himself. The biggest problem with the team is that outside of KJ and Vassell who do you trust to be able to put the ball on the floor and finish?

I don't trust either Keldon or Vassell to finish. Devin seldom ever takes it all the way to the basket. Keldon often throws up wild shots going to the basket.

[scott]

This is Bullshit. In fact, if we fed Keldon more, we would have won the game last night. He's one of the few players who can make plays for himself. The biggest problem with the team is that outside of KJ and Vassell who do you trust to be able to put the ball on the floor and finish?

LOL, keep telling yourself that. Go back and look at all of Keldon's best individual stat line games, and then compile a W-L record for those games. Tell me what you find.

[vy65]

The Spurs should have had a throwback night to celebrate the 2022-23 season. Maybe even host this game in the Alamodome. This game had everything from that glorious season: a humiliating blowout featuring horrible defense, piss poor shooting, embarassing levels of awareness, and Keldon Johnson putting up a nice individual stat line.

While it looks like Keldon had a great game, and he earned an A- grade here, this game is the perfect illustration of why he needs to be moved. The circumstances and game flow that allow Keldon to put in an "A-" graded game are the same ones that get us blown out at home to a crappy team in the midst of their own tank. Keldon Johnson Takeover Games are highly correlated with demoralizing losses, because he is not a winning basketball player. Ever notice how the Spurs look best when Keldon is only scoring 8 points, or isn't on the floor at all? This is not a coincidence.

Truth nuclear winter. Keldon is Somalian-Westbrook.

[vy65]

Keldon's game is either iso, drive to the hoop, and throw some shit up - or - jack up a 3 which oftentimes is ill-advised. Scott nailed it, he's not a winning player; he's a high-center of gravity without the skill to justify it.