Grades: Spurs vs. Suns - Feb. 20, 2025

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-suns-2025-game-53/

GWS, Wemby :depressed

[Strategic]

Thanks. Still like the idea of winning for these young guys. Hoping they can follow this one up.

[Manu-of-steel]

Biyombo is like a breath of fresh air compared to Zollins. Though he only grabbed 3 rebounds, he was good at boxing out and was solid defensively.

[BatManu20]

Big Mac Bismack has already contributed more to this team than Zollins ever did. And for that I am grateful tbh.

[exstatic]

There was some scuttlebutt that the Lakers wanted Biyambo. He just finished his 10 day, which is actually ten days, or 3 games, whichever comes last. Wonder if he’s contemplating re-signing now that the starting job for the rest of the year is open.

One of the weirder box scores in a while. Team scored 120, and there were 7 players in double figures. The other two players scored8 points each. Barnes was one of those two, and he missed a ton of shots. Definitely a team effort. lol, Suns.

[Fireball]

When the other team only has Mason Plumber then having Biyombo is fine ... but against most other teams this will not work out

[John B]

A really great team effort after the deflating news, as you said. It was a true rally from the guys which was expected and yet still pleasantly surprised. 7 players in double figure. Fox played as advertised, very clutch and carried the team the last possessions. CP3 played very controlled and seemed to have anchored the poised and calmness throughout the game. Castle is still showing undeterred of the moment, even pointing to Bol Bol after an emphatic dunk on him. I like Sochan’s activities towards the basket. I was glad he hit that 3 and should boost his morale. I still saw him rushed to get the ball down, just to slow down for a pass. Even the TNT commentator mentioned that players didn’t have to plant on Sochan as he would rather pass, a very accurate scouting report on Sochan which is bad.

Again it was a pleasant surprise. I was happy with the win. But I rather they make the most of the situation, get Fox his surgery, move Castle to starter, play competitive but missing quality starters, and hope to get higher positions on the draft. Retool knowing Wemby will be back.

[onechance87]

The way cp3 and fox played looked like they played with more urgency and stepped up to not tank lol...Also bioyombo was a
good pickup that we should of did awhile ago.

[Mugen]

It still hurts tbh

[Mugen]

There was some scuttlebutt that the Lakers wanted Biyambo.

Bend over, I'll show you scuttlebutt.

[exstatic]

When the other team only has Mason Plumber then having Biyombo is fine ... but against most other teams this will not work out

They also have Nick Richard’s, who started for Charlotte when Mark Williams was out, which was a lot.

[rjv]

this was the keldon that i want to be a spur for life. he led the charge for a team that clearly wanted to win one for wemby. and his strength was on full display. KD wanted nothing to do with him.

[Davidicus]

Gotta get Biyombo to teach Wemby how to set a screen. The first few possessions watching those hard picks was borderline nirvana. CP3 could easily get to his elbow and shoot/pass. We need more.

[NASpurs]

this was the keldon that i want to be a spur for life. he led the charge for a team that clearly wanted to win one for wemby. and his strength was on full display. KD wanted nothing to do with him.

Too bad it happens once every 15 games. Seems like he turned a corner though.

[rjv]

Too bad it happens once every 15 games. Seems like he turned a corner though.

yeah, it's the other 14 games Keldon that I'd be willing to pack his bags for.

[baseline bum]

Should be all F's for not tanking the season at this point, though I guess gotta show out for Austin so the Spurs can threaten to move there in a couple of years if San Antonio doesn't gift them a new arena right away.

[024]

Free Mamu? Spurs down to 2 legit bigs with one of them on a 10 day contract and Mamu still gets no minutes? Was he really that bad?

[NASpurs]

Should be all F's for not tanking the season at this point, though I guess gotta show out for Austin so the Spurs can threaten to move there in a couple of years if San Antonio doesn't gift them a new arena right away.

I feel like with all the tanking we've done the past few years, some of these dudes have developed bad loser habits. I'm of the mind that they should try to be competitive at least, win or lose.

[Mugen]

Should be all F's for not tanking the season at this point, though I guess gotta show out for Austin so the Spurs can threaten to move there in a couple of years if San Antonio doesn't gift them a new arena right away.

At least it was the Suns tbh :lol

[Dex]

Gotta get Biyombo to teach Wemby how to set a screen. The first few possessions watching those hard picks was borderline nirvana. CP3 could easily get to his elbow and shoot/pass. We need more.

Wemby's not built for that, tbh. He's not built like a real center, and probably never will be. Which is fine.

I'm okay with guys like Biyombo or Bassey (or Mamu or previously Collins, whoever) going out there to set hard screens and take those hits...but I'm not trying to see our centerpiece out there getting beat up on screens and risking injury.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

Spurs are better without Wemby.

[RC_Drunkford]

When the other team only has Mason Plumber then having Biyombo is fine ... but against most other teams this will not work out

:pop: „Mason is better than Bam“

[baseline bum]

At least it was the Suns tbh :lol

Just helps Houston when the Sons lose though

[Davidicus]

Wemby's not built for that, tbh. He's not built like a real center, and probably never will be. Which is fine.

I'm okay with guys like Biyombo or Vassey (or Mamu or previously Collins, whoever) going out there to set hard screens and take those hits...but I'm not trying to see our centerpiece out there getting beat up on screens and risking injury.

No yeah I agree. Just some tips and tricks to up his pick game.

[LeBowen]

Just helps Houston when the Sons lose though

I'd add another level to it.
Suns are more likely to blow it up with every loss they suffer.
I'd rather have Rockets get Booker than have all those Suns picks.

Booker is an all-star, but he's paid like a superstar and as we can see he doesn't move the needle without CP3.
And he'll be 29 when the next season starts, so it's not like he's on their timeline.

[Seventyniner]

I'd add another level to it.
Suns are more likely to blow it up with every loss they suffer.
I'd rather have Rockets get Booker than have all those Suns picks.

Booker is an all-star, but he's paid like a superstar and as we can see he doesn't move the needle without CP3.
And he'll be 29 when the next season starts, so it's not like he's on their timeline.

Booker is only a year older than Fox and the Rockets are more than a year ahead of the Spurs in the building process. They also need that #1 scoring option. imo Booker makes perfect sense for them.

[LeBowen]

Booker is only a year older than Fox and the Rockets are more than a year ahead of the Spurs in the building process. They also need that #1 scoring option. imo Booker makes perfect sense for them.

I could be wrong, but I just don't rate Booker.
He'd be a great fit for the Rockets because they need a 25ppg scorer, but to me he's not good enough to be the #1 option on a legit contender.
He's a modern basketball DDR.
Career 35% shooter, not enough to actually be a legit threat from behind the arc and force teams to scheme around it.
Not athletic enough to get to the rim whenever he needs to, he's got way more mid-range shots than layups.
Yeah, it looks aesthetically pleasing and it can win some games, but the game has moved past it, whether we like it or not.
His assist numbers look great, but he's an executioner, not a playmaker who generates better looks for the team.

He's probably a better player than Fox individually, but Fox is way better for the team due to his ability to collapse the defense at will.

I don't think Rockets will get anywhere with Sengun as their center. Shame because he's a great player offensively, but 3pt shooting and defense are two most important things in today's game.
Rim protection being the most important aspect on defense. Sengun is a non-factor as a rim protector and can't shoot, Sabonis is the best possible outcome for him and noone is afraid of Sabonis in the playoffs.

[John B]

Spurs are better without Wemby.

Dangerous thinking there. But it follows my line of thought before that Wemby needs to “adjust” his offensive game within the flow of the team. Him chucking 3’s for instance sometimes are ill-advised. Until Wemby learns a go-to move, some kind of post up, the ball should be in CP3, Fox and Castle hands to initiate the offense. Giving Wemby on top of the key, mostly results to either shooting 3’s or a fadeaway shot. Now for the reaction in 3, 2, 1…

[scott]

Wonder why the Suns pulled the plug on Nick Richards so quickly yesterday? Dude had 6 rebounds in 9 minutes, and was crashing the boards pretty hard for them early in the game, and it's not like he was the one bricking all the shots for Phoenix. Seemed to me that he was the least of their problems but they just completely went away from him. Seemed odds to me.

[Slippy]

Biyombo is like a breath of fresh air compared to Zollins. Though he only grabbed 3 rebounds, he was good at boxing out and was solid defensively.

His showing as a big was of massiv importance. He sets a damn good screen & to close the 3rd when he met Durant at the rim. Loved it. Hard foul but this spurs team needed that statement.

Hope to see more of that going forward

[RC_Drunkford]

He's probably a better player than Fox individually, but Fox is way better for the team due to his ability to collapse the defense at will.

I don't think Rockets will get anywhere with Sengun as their center. Shame because he's a great player offensively, but 3pt shooting and defense are two most important things in today's game.
Rim protection being the most important aspect on defense. Sengun is a non-factor as a rim protector and can't shoot, Sabonis is the best possible outcome for him and noone is afraid of Sabonis in the playoffs.

yet their defense is miles better than ours and we got Wemby :lol

That's what happens when you have a competent coach.