Grades: Spurs vs. Knicks - March 19, 2025

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-knicks-2025-game-68/

Mamu :wow

[dbestpro]

Always felt he deserved more minutes. Sochan gets too many minutes compared to his results. Sad that the Spurs were needing power forward help all season and the guy they needed was riding on the pine all along. Just horrible coaching decisions.

[CGD]

The game that kept Mamu in the league for another 2 years tbh. Awesome showing.

[heyheymymy]

Especially incredible were the open court feed from baseline KJ to Mamu and Mamu's last bucket, that backdoor cut

[John B]

Mamu-ke-lash-vi-li!!!

13-14 FG was crazy, but 5 offensive rebound was the catalyst. Mamu played great. It’s hard to duplicate a perfect game, but Mamu plays 100% every time, and such a consummate teammate, never sulks for lack of playing time, but always ready to clean-up minutes. I hope last night was indication of better things to come. Great game Mamu!

Blake Wesley great great motor. I’m glad he’s taking advantage opportunity with Fox deciding to shut down for the season. I really wish Blake continues to improve and become the backup PG, because he brings another level of defense out there, and his speed in the open court is a great weapon. Keep working hard Blake!

Castle with already the most FG attempts with 16! I love it. The kid is hungry. He knows he is unstoppable at times, bullying grown men! Damn, this kid is going to be a star. Very few rookie showed so much poised and dominance on their 1st year. And those shots looking smoother every game. Wemby, Fox, Castle. Spurs just need a big defensive body next to Wemby, and a sure fire shooter at 3! I’m getting sold on Kon and Maluach at this point.

[John B]

Always felt he deserved more minutes. Sochan gets too many minutes compared to his results. Sad that the Spurs were needing power forward help all season and the guy they needed was riding on the pine all along. Just horrible coaching decisions.

I’ve been thinking about the same. I remember Mamu had better results against Jokic than anybody else at that game, and he never lose that motor, always moving, cutting and never hesitating to shoot that 3! He moves the ball with his passing. Mitch needs to incorporate him more as a facilitator/connector. The bad is the rest are not “mature” enough for passing game resulting to errors and turnovers. Pop system of moving the ball took a lot of time, among veterans with high bball IQ’s. We have such a young team who easily collapse because of not-much experience to lean on and believe that will get them through, resulting to hero-ball, man-to-man, bad shots. With CP3, Barnes and now Fox hopefully they will have a better whole Summer practice to iron things out.

[Mal]

The game that kept Mamu in the league for another 2 years tbh. Awesome showing.

10 million dollars game

[RC_Drunkford]

I’ve been thinking about the same. I remember Mamu had better results against Jokic than anybody else at that game, and he never lose that motor, always moving, cutting and never hesitating to shoot that 3! He moves the ball with his passing. Mitch needs to incorporate him more as a facilitator/connector. The bad is the rest are not “mature” enough for passing game resulting to errors and turnovers. Pop system of moving the ball took a lot of time, among veterans with high bball IQ’s. We have such a young team who easily collapse because of not-much experience to lean on and believe that will get them through, resulting to hero-ball, man-to-man, bad shots. With CP3, Barnes and now Fox hopefully they will have a better whole Summer practice to iron things out.

WTF are you talking about? This team is the only team in NBA history to have 20+ assists in over 200 games in a row. Passing is not the issue. In fact that stat shows you that having a lot of assists doesn't result in wins.

[J_Paco]

Always felt he deserved more minutes. Sochan gets too many minutes compared to his results. Sad that the Spurs were needing power forward help all season and the guy they needed was riding on the pine all along. Just horrible coaching decisions.

I like Mamu, but lessening Sochan's minutes (when healthy) was never the answer. They needed to cut down the minutes of Barnes or play him primarily (or exclusively) at the SF spot.

If Mamu was a little taller or a better rim protector then he could Garner more minutes at center. Unfortunately, he's a little undersized, lacks vertical pop and doesn't protect the rim too well.

I would love for him to be the fourth big next season behind, Victor, Jeremy, & one of our first-round picks.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Mamu’s vision and playmaking skills make him a pretty valuable asset out on the court. That’s in spite of his lack of athleticism. I liked him playing next to Victor like they did at the end of last season. Those late season lineups were pretty effective last year.. I think Wemby needs to be surrounded by smart savvy players and not space cadets like Sochan.

[jjspur]

There are things Mamu isn't great at, and then there are things he is really good at. In his case the plusses outnumber the minuses. He's should be a keeper even before his record setting game.

[Chomag]

Coaching stuff is just inept at just about everything.. I hate to be this brutal but it is what it is and we need to stop trying to sugar coat everything this FO has been doing

[Chomag]

And yes I think that although Mamu might not be more talented then sochan, he is the better player between them

[John B]

WTF are you talking about? This team is the only team in NBA history to have 20+ assists in over 200 games in a row. Passing is not the issue. In fact that stat shows you that having a lot of assists doesn't result in wins.

I remember when it used to be 2 years to get acclimated to Pop’s motion offense. First off, CP3’s pounding the ball and pick n roll is a big contrast to motion offense, and it takes a lot of corporate knowledge, high bball IQ and time together. And it doesn’t help that Wemby chuck 3’s. For now it’s pick and roll, dribble penetration and pass. It gets open looks, but far from the “beautiful game” motion offense. Will the Spurs get there again? They need guys like Mamu as connectors who’s willing to pass the ball and can hit open shots.

[Mugen]

Mamu is gonna be nice bench player for some other team next season tbh. He's been screwed by Pop and Mitch since he's been here but once he lands with a good coach, he'll carve out a nice role.

[LeBowen]

Coaching stuff is just inept at just about everything.. I hate to be this brutal but it is what it is and we need to stop trying to sugar coat everything this FO has been doing

I wasn't a fan of his, but Wright has proven he's competent at making trades. Made some great deals, both as a seller and as a buyer.
He probably doesn't have enough authority to ever question Pop, I won't blame him for not doing anything about the coaching staff, that's on the old man.
I'd also say Branham and Wesley having their options picked up is Pop's doing.

[Dex]

Mamu’s vision and playmaking skills make him a pretty valuable asset out on the court. That’s in spite of his lack of athleticism. I liked him playing next to Victor like they did at the end of last season. Those late season lineups were pretty effective last year.. I think Wemby needs to be surrounded by smart savvy players and not space cadets like Sochan.

Sochan seems to be getting dumber the more he plays.

[spurraider21]

WTF are you talking about? This team is the only team in NBA history to have 20+ assists in over 200 games in a row. Passing is not the issue. In fact that stat shows you that having a lot of assists doesn't result in wins.
considering how poor our outside shooting typically is, thats particularly impressive

also speaks to lack of true one on one scorers we've had

[cutewizard]

I'll watch the reolay

[Raven]

WTF are you talking about? This team is the only team in NBA history to have 20+ assists in over 200 games in a row. Passing is not the issue. In fact that stat shows you that having a lot of assists doesn't result in wins.

it's not the same though

[jjspur]

I wasn't a fan of his, but Wright has proven he's competent at making trades. Made some great deals, both as a seller and as a buyer.
He probably doesn't have enough authority to ever question Pop, I won't blame him for not doing anything about the coaching staff, that's on the old man.
I'd also say Branham and Wesley having their options picked up is Pop's doing.

I agree but I'm not sure if it was totally Pop's doing but whomever chose to draft those two messed up. Can't win them all. Admit it and move on. Gleague Malakai has zero value and Wesley has a little value but not much. Like I said, its time to move on. if Pop chooses not to return, and Mitch doesn't get the head coaching job, at least a new coach will probably hire new asst. coaches and staff.

[quentin_compson]

I agree but I'm not sure if it was totally Pop's doing but whomever chose to draft those two messed up. Can't win them all. Admit it and move on. Gleague Malakai has zero value and Wesley has a little value but not much. Like I said, its time to move on. if Pop chooses not to return, and Mitch doesn't get the head coaching job, at least a new coach will probably hire new asst. coaches and staff.

Unfortunately, those seem to be two pretty big "ifs" ...

[mudyez]

Just watching Knicks:Wizz...I wonder why Cam Payne never got a real chance under Pop.

NOT!...this guy is the perfect anti-Spur