Game Thread: Spurs (30-39) @ Raptors (24-46) 3/23/2025 5 PM CST 12 AM RIGA 12 PM HAWAII

[LeBowen]

This is the big one and Raptors are taking it seriously.

https://i.imgur.com/askQkSH.png

Spurs are 6 wins ahead, but Raptors have the easiest remaining schedule with Pistons being the only playoff team they have to play.
They have to lose this one because Spurs have 11 straight games against teams with a better record than ours and shouldn't get more than 1 or 2 wins.
Raptors don't want to find themselves in a tank-off on the last day of the season when these two teams face each other again.

If we win this one, the rest of the season doesn't really matter, tbh.
Bulls are playing well and have an easier schedule, Heat has the second easiest schedule after the Raptors.
8th best odds in the lottery look like a given at this point.

[baseline bum]

This is the big one and Raptors are taking it seriously.

https://i.imgur.com/askQkSH.png

Spurs are 6 wins ahead, but Raptors have the easiest remaining schedule with Pistons being the only playoff team they have to play.
They have to lose this one because Spurs have 11 straight games against teams with a better record than ours and shouldn't get more than 1 or 2 wins.
Raptors don't want to find themselves in a tank-off on the last day of the season when these two teams face each other again.

If we win this one, the rest of the season doesn't really matter, tbh.
Bulls are playing well and have an easier schedule, Heat has the second easiest schedule after the Raptors.
8th best odds in the lottery look like a given at this point.

No way, Heat are on a ten game losing streak. Spurs are probably way more likely to get out-tanked by Chicago, Dallas, and Portland and drop to #12 than they are to out tank Miami and creep up one spot to #8.

[LeBowen]

No way, Heat are on a ten game losing streak. Spurs are probably way more likely to get out-tanked by Chicago, Dallas, and Portland and drop to #12 than they are to out tank Miami and creep up one spot to #8.

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Heat play Wizards x2, Hornets, Sixers x2, Pelicans. They also have winnable games against Bulls and Hawks.
They're just 1 win behind us, you really think they won't win more games with that schedule?

After today, Spurs have 4 more or less guaranteed losses against Pistons, Cavs, Celtics and Warriors.
Maybe we upset Magic, but then it's off to Denver and another game against Cavs.
Blazers is another possible win, but unlikely considering they've been playing well as of late.
Clippers, Warriors, Suns and Raptors to finish the season.

Absolute best (worst?) case scenario is like 5 wins, but I'd say we won't win more than 3 games.
Can't see Heat not winning at least 4 of their games.

[exstatic]

This is the big one and Raptors are taking it seriously.

https://i.imgur.com/askQkSH.png

Spurs are 6 wins ahead, but Raptors have the easiest remaining schedule with Pistons being the only playoff team they have to play.
They have to lose this one because Spurs have 11 straight games against teams with a better record than ours and shouldn't get more than 1 or 2 wins.
Raptors don't want to find themselves in a tank-off on the last day of the season when these two teams face each other again.

If we win this one, the rest of the season doesn't really matter, tbh.
Bulls are playing well and have an easier schedule, Heat has the second easiest schedule after the Raptors.
8th best odds in the lottery look like a given at this point.

Yeah,the Heat have 6 games against the Sixers, Hornets, Wiz, and Pels, pretty much six forced wins. Three of those teams are in the top 4 and would love to stay there, and Philly desperately doesn’t want to finish lower than 6th, and would probably love 5th to increase their chances to keep their pick. Miami will likely win all six of those games.

[Dex]

These injury reports are crazy...teams literally resting half of their guys in blatant attempts to tank. I'm sure Adam Silver is thrilled

[exstatic]

These injury reports are crazy...teams literally resting half of their guys in blatant attempts to tank. I'm sure Adam Silver is thrilled

The thing is, the rules they put in place are only for star players, guys with an All Star appearance in the last 3 years. Anyone else can rest at pretty much any time.

[rascal]

No way, Heat are on a ten game losing streak. Spurs are probably way more likely to get out-tanked by Chicago, Dallas, and Portland and drop to #12 than they are to out tank Miami and creep up one spot to #8.

Agree

Spurs can end up 12'th or 13th.

Who do you like at 13 and 16 in this draft?

[LeBowen]

Agree

Spurs can end up 12'th or 13th.

Who do you like at 13 and 16 in this draft?

Out of all the gimmick posters on this forum, your tanking gimmicks might be the worst.

[rascal]

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Heat play Wizards x2, Hornets, Sixers x2, Pelicans. They also have winnable games against Bulls and Hawks.
They're just 1 win behind us, you really think they won't win more games with that schedule?

After today, Spurs have 4 more or less guaranteed losses against Pistons, Cavs, Celtics and Warriors.
Maybe we upset Magic, but then it's off to Denver and another game against Cavs.
Blazers is another possible win, but unlikely considering they've been playing well as of late.
Clippers, Warriors, Suns and Raptors to finish the season.

Absolute best (worst?) case scenario is like 5 wins, but I'd say we won't win more than 3 games.
Can't see Heat not winning at least 4 of their games.

Spurs can win another 5 games and the Heat only 3 or 4 games. Heat are tanking as bad as any of the other tanking teams.

I can see a split with Phil and a split with Wash and one win against Charlotte or NO for the Heat so they only get three wins there and losses against the Bulls and Hawks who are playing for the play in.

[rascal]

Out of all the gimmick posters on this forum, your tanking gimmicks might be the worst.

Tanking gimmicks

Teams are clearly sitting players for reasons for Rest. Charlotte just threw a recent game to the Hawks, sat all their starters.

[rascal]

No way, Heat are on a ten game losing streak. Spurs are probably way more likely to get out-tanked by Chicago, Dallas, and Portland and drop to #12 than they are to out tank Miami and creep up one spot to #8.

Chicago and Portland are playing to make the play in. Dallas is in shambles and may not win two more games the rest of the way. Phoenix hasn't been playing very well either.

Spurs have to be careful to not fall further back below 10th.

[LeBowen]

Tanking gimmicks

Teams are clearly sitting players for reasons for Rest. Charlotte just threw a recent game to the Hawks, sat all their starters.

We're certainly not catching top6 worst teams.
We can maybe jump Raptors if they win both matchups against us since they have a really easy schedule.

Blazers are 2 wins ahead, it actually looks like they're trying to make the play-in and have an easier schedule.
Mavs are 4 wins ahead and it looks like AD is trying to come back. They're a disaster, but it's unlikely they don't win a couple more games.

Now how the fuck do you come up with 12th/13th best odds since even if we have more wins than all 7 Eastern teams that miss the playoffs, we'll be better than just Pelicans and Jazz in the West.
You just keep writing nonsense posts that make no sense whatsoever.


Spurs can win another 5 games and the Heat only 3 or 4 games. Heat are tanking as bad as any of the other tanking teams.

I can see a split with Phil and a split with Wash and one win against Charlotte or NO for the Heat so they only get three wins there and losses against the Bulls and Hawks who are playing for the play in.

Yeah, Spurs can win out and Heat can lose out, but it's not going to happen, look at the fucking schedules.
You don't have an argument other than far fetched whataboutisms.

And again, even if it happens, Spurs literally can't drop below 10th best odds, worst case scenario.

[baseline bum]

Yeah,the Heat have 6 games against the Sixers, Hornets, Wiz, and Pels, pretty much six forced wins. Three of those teams are in the top 4 and would love to stay there, and Philly desperately doesn’t want to finish lower than 6th, and would probably love 5th to increase their chances to keep their pick. Miami will likely win all six of those games.

Miami lost already to Charlotte at home in this ten game losing streak.

[baseline bum]

We're certainly not catching top6 worst teams.
We can maybe jump Raptors if they win both matchups against us since they have a really easy schedule.

Blazers are 2 wins ahead, it actually looks like they're trying to make the play-in and have an easier schedule.
Mavs are 4 wins ahead and it looks like AD is trying to come back. They're a disaster, but it's unlikely they don't win a couple more games.

Now how the fuck do you come up with 12th/13th best odds since even if we have more wins than all 7 Eastern teams that miss the playoffs, we'll be better than just Pelicans and Jazz in the West.
You just keep writing nonsense posts that make no sense whatsoever.



Yeah, Spurs can win out and Heat can lose out, but it's not going to happen, look at the fucking schedules.
You don't have an argument other than far fetched whataboutisms.

And again, even if it happens, Spurs literally can't drop below 10th best odds, worst case scenario.

Heat are two games in the loss column ahead of the Spurs for the #8 seed in the lottery. Portland is 1 loss behind the Spurs and Dallas 2 for the #9 seed in the lottery. Not sure I buy Davis is really coming back and if he is I bet he's not playing a lot of minutes. They already blatantly tanked for Lively in 2023 and might as well tank this season since 2025 and 2026 are the only picks of their own that they control until 2031. I think the Heat would like to make the playoffs so they can give their 2025 to OKC at 16 instead of an unprotected 2026 (which causes a 2027 lottery protected pick they owe Charlotte to flip to a 2028 unprotected) but they gotta see the writing on the wall that they don't have much chance of winning two play-in games so might as well tank this one as far down as it can go.

[LeBowen]

Heat are two games in the loss column ahead of the Spurs for the #8 seed in the lottery. Portland is 1 loss behind the Spurs and Dallas 2 for the #9 seed in the lottery. Not sure I buy Davis is really coming back and if he is I bet he's not playing a lot of minutes. They already blatantly tanked for Lively in 2023 and might as well tank this season since 2025 and 2026 are the only picks of their own that they control until 2031. I think the Heat would like to make the playoffs so they can give their 2025 to OKC at 16 instead of an unprotected 2026 (which causes a 2027 lottery protected pick they owe Charlotte to flip to a 2028 unprotected) but they gotta see the writing on the wall that they don't have much chance of winning two play-in games so might as well tank this one as far down as it can go.

I prefer to look at the W column since it's harder for tanking teams to get wins.
Look at our schedule, what are the odds of us catching Mavs? They're effectively 5 wins ahead because of h2h.
Spurs won't win 5 more games than the Mavs, even if AD doesn't come back.

Blazers are playing well, I'm more concerned about the Suns because other than Spurs, they don't have a single game against sub .500 team. OKC might be their second easiest game if they rest players in the final week of the season.

[scott]

The thing is, the rules they put in place are only for star players, guys with an All Star appearance in the last 3 years. Anyone else can rest at pretty much any time.

They're also only applicable to Nationally Televised Games

[scott]

This game had all the makings for a heavyweight tank battle, but that went out the window when the Friendship Crew flipped into tryhard mode and won 4 of the last 6.

I could definitely see us dropping to 11th, despite what you've said above LeBowen (https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=54457). I can't tell if Portland has come to their senses and are now in Tank Mode (having lost 4 straight) or if they'll just fall ass end into the Play-In. I feel like PHX will try to push hard for that Play-In spot and hope for some magic to happen to salvage any semblance of hope there (spoiler alert: it won't) but they have the hardest remaining schedule left (with us as their easiest remaining opponent... a game the SuperFriends will probably go balls out for).

MIA has a relatively easy schedule, but looks to me that they've gone into hard tank mode. Those games against PHI are going to be some Epic Tank Battles. I expect a gentleman's split.

Something to watch out for is ATL threatening DET for the 6 seed in the east. I don't think they'll do it (4 games back in the loss column already), but ATL has a MUCH easier remaining schedule and DET is still DET capable of lolthings at a moments notice. I hope this does happen because the ATL pick of course, but also because DET is fun.

Hopefully this is the last year we ever have to talk about this shit for a long time. I hate it.

[Jordan Jackson]

I’m in town for business and given tix to this game. Vassell is out on court early getting shots up.

Sitting close to team. Let ya’ll know if anything remotely interesting happens. Not likely - this has awful game written all over it lol

This arena is pretty awful compared to others.

[Ice009]

I’m in town for business and given tix to this game. Vassell is out on court early getting shots up.

Sitting close to team. Let ya’ll know if anything remotely interesting happens. Not likely - this has awful game written all over it lol

This arena is pretty awful compared to others.

Thanks. Hopefully you have a good time at the game.

I'd been meaning to ask the last couple of games, but I'm not usually here live and watch most of the games later on during the day, so I forget to ask. Has Victor been at the past couple of games? Maybe you can keep watch on that. Maybe he is there, but just not courtside during the games?

Also, I'm not in the US or ever been, but just curious, what other areas have you gone to? How much better are they? What is different between others and the Spurs arena?

[timtonymanu]

These injury reports are crazy...teams literally resting half of their guys in blatant attempts to tank. I'm sure Adam Silver is thrilled

When it’s the Spurs doing it though, he’s a sour puss.

[LeBowen]

When it’s the Spurs doing it though, he’s a sour puss.

We're not doing it now because last season has taught us that sitting Devin, Keldon and Jeremy would result in more wins than if they play.

[lefty20]

Look I get wanting to maximize the odds for annual May Ping Pong Ball Championship.

But shouldn't we be at least a little happy with the way our SuperFriends crew has played recently?

May be I'm being an idiot in thinking this, but I want to believe the SuperFriends can carry over the positive feeling from their recent play into offseason, put in some more work and come out ready compete for a playoff spot next year.

And lastly, yeah Flagg or Bailey or Harper would be an awesome get. But are we really that desperate for them? We've already got our main pieces in Wemby, Fox & Castle. Just need the right role players around them to take this team to the next level. That doesn't require a top 3 pick.

[onechance87]

Look I get wanting to maximize the odds for annual May Ping Pong Ball Championship.

But shouldn't we be at least a little happy with the way our SuperFriends crew has played recently?

May be I'm being an idiot in thinking this, but I want to believe the SuperFriends can carry over the positive feeling from their recent play into offseason, put in some more work and come out ready compete for a playoff spot next year.

And lastly, yeah Flagg or Bailey or Harper would be an awesome get. But are we really that desperate for them? We've already got our main pieces in Wemby, Fox & Castle. Just need the right role players around them to take this team to the next level. That doesn't require a top 3 pick.

dont fall for this bullshit.If they improve,Hope it will only lead to easily trade em soon.Alot of teams are tanking and not really trying
at the season coming to an end.Which will be making us look good.We saw our true colors at the begining of the season.

[spurraider21]

feels like steph single handedly ended their last 4-5 possessions by making a play on defense

[Jordan Jackson]

This Raptors barely have an NBA team out on this court. Whatever you’re seeing on tv, it’s worse in person.

This is very clearly Castles team right now. The the guy is deceptively big. Tall, strong and fast af. Biyombo does good job of talking on defense - really loud tells players where to be - they don’t always get there though.

[spurraider21]

power of friendship

[Spurs Brazil]

Wesley playing very well again.

Raptors gave Barnes the max :lol :lol

[LeBowen]

The level of tanking Raptors are doing right now is egregious.

[ffadicted]

This is embarrassing for the league lol Unwatchable shit
The Hawks Sixers game is hilarious too, tuned in for a bit

[Dex]

This is embarrassing for the league lol Unwatchable shit
The Hawks Sixers game is hilarious too, tuned in for a bit

It's fine, ESPN will just talk about the Lakers tomorrow and how getting blasted by the Bulls affects LeBron's legacy

[spurraider21]

castle having some trouble generating shots for himself today but he's still making the right passes. RJ Barrett's man to man defense on him has been quite impressive.

[Dex]

castle having some trouble generating shots for himself today but he's still making the right passes. RJ Barrett's man to man defense on him has been quite impressive.

His play-making and general court awareness has been awesome.

Dude needs to lock himself in the gym this summer to put up a million shots.

[LeBowen]

His play-making and general court awareness has been awesome.

Dude needs to lock himself in the gym this summer to put up a million shots.

Do we even need another legit point guard to replace CP3?
Stagger Fox and Castle so one is always on the floor and just get a reliable veteran as an emergency backup, with Wesley also being in the mix.

[Mal]

No Spurs no

[slick'81]

Another W incoming

[Dex]

Crazy that Garrett Temple is still in the league. Nothing but respect for that dude toughing it out tbh

[LeBowen]

Fuck injuries, tbh.
We would've surely been in the play-in if Wemby and Fox were healthy.

[Dex]

Fuck injuries, tbh.
We would've surely been in the play-in if Wemby and Fox were healthy.

Better off getting (hopefully) two good draft picks and getting everybody healthy for next year. Valuable time for Castle right now too

[slick'81]

These raptors are fn awful

[scott]

This Raptors barely have an NBA team out on this court. Whatever you’re seeing on tv, it’s worse in person.

This is very clearly Castles team right now. The the guy is deceptively big. Tall, strong and fast af. Biyombo does good job of talking on defense - really loud tells players where to be - they don’t always get there though.

Doesn't pass the eye test

[LeBowen]

False hope has turned a corner.

[spurraider21]

is this the end of Evan Vassell?

[Dejounte]

Why are all these rnb singers at this game??? They’re not even canadian

[Gibbz]

Really about to be 2.5 GB of the play-in when they need to be tanking :lol

[slick'81]

Why are all these rnb singers at this game??? They’re not even canadian
She's performing with neo there

[slick'81]

Really about to be 2.5 GB of the play-in when they need to be tanking :lol


as long as spurs keep playing injury riddled tanking teams were golden

[ginobilized]

Vassell looking like Shai tonight

[spurraider21]

raptors committing about 160mil (basically the entire cap and then some) to Barnes/Barrett/Ingram/IQ/Poeltl next year... they desperately need a good lotto result

[poopbox]

Biyombo revenge game tbh

[poopbox]

Branhim is basketball terminal cancer :lmao

1st round pick out here with 3rd stringers and he looking like the worst player :lol

[scott]

raptors committing about 160mil (basically the entire cap and then some) to Barnes/Barrett/Ingram/IQ/Poeltl next year... they desperately need a good lotto result

It looks pretty nice if the land Flagg. Less so if they land McNeeley :lol

[spurraider21]

It looks pretty nice if the land Flagg. Less so if they land McNeeley :lol
them taking McNeeley would be the 2nd straight year that they draft the good shooter who doesnt shoot good (jakobe)

[Dex]

Vassell looking like Shai tonight

No stakes and no pressure...his time to shine

[scott]

them taking McNeeley would be the 2nd straight year that they draft the good shooter who doesnt shoot good (jakobe)

https://64.media.tumblr.com/23cc801e47555287f16b2e53cf3e1a7e/53378fec2b291fd6-c0/s400x600/29a16464007be50500049f8e52278ee9e0aeafe9.gifv

[Dex]

Spurs may never lose another game

[Gibbz]

I believe Mamu deserves more minutes.

[itzsoweezee]

Spurs’ schedule is about to get brutal. Let’s hope this is the last win of the season.

[LeBowen]

Morale seems to be high and everyone is playing with confidence.
Will be interesting to see if they can keep this fluid offense against serious teams.

[cd98]

Why has Vassell not been closed down for the season with an "injury"? It's insane. Let's win meaningless games so we have a 4% change of getting some real difference makers.

[Larry O]

Oh my! The Spurs are going streaking with 3 wins. It will end in Detroit, and go on a loosing streak thereafter! GSG!!!

[NASpurs]

Why has Vassell not been closed down for the season with an "injury"? It's insane. Let's win meaningless games so we have a 4% change of getting some real difference makers.

Let's not act like he's that much of a game changer or important.

[lefty20]

Morale seems to be high and everyone is playing with confidence.
Will be interesting to see if they can keep this fluid offense against serious teams.

I'm sure offense will take a step back against some of the better teams. But, it's been the defensive side that completely falls of the cliff and routinely gets abused by good teams.

[Raven]

I'm sure offense will take a step back against some of the better teams. But, it's been the defensive side that completely falls of the cliff and routinely gets abused by good teams.

mostly because of mitch's retarded rotations and personnel choices, tbf

[Jordan Jackson]

I think my nephew who joined me summed up the evening pretty well “both teams are ass”.

CP3 looks cooked.

Mamu should play more.

They don’t communicate much on the court - besides Biyombo. Biyombo is a good backup - 3rd string big. Really smart player.

Raptors had no intention of winning that game. It was pretty bad. Never seen tanking that egregious before.

Raptors personnel were fan girling over Caslte. They stood around to watch his workout - did
a few dunks for them. He had some fans there as well - he stop to take pictures.

I think the guy is going to be a star tbh. (Insert eye test joke here). Coaching staff spends lots of time with him especially Mitch.

Johnson/Sochan/Vassell are really tight. Don’t see the Spurs breaking that up. IMO

Keldon/Sochan spent a lot of time with Jak after the game. Vassell came over eventually and jumped on Jak. They all seem very close still. Left the court together. Don’t know what the money looks like - but don’t be surprised if…

If the Spurs play like this against the Pistons - they probably get smoked. Otherwise team is happy - lots of laughing on bench. They stood for most of the 4q. Probably in a hurry to leave.


For you R&B fans. Mario had a content. Mary J Blige has a concert. And Kelly Rowland is shooting a movie. All at game.

That’s it. Time to go home for me.

[cd98]

Let's not act like he's that much of a game changer or important.

Well, if he hadn't played in this game, the Spurs would have lost. He's good enough to make a difference when Spurs are playing teams that are also tanking. Let Castle get his numbers for ROY award, but Vassell and Sochan should be sitting with "sore backs" or whatever to ensure that we don't beat the tanking teams.

[Raven]

Why has Vassell not been closed down for the season with an "injury"? It's insane. Let's win meaningless games so we have a 4% change of getting some real difference makers.

playoffs are very much reachable, and marginal players like blake and mamu are growing leaps in the process

[exstatic]

Why has Vassell not been closed down for the season with an "injury"? It's insane. Let's win meaningless games so we have a 4% change of getting some real difference makers.

This, and the next Toronto game were our only possible wins, and that was ensured when Toronto shut down Jak, BI, and a couple of others.

Miami has Washington X2, New Orleans, and Philly X 2. They are well and truly fucked.

[dn0774]

Elite level tanking from Toronto today. Its one thing for the coaching staff to lean into the tank for the front office with garbage rotations etc, but the Raptors players looked to be buying in as well.

[cutewizard]

There goes Flagggggg

[spurraider21]

im not greedy for Flagg. ill settle for Bailey

[scott]

im not greedy for Flagg. ill settle for Bailey

Sorry, all you get is the left overs from the Temu clearance rack. Asa Newell it is for you.

[exstatic]

Oh my! The Spurs are going streaking with 3 wins. It will end in Detroit, and go on a loosing streak thereafter! GSG!!!

Yeah, we might not win a game again until we see Toronto again in game #81.