Preseason Grades: Spurs vs. Thunder - Dec. 12, 2020

[GAustex]

Give btetter soon Derrick

[John B]

Thanks for the grades. Agreed. I don’t know what Pop was doing with his starting lineup. Demar, if he plays combo guard, should not pair with Murray who is NOT a SG. It would’ve been better to start Vassell at SG. Demar/Murray is like Bryn/Beli. They cannot be in the floor at the same time. Demar needs a shooter to open the lane for him and someone to dish the open shot to. It’s not Murray. I don’t know why ST is excited with Aldridge attempting 10 3pts. He needs to establish the paint first and punish small defenders, then he can hit the 3’s when they match him with a big. Patty is okay as a quick score, but I hate for him getting 20 minutes. I rather see Vassell/Lonnie/Keldon and even Q use those minutes for development. I can’t wait for Keldon and White to be back and boost morale with their defense. I like Cam and Diop. They came to play. Ball movement was terrible, no hard cuts to the basket, everybody standing by the 3 pt line watching a slasher. Hoping for better defense and plenty of fastbreaks in the next game.

[baseline bum]

Turned the game on, saw that starting lineup, and quickly noped out and fired up some RDR2 instead. I'm not watching this season if that's the lineup Pop's going to be running out there every night.

[Degoat]

Devin made some really solid passes as well, didn’t know he had that in his game tbh

[onechance87]

Devin made some really solid passes as well, didn’t know he had that in his game tbh

Yea...Seemed to handle the ball well

[playblair]

Turned the game on, saw that starting lineup, and quickly noped out and fired up some RDR2 instead. I'm not watching this season if that's the lineup Pop's going to be running out there every night.

agree if thats the lineup i wont even bother finding a stream

here is my grade
Pop

So, all training camp we hear about the Spurs wanting to play faster and modernize their approach offensively. Then the first preseason game comes and Pop starts Murray, DeRozan, Gay, Aldridge and Poeltl, perhaps the slowest, most prehistoric lineup imaginable. Huh? That lineup would have been slow 20 years ago.
Grade: D

[PhantomDashCam]

Here’s my (over)reactions to tonight’s game:

- Theo Maledon and Tre Jones are better PGs than DJ and Mills
- The Starting 5 was our bizzaro world version of the Lakers team that won the championship, which unfortunately also included
4 players playing out of position
- Derrick White’s asking price went up another $5 mill. A yr
- Trey Lyles contract is untradeable
- Devin Vassell should be starting at the 2

[tim_duncan_fan]

Cant wait to see White Vassell Keldon Poetl lineup, defensive lineup

lol that's the offensive lineup too.

[BackHome]

If people think this team is making the playoffs giving me some of what ever ya smoking. Like it or not this team is and has been in rebuilding mode and so just sit back and enjoy the TANK ride and there is a little bit of light Keldon, Vassell, will keep it interesting

[Dejounte]

Vassell on All Defense First Team in his future?

[Dejounte]

If people think this team is making the playoffs giving me some of what ever ya smoking. Like it or not this team is and has been in rebuilding mode and so just sit back and enjoy the TANK ride and there is a little bit of light Keldon, Vassell, will keep it interesting

The team is making the playoffs. People are overreacting over pre season games.

[Atl Spur]

If people think this team is making the playoffs giving me some of what ever ya smoking. Like it or not this team is and has been in rebuilding mode and so just sit back and enjoy the TANK ride and there is a little bit of light Keldon, Vassell, will keep it interesting

Relax big guy! We haven’t seen the actual rotations yet��

[phxspurfan]

didnt watch the game bc couldnt (not on tv anywhere but SA and none of the streams worked for me) but why did Mills get featured with 16 shots in a preseason game...

[ragas]

If Poeltl could only hit his free throws. Damn...
I can‘t understand how a pro can be bad at hitting this shot.

But he did well when wasn‘t at the line. Spurs are better with him on the floor.

[onechance87]

didnt watch the game bc couldnt (not on tv anywhere but SA and none of the streams worked for me) but why did Mills get featured with 16 shots in a preseason game...

pretty much cause he was the only player making shots along with rudy gay

[NASpurs]

didnt watch the game bc couldnt (not on tv anywhere but SA and none of the streams worked for me) but why did Mills get featured with 16 shots in a preseason game...

Seems like you missed the news of FIBA Patty

[tbdog]

I just want to buy NBA 2k21 just so I can change the Spurs starting lineup.

[exstatic]

THIS. I think people need to chill and not take one preseason game as the way to define a player for the rest of the year. That said, he needs to out up or shut up this season.

I don’t think anyone is judging him on one preseason game. It’s been pretty much multiple seasons of boneheadery. I’d honestly rather have Vassel bringing the ball up and initiating the offense at this point.

[Rummpd]

Despite it being preseason the total fail of SAS FO x 3 years exposed losing to a franchise doing the right rebuild versus the no plan or action of SAS. Welcome to seasons of mediocrity unless big moves are made.

[dbestpro]

Tre Jones reminded me of Avery and how he would manage the pg

[RobinsontoDuncan]

I don’t think LJ and I were watching the same game. At least with regard to Luka, who I watched closely the entire game, I thought his rotations were very good and he was very active on the court. The entire team defense seemed to benefit from his length and aggressiveness. His on ball defense, which is normally his strength, was not great, especially in the paint, but it was the first preseason game so that’s to be expected.

I’m hoping Lonnie’s poor performance was related to his back injury and not a sign of things to come.

[sananspursfan21]

Championship teams have started 0-5 in pre-season before.

Pre-season is no indicator of how the season will go or how the players will play in the regular season.

Been watching the NBA far too long.

Yes!

[Dejounte]

Regarding Luka:

-my complaint during the bubble was that he would get lost on rotations-- he was better with that last night
-he is too slow to play small forward. Could it be due to lack of effort? Maybe.
-was forcing things on offense, but maybe as a result of poor ball movement with the line-up he was with
-was over helping on defense. Sagged off his man way too much

If they continue sticking Devin with him, there's still hope for Luka

[XDT76]

During the game it seems that some of the vets are taking it easy I remember one instance when the Thunder missed a shot, 3 Spurs were standing around the rim and did not box out. A thunder player just stroll in for and OR and scores. Another thing is probably this is a warm up game with some many players playing out of position. Let's see how the next 2 games play out but one thing is for sure DJM cannot be our primary playmaker.

[Dex]

We are on the right track for Cade at least.

Fade for Cade!