Game Thread: Spurs at Lakers — Jan. 7, 2021 - 9:00pm/C TV:FSSW

[RC_Drunkford]

Dejounte still makes bone headed plays sometimes but he’s been damn good this year, his ability to finish around the rim is shockingly better than I would have ever thought it would be this season.

his improvement has been massive. He has worked on his left hand and finishing from various angles. His decision making has also gotten a lot better and the jumper is more consistent. That Murray/White back court will be a problem for other teams

[Sugus]

sPuRs ArE nOt PlAyInG wInNinG bAsKeTbAlL tHo

[Kurgan]

what a difference it makes when you get 28 points from your starting Center instead of 0 while simultaneously providing spacing

Yeah, as good a defender as Poeltl is he'll never be a threat on offense. Doesn't matter how much he practices his shot or how much instruction he gets from Chip. The guy shoots nearly 0% at the free throw line. It's not ever happening for him.

[SpurPadre]

In an alternate reality, what would our record be if we had Wiseman and LMA were a Dub that had a healthy Klay?

[John B]

what a difference it makes when you get 28 points from your starting Center instead of 0 while simultaneously providing spacing

If he continues this, he'll extend his career not getting beat in the post as much

[ace3g]

[Seventyniner]

If this is the DJ we're permanently getting, we're set at guards and wings for years to come.

DJ
White
Keldon
Vassell
Lonnie

I can't imagine the Spurs retaining all five of them past their rookie contracts. That would leave very little money for bigs, and I'm not bullish on Poeltl as a long-term starter.

Murray and White have already signed extensions and Keldon is well on his way to a max if he keeps improving at this pace. I see Lonnie as the odd one out, and while Vassell looks good right now, we don't know yet if he will justify his own large extension.

There's also the factor that you can only put 4 of those 5 on the court at the same time if Keldon plays PF (which I'm not yet sold on him being able to do every single night) or if Pop plays microball.

[Sugus]

In an alternate reality, what would our record be if we had Wiseman and LMA were a Dub that had a healthy Klay?

7-1 tbh.

[Degoat]

Never gets old beating the lakers lol I’ve been really impressed with Murray’s consistency this year, all the yoongins look like they’re starting to figure things out.

[Fusternino]

LMA coming back on a Duncanesque 2/10 deal?

[NASpurs]

Blowing out Milwaukee at home on January 6 (126-104) and then solidly beating Boston on the road on January 8 (129-114) was a bit better imo.

Beating both conference finalists, albeit at home, on March 16 and 18 in 2019 was also pretty good (108-103 over Portland, 111-105 over Golden State). Hard to rank that versus tonight and the previous game.

Man that Boston game last year was awesome. Had completely forgotten those two games, it's been a long year. Don't know if you actually remembered them or had to look them up

[r0drig0lac]

JOKER!!!

[YoungbuckMurray]

is this from tonight? Omg

[DAF86]

[RD2191]

Wolves by 20 next game tbh

tbh

[SpurPadre]

7-1 tbh.

Dubs would've definitely been a le contender, that's for sure.

[NASpurs]

Pop's looking like Doc Brown

[Dejounte]

I can't imagine the Spurs retaining all five of them past their rookie contracts. That would leave very little money for bigs, and I'm not bullish on Poeltl as a long-term starter.

Murray and White have already signed extensions and Keldon is well on his way to a max if he keeps improving at this pace. I see Lonnie as the odd one out, and while Vassell looks good right now, we don't know yet if he will justify his own large extension.

There's also the factor that you can only put 4 of those 5 on the court at the same time if Keldon plays PF (which I'm not yet sold on him being able to do every single night) or if Pop plays microball.

It will fit, bro. Lonnie is the only X factor in the financials. He's got to accept the same amount as Murray and it will work. I ran these numbers already. Vassell, we don't need to worry about for many years for his extension. By then, we would be able to make something work.

[DAF86]

Damn, Pop got some hops for a pops.

[RD2191]

Pop's looking like Doc Brown

I can see him and his son Bryn going on all sorts of whacky adventures in the DeLorean.

[Mugen]

Holy I'm dead

[RC_Drunkford]

Yeah, as good a defender as Poeltl is he'll never be a threat on offense. Doesn't matter how much he practices his shot or how much instruction he gets from Chip. The guy shoots nearly 0% at the free throw line. It's not ever happening for him.

Poeltl is not even that good of a defender. He cant guard big men period. Besides that him being a non threat on offense clogs up the driving lanes. And then he dives deep to the rim, catches the ball and passes it back out to the player who just gave him the ball. This team would be a lot better with another mobile 3-point shooting big who can put some points on the board

[PhantomDashCam]

My observations:

- LMA still has some gas in the tank. Best game of the season for the Big Rig. Was engaged from the tip, shot the ball well and made an effort defensively. It’s not always going to be pretty but Spurs can live with the off games on O if he brings the hard hat consistently on D. Great job LMA.

- DJ may be in conversation for league’s most improved player by season’s end. I though he controlled the game masterfully tonight, mixing in jump shots, drives, dishes, defence - he was phenomenal. His play has clearly gone up a couple of notches since the bubble and is playing a cerebral, inspired brand of ball I wasn’t sure he was capable of. Awesome to see.

- KJ’s energy. Didn’t seem to have the same juice we’ve become accustomed too. Was it the missed dunk to start the game? Admirably competing out of position to start the season leading to some fatigue? Not sure. Something to monitor on the trip to Minnesota. He will have a favourable matchup in those contests. I would expect him to bounce back.

- Rudy G took shots within the flow of the Offence. Psyched about this. Took smart shots, rarely called his own number and the results were positive - especially in that 4th q.

Great win fam, now let’s go hunt some wolf.

[SpurPadre]

Damn, Pop got some hops for a pops.

As athletic as many Spurs players throughout the Pop era, tbh.

[NASpurs]

I can see him and his son Bryn going on all sorts of whacky adventures in the DeLorean.

Back to the 90s when one-dimensional players like Bryn were useful.