Game Thread: Spurs @ Pistons — Mon. 3/15/2021 - 7pm CST

[John B]

Good to see Spurs win this game as they should. Good rebound from last night

Not yet Spurs are 27th worst 3rd quarter in the league.

[Sugus]

Jak's defense is way different than last night. His defense yesterday was pretty much non-existent. Glad it's better today.

Not like defeating a tanking Pistons team is anything to write home about, but you know that asshole is gonna casually skip this game...

[RC_Drunkford]

Lonnie showing signs. Still holding out that he has another level he can elevate his game to. Just turned 22 a couple months ago, he’s got some time to really develop his game with all that natural athleticism.

it's only his 2nd year being in the rotation. 3rd or 4th year is usually when they put it together. People are just not patient enough with our youngins

[heyheymymy]

Not sure where our guys are stepping up and where the Pistons just suck but nice to see the energy tonight.

Lonnie really wanting to belong in the starting lineup.

[timtonymanu]

Good to see Spurs win this game as they should. Good rebound from last night

Uhh we’ve seen this script before lol. Just wait until the game is actually over to declare a win. This years Spurs team has lost to the worst of the league already.

[PrimeMinister]

I think this is now 10 straight Lonnie has scored double digits

*10 of the last 11 games.

[SpurPadre]

counting out a Spurs chokejob before the 3rd quarter

He must be flashing back to the Big 3 era and even they suffered the chokejob to end all chokejobs. If that could happen to THAT team, why not this iteration of the team missing its best offensive player and being one of the worst 4th quarter teams in the league.

[Barfunk]

So does Pop bench Lonnie in the second half for "fairness approaches practicings" reasons?

[timtonymanu]

Yeah, I agree. To be honest, the only solution really, is either trading one of the young guards to make space, or starting them all - sans DeRozan. All three of Dejounte, White, and Vassell would be perfect playing alongside each other... DeRozan's presence hinders that option, and forces many of our players out of position. I think I'm going back to the other side of the trade-him-or-keep-him stakes, lately...

White, Vassell, Keldon, Dejounte (small ball PF), Poeltl. Seems to be the only way that lineup works sans Demar

[Dejounte]

Not like defeating a tanking Pistons team is anything to write home about, but you know that asshole is gonna casually skip this game...

I forgot all about that guy. He's made his entire life on this forum dedicated to trash talking other people, and when people don't react to him, it's like a little child crying for attention.

[SpurPadre]

Not yet Spurs are 27th worst 3rd quarter in the league.

Where do we rank in the 4th quarter, according to your figures? It's got to be one of the worst too.

[Degoat]

Lot of game left to be played boys, let’s hope we keep the pedal to the metal and get to see some Luka minutes

[SpurPadre]

Not yet Spurs are 27th worst 3rd quarter in the league.

Where do we rank in the 4th quarter, according to your figures? It's got to be one of the worst too.

[John B]

Once Lonnie got out from that deferring mode, he could be an awesome player. He’s like Manu trying to make other people better but has to learn to be selfish. I don’t think he cares about his own stat though, which is very Manusque.

[Dejounte]

Once Lonnie got out from that deferring mode, he could be an awesome player. He’s like Manu trying to make other people better but has to learn to be selfish. I don’t think he cares about his own stat though, which is very Manusque.

That's a tall comparison. Manu was balls to the wall every time he stepped on the court.

[John B]

Where do we rank in the 4th quarter, according to your figures? It's got to be one of the worst too.

Actually Spurs are 12th in the 4th. They were showing it earlier. It’s the 1st and 3rd quarters that they’re bad. Our 2nd unit are actually 5th in best scoring.

[John B]

Where do we rank in the 4th quarter, according to your figures? It's got to be one of the worst too.

Actually Spurs are 12th in the 4th. They were showing it earlier. It’s the 1st and 3rd quarters that they’re bad. Our 2nd unit are actually 5th in best scoring.

[mo7888]

That's a tall comparison. Manu was balls to the wall every time he stepped on the court.

Exactly... Manu was born with that character trait... LW will have to learn it..

[8sy21vd]

Walker and Murray with nice offensive games so far. Very under control. Rudy and Aldridge need to get bought out yesterday. Nobody is gonna give us squat for either of them.

[Sugus]

White, Vassell, Keldon, Dejounte (small ball PF), Poeltl. Seems to be the only way that lineup works sans Demar

Wait, I'm assuming you meant "Keldon (small ball PF)", right? That's wayyy too small of a ball otherwise but yeah, that seems to be it. TBCH though - I wouldn't rule out the possibility of any of those players, 2 to 4 (I think we can all agree Dejounte is a staple to start), being that 6th man off the bench, with a third-year-Luka manning the PF position. He offers actual size for the position, is a better 3pt shooter than Keldon (I haven't checked the stats, but I'm mainly looking at the form on their shots, and most importantly, willingness to shoot them), and his defensive switchability could be huge for this squad. Who to bench of White, Keldon, or Vassell, that's the tough question, they all bring so much to the table in different ways... But ideally, I don't consider a lineup where we play Keldon out of position "ideal".

[John B]

That's a tall comparison. Manu was balls to the wall every time he stepped on the court.

As far as unselfish player and not minding his stat.

[PhantomDashCam]

- Guys shooting 59% from the field and only up 10 is a little disconcerting.

- Love Vassell and what he brings to the table but would have loved to have had another 1st rounder to have nabbed I. Stewart.
He’s going to be tough for a long time.

- Does anybody get more of an undefined role/inconsistent usage than Lonnie W?
Granted he sometimes doesn’t play with the tenacity, intelligence required but must be tough at times.

[B1gduff]

Lonnie is the one guy that i am the most interested to how his development goes, He has a crazy upside on the offensive end, a go to scorer! It's just a matter of time, development and his focus but he'll be there!

Imagine if Lonnie and Luka breaks out next year, along with improvement from Murray,Keldon and Vassel? Not bad for the Future

[heyheymymy]

I'm still super high on Lonnie.

We got spoiled with some quick developments from some other new guys but Lonnie may take more time. He's got things you can't teach so if spurs can unlock some consistency out if him, even if it takes a few seasons, I'm thinking he would be a huge gem.

[Sugus]

He must be flashing back to the Big 3 era and even they suffered the chokejob to end all chokejobs. If that could happen to THAT team, why not this iteration of the team missing its best offensive player and being one of the worst 4th quarter teams in the league.

To be honest, too, the way the league is played, it's simply much more common for lead changes at the last minutes, choke jobs, and blowouts, in general than ever before. Simply a product of too much emphasis on a shot as variable as the 3 pointer. , everyone was crying over the Spurs getting blown out yesterday - I'd ask which team hasn't been blown out to bits this season? I'd love a statistic on that, I don't think there's any team that hasn't lost by 30+ points once this season. Really makes for a ty product.