Game Thread: Spurs @ Kings -- Sat. (12/23) - 9:00/C (5:00am Riga Time)

[SpurPadre]

Wasn't everybody on ST holding their breath waiting to see how LMA would play when Kawhi returned? Well, so far it's like 2016 all over again.

Yeah, it's a legit concern. I'm more worried about that because I'm sure Kawhi will come back healthy and 100% soon.

[SAGirl]

Considering how distracted and unfocused he looked, he might not have benefited from Pau being out there anyways.

he gets the occasional easy baskets with Pau there plus additional space to work with, vs with Joff.

[$pursDynasty]

LaMonster going off tonight, Spurs offense is really flowing. Is it the Kingslayer's absence or just piss poor King's defense???

[sasaint]

It kinda felt like a scheduled loss you are right about the microcombos. He did nothing.

A hidden story is BP3 completely falling off.

I never bought into the "BP3 is better than Simmons" narrative - mainly because I thought they were so dissimilar - but I was hoping he might be a good rotation piece in his own right. That is looking more and more doubtful, though.

[ElNono]

Offense so much smoother with the venezolano and MVPau tbh

[SpurPadre]

he gets the occasional easy baskets with Pau there plus additional space to work with, vs with Joff.

True but his mind was elsewhere. That was the most distracted I've seen him play this season.

[sasaint]

Yeah, it's a legit concern. I'm more worried about that because I'm sure Kawhi will come back healthy and 100% soon.

I doubt that Pop will ever be able to mesh their individual games into a cohesive, efficient offense. Just trying to force a pairing that doesn't work.

[$pursDynasty]

i'd take a 75% Kawhi over a passive/hesitant LMA. Kawhi will always play hard..

Just hope to see him back out there Tuesday around the 20-24 minutes range & continually show progress

I refuse to believe that we can't have this version of LMAlpha as well as a full power Kingslayer at the same time. But I freely admit we haven't seen it yet. However first and foremost I want to see a fully healthy and dominant Kiwi back on the court.

[SpurPadre]

I never bought into the "BP3 is better than Simmons" narrative - mainly because I thought they were so dissimilar - but I was hoping he might be a good rotation piece in his own right. That is looking more and more doubtful, though.

BP3 and Joffrey are two of the worst pickups of any contending team in the offseason.

[ducks]

Spurs lead Sac 62-49 at half. Was a five-point game not too long ago, Spurs scored the last 8 points of the half. Aldridge killing the King with 17 points, Hield has 12 points for the Kings. Kings shot 46.3%, Spurs 54.5%

[duncan2k5]

I doubt that Pop will ever be able to mesh their individual games into a cohesive, efficient offense. Just trying to force a pairing that doesn't work.

i wonder if kerr could make them mesh? on another note...kawhi led us to an incredibly good record last year

[007nites]

I thought we've playing in home for the last 20 mins lol

[SpurPadre]

I doubt that Pop will ever be able to mesh their individual games into a cohesive, efficient offense. Just trying to force a pairing that doesn't work.

It mainly falls on LMA though, willing to concede some touches and be more aggressive down low with a healthy Kawhi.

[sasaint]

BP3 and Joffrey are two of the worst pickups of any contending team in the offseason.

No money left in the coffers for any more legit bodies after...

[sananspursfan21]

This game isn’t looking good... we’re spoiled spurs fans I know, but still don’t want contendership to leave

THE REVERSE JINX YALL NEEDED FOOLS!!!

[SpurPadre]

No money left in the coffers for any more legit bodies after...

Patty 50 Mills tbh.

[$pursDynasty]

I doubt that Pop will ever be able to mesh their individual games into a cohesive, efficient offense. Just trying to force a pairing that doesn't work.

Only because the millennials get all in their feelings not old school tough like the Admiral, Timmay, Evita and MVParker. Egos hindering players meshing smh.

[sasaint]

Spurs lead Sac 62-49 at half. Was a five-point game not too long ago, Spurs scored the last 8 points of the half. Aldridge killing the King with 17 points, Hield has 12 points for the Kings. Kings shot 46.3%, Spurs 54.5%

Spurs will cool off. The question is will the Kings heat up - especially Hield?

[bklynspursfan]

I refuse to believe that we can't have this version of LMAlpha as well as a full power Kingslayer at the same time. But I freely admit we haven't seen it yet. However first and foremost I want to see a fully healthy and dominant Kiwi back on the court.

It's simple, I mean it's not like we haven't seen great wing/big combos in the past. LMA just needs to continue to be him. Kawhi is a great player, he can adapt. But it's up to LMA to show he still wants to be a force when Kawhi is out there

[SAGirl]

I never bought into the "BP3 is better than Simmons" narrative - mainly because I thought they were so dissimilar - but I was hoping he might be a good rotation piece in his own right. That is looking more and more doubtful, though.

I like bryn Forbes as much as any fan that likes him here, but I disliked Pop playing him 30+ minutes when Kawhi and Kyle were out. It's not Bryn per se... but he's obvioulsy limited on defense although he tries hard, and I figured it was a good time to look at BP3. He played well in some early season games and after that his opportunities have been small. I think he did himself in with a poor showing in the Dallas game.

Or the alternative is that it has nothing to do with BP3 and Pop has just fallen in love with Bryn and wants to get him as many minutes as possible before he has to trim rotations or something.

But that Jazz game, with Pop playing 3 small guards at times, when all the Jazz wings were tall etc... was perfect to give BP3 some minutes. It didn't happen until the end. I don't know if he will get any opportunities outside garbage time from now on.

[SpurPadre]

I would like to see Blossomgame get called up, tbh.

[sasaint]

Only because the millennials get all in their feelings not old school tough like the Admiral, Timmay, Evita and MVParker. Egos hindering players meshing smh.

Yep.

[ElNono]

Phathead

[SAGirl]

I doubt that Pop will ever be able to mesh their individual games into a cohesive, efficient offense. Just trying to force a pairing that doesn't work.

I am afraid of that too. And also, I don't think either guy is unwilling... it's just their games don't mesh that well.

We shall see. Pau wasn't shining with Kawhi either tbh.

He's played a lot better, a whole lot better without Kawhi. It's not made much of anything bc he doesn't have the "latouches" talk but Pau's kind of marginalized when Kawhi is there.

Anyways, until Kawhi is fully healthy and without minutes restrictions, it's going to be tougher on everyone else to change their games and flip a switch depending on who is playing with them.

[bklynspursfan]

Spurs will cool off. The question is will the Kings heat up - especially Hield?

They did heat up in that 1st quarter lol Our defensive intensity has just turned up a bit. Kings probably don't have another level defensively, so we'll continue getting the looks we have been all night.