Grades: Spurs vs. Warriors - Nov 18, 2018

[rjv]

this team is so much better with a healthy gay. but one has to wonder how many games he will play in. any word on whether or not he is a scratch for tonight?

[SAGirl]

No resting. This team doesn't get the luxury of resting. Just play it out and see how it goes. If goes south quickly, then you can rest guys.

I am with you.
Spurs aren't tanking and if they end up not being good enough that's different.

That said, Rudy is questionable, though I would suspect it's a precaution. I fear his heel issues are something that just needs to be managed to prevent it from getting out of control to the point he's going to sit for weeks like last season (which ended up being months).

Having played 40 minutes last night, I can't tell how much energy Lamarcus will have for this one, though he's bested Davis recently and in the past.

[John B]

I am with you.
Spurs aren't tanking and if they end up not being good enough that's different.

That said, Rudy is questionable, though I would suspect it's a precaution. I fear his heel issues are something that just needs to be managed to prevent it from getting out of control to the point he's going to sit for weeks like last season (which ended up being months).

Having played 40 minutes last night, I can't tell how much energy Lamarcus will have for this one, though he's bested Davis recently and in the past.

Geez can't we have a whole day to celebrate a win??

[SAGirl]

Geez can't we have a whole day to celebrate a win??

I don't know to what exactly in my comment you are replying. I thought DAF86 was responding to timvp's question on what do you do about certain players who played a lot of minutes last night? Do you play them in the B2B, or do you rest guys?

My answer is that one thing is losing a game bc you aren't good enough, another is to take a loss bc you rested players you need and without whom you will for sure lose.

I don't think the Spurs are in a spot where they can afford to rest players. They NEED wins if they want to avoid a tank. I am fine with tanking and prefer it so if Pop rests people and they lose I really don't care. But if you want the team to make the playoffs you can only rest whoever is injured. The rest need to play.

[John B]

I don't know to what exactly in my comment you are replying. I thought DAF86 was responding to timvp's question on what do you do about certain players who played a lot of minutes last night? Do you play them in the B2B, or do you rest guys?

My answer is that one thing is losing a game bc you aren't good enough, another is to take a loss bc you rested players you need and without whom you will for sure lose.

I don't think the Spurs are in a spot where they can afford to rest players. They NEED wins if they want to avoid a tank. I am fine with tanking and prefer it so if Pop rests people and they lose I really don't care. But if you want the team to make the playoffs you can only rest whoever is injured. The rest need to play.

I'm replying to Orsborn twitter on Gay. I think Gay was the x factor last night both offensively and defensively checking Durant. It would be a tall order to win without him. I'm for resting players if we can stay with the pack. Spurs are not really far behind, with the Western Division not really doing very well as expected? I think White, Poeltl will improve as the season pass, plus LW4 has high upside (admittedly I don't know what to expect from him but hopefully better defense than Mills/Forbes). There's Huestis. I really think we haven't seen Spurs best basketball yet with all the injuries. So I'm not thinking about tanking. I really don't think San Antonio market can absorb it (no high caliber FA would ever want to sign with us, it was already hard to attract someone when we're compe ive), plus Pop's age, LMA and Gay? If we remain within the pack and get the defensive stopper that we need, Spurs I think can contend imo. Wayyy from tanking..

[SAGirl]

I'm replying to Orsborn twitter on Gay. I think Gay was the x factor last night both offensively and defensively checking Durant. It would be a tall order to win without him. I'm for resting players if we can stay with the pack. Spurs are not really far behind, with the Western Division not really doing very well as expected? I think White, Poeltl will improve as the season pass, plus LW4 has high upside (admittedly I don't know what to expect from him but hopefully better defense than Mills/Forbes). There's Huestis. I really think we haven't seen Spurs best basketball yet with all the injuries. So I'm not thinking about tanking. I really don't think San Antonio market can absorb it (no high caliber FA would ever want to sign with us, it was already hard to attract someone when we're compe ive), plus Pop's age, LMA and Gay? If we remain within the pack and get the defensive stopper that we need, Spurs I think can contend imo. Wayyy from tanking..

Got cha now.

[SouthTexasRancher]

It carried over despite the lost from the Clippers’ game. I’m happy Pops was able to keep his foot on the pedal to keep the guys hungry. Calling them soft I guess worked

I think things will get a lot better by the All Star break. We've got a lot of new and/or unfamiliar faces to get blended together. In the past we always had at least one or two of the big threewith Tim giving balance to the team. Hopefully LMA is back on track because we need him if we have any hope of the playoff picture.

[John B]

I think things will get a lot better by the All Star break. We've got a lot of new and/or unfamiliar faces to get blended together. In the past we always had at least one or two of the big threewith Tim giving balance to the team. Hopefully LMA is back on track because we need him if we have any hope of the playoff picture.

Agreed. I'm not worried. And it's not like everybody in the West is performing well. We get healthy, hopefully we get a solid stopper/contributor in LW4, Huestis or Moore. White and Poeltl will just gonna get better. We're in the mix.

[Darius Bieber]

I always figured Gay would be an ideal Spur. Always puts in work without much fuss.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Agreed. I'm not worried. And it's not like everybody in the West is performing well. We get healthy, hopefully we get a solid stopper/contributor in LW4, Huestis or Moore. White and Poeltl will just gonna get better. We're in the mix.

Guess I spoke too soon. I can't figure LMA out. We get about 80 points from 4 of the starters and then there is LMA. But, our biggest problem isn't the offense but, our non-existent defense. And I don't have a clue as to how Pop can fix that.

[John B]

Guess I spoke too soon. I can't figure LMA out. We get about 80 points from 4 of the starters and then there is LMA. But, our biggest problem isn't the offense but, our non-existent defense. And I don't have a clue as to how Pop can fix that.

Jrue and Moore were just walking through fir a layup. 140 pts. Forbes, Mills, Belli are just too soft. Add to that no real shot blockers. It’s like Pops just wanted to lose putting Dante, Belli, Mills, Poeltl line up just before the big lead to inspite LMA weak showing idk

[DJR210]

Couldn't help but notice how well Lonnie was jumping on that Gay gif..

[RC_Drunkford]

Guess I spoke too soon. I can't figure LMA out. We get about 80 points from 4 of the starters and then there is LMA. But, our biggest problem isn't the offense but, our non-existent defense. And I don't have a clue as to how Pop can fix that.

the problem is that there is no help defense coming from the wings. Players like DeRozan can't go over picks so LA has to rotate and the big, in the last game Anthony Davis, is switched to DeRozan and can get a lay up. There are no long wing defenders like Danny Green or Kyle Anderson flying in contesting shots at the rim

[SouthTexasRancher]

Jrue and Moore were just walking through fir a layup. 140 pts. Forbes, Mills, Belli are just too soft. Add to that no real shot blockers. It’s like Pops just wanted to lose putting Dante, Belli, Mills, Poeltl line up just before the big lead to inspite LMA weak showing idk

We definitely need to do something about our defense. It is probably the worst Spurs defense since the ABA days where it was all offense all game long. No team can afford to lose 4 key defenders through --- quitting (KaWhitter), trade (Green), better offer (SloMo) and season ending injury (DeJounte Murray). The ball is in Pop's court.

[SouthTexasRancher]

the problem is that there is no help defense coming from the wings. Players like DeRozan can't go over picks so LA has to rotate and the big, in the last game Anthony Davis, is switched to DeRozan and can get a lay up. There are no long wing defenders like Danny Green or Kyle Anderson flying in contesting shots at the rim

I agree wholeheartedly! We've lost 4 of our 5 best defensive players.