Grades: Spurs vs. Blazers - Dec. 2, 2018

[exstatic]

Fluke win tbh. The Spurs shot 60% from the field 73% from three and 90% from the free throw line. Those numbers are absurd. Just the 9th game in nba HISTORY that a team shot 60/70/90 and the game was a 6 point game with 7 minutes left.

Uh it wasn't one moment in the game so not sure how the guy is a "little asshole." Spurs pulled away for a 2-3 minute stretch but looked like they were going to choke it away again like they've done a bunch of other times this year (Lakers, MIL as examples)...

If you put on a historic shooting performance and score 131, you'd expect a blowout for at least half the game and that was not the case at all.

Maybe you didn't read the post that I quoted carefully enough, so I'll highlight it for you. He picked ONE point in the game where he got all scared. That's what makes him a little asshole, spinning to find the worst possible interpretation, supposedly as a Spurs fan. We won by 15, and didn't need that hot 3 point shooting. Aren't we getting a little fussy by wanting the team to be ahead by so much at such a point in the game?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Maybe you didn't read the post that I quoted carefully enough, so I'll highlight it for you. He picked ONE point in the game where he got all scared. That's what makes him a little asshole, spinning to find the worst possible interpretation, supposedly as a Spurs fan. We won by 15, and didn't need that hot 3 point shooting. Aren't we getting a little fussy by wanting the team to be ahead by so much at such a point in the game?

Ex, brother, we had guys ing when the Spurs were winning 60 games a year. This season opens the flood gates for the little s...assholes...whatever they are.

[timvp]

random thought: the most impressive in my opinion were the screens made by Jakob, it's completely different from Aldridge / Pau and really gave the shooters open shots.

Good point. I wasn't the world's biggest Rasho Nesterovic fan but he had a wide base and set really good screens. Poeltl is similar ... and he's starting to look like he has finishing abilities off pick-and-rolls, even when the spacing is iffy. Splitter, for example, could finish pick-and-rolls but he needed perfect spacing to do so, which oftentimes disappeared come playoff time.

Nice write up as usual Timvp. However, no mention of Pop staggering LaMarcus and Demar time on the floor together. Do you think this was a fluke and not by design?

I didn't mention it because Pop has burned me a couple times after I praised him for successful staggering. There hasn't been much cohesion rotation-wise from game-to-game, so it's probably best to hold off until Pop starts making it a habit.

I also considered making a bigger deal about how the Spurs were switching a lot more than usual on defense last night but I'll hold off until I see if that is a permanent change. Judging by comments from players, it seems like the Spurs may have actually made a substantial change in the defensive philosophy ... but we'll see.

Great write up. But the Spurs let alot of points get scored on them at home. To even have a shot at the playoffs, the Spurs need to tighten up the defense. I know they dont have the athletes to do it, that's why they have to find them. With 4 starters DeRozan, Gay, Bertans, and Forbres clearly lacking that defensive skillset, this team will be just hang in limbo as a so-so team. The Spurs will likely limp some how into the playoffs at the 8th seed with a enough good enough offensive performance like these, needing a near perfect performance from everyone.

I'd actually make it 5 out of 5 starters who have been liabilities on defense. Aldridge has potential on that end but he's been sub par on that end this year.

The defense has to get better -- and it should if White's given an expanded role -- but for this team to be successful, offense is going to have to lead the way. IMO, they need to be a top 5 offense to safely make the playoffs.

[timvp]

Poetl is finally looking closer to the player he was last year, one of the better backup bigs in the league..

It's funny, the Raptors' bench unit misses him a lot.. Valanciunas is a better player, but Poetl fit much better with their style, they miss his screens/defense/rolling..

Even with his recent improvement, his defense was much better last year for whatever reason..he was a high-level rim protector..

I think Poeltl was paranoid of fouls to start the season (rightfully so since Pop hates foul-prone bigs [See: Mahinmi, Ian]) and adjusted too far. Now he's getting back to being aggressive, which has resulted in more blocks.

E: Belli wasn't missed. In fact the Spurs were far better off without him. He really hasn't brought anything to this team.

It reminded me why I never liked Belinelli in 2014 even though he was shooting lights out from three-point land. Come playoff time that year, I was begging Pop to stop playing him. He's like Manu in that he plays on instinct rather than relying on basketball IQ ... but Belinelli is like 10% of the player Manu was.

OP is right though about White being far and away the best backcourt defender this team has currently. Pretty jarring watching him defend vs a guy like Bryn or Demar....and honestly DWhite is probably only a slightly above average backcourt defender right now.

It was pretty jarring last night, tbh. What's scary is Forbes and DeRozan are actively getting worse on D. DeRozan, especially, had some games where he was okay on D earlier in the season but it's been a while now that he has been anything but poor on that end.

Ex, brother, we had guys ing when the Spurs were winning 60 games a year. This season opens the flood gates for the little s...assholes...whatever they are.

A lot of Spurs fans enjoyed being miserable even during the championship years. Now, this is like Christmas morning every day for those fans. They've been waiting for this for decades.

[FkLA]

The head size to shoulder width ratio on the Bertans pic is hilarious, tbh.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Maybe you didn't read the post that I quoted carefully enough, so I'll highlight it for you. He picked ONE point in the game where he got all scared. That's what makes him a little asshole, spinning to find the worst possible interpretation, supposedly as a Spurs fan. We won by 15, and didn't need that hot 3 point shooting. Aren't we getting a little fussy by wanting the team to be ahead by so much at such a point in the game?

”little asshole” lol relax bud it’s not that serious. I was just pointing out the fact the Spurs had a historic shooting night and the game wasn’t won until the last couple minutes. They won by 15 okay cool the final score is deceiving. You talk as if the game was a cake walk because of the final score. Anyone that watched the game and saw the spurs blow a half time lead and be down 7 in the middle of the third was just thinking here we go again. I picked ONE example because I wasn’t about to sit here and list every lead change or whenever it was close. I’m not spinning anything I’m just being a realist. I’m not about to be excited about a game where it’s only the 9th time a team has shot this good across the field ever and it’s a back and fourth game for the most part. Are you encouraged by this 15 point win against the Blazers who have now lost 5 out of their last 6 games? I’m glad they won but like the OP said in his post ”I’m bit concerned that so many players performed well, yet the Spurs didn't exactly run away and hide from the Blazers.” Pretty much what I’m saying

[SAGirl]

”little asshole” lol relax bud it’s not that serious. I was just pointing out the fact the Spurs had a historic shooting night and the game wasn’t won until the last couple minutes. They won by 15 okay cool the final score is deceiving. You talk as if the game was a cake walk because of the final score. Anyone that watched the game and saw the spurs blow a half time lead and be down 7 in the middle of the third was just thinking here we go again. I picked ONE example because I wasn’t about to sit here and list every lead change or whenever it was close. I’m not spinning anything I’m just being a realist. I’m not about to be excited about a game where it’s only the 9th time a team has shot this good across the field ever and it’s a back and fourth game for the most part. Are you encouraged by this 15 point win against the Blazers who have now lost 5 out of their last 6 games? I’m glad they won but like the OP said in his post ”I’m bit concerned that so many players performed well, yet the Spurs didn't exactly run away and hide from the Blazers.” Pretty much what I’m saying

So many truth bombs. Don’t let the sour fans discourage you from stating things like you see them. Some fans get triggered too easily bc of the huge amount of trolls but I knew you weren’t making a trolling point.

It’s just a win to celebrate and that’s it. I am encouraged bc they easily could have lost this one too. Easily. That’s how bad they had been as of late. They just don’t have the defensive personnel to keep teams from making runs and coming back but hopefully they keep their efficiency up.

[Play Boban]

play poeltl....................

[Slippy]

Another slow start though, if not for LaMarcus early offense the spurs would of been in a bigger hole too hard to overcome.

Really like Derrick Whites strong play at point. Amazing what a bit of confidence and experience can do for you. His decision making and passing ability helped the team get easier scores. The defense on whoever he was guarding was top notch. Moved his feet quick enough. None of the "hope" defense that some of his backcourt teammates like to apply.

Poeltl improved play has been a boost to this teams bigman stocks . Same boat as white really, playing better and looking comfortable out on court. Stil had a couple of incorrect calls go against him when playing straight up rim protection and position d.

[duncan2k5]

Poetl is finally looking closer to the player he was last year, one of the better backup bigs in the league..

It's funny, the Raptors' bench unit misses him a lot.. Valanciunas is a better player, but Poetl fit much better with their style, they miss his screens/defense/rolling..

Even with his recent improvement, his defense was much better last year for whatever reason..he was a high-level rim protector..

They have the best record in the league... Yep... They suuuure miss him

[HarlemHeat37]

They have the best record in the league... Yep... They suuuure miss him

They have the best record in the league because of Kawhi and their starters + an easy schedule..

Their bench is just 15th in the league after being BY FAR #1 in production last season..clearly due to the losses of Poetl(Valenciunas is a better player, but his style fits poorly with their free-floating bench) + Siakam moving into the starting lineup..

[DAF86]

Maybe you didn't read the post that I quoted carefully enough, so I'll highlight it for you. He picked ONE point in the game where he got all scared. That's what makes him a little asshole, spinning to find the worst possible interpretation, supposedly as a Spurs fan. We won by 15, and didn't need that hot 3 point shooting. Aren't we getting a little fussy by wanting the team to be ahead by so much at such a point in the game?

Dude, you are missing the point. Pointing out that it was a 6 pts game with 7 minutes left isn't cherry picking, it just paints the picture that it was a close game untill the end. And when you shoot 60/70/90 you expect the game to be over by the middle of the third quarter, you don't expect to have to play untill the bitter end just to get the W.

Acknowledging that is worrisome that it was a close game despite having an historic shooting night is healthier than ignoring this fact and acting like everything is fine.

[tp2021]

Fluke win tbh. The Spurs shot 60% from the field 73% from three and 90% from the free throw line. Those numbers are absurd. Just the 9th game in nba HISTORY that a team shot 60/70/90 and the game was a 6 point game with 7 minutes left.

That's a great historical stat.

Also worth noting is the fact that offense leaguewide in 2018 is unlike anything in the history of the sport. So while we might expect those numbers you posted to lead to a huge win in 2005, it just led to a regular-old win in 2018.

[wildbill2u]

Lord, let Poertle be Poertle and fulfill the promise I thought he had. That's not much to ask Lord, about this crappy season.

[DAF86]

That asterik was real timvp, give Pop that F.

[gospursgojas]

That asterik was real timvp, give Pop that F.