Grades: Spurs vs. Nuggets - Dec. 26, 2018

[spurs10]

The turnaround has been nothing short of amazing.

They've had some games against bottom feeders to help out those stats, but also have some impressive wins along the way...Nuggets, Wolves, Clippers, Sixers, Jazz. Those are all teams that have been playing well, even if their record doesn't exactly currently reflect it.

Even with the 8-2 spurt, though....Spurs are still just 8th. They need to keep the momentum going to stay alive.

Fortunately, they are somehow only 4 games out of the #1 spot in the West.

Unfortunately, they are also only 4 games away from the 14th spot.

If this parity keeps up in the West, it's going to make for one of an April.

[tbdog]

They played Jokic, Plumlee and Hernangomez at the same time. If that isn’t baiting Pop into using Cunningham I don’t know what is. Glad to see it didn’t work.

Gay seems like he does best when matches up onto undersized SFs trying to play small ball PF, but struggles a little bit against mobile PF/Cs.

Also yes, good to see DeMar not get frazzled by the bad calls.

Speaking of bad calls, wtf is up with Today’s NBAs refs? Is it just me or are they even tier than normal?

The refs this year are by far the worse I've seen. But their Ts are even worse. Check this out.
https://streamable.com/pya1b

[tbdog]

Double post

[phxspurfan]

The refs this year are by far the worse I've seen. But their Ts are even worse. Check this out.
https://streamable.com/pya1b

exactly. wtf is this ? The product is getting worse with all the new money flooding into the league, not better.

[BackHome]

I think all teams are going be like us win at home and loose on the road it will probably come down to last five games to determine who is in the 3rd to 8th spot.

[spurs10]

The refs this year are by far the worse I've seen. But their Ts are even worse. Check this out.
https://streamable.com/pya1b

They should have shot him on the spot for waving like that!

[therealtruth]

So Pop's got the Nuggets/Jokic figured out if they face of in the playoffs?

[playbonner15]

So Pop's got the Nuggets/Jokic figured out if they face of in the playoffs?

Mike Malone will adjust. And they're missing 3 starters. But if the Nuggs cant handle Joker being pressured then they're a first round bye

[JPB]

The turnaround has been nothing short of amazing.

They've had some games against bottom feeders to help out those stats, but also have some impressive wins along the way...Nuggets, Wolves, Clippers, Sixers, Jazz. Those are all teams that have been playing well, even if their record doesn't exactly currently reflect it.

Even with the 8-2 spurt, though....Spurs are still just 8th. They need to keep the momentum going to stay alive.

Fortunately, they are somehow only 4 games out of the #1 spot in the West.

Unfortunately, they are also only 4 games away from the 14th spot.

If this parity keeps up in the West, it's going to make for one of an April.

Might be wrong but I think we're starting to see a real picture of the West now as far as PO are concerned.

I was always expecting Dallas, Memphis and Sacto to drop. They were there more cos of SA and Houston underperforming.

Now that those teams have found their ryhthm, a certain "order" is reinstalled. I expect Denver to drop too and maybe the clips...

End of story, Spurs can and should aim at HCA in the PO... As mentioned, they beat good teams, blowing most during those 10 games with great defense.

They didn't just benefit from a favorable schedule and lucked a few wins out due only to hot shooting (which the certainly got).

Defense is what keeps you afloat when you get cold.

And I don't see them suddenly regressing after starting to find their iden y and mojo.

Will they get that high I don't know, but they should be ambitious.

[DAF86]

Lakers just choked and Blazers up 9 on the Warriors on the 4th. just keeps getting tighter.

[Hillary Clinton]

o Dabom

No genius.

[Fusternino]

KD missed buzzer beater.

Great night!

[RC_Drunkford]

I still think the Spurs should add an SF while keeping the 9 rotation players. The West is wide open and the Warriors haven't looked that bad for a long time now. WCF is certainly a possibility and the Dubs are vulnerable. Spurs just need somebody who can guard a LeBron or KD in the playoffs. Even if it's just Stanley Johnson, a SF who can make it tough on them can be a key to winning a playoff series. They should definitely make a move if they want to make a postseason run

[John B]

Mike Malone will adjust. And they're missing 3 starters. But if the Nuggs cant handle Joker being pressured then they're a first round bye

I always thought Jokic is the new Nowitsky and at his age 23? And we took Fathead before him with 50 years old Timmy. Geez. In retrospect FO would’ve probably stashed him somewhere and never realized his full potential

[playbonner15]

I still think the Spurs should add an SF while keeping the 9 rotation players. The West is wide open and the Warriors haven't looked that bad for a long time now. WCF is certainly a possibility and the Dubs are vulnerable. Spurs just need somebody who can guard a LeBron or KD in the playoffs. Even if it's just Stanley Johnson, a SF who can make it tough on them can be a key to winning a playoff series. They should definitely make a move if they want to make a postseason run

Yes the team is really missing a defensive guy and I dont think they're going to add one. Walker wouldve been a good experiment on that role but looks like Pop has other plans. So I think team will make a push next season, not sure about this season with all the injuries.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

His wisdom is on Pop' level.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Me too. I was drawn to this site by timvp's post too. This guy has such nice writing skill in addition to his basketball knowledge. I remember that I was so depressed during those couple of years he was absent from this site. TIMVP, please keep posting!

[Shakril]

I pesonally believe, that the team right now is set. It can still get better and paradoxically the spurs already have one of the best defenses right now. Even in the 2 Losses, the defense also was not bad, it just sucked at the wrong time.

[tbdog]

exactly. wtf is this ? The product is getting worse with all the new money flooding into the league, not better.

It's equilibrium out there. No emotion people. From the same game. https://streamable.com/nq57e

[Spurs da champs]

Yes the team is really missing a defensive guy and I dont think they're going to add one. Walker wouldve been a good experiment on that role but looks like Pop has other plans. So I think team will make a push next season, not sure about this season with all the injuries.

Walker is just too small to make a difference against any of the top SFs in the league. Stanley Johnson would be awesome to have especially for cheap given his size,strength, & age.

[phxspurfan]

It's equilibrium out there. No emotion people. From the same game. https://streamable.com/nq57e

Thats a sweet ass dunk

[Keepin' it real]

Oh, and this win means nothing if the Spurs lose at Denver. Makes last night a fool's gold win. -- spurstalk