Quick Grades: Spurs @ Nuggets - Game 1, 2019 NBA Playoffs (Apr. 13)

[tbdog]

Derozan led us with ast, points, ft's, and rebounds. I mean, that's not bad.

[GreekSpursfan]

I'm still not sure Murray was bad because of White or because of himself. This is something we need to monitor going forward. I'm saying this because Murray missed a bunch of wide open shots including the most important shot of the game that would've given Denver the lead when White didn't fight hard enough to beat the screen, no help came and Murray was left wide open and Murray thankfully missed.
I disagree with the very generous grades because this game was probably the worst game of all the day1 playoff games.
If we are being honest and real, Denver is still the favorite to go through and i hope i'm wrong about that.

[ceperez]

White and Gay have consistently had higher percentages that other players in the team.

They should be the guys setting up the plays during crunch time.

DeRozan and Aldridge are good players when there's nothing on the line, but when forced to make a play, they've got terrible percentages.

I don't get why Pop does not realize this!!!

[Biggems]

Wow. It was looking Spurs would collpase the last 4 minutes, but held on. Great win. Nuggets were very bad, not sure if due to Spurs tough defense or just pissing in their pants. They chocked more than DDR, who as usual almost costed us the game with a weak last shot. Thank god for the Nuggets missing the easiest shot ever.

Besides the obvious (1-0 wins the series most of the times) Spurs are clear favourite now. Might even win next one, playing with house money.

Were you drunk when you wrote this?.....it was brutal to read, but all of your points made sense

[superbigtime]

Forbes was outstanding. Playing like a baller w supreme confidence. Great win time to get greedy.

[spursistan]

There is no such a thing as an ugly win in the playoffs, much less on the road, and in particular for this team.

But, really, the fact that Spurs went out there and beat these Nuggets on their floor with their C game is more a reflection on Denver's pedigree.. We really lucked out playing this team in their current shape.

They are about the most 'lightweight' 2nd seed in the West that I can remember.

Spurs should step on their throats in Game 2. And if that happens, a sweep isn't that inconceivable, although nothing comes easy with Playoffs Derozan.

[offset formation]

And yet we won. A playoff game. On the road. Against a 2 seed (as a 7). Controlling the leadmost of the game. And did not play well.

Pretty amazing if you ask me.

[offset formation]

Best case scenario: DeRozan acquits himself well in these playoffs (especially in comparison with Lowry). GMs around the League are interested in acquiring him this offseason. We open up space on the floor and increase our cap space.

Win-win.

[Blackhaus]

And the next 2 are on nba tv, you nba

[ginobilized]

Great win for Spurs and puts Pop at the top of the All-Time list, not a bad day.

I like the Spurs chances strategically. Not sure how many adjustments Denver will make and how effective they will be. Spurs have a lot of options as far as game planning.
It seems likely that there will be a couple of games where LA goes off in the series and might win a game or two by himself.

White is reminding me more and more of the late Dennis Johnson with his deceptive athleticism, solid D and smart decisions. What a find he has turned out to be!

[Keepin' it real]

Let's see. Congrats, Pop, on becoming the WINNINGEST coach in NBA history (in a road game against a #2 seed in which your two best players had subpar performances). Here's your B-.

C'mon, how about a little respect and awareness.

[Play Boban]

Poeltl dominated Jokic. Jokic dominated LA.

[Mugen]

They'll probably get blown out in Game 2. Hope Lonnie can get some burn as I think he's got a chance to be impactful in limited PT this series tbh.

[spursistan]

White should easily be playing in the 35-40 minutes range .

Pop needs to understand he is their 2nd or 3rd best player on any given night and the most valuable one in vac . He is not a Patty Mills or Bertans microwave type. He is a core player for this team.

[TDMVPDPOY]

dunno about u guys, but whatever lma was doing that made jokic gas out, he should continue doing it instead of chuckin up bricks, make that clown work on defense, make him chase u around or on the switch pnr.... man jokic sure did sat out long when lma was in foul trouble

[monty4329]

Were you drunk when you wrote this?.....it was brutal to read, but all of your points made sense

yes, sorry, was just home from watching the game, then clubbing plus the necessary drinks. All considered, it was quite polished....

[Mugen]

dunno about u guys, but whatever lma was doing that made jokic gas out, he should continue doing it instead of chuckin up bricks, make that clown work on defense, make him chase u around or on the switch pnr.... man jokic sure did sat out long when lma was in foul trouble

Running up and down the court. That pudgy was gassed out by the national anthem tbh.

[bklynspursfan]

Derozan led us with ast, points, ft's, and rebounds. I mean, that's not bad.

Nope, not bad at all. Could've had more assists too. Also hit a big shot when they cut it to 1 late in the 4th. I know he made some bad decisions, and couldn't hit a shot, but he had a nice well rounded game

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

Great win for Spurs and puts Pop at the top of the All-Time list, not a bad day.

I like the Spurs chances strategically. Not sure how many adjustments Denver will make and how effective they will be. Spurs have a lot of options as far as game planning.
It seems likely that there will be a couple of games where LA goes off in the series and might win a game or two by himself.

White is reminding me more and more of the late Dennis Johnson with his deceptive athleticism, solid D and smart decisions. What a find he has turned out to be!

That's a very good comparison.

[FkLA]

Is it just me or does Bert get an unusually high amount of tough shots made over him around the rim? So many times I find myself thinking "that's good defense, guy just made a tough shot". I think opponents see a redhead white guy with a 7 year old's shoulders and their confidence skyrockets.

[Truth4sale$]

Great write up TIMVP. I personally think the isolation ball of DeRozan almost killed the Spurs. Popovich made a mistake taking the ball out of Derrick Whites hands and letting DeRozan be the playmaker. He settled for mid range shots and was predictable.The best trait of Derozan for this team ( not a fan) is to take the ball to the basket as much as possible and create for his teammates from there. Also, the Spurs bigs did not seem to rebound well, did not match the toughness and intensity might want to give Dante Cunningham a shot for a energy boost. Same way Derrick White's dunk did to reenergize the Spurs.

[RC_Drunkford]

Thanks for the grades TimVP. Pop's rotations were great. Really have no issues with what he did out there, I think B- is a little too low. He subbed in Mills for White in the 4th, but that was for like 2 minutes, I guess just to give White some rest for crunch time. Spurs will need to find a counter move to the Nuggets doubling LA on the low block. They need to get him going early

[vavvi]

Thanks for the grades!!

Agree with Drunkford. I think Pop had one of the best games all season: timely timeouts and lineups making sense. Really liked defensive plan of Jokic: started single-coverage on him to see if he'll start cooking, then timely double-teams.

Have to apologize to Bryn Forbes for my criticism all season. Him and White won us this one.

Can't believe LA will struggle so much all series long. I like our chances.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

dunno about u guys, but whatever lma was doing that made jokic gas out, he should continue doing it instead of chuckin up bricks, make that clown work on defense, make him chase u around or on the switch pnr.... man jokic sure did sat out long when lma was in foul trouble

LMA made him box out for every single rebound. He might not have gotten that many offensive rebounds but he fought for every single one and that tired out Jokic. It's funny bc Hubie called out LMA for not rolling on a pick n roll (he was right to do it btw) bc had he done so then he would've had a dunk. He suggested that LMA was tired and scolded him a bit saying there's no tired in the playoffs. But I was thinking man Jokic looks pretty ragged too. So many times he got the ball and just didn't do anything with it. He basically let LaMarcus rest on defense.

[spurraider21]

Aldridge and DeRozan both play subpar and we win on the road against the best home team in the league? Yes please.