Game Thread: Spurs vs. Blazers - Dec. 2, 2018 @ 6:00 PM CST

[BillMc]

I meant Forbes but you're right about Marco, too.

Yeah, I know you were talking about Forbes. I just wasn't thinking right.

[Collins21]

Where are the cowards who show up with their schtick after every loss? It seems like those s root for everything but the Spurs.

[SAGirl]

I hear ya. It would be a better strategy. Rather than tank, though, I would prefer see us re-tool around players other than LMA and DeMar.

It will not happen while you have LMA and prime Demar. You really want to rebuild that means firesale and tank.

In that sense it would have been better off for your wish that they lost this game and the alarm started wailing. I don't really, really like Dekobe, but whatever... Pop isn't going to tank so meh.

[anon]

Not even. I recall losses to the Twolves, Suns and Magic. They almost lost to the Bulls. They are a mediocre team. They won't lose enough games to truly bottom out though.

Hopefully, they build off of this in terms of rotations, (fewer minutes for cancerous players) and improve as a team. I don't think they will really be all that consistent but can be better than they have been.

I saw those games too. Calling them mediocre would be an understatement when placed alongside those losses. I'm saying moving forward, with the positive roster changes listed in this thread incorporated (White starting pg, Bertans starting sf, Walker when healthy starting sf, Bertans pf, Gay bench scorer, no Beli and Cunni) you can expect to have 60pt combined outings from the stars against those teams because the roleplayers do a more efficient job of prevent the opposing d from loading up.

[sasaint]

he played 23 minutes tonight. I'd say send him to the bench and keep him under 20 minutes. The bench will surely need scoring and he is more efficient than Cancernelli.

And this. I think he could be valuable leading the second unit. Pop has just been trying to force him into an ill-fitting role - like Mills. Demanding too much of guys who have good value in limited roles.

[spin8]

I think this game says more about the Blazers than it does the Spurs. They are currently 7th in the West and I think after these last few losses (I watched their loss to the Nuggets on Friday), I think that's where they are. A bottom of the West playoff team.

Blazers rely too much on Dame, and if CJ stinks it up (which he did tonight), opposing teams can just take Lillard out. Not that hard of a defensive scheme to execute honestly. Their bench is awful too, which is why they allowed the Spurs to get right back in it in the 3rd. They could have put the Spurs away then just when it seemed that San Antonio was about to its collective pants, but as soon as their starters left, they lost the lead in an instant. At that point it was probably a good sign that they were going to lose.

Also, their defense is middle of the league bad, almost as bad as the Spurs. Lillard and CJ are a terrible backcourt defensively, due to size and effort, especially against more physical guards like DeRozan.

Honestly, it's not too surprising Portland dropped this one, especially on the road against a wounded team trying to rally after getting blown out in the last two games. The Blazers are what we thought they are. A first-round playoff exit unless something gives.

[sasaint]

It will not happen while you have LMA and prime Demar. You really want to rebuild that means firesale and tank.

In that sense it would have been better off for your wish that they lost this game and the alarm started wailing. I don't really, really like Dekobe, but whatever... Pop isn't going to tank so meh.

No, I think the team could get some value for LMA and DeMar - which in my mind would be a start to a re-tool, not a tank.

[SAGirl]

No, I think the team could get some value for LMA and DeMar - which in my mind would be a start to a re-tool, not a tank.

I see what you did there. Doubt that happens too though. Specially if they are playing well and the team is playing well. In that case for your wish to come true, you'd still need the team to be really bad so PATFO is forced to retool. He won't go there willingly.

Heck Nephew had to go on a strike with cancerous behavior to get out of SA. LMA didn't get traded when he wanted to either.

[SpurPadre]

And this. I think he could be valuable leading the second unit. Pop has just been trying to force him into an ill-fitting role - like Mills. Demanding too much of guys who have good value in limited roles.

I still see Mills as leading the second unit but Forbes would still be somewhat effective off the bench in small doses.

[anon]

I hear ya. It would be a better strategy. Rather than tank, though, I would prefer see us re-tool around players other than LMA and DeMar.

The argument against this has always been the Spurs are perennially impoverished of assets as bargaining chips for trades, right? I mean if they had assets in the first place the roster wouldn't look so bad. Every roleplayer above the age of 25 has to go and be replaced with upgrades if we expect a core of career losers in Aldridge and Derozen to take us anywhere. That's even more unlikely than the Spurs drafting another Leonard. Or Curry.

[SpurPadre]

he played 23 minutes tonight. I'd say send him to the bench and keep him under 20 minutes. The bench will surely need scoring and he is more efficient than Cancernelli.

Seeing how this team is not going to tank the season willingly, PATFO have to think about getting rid of at least one of Marco, Mills or Forbes. They are 3 of the worst players on D in the league their offense just won't negate that fact.

[Immortal Spur]

Well I hope that was as good for you as it was for me San Antonio

[JPB]

I think this game says more about the Blazers than it does the Spurs. They are currently 7th in the West and I think after these last few losses (I watched their loss to the Nuggets on Friday), I think that's where they are. A bottom of the West playoff team.

Blazers rely too much on Dame, and if CJ stinks it up (which he did tonight), opposing teams can just take Lillard out. Not that hard of a defensive scheme to execute honestly. Their bench is awful too, which is why they allowed the Spurs to get right back in it in the 3rd. They could have put the Spurs away then just when it seemed that San Antonio was about to its collective pants, but as soon as their starters left, they lost the lead in an instant. At that point it was probably a good sign that they were going to lose.

Also, their defense is middle of the league bad, almost as bad as the Spurs. Lillard and CJ are a terrible backcourt defensively, due to size and effort, especially against more physical guards like DeRozan.

Honestly, it's not too surprising Portland dropped this one, especially on the road against a wounded team trying to rally after getting blown out in the last two games. The Blazers are what we thought they are. A first-round playoff exit unless something gives.

At this point, it looks like no west team will get past the first round tbh.

[sasaint]

I still see Mills as leading the second unit but Forbes would still be somewhat effective off the bench in small doses.

In my world, we would move Mills for an asset that might be useful in future plans. (I have been telling the forum that Patty would never be traded for over a year, so I do see my own inconsistency - )

[sasaint]

The argument against this has always been the Spurs are perennially impoverished of assets as bargaining chips for trades, right? I mean if they had assets in the first place the roster wouldn't look so bad. Every roleplayer above the age of 25 has to go and be replaced with upgrades if we expect a core of career losers in Aldridge and Derozen to take us anywhere. That's even more unlikely than the Spurs drafting another Leonard. Or Curry.

It seems like one of us is misunderstanding the other. I am advocating trading LMA and DeMar rather than building around them.

[JPB]

As much as they can be freaky, I think spurs are due to a winning streak like any other team at some point... Win another 2 games and you're back in the mix...

Right ?

[Mugen]

The same man that makes the obvious adjustments when the Spurs are down 3-1 in a series.

[wildbill2u]

In my world, we would move Mills for an asset that might be useful in future plans. (I have been telling the forum that Patty would never be traded for over a year, so I do see my own inconsistency - )

How do you trade a guy with too much money in his contract, suspect defense, and a streaky shot? We'd wind up paying some other team $50 million. I think he tries hard to spark the team, but without some headliners taking the pressure off, he is in a bad place. My guess is we have to live with it.

[cjw]

How do you trade a guy with too much money in his contract, suspect defense, and a streaky shot? We'd wind up paying some other team $50 million. I think he tries hard to spark the team, but without some headliners taking the pressure off, he is in a bad place. My guess is we have to live with it.

You realize he only has $27 million left on his deal after this year. Let’s stop talking about it as if it’s a $100 million weight. He’s moveable now if they wanted to trade him. And certainly would be next year, which I see as more likely timing if the team isn’t competing.

[sasaint]

How do you trade a guy with too much money in his contract, suspect defense, and a streaky shot? We'd wind up paying some other team $50 million. I think he tries hard to spark the team, but without some headliners taking the pressure off, he is in a bad place. My guess is we have to live with it.

My guess is we have to live with him because Pop will never trade him. But to more directly address your question, Patty has started playing better in recent games, so I think his value has improved some. Plus, there are teams that really need some outside shooting. I don't think he is an albatross as I once did; he's just Pop's pet.

[LakerHater]

[Mirrornick]

You’re alive now

I came back as soon as we win. What a coincidence

[Mirrornick]

When lma and dd combine for 60 points then life is good.

[Spurtacular]

I wasn't as impressed with SA as much as I was unimpressed with Portland, tbh. For the first time, I find myself not caring much about whether or not I catch a Spurs game...

[r0drig0lac]

This and Marco not bricking one gazillion shots.

this

Key to the game: held them under 130

nba = ed

That being said, it would be really interesting to see what we can do with White and Bertans starting, Walker getting minutes off the bench and less minutes for Forbes, Marco and Cunningham.

would be too perfect with the list we currently have, so this is certainly not happening, but Murray / Walker / White is an incredible defensive potential