Grades: Spurs @ Grizzlies - Jan. 9, 2019

[objective]

I'll add this game showed the problem I have with Cunningham and Pondexter and why guaranteeing Pondexter was a waste imo.

I think your 11th and 12th men, or 12th and 13th, whatever, should be able to enter a game and make an impact with youthful exuberance, fire, and hustle. Change the mood of the game. Maybe those players aren't polished, maybe mistake prone. But bring energy and at ude to get some life into a struggling team. Or if not that, be specialists like 3-pointers or blocks.

Pondexter and Cunningham can't do that. These are guys in their 30s who play tired, and they won't get better skill-wise. They aren't specialists, because they don't do anything that well. They're just hanging onto their spot in the league as sluggish jack-of-all-trades. They just kind of exist, kind of playing defense, maybe hitting threes and being useful against an old team they have a grudge against.

But the Spurs needed some energy, a wake up call, something infectious. These two guys don't do that.

[Dex]

DeRozan absolutely deserved an F, that was a pathetic showing last night. Majority of the Spurs sucked last blight but DD was REALLY bad.

The fact of the matter is that the Spurs can't afford for both Aldridge and Derozan to play poorly.

They can find ways to win if one or the other is off, but if both are sucking it up, they simply don't have the weapons to pick up the scoring slack.

If LaMarcus and DeMar combine to go 8/27 from the field, you can pretty much chalk that one up as a loss.

[SpursDynasty85]

1. Demar's decision making was awful. I remember what must have been a 1-on-3 break with all three in the paint and DeMar just barreling in getting easily blocked.

2. I mentioned this in the DW thread, but White is really getting some bull rookie calls that are altering games. Seems like he gets a legit charge called a block or no-called (big turning point against Houston) or getting these other cheap calls against him that I don't think he picks up if the Refs know him better.

If he had played last year maybe the Refs would think he's over himself and not think they can rook him.

3. Not having Gay is a big deal, but White is the engine that makes the Spurs any good. Without him they're just mediocre, and there's too many games where either one or both of the big two don't show up. The team is a bad White injury away from missing the playoffs. It's a little surprising maybe that one second-year end of first round player who didn't play as a rookie is so important to their success, but that's the roster.

I feel the same way too. White has to play to his full potential this season and supplant Gay as the 3rd best player on the team to truly contend. It looks like White was heading towards that direction but yesterday was definitely growing pains for him. A couple of calls did not go his way.

Needing White is not that surprising because before the season started Dejounte was the one who many hoped would make that type of leap and leadership for the team. Luckily this year, Forbes, Bertans, and Mills really picked it up from last year. If Rudy is going to be in and out of the lineup this year we are probably missing one more piece unless Bertans can make strides in his rebounding and defense. His ejection last night looks like he is trying really hard to do that. Hopefully he starts playing smarter on those ends. Right now his efforts are causing him to get into foul trouble. He got frustrated too easily last night. Those were fair calls imo.

[XDT76]

This game shows our limitation with DDR playing SF, he is a bit short in that position. If we had a legit SF and allows DDR to slip back to SG, his effectiveness would be higher.

[vavvi]

Starting line-up with Poeltl is one of the worst Spurs line-ups this season. It's -20 in points and curiously enough -6 in defensive rebounds (probably because of the longballs and long rebounds)

[BillMc]

Thanks as always OP

[monty4329]

Well, Memphis defense was superb. Got to to give credit when credit is due: they were beasts, contesting every pass and locking the lane against most of penetrations.
Spurs got a good dose of playoffs defense: "beat me with 3-pointers, if you can". I expect more of this in the coming games, when you win 6 in a row the other coaching staffs notice and react.

We'll see tonight, hope Davis will show poise after the almost certain scolding from Pop.

[RD2191]

Well, Memphis refs were superb. Got to to give credit when credit is due: they were beasts, contesting every pass and locking the lane against most of penetrations.
Spurs got a good dose of playoffs defense: "beat me with 3-pointers, if you can". I expect more of this in the coming games, when you win 6 in a row the other coaching staffs notice and react.

We'll see tonight, hope Davis will show poise after the almost certain scolding from Pop.

agreed. Great post.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The fact of the matter is that the Spurs can't afford for both Aldridge and Derozan to play poorly.

They can find ways to win if one or the other is off, but if both are sucking it up, they simply don't have the weapons to pick up the scoring slack.

If LaMarcus and DeMar combine to go 8/27 from the field, you can pretty much chalk that one up as a loss.

And this is why I think the Spurs have been playing wildly over their heads lately. I also don't trust either of those players come playoff time but if the Spurs can miracuously make it to the second round I'll be ecstatic.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Are you kidding me? F's are compliments. I would have given them Z's. Has Kawhi played this poorly just once for Toronto? Also, last time Bertans had a temper tantrum on the court, he was in Pop's doghouse for over a months.

He shot terribly in a handful of games this year:

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/401070873

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/401071214

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/401071195


Still an amazing player though

[r0drig0lac]

without Bertans and Gay, our team gets extremely small, it's complicated to beat one of the most physical teams in the league

[Larry O]

I feel the same way too. White has to play to his full potential this season and supplant Gay as the 3rd best player on the team to truly contend. It looks like White was heading towards that direction but yesterday was definitely growing pains for him. A couple of calls did not go his way.

Needing White is not that surprising because before the season started Dejounte was the one who many hoped would make that type of leap and leadership for the team. Luckily this year, Forbes, Bertans, and Mills really picked it up from last year. If Rudy is going to be in and out of the lineup this year we are probably missing one more piece unless Bertans can make strides in his rebounding and defense. His ejection last night looks like he is trying really hard to do that. Hopefully he starts playing smarter on those ends. Right now his efforts are causing him to get into foul trouble. He got frustrated too easily last night. Those were fair calls imo.

To Add to this: In my observation from last night, as well as other games, now for the starting lineup, it is up to them to get Aldridge's rhythm going early, so they feed him early and often. Now, when he's struggling; doesn't have energy or he's facing a good defensive big or he's doubeled teamed, this affects his rhythm which leads to his lack of scoring in the begining of the game, which can put them in a hole & cause a rippple affect on the starters, so Pop has to do either a hockey subs ution to get the 2nd unit in there or other subs uions to stop the bleeding by getting them to generate offense to get the Good Guys back into the game (we see more of the "Beautiful Game" with the 2nd unit!!!). RG22, when healthy, is truely an important cog to the starting lineup while DW4 holds the keys to making this team go, but the refs last night; the Grizz's need for a desperate win & SAS's lack of energy, along with Aldrigde's early offensive struggles, & DD... well, I don't know what happened to him, in my opinion, all factored in for last night's loss. Hope they right the ship for tonight's game against OPeePee! GSG!!!

[DAF86]

Pop

I agree with starting Poeltl with an eye to the future, so I can't ding Pop for that. I also thought he did a great job of keeping minutes to reasonable level considering the back-to-back. There really wasn't any way to play White more than he played. Gasol probably played too much but Bertans' ejection played a part in that. Against Detroit, Pop was able to awaken his sleepwalking squad with a pair of angry timeouts. He couldn't do it two games in a row, unfortunately.
Grade: B-
Summary: Pop didn't overplay his players on the first night of a back-to-back but also couldn't coax much out of them.

Looking ahead: The second night of this back-to-back is in San Antonio against the Thunder. Afterwards, the Spurs travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder again on Saturday night.

If the Spurs can turnaround and beat OKC, this loss against the Grizzlies will be forgotten. We'll see if the good guys can bounce-back with a much better effort. Here's to hoping.

What future, the day Aldridge retires? As long s Aldridge is part of the team, Poeltl can't start with him.

[tenbeersbold]

REFS,pretty simple,all of the offensive struggles/frustration come from not being allowed to play the way the other team does.
Add in Grizz losing record,declining tv/ fanbase numbers,political pressure of a majority black city with another losing black coach and the Spurs get a league sanctioned loss

Bickerstaff's dad was a loser of a coach and so is he
Dad posted a .447 record for his career and Jr is really stinking it up with a .388 record so far

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

REFS,pretty simple,all of the offensive struggles/frustration come from not being allowed to play the way the other team does.
Add in Grizz losing record,declining tv/ fanbase numbers,political pressure of a majority black city with another losing black coach and the Spurs get a league sanctioned loss

Bickerstaff's dad was a loser of a coach and so is he
Dad posted a .447 record for his career and Jr is really stinking it up with a .388 record so far

[dbestpro]

There is a bit of a story that some folks may have had a bit of a good time the night before and simply were a little too hungover to play.

[Immortal Spur]

I believe it was mental for DeMar. Personally I think he’s tired of getting fouled and not getting the call and it got to him. Spurs should make a vid for the league office for how many times he gets hit on the pull through. Harden and Durant get those calls all the time.

[phxspurfan]

Wow, in SA for OKC on a B2B and then in OKC on Sat? We could be looking at 3 straight losses

[objective]

What future, the day Aldridge retires? As long s Aldridge is part of the team, Poeltl can't start with him.

I have to agree with this. Maybe they can pair for stretches against rare bigger teams or bad teams, but these 2 won't be starting together on a serious Spurs team.

And that wouldn't be a problem except they have Pau. If anything Pau should work better as a starter with his three point range and passing. Poeltl better with the bench working on screens and going to the rim.

There's still not a great fit for getting minutes to all three centers. Pau is just taking up space.

[TDomination]

Wow, in SA for OKC on a B2B and then in OKC on Sat? We could be looking at 3 straight losses

We could be but i think we split the OKC games. Then win 4 in a row after that.

[wildbill2u]

When was the last time any team, much less the Spurs, got 8 shots blocked. Late shots, bad shots, lazy shots produced domination from some big men on Memphis. Not too mention some lazy bad passes and turnovers.

However, Memphis was almost as bad as they couldn't pull away past 11 points on a night when the Spurs just weren't into the game.

[spurs10]

We could be but i think we split the OKC games. Then win 4 in a row after that.

I think they will split. Tonight they need to bounce back after that strange game in Memphis. I think it's the ribs at the Rendezvous.

[Killakobe81]

I think they will split. Tonight they need to bounce back after that strange game in Memphis. I think it's the ribs at the Rendezvous.

Overrated tbh ...
Had better ribs at: Neely's and Corky's when i was there ...in Memphis, Redezvous is overrated AF
Austin has better ribs tbh

[sasaint]

Well, Memphis defense was superb. Got to to give credit when credit is due: they were beasts, contesting every pass and locking the lane against most of penetrations.
Spurs got a good dose of playoffs defense: "beat me with 3-pointers, if you can". I expect more of this in the coming games, when you win 6 in a row the other coaching staffs notice and react.

We'll see tonight, hope Davis will show poise after the almost certain scolding from Pop.

I just hope Davis gets to play, tbh.

[emanueldavidginobili]

I'll add this game showed the problem I have with Cunningham and Pondexter and why guaranteeing Pondexter was a waste imo.

I think your 11th and 12th men, or 12th and 13th, whatever, should be able to enter a game and make an impact with youthful exuberance, fire, and hustle. Change the mood of the game. Maybe those players aren't polished, maybe mistake prone. But bring energy and at ude to get some life into a struggling team. Or if not that, be specialists like 3-pointers or blocks.

Pondexter and Cunningham can't do that. These are guys in their 30s who play tired, and they won't get better skill-wise. They aren't specialists, because they don't do anything that well. They're just hanging onto their spot in the league as sluggish jack-of-all-trades. They just kind of exist, kind of playing defense, maybe hitting threes and being useful against an old team they have a grudge against.

But the Spurs needed some energy, a wake up call, something infectious. These two guys don't do that.

Spot on. It literally makes no sense at all why these two are on the roster taking up a spot. I really want to know the justification for it because I cannot think of one.

Giving 2.2 million to a player that brings really nothing to the floor and is clearly not apart of the Spurs future makes absolutely no sense. There has to be players out there in the G-League that are younger, more athletic and have some what of a ceiling.