Random Thoughts: Spurs @ Nuggets - Apr. 3, 2019

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Yeah, the Spurs have to win out and then get help from the Thunder or Clips. They’ve played so poorly against the bottom dwellers, and with two of those games on the road I’m not sure they’ll be able to do it. I’d like to see them get on a little roll before the post season but this group look like they’ve mailed it in.

[Mugen]

Unfortunately Lonnie's play yesterday showed he isn't over himself. Another season with Austin is in order.

[cd98]

I know it's garbage time, but it's great to see Walker look so smooth on offense. Gives hope to next season and beyond. Spurs are doing a great job of development. I think they get that you can't rely on getting a Tim Duncan in the lottery. To consistently have a compe ive team, if not a le worthy team, you need to develop from within.

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

Thanks Timvp.

I just hope we can win out and avoid GSW. I don’t think the Spurs get past the first round unless they’re sand-bagging right now, but what I really don’t want is another 1st round series against GSW.

If any one is going to get swept by the Warriors in the first round it should be the Spurs.

[superbigtime]

can't believe we are stuck at 8th seed and same 1st rd opponent again. Seems like this team is just incapable of self motivating. Pretty disappointing.

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

I'm not a fan of Messina also. It seems like he forgets about some of the guys on the bench and is afraid to pull guys for lack of effort, not to mention the odd play calls. Messina also played Forbes and Mills together a bit too long which Denver was more than happy to attack consistently

One thing I love about Pop is he isn't afraid to pull guys who are making silly mistakes and throw hungry guys into the fire if the established guys seem to be lacking focus. Lonnie or anybody else should've been brought in earlier to help with the energy.

Another thing I hated that the players kept doing was doubling Joker. Especially when it was Mills and Forbes doubling because they are already at a disadvantage due to being shorter than Denver's perimeter guys. I mean I can understand doubling if he has a mismatch but if a guy like Aldridge, Gay, or Jacob are guarding the guy stay with the shooters and let Joker try and beat his man. The guy wants to pass more than he wants to post up and beat a player

[Drom John]

1) Nuggets have the best home advantage in major sports. Al ude, not team quality.
2) Those lowly Hawks (my #2 team), clobbered the 76ers last night, and beat the Buck before losing to the Spurs. And remember, it wasn't Doncic for Young, it was Doncic for Young and the Mavericks 1st rounder this year.

[Spurs Homer]

I am pulling for Lonnie to continue to improve so that he can earn the moniker:


Skywalker

or Skywalker II

[r0drig0lac]

1) Nuggets have the best home advantage in major sports. Al ude not team quality.
2) Those lowly Hawks (my #2 team), clobbered the 76ers last night, and beat the Buck before loosing to the Spurs. And remember, it wasn't Doncic for Young, it was Doncic for Young and the Mavericks 1st rounder this year.

Trae >> Doncic
Hawks mugged the Mavs

[HankChinaski]

Thanks for the write up. Always like to read your perspective of the proceedings from the game on here. This was a rough game to sit through.

Was nice to see Lonnie get minutes in garbage time. He is still rough around the edges but you can see on the court why he was drafted by the front office.

There was a lot of head scratchers in the game play calls and the team just was just walking through the motions. Tough being a fan of this team when you sit through performances like this.

Regardless I still enjoy watching this team.

[TDomination]

I didn't get to watch the game but I'm happy for Pop. That's a record I can be proud of. Earliest ejection ever. I dare a coach to try and beat that!

I agree with the statement that D. White needs to play well for this team to do well. He is the engine from what it seems. When he was one, that is when we went on that run late December early January. And same thing after he came back from the All Star break after the rodeo road trip, we win 9 straight.

But honestly at this point i expect a loss in one of these last 3 games and i expect us to play the Warriors.

[Mugen]

Imagine constructing a roster that lives and dies on your 2nd year late first rounder

Really glad the Spurs took that Toronto package as a "Win Now" deal when Derozan is a net negative/irrelevant in the team's success and Jakob is regularly benched when playing lottery bound teams.

[BD24]

What information do they need?

Right, just play a 2-3 zone tbh. This team has shown they can’t figure that out tbh

[sasaint]

Good thoughts. Although I think you are too harsh on Messina playcalling. Unless you want more iso, which clearly is not working lately. So many shots were wide open, what more can you ask to a set?
If you shoot 5-27 from 3 and 18-25 FT, it is all on the players: they sleepwalk into a paycheck, that's it. I believe I know the reason, but whatever it is, the result is nobody plays hard.
(I understand the Becky for HC campaign is in full swing, but let's not exagerate...)

You are right on the subs ution flow from Messina, it can be better. Still, when nobody plays to win, they hardly matter.

The game ended in the second quarter, when White in SA court weakly handed the ball to DDR who even more weakly just touched it and let the defender go at it (defender couldn't believe the gift). To me that was enough to foresee the game outcome. Right there was a Messina mistake, he should have benched both DDR and White on the spot. He did't want to exacerbate a bad mood, obviously, but that would have been the right move.

Besides the usual "memorable" game by DDR, I am very concerned by Bertans contribution, the guy is totally frustrated and can't make a shot. Not good.

I'd rather play the Warriors than Denver, anyway. At least then I can root for the Nuggets to beat first OKC and then the Coquettes.

At this point, I hope PATFO blows it up this summer.

The play you describe prompted me to turn to a different channel. I don't think SA can afford to "blow it up", nor do I believe PATFO (Pop) ever would. I would like to see them move DDR, LMA and one of Forbes/50Mills. Depending on the return I wouldn't necessarily call that blowing it up. Perhaps you would. But semantics aside, moving those gutless worms and bringing in some players with skills better suited to the young and promising backcourt players is my fondest dream for this team.

It is a little amusing to see some ST posters expressing a preference to play either GS or Denver in the first round. Two slightly different poisons, tbh, both equally deadly to a walking corpse like the Spurs.

[acoelho1]

One thing about Walker, he can get to his spots easily given his superior quickness. Let's hope he gets more burn these last few games. We could really use another shot maker in the rotation. I'm so tired of the Mills/Forbes back court.

[Proxy]

funny looking at the nuggets bench when Lonnie took off for that dunk, thanks for those gifs

[exstatic]

Walker's scoring looked good, but it was against garbage-time scrubz.

Murray played almost until the clock ran out, and some other rotation players were there. Garbage time in the NBA is both more scarce and more meaningful than any g-league minutes.

[John B]

Thanks for the thoughts Timvp, always appreciate it. I like to think Pop is just sandbagging and saving it for the playoffs. I like that he’s taking a good look at Lonnie. I sure hope he can play some defensive stops, coz boy that’s what we need. He sure can shoot those open 3’s.

[ShutUp SayItAgain!]

Unfortunately Lonnie's play yesterday showed he isn't over himself. Another season with Austin is in order.

lol word

[Harry Callahan]

Trae >> Doncic
Hawks mugged the Mavs

I live in the DFW area, and you'd think Doncic is the greatest thing since sliced bread if you listen to the Dallas media. What I see is a guy that has essentially had 4-5 years of better than college level compe ion in Europe. I see a guy with short arms who lacks conditioning. I see a guy who constantly whines at officials like he is en led to something.

Trea young was in High School two years ago. Young has unbelievable quickness and once he settles down, he can be a poor man's Steph Curry - that is a complement. The Hawks will very possibly get another high quality player in the deal.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Thanks TIMVP. Good clips of LW. I needed to be reminded that there really was a bright spot in that mess. The Spurs know they aren't getting out of the first round. They should just give Lonnie the chance to start and get used to the big stage.

[BackHome]

If I am Pop and RC I am playing Walker every game this year with the understanding you want to make sure he is going in right direction. The most important thing for him is to keep his confidence up if he can do that and get minutes it will pay off big time next year in his development

[rjv]

those lowly hawks haven't been all that bad lately.

[rjv]

lonnie seems to play at his best when there is no pressure on him and that is why i think he performed poorly against the hawks. those were more meaningful minutes. the hawks bench was pretty impressed with walker though as they were reacting often to his play during the 4th. once walker gets his confidence in check, i think he is going to be something special for the spurs.

[Texas_Ranger]

I live in the DFW area, and you'd think Doncic is the greatest thing since sliced bread if you listen to the Dallas media. What I see is a guy that has essentially had 4-5 years of better than college level compe ion in Europe. I see a guy with short arms who lacks conditioning. I see a guy who constantly whines at officials like he is en led to something.

Trea young was in High School two years ago. Young has unbelievable quickness and once he settles down, he can be a poor man's Steph Curry - that is a complement. The Hawks will very possibly get another high quality player in the deal.

it's pretty impressive to have one of the best rookie seasons of all time with the lack of condidtioning and short arms. Imagine what he will do when he gets in shape. Sucks that Trae Young will always be a midget and wont be able to play defense. But hey, at least he sometimes makes crazy shots.