Game Thread: Spurs @ Nuggets -- TUE. (2/13) - 9:30/C (5:30am Riga Time)

[Barfunk]

This was a national TV game on TNT and it's Black history month..Pop has far bigger things lined up for the media, tbh..

good one

[dabom]

Chinook squirming when Green got a new agent.

[spurraider21]

That's all something to be impressed about early in the year or whatever. But SA wins these games the last few years. The RRT is when the team comes together, but it's just falling apart. Regardless, the Spurs aren't going to quit because they don't have a lot of quitters on their team. But they damned sure don't have an edge anymore. Can't keep making excuses for a team that is flat and incompetent this much. Pop knows that, which is why he's been freaking out much more than usual this year.

its easy to fall apart when you're missing your 2 best players... i dont think you can really look at the results and say its because pop lost the team. he doesn't have the horses and he's squeezing good games out of the guys

[Chinook]

I don’t think they were flat at all.

You think Pop did that line-sub because everyone was playing great?

[LittleCriminal]

Been saying it for years now, fathead blows and should stop seeing ing minutes.

Back to back losses on fathead.

I agree with this assessment...

[DPG21920]

You think Pop did that line-sub because everyone was playing great?

I think there is a difference in “flat” and momentary lapses. I agree they were flat in that moment, but I’m talking as a whole.

[HI-FI]

Strong words from Pop coming up, get ready for the teaching moment.

[spurraider21]

i know it does us no good to say "we're losing because we're injured" but there's also coming to grips with the reality of the situation. of all the major team sports, basketball is the one where one player can have the most impact on the court/field. and we're missing 40% of our starting lineup, and the best 40% by a significant margin.

[Chinook]

its easy to fall apart when you're missing your 2 best players... i dont think you can really look at the results and say its because pop lost the team. he doesn't have the horses and he's squeezing good games out of the guys

That's giving him credit for all the good and excusing all the bad. With their two best guys, they have an overwhelming talent advantage and really don't require remarkable coaching to beat teams like Denver. These are the (regular-season) games where Pop makes his money. Them looking completely inept, especially down the stretch, is not something that is typical of a Spurs team missing their stars. They're just being out-executed, and that is a coaching issue.

[John B]

That’s it. Next time I see the Spurs play should have all the players back. Was just buying time... I really hope

[dabom]

That's giving him credit for all the good and excusing all the bad. With their two best guys, they have an overwhelming talent advantage and really don't require remarkable coaching to beat teams like Denver. These are the (regular-season) games where Pop makes his money. Them looking completely inept, especially down the stretch, is not something that is typical of a Spurs team missing their stars. They're just being out-executed, and that is a coaching issue.

No they don't.

And on the road. Where role players play worse, and our team is made up of said role players.

[Chinook]

I think there is a difference in “flat” and momentary lapses. I agree they were flat in that moment, but I’m talking as a whole.

No one worth their salt should line-sub for "momentary lapses" though. You call a time-out and talk to them. Taking guys out like that messes up the flow for the rest of the half and shouldn't be done lightly.

[spurraider21]

That's giving him credit for all the good and excusing all the bad. With their two best guys, they have an overwhelming talent advantage and really don't require remarkable coaching to beat teams like Denver. These are the (regular-season) games where Pop makes his money. Them looking completely inept, especially down the stretch, is not something that is typical of a Spurs team missing their stars. They're just being out-executed, and that is a coaching issue.

you're asking guys like anderson, murray, forbes, mills, bertans to close games... when in most cir stances, in any compe ive playoff environment, it would be kawhi, aldridge, and even manu.

besides mills, none of those guys have really been counted on in consequential moments like they're suddenly being asked to, and their inexperience is showing. it's not all that surprising, though yes its frustrating watching leads evaporate in 4th quarters. but when hits the fan, they dont have the stabilizing force of an LMA bucket or a kawhi stop

[SAGirl]

Game that can easily be won, HOTS having a good game, but let's let Patty who is ting the bed, crap the game away. Damn Poop are you tanking?

a legit non troll question at this point.

[HarlemHeat37]

The announcers kept saying that Pop wins with anybody..the national media and non-Spurs fans keep pushing this narrative, as well, like we're still in 2014..it should be evident by now that he's no longer the coach that can make role players look better than what they actually are, nor does he get "system wins" anymore..

That's fine, I don't expect coaches to win without high-end talent, but when are people going to stop pushing this narrative? Pop is just like any other coach now, he needs stars to win games..

[DPG21920]

No one worth their salt should line-sub for "momentary lapses" though. You call a time-out and talk to them. Taking guys out like that messes up the flow for the rest of the half and shouldn't be done lightly.

This is a wild situation though. It was a teaching moment for a bunch of guys that would not normally start. But I can see how one could think how you think; I just think there is another side as well and it takes not filling in the blanks with the worst outcome with unknown variables.

[DPG21920]

The announcers kept saying that Pop wins with anybody..the national media and non-Spurs fans keep pushing this narrative, as well, like we're still in 2014..it should be evident by now that he's no longer the coach that can make role players look better than what they actually are, nor does he get "system wins" anymore..

That's fine, I don't expect coaches to win without high-end talent, but when are people going to stop pushing this narrative?

They are third in the West without Kawhi. He’s getting wins.

[spurraider21]

The announcers kept saying that Pop wins with anybody..the national media and non-Spurs fans keep pushing this narrative, as well, like we're still in 2014..it should be evident by now that he's no longer the coach that can make role players look better than what they actually are, nor does he get "system wins" anymore..

That's fine, I don't expect coaches to win without high-end talent, but when are people going to stop pushing this narrative? Pop is just like any other coach now, he needs stars to win games..

they've come pretty in close for 2 straight road games without kawhi/LMA. its not like they're just getting crushed like the suns do

[sasaint]

It's looking like his wheels have fallen off. Most guys don't get to pick when they're done.

But plenty of guys who are done hang on longer.

[Chinook]

you're asking guys like anderson, murray, mills, bertans to close games... when in most cir stances, in any compe ive playoff environment, it would be kawhi, aldridge, and even manu.

Yes, and you'd get a blow-out win, like a team as talented as the Spurs when healthy is wont to get. This was a pretty standard game for RRT. They come out of these games with wins most years. Pop would sit the Big Three on the second night of a B2B and the others would get them a win. Parker/Green/Anderson/Bertans/Gasol with guys like Mills and Murray tossed in aren't a playoff rotation, but they're the type that's gotten wins for SA more often than not in years past.

[TheGreatYacht]

They are third in the West without Kawhi. He’s getting wins.

Taking Aldridge's credit now? This is why players don't want to play for Poop. Because of gots like you.

[LittleCriminal]

WTF joffery???
24min 26pts 11reb 3ast...

[Brunodf]

The announcers kept saying that Pop wins with anybody..the national media and non-Spurs fans keep pushing this narrative, as well, like we're still in 2014..it should be evident by now that he's no longer the coach that can make role players look better than what they actually are, nor does he get "system wins" anymore..

That's fine, I don't expect coaches to win without high-end talent, but when are people going to stop pushing this narrative? Pop is just like any other coach now, he needs stars to win games..

They don't watch the Spurs, only look at the team record

[HarlemHeat37]

They are third in the West without Kawhi. He’s getting wins.

They are exactly where I would expect them to be with literally the easiest schedule in the NBA and the most continuity of any team in the West..

[dabom]

WTF joffery???
24min 26pts 11reb 3ast...

He played legit. Some solid screens on DM early on too. Even before the announcers were on his nuts, I thought he was playing good.