Grades: Spurs @ Heat - Nov. 7, 2018

[spurs10]

with Murray, Walker and White out, its really hard to have 2 more guys out and try to win. Its next to impossible. We just can't have more guys go down.

I'm hoping Gay is just being rested since we practically have a week off, and he's able to get on Saturday. Same goes for Pau.

If both play on Saturday, White needs to come off the bench IMO.

Yes, thinking the exact same thing. Hoping the best for Gay's health as he'll be vital to our success. Hope we have Pau and him on Saturday no doubt!

[TD 21]

1. 10 games in and Marco is shooting 32% from three and 39% from the field.

Add in the poor defense and a few dumb turnovers and his age ... I just don't get it.

RC and Pop really got wrecked by the Raptors, it's embarrassing. Not only did the Raptors not have to give up OG or Siakam, they actually got Green with Kawhi, a top 3 player who faked his way out of town humiliating Pop and RC.

Raptors didn't have leverage. They couldn't back out of the deal once the talks got leaked. They would have ended up having to dump DeRozan for scraps and punting the season. The reality is that PATFO thought this was the best trade because a) they loved DeRozan and b) they're pretty down on Kawhi (my guess is because they think he's going to be somewhat injured for the rest of his career).

There's nothing wrong with acknowledging that a smart, respectable group of people made a trade they thought was best while also believing that that trade wasn't the best. It doesn't make someone a homer or a hater; it just makes them an individual capable of forming an opinion. I don't see the need to frame the situation any other way. PATFO made their choice and have to make the best of it now. We don't have to like it, though, and we don't have to pretend the way it happened was the only way it could have gone down.

[J_Paco]

Not elite, but FVV was very good out of the pick & roll, they had multiple ball-handlers when Wright was in and their bench had the best chemistry of any 2nd unit in the league..

It's an indictment on Pop and the front office that his game mysteriously fell off a cliff in just 6 months..maybe it's not on them that he isn't being used properly, but if they knew the personnel to help him wasn't available on this roster, why acquire him in the first place?

True, hopefully they can figure out a way to play him with either White, DeRozan or Walker (if/when he return to the rotation) and Aldridge on the floor. I mention LaMarcus since I figure he'll occupy a lot the court time that DeMar does.

[Mugen]

I've said it before that any chance Jakob had to contribute this season went out the door with Manu's retirement. It was Manu who made guys like DeJuan relevant and it was Manu who really elevated Tiago and Oberto when they were here.

Without Manu, Pop would have those guys glued to the bench or set up in situations where they had no possible chance at success, basically what your'e seeing now with how Pop is utilizing Poetl.

[acoelho1]

The immediate future success rests in Murray & Walker's hands. Meaning we need both to become stars, which I think the former is on his way but the injury really put a damper on his development. Nevertheless, I'm hoping the Spurs fall on their face this year. We need to get rid of some of this dead wait and improve our draft position. Plus hopefully Pop will get over himself and play the rookies Metu and Walker considerable minutes.

[DMC]

Great, Timvp's grade threads are back. Now I have to read them again. I was cured... now this.

[tbdog]

i don’t recall Amare being that at all. That dude was a straight killler. Maybe in the latter years after repeated micro surgery.

Amare was a scorer but his weakness was rebounding and defense, both on ball and off ball. But if he got early touches and baskets, he all of a sudden was menace on the boards and weakside defense.

[tim_duncan_fan]

This squad is too flat out slow-footed and undisciplined to defend the perimeter and not long, bouncy, and tough enough to defend the paint.

I don't know how we are going to get better. We look physically incapable with this team.

And still no one can hit an open shot, which is all mental.

How can we overhaul the physical and mental makeup of the team?

[Hoops Czar]

This squad is too flat out slow-footed and undisciplined to defend the perimeter and not long, bouncy, and tough enough to defend the paint.

I don't know how we are going to get better. We look physically incapable with this team.

And still no one can hit an open shot, which is all mental.

How can we overhaul the physical and mental makeup of the team?

You start with the FO.

[SpursDynasty85]

This squad is too flat out slow-footed and undisciplined to defend the perimeter and not long, bouncy, and tough enough to defend the paint.

I don't know how we are going to get better. We look physically incapable with this team.

And still no one can hit an open shot, which is all mental.

How can we overhaul the physical and mental makeup of the team?

The mental makeup of the team is fine except for when Derozan and Aldridge are not fully engaged. They seem to have pretty good chemistry but really LMA has been the inconsistent one and really riding Derozan for these 6 wins. If both are locked and engaged we can beat nearly anyone but if both are iffy (LMA was TERRIBLE Derozan was a little off) we will lose to most teams. Margin for error is too small now. Bertans, Belli, Mills, Forbes, etc.. feed off these two. Gay is the 3rd option who can carry for a few mpg.

[phxspurfan]

Pop just deployed the “Soft” press conference after the Heat loss

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...g-13375623.php

#2018 #Spurs #stillsoft

[Hoops Czar]

Pop just deployed the “Soft” press conference after the Heat loss

https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...g-13375623.php

#2018 #Spurs #stillsoft

Players are just an extension of the head coach. I don't think I've ever seen a FO get taken to task the way the Spurs did in the Kawhi trade. And Pop has the audacity to call the players soft? The nerve of that guy.

[JeffDuncan]

... Pop has the audacity to call the players soft? The nerve of that guy.

In a way there's a kind of method to that madness. Better for the players to be mad at the coach than mad at each other.

[RC_Drunkford]

LMA is a D-
Not only did he play selfish and tried to get "his". He also missed a bunch of wide open shots. There was an instance where Demar would score in in half court, only for the LMA to demand the ball next possession and brick a shot.

Oh and please stop the Forbes/White together on the court experiment. This is flat out a recipe for disaster. Watching them take turns playing hot potato with the ball while Derozan is being ignored is flat out idiot ting

expect both of them to start together next game

[Mirrornick]

expect both of them to start together next game

Wouldn't be a shock. This is a copycat league and we're seeing more teams go small with two PG line up. Problem is Forbes/White don't complement each other whatsoever. DD is good enough to run point.

[RC_Drunkford]

Wouldn't be a shock. This is a copycat league and we're seeing more teams go small with two PG line up. Problem is Forbes/White don't complement each other whatsoever. DD is good enough to run point.

it's not about that. It's about Pop always thinking he's right and trying to prove it. Then go blame the players when they lose

[Mirrornick]

it's not about that. It's about Pop always thinking he's right and trying to prove it. Then go blame the players when they lose

meh. Every fan base hates their teams' coach, that's what I learned so far.

[RC_Drunkford]

meh. Every fan base hates their teams' coach, that's what I learned so far.

I don't hate Pop, he just makes to many super obvious mistakes for a coach of his caliber and is stuck in his ways

[Mirrornick]

I don't hate Pop, he just makes to many super obvious mistakes for a coach of his caliber and is stuck in his ways

true true

[wildbill2u]

Everybody on the court was throwing up bad shots or desperation shots. Shooting percentage showed the result. I dont know if this was fear of Whiteside or a Miami defense that pushed them into late second shots, but it was awful.

Forget about it and move on.

[sasaint]

I don't hate Pop, he just makes to many super obvious mistakes for a coach of his caliber and is stuck in his ways

I think that speaks for most of ST.

[Slippy]

With Lamarcus and Demar already playing heavy mins and being the focal points of the offense - i think pop made a tactical error in giving those two tougher matchups on the defensive end. Should of inserted Purtle at C and kept Demar at SG with Pg duties. Would of helped in keeping them fresh and giving the two an advantage in their matchups.