Grades: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets – Game #34

[exstatic]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spu...-2025-game-34/

[Davidicus]

Good learnings for Vic. He is taking the ball down low, TOs will happen as part of the learning process. Love to see it.

Same goes for Castle. Keep shooting king!

I am cautiously optimistic on DV and KJ. Ever since I think the Twolves game it’s felt like they’ve both made a conscious effort to find the open man vs giving into their tunnel vision. I think KJ is working super hard on his catch and shoot 3s. Again, cautiously optimistic. They need to put in serious work to even garner any sort of trade value, let alone positively contribute to a playoff team. But I'm getting inklings.

Can we talk about CP3s shooting % this year? He’s shooting 41.4% on 7.5 FGAs/gm, his LOWEST of his career. 2nd was 41.9% on 12.5 FGAs/gm his last year in HOU. He was in the 44-49% range the last 4 years. I’m not “alarmed”, but the bricks lately have been noticeable. I feel like we haven’t enjoyed his reliable mid range. Hoping that’s a silver lining to date and we see it come back.

As much as we all love to hate on Zollins (myself included), gotta give him credit on the effort - he’s a fighter.

[spursparker9]

Zollins gave great efforts tbh. The only nitpick was his 5th foul on Jokic's 3 pointer

[exstatic]

Good learnings for Vic. He is taking the ball down low, TOs will happen as part of the learning process. Love to see it.

Same goes for Castle. Keep shooting king!

I am cautiously optimistic on DV and KJ. Ever since I think the Twolves game it’s felt like they’ve both made a conscious effort to find the open man vs giving into their tunnel vision. I think KJ is working super hard on his catch and shoot 3s. Again, cautiously optimistic. They need to put in serious work to even garner any sort of trade value, let alone positively contribute to a playoff team. But I'm getting inklings.

Can we talk about CP3s shooting % this year? He’s shooting 41.4% on 7.5 FGAs/gm, his LOWEST of his career. 2nd was 41.9% on 12.5 FGAs/gm his last year in HOU. He was in the 44-49% range the last 4 years. I’m not “alarmed”, but the bricks lately have been noticeable. I feel like we haven’t enjoyed his reliable mid range. Hoping that’s a silver lining to date and we see it come back.

As much as we all love to hate on Zollins (myself included), gotta give him credit on the effort - he’s a fighter.

CP3’s 2 point percentage is up over the last two seasons, and up 29 points over last year .498->.527. His 3s are down a bit,but for both, the sample size is low because he just doesn’t shoot much any more,just enough to keep teams honest. A good shooting or bad shooting night can hit his numbers in a big way. I’ll be watching a game, and he’ll take and make his first FG in the second or even third quarter.

[r0drig0lac]

Spurs drafted the greatest player in the history of the game, that's kind of crazy

[LeBowen]

I am cautiously optimistic on DV and KJ. Ever since I think the Twolves game it’s felt like they’ve both made a conscious effort to find the open man vs giving into their tunnel vision. I think KJ is working super hard on his catch and shoot 3s. Again, cautiously optimistic. They need to put in serious work to even garner any sort of trade value, let alone positively contribute to a playoff team. But I'm getting inklings.

Nah, Keldon is what he is. Nuggets are a garbage roster with one of the worst benches in the league, him doing decently against them isn't much of a feat.
He can be useful only when he's not allowed to make any decisions, when he just catches the ball and goes at the rim or shoots it. No handling duties allowed. His defense being awful is the issue.

Devin has shown some signs of life last night, maximum effort on every play but he still had some questionable decisions with the ball.
I'm not going to criticize his 3pt shooting as long as he's playing solid defense, he'll have until the rest of the season to prove his worth.

[John B]

A very satisfying win at Denver, albeit the Nuggets were missing Aaron, but the Spurs also didn’t have the services of Jeremy so all is fair. That brings to Castle. I really wish Stephon took more advantage of the opportunity to shine. I really think for Castle to shine in the SL, Champ needs to be there too instead of Devin. Because Devin does the iso plays that Castle would be taking and Champ would help opening the lanes better for him. Anyways Castle was okayish. And Devin was a clutch at the stretch. Champ likewise although he almost threw that game (again!) with that careless step-out.

Wemby has arrived. This is not the same Wemby from last year. Wemby is much stronger and no longer getting pushed around. He is also much composed, thanks largely in part to CP3 who’s constantly coaching him. Another monstrous game, and clutch with that mid-range down the stretch. His ability to deliver in the stretch to win ballgames is what’s making this a playoff team from a lottery team.

I hope it continues tonight. Our guys are younger and should have fresher legs on a B2B compare to Jokic and company. Denver without a rim protector in their 2nd squad. I really thought Mitch should be playing Bassey to capitalize some one with Tre. GSG!

[exstatic]

A very satisfying win at Denver, albeit the Nuggets were missing Aaron, but the Spurs also didn’t have the services of Jeremy so all is fair. That brings to Castle. I really wish Stephon took more advantage of the opportunity to shine. I really think for Castle to shine in the SL, Champ needs to be there too instead of Devin. Because Devin does the iso plays that Castle would be taking and Champ would help opening the lanes better for him. Anyways Castle was okayish. And Devin was a clutch at the stretch. Champ likewise although he also threw that game (again!) with that careless step-out.

Wemby has arrived. This is not the same Wemby from last year. Wemby is much stronger and no longer getting pushed around. He is also much composed, thanks largely in part to CP3 who’s constantly coaching him. Another monstrous game, and clutch with that mid-range down the stretch. His ability to deliver in the stretch to win ballgames is what’s making this a playoff team from a lottery team.

I hope it continues tonight. Our guys are younger and should have fresher legs on a B2B compare to Jokic and company. Denver without a rim protector in their 2nd squad. I really thought Mitch should be playing Bassey to capitalize some one with Tre. GSG!

Jokic got his legs run wobbly last night, and we did a good job late of getting switches and having out guards attack him off the dribble.

[scott]

How low must expectations be for a 44% shooting performance and a team worst -18 grades out as "above average"?

[bigfan]

If Pop decides to step back after his recovery (and I bet this is his plan) it is nice to know we already have his replacement. The team is playing hard for Coach Johnson.

[scott]

Two critical plays that continue to sum up Devin Vassell for me, back-to-back in sequence.

This link will take you to a video of the last 3:30 of the game. https://www.reddit.com/r/NBASpurs/co...30_minutes_of/

At the :50 mark of the video (not the game clock), Devin gets a high-screen from CP3 and you can almost tell at the moment he curls around the screen that he already decided he is taking the shot. To his right, Keldon and Julian stand wide open at the 3pt line. Devin pulls up and clanks the jumper.

The immediate following defensive possession (this one isn't fully on Devin), Devin is switched on Westbrooke. Ball goes into Jokic in the post. CP3 crashes down (for no reason, it should be stated. Wemby has Jokic here, there is no reason to double here). Vassell gets lost staring at CP3's man, while Westbrooke makes a back cut, drawing Keldon off MPJ who is then wide open to cut to the lane for the easy basket. At that point we go down 5, thankfully we responded with a 10-2 run to close the game. This defensive possession is partially on CP3 for causing a chain reaction of calamity, but Devin got completely lost there and ended up in no man's land (MPJ is wide open cutting, but Braun is also wide open at the top of the 3pt line for a 3). Bad defensive possession by CP3 and Devin there.

Devin did do some better things this game, IMO. The defensive intensity was much improved, though it didn't necessarily result in exception defense - the effort does make a big difference. His rebounding and playmaking has been much improved as of late as well and deserves to be commended. He needs to avoid that tunnel vision though, it is really killer. He also stepped up in a way that fits in with what I think his ultimate best role will be, and that is as a 6th man. There was a stretch in the 2nd half where his offense was vital. He was decisive in attacking the rim during that stretch (I don't remember if it was in the 3rd or 4th) where he was drawing fouls and slowing the game down while Wemby was on the bench and DEN was surging. That was pretty huge.

Definitely a step in the right direction versus what we've seen lately, but I've seen (here and on reddit) people calling this a fantastic game from Devin, which I find laughable. It was a better game from Devin. Fantastic, at a minimum, requires you to not have a team worst -18 on the day.

[John B]

Jokic got his legs run wobbly last night, and we did a good job late of getting switches and having out guards attack him off the dribble.

That Devin iso on him on the way to a poster dunk (on MPJ??) was huge. I’ve noticed Mitch was calling for CP3 to pass to Devin for those, ala Pop telling TP to pass to Kawhi, as if to prepare Devin for that killer decision making shot down the stretch.

[Mugen]

Champagnie has probably been the 3rd best player on the team this season tbh

They need to give him a raise and lock him up.

[z0sa]

How low must expectations be for a 44% shooting performance and a team worst -18 grades out as "above average"?

Probably has something to do with the game-sealing steal and jam, my man. Just saying. DV's -18 obviously jumps off the page but 18/6/6/2stl on only 1 TO and the game saving steal is pretty good stuff. He'll never be Halliburton but maybe he can be a 20/5/5/1.5stl guy.

I'm beginning to move into Sean's camp anyway in thinking that the +/- is a bogus stat anyway

edit: worst case Timvp is in on the conspiracy in some fashion and he's raising DV's trade value

[scott]

Probably has something to do with the game-sealing steal and jam, my man. Just saying. DV's -18 obviously jumps off the page but 18/6/6/2stl on only 1 TO and the game saving steal is pretty good stuff. He'll never be Halliburton but maybe he can be a 20/5/5/1.5stl guy.

I'm beginning to move into Sean's camp anyway in thinking that the +/- is a bogus stat anyway

edit: worst case Timvp is in on the conspiracy in some fashion and he's raising DV's trade value

One minor note, it was Wemby who was (properly) credited with the game saving steal, but Devin was in proper position guarding MPJ setting up on the wing 3pt line. If not for Wemby getting the deflection (and thus the steal), Jokic maybe is able to find MPJ (we've seen Wemby make that pass before) but it would have been difficult because Devin was in proper position.

Watching that play, I'm also not entirely sure what Jokic's intent was and whether that was actually a shot (and a block) or an attempted pass to MPJ (since there is no where else he could have even attempted to pass it)

[Tyronn Lue]

Two critical plays that continue to sum up Devin Vassell for me, back-to-back in sequence.

This link will take you to a video of the last 3:30 of the game. https://www.reddit.com/r/NBASpurs/co...30_minutes_of/

At the :50 mark of the video (not the game clock), Devin gets a high-screen from CP3 and you can almost tell at the moment he curls around the screen that he already decided he is taking the shot. To his right, Keldon and Julian stand wide open at the 3pt line. Devin pulls up and clanks the jumper.

The immediate following defensive possession (this one isn't fully on Devin), Devin is switched on Westbrooke. Ball goes into Jokic in the post. CP3 crashes down (for no reason, it should be stated. Wemby has Jokic here, there is no reason to double here). Vassell gets lost staring at CP3's man, while Westbrooke makes a back cut, drawing Keldon off MPJ who is then wide open to cut to the lane for the easy basket. At that point we go down 5, thankfully we responded with a 10-2 run to close the game. This defensive possession is partially on CP3 for causing a chain reaction of calamity, but Devin got completely lost there and ended up in no man's land (MPJ is wide open cutting, but Braun is also wide open at the top of the 3pt line for a 3). Bad defensive possession by CP3 and Devin there.

Devin did do some better things this game, IMO. The defensive intensity was much improved, though it didn't necessarily result in exception defense - the effort does make a big difference. His rebounding and playmaking has been much improved as of late as well and deserves to be commended. He needs to avoid that tunnel vision though, it is really killer. He also stepped up in a way that fits in with what I think his ultimate best role will be, and that is as a 6th man. There was a stretch in the 2nd half where his offense was vital. He was decisive in attacking the rim during that stretch (I don't remember if it was in the 3rd or 4th) where he was drawing fouls and slowing the game down while Wemby was on the bench and DEN was surging. That was pretty huge.

Definitely a step in the right direction versus what we've seen lately, but I've seen (here and on reddit) people calling this a fantastic game from Devin, which I find laughable. It was a better game from Devin. Fantastic, at a minimum, requires you to not have a team worst -18 on the day.

I am reminded of Pop's comments regarding Kawhi, that Kawhi needed to understand that when a play is called, it's not for Kawhi to score but for the team to score. I think that's where Devin is right now.

[LeBowen]

One minor note, it was Wemby who was (properly) credited with the game saving steal, but Devin was in proper position guarding MPJ setting up on the wing 3pt line. If not for Wemby getting the deflection (and thus the steal), Jokic maybe is able to find MPJ (we've seen Wemby make that pass before) but it would have been difficult because Devin was in proper position.

Watching that play, I'm also not entirely sure what Jokic's intent was and whether that was actually a shot (and a block) or an attempted pass to MPJ (since there is no where else he could have even attempted to pass it)

Jokic said post game that he saw Champagnie sliding into the passing lane, decided to shoot instead, but Wemby already gathered and would've probably blocked it.
Said he should've still shot it because it might've gone out of bounds for another opportunity, he knew the pass was bad right away.
And that they really messed up by not taking a time out.

[baseline bum]

Two critical plays that continue to sum up Devin Vassell for me, back-to-back in sequence.

This link will take you to a video of the last 3:30 of the game. https://www.reddit.com/r/NBASpurs/co...30_minutes_of/

Jesus Christ that shot Jokic hits around the 3:28 mark of that video and he had to throw it that high off the board or Victor was going to send it right back in his face.

[Pauleta14]

One minor note, it was Wemby who was (properly) credited with the game saving steal, but Devin was in proper position guarding MPJ setting up on the wing 3pt line. If not for Wemby getting the deflection (and thus the steal), Jokic maybe is able to find MPJ (we've seen Wemby make that pass before) but it would have been difficult because Devin was in proper position.

Watching that play, I'm also not entirely sure what Jokic's intent was and whether that was actually a shot (and a block) or an attempted pass to MPJ (since there is no where else he could have even attempted to pass it)

He talks about it and almost regrets not shooting and having his shot blocked so that there would at least be a chnace of rebound.

Also high praises for Wemby!

[scott]

Jesus Christ that shot Jokic hits around the 3:28 mark of that video and he had to throw it that high off the board or Victor was going to send it right back in his face.

I legit thought we were cooked when we went down 5 based on everything we've seen this year, especially on the road against good teams. Huge props to our team for gutting that out with a mega 10-2 run to close it. Champ continues to impress as well. lol @ whomever it was who went on and on for weeks about how he wasn't a worthy rotation player

[baseline bum]

I legit thought we were cooked when we went down 5 based on everything we've seen this year, especially on the road against good teams. Huge props to our team for gutting that out with a mega 10-2 run to close it. Champ continues to impress as well. lol @ whomever it was who went on and on for weeks about how he wasn't a worthy rotation player

Still can't believe how many people wanted to cut Champagnie this summer. Like WTF a guy who can shoot the three and is a capable defender at the SF spot and you can have him for $3 million not only this season, but 25-26 and 26-27 at that rate? I legit consider Julian untradeable as on the open market you're going to be paying $10 to $15 million for a player like that. And he's only 23.

[Obstructed_View]

I legit thought we were cooked when we went down 5 based on everything we've seen this year, especially on the road against good teams. Huge props to our team for gutting that out with a mega 10-2 run to close it. Champ continues to impress as well. lol @ whomever it was who went on and on for weeks about how he wasn't a worthy rotation player

If it was last year, that might have been me. He was an NBA body with an inconsistent jumper who failed to pass the eye test as an NBA player in every way. His transformation this season has been Kawhiesque. He has passed every young player on the trust list. He's clutch, he plays really good D and he's almost always in the right place. Those two turnovers the other night literally lost the game for the Spurs and I'm not super mad about it because he's been so damn good.

[scott]

If it was last year, that might have been me. He was an NBA body with an inconsistent jumper who failed to pass the eye test as an NBA player in every way. His transformation this season has been Kawhiesque. He has passed every young player on the trust list. He's clutch, he plays really good D and he's almost always in the right place. Those two turnovers the other night literally lost the game for the Spurs and I'm not super mad about it because he's been so damn good.

Nah it was this year, and I generally remember the OG’s so I would have remembered if it were you!

What a bargain we have this guy on!

[scott]

Still can't believe how many people wanted to cut Champagnie this summer. Like WTF a guy who can shoot the three and is a capable defender at the SF spot and you can have him for $3 million not only this season, but 25-26 and 26-27 at that rate? I legit consider Julian untradeable as on the open market you're going to be paying $10 to $15 million for a player like that. And he's only 23.

Yeah, about a month ago I posted that Julian could be a sneaky trade asset and if we were still shooting for a high lottery pick I could see getting a decent return for him because he is WAY outplaying his contract. As it is, he’s definitely on that second tier of untouchable. If NO wanted him in a package for Trey Murphy, I’d miss Champ but I wouldn’t send him out as part of a package for even a Cam Johnson, tbh. He just unlocks so much because of his contract at this level of play (which is still improving!)

[DPG21920]

Im proud of Dev last few games. Been a really rough start to season for him. He’s not leaping at all on success of last year so far but it was mostly disappointing to see the lack of focus, confidence, defensive effort alongside passing/rebounding.

But past few games? His effort is palpable. He’s hitting glass, making better reads and passes and while theres more that has to happen, its very encouraging to me seeing him do all the other things he can to expand game and become an all around player.