SPURS GAME DAY! PRE-SEASON GAME 4: SPURS VS. ROCKETS, 18-10-2023, 7PM (CT)

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Good start, reverting to sloppiness again. Pop timeout.

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I'd like to see Zach grab and put back the O board before his feet hit the ground. He keeps getting boggled with three defenders around him. He likes to muck it up but these also tend to make things harder on him.

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Things you love to see: Wemby, Sochan, and now Tre 3!

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We're not running back on D with urgency after misses.

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Cedi's got some FU to his game - got crossed up and driven on. Does it right back.

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Cedi, Doug, and Julian out there together is madness and genius from Pop. Can't tell which right now but yeah hahaha!

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Note to Julian - MAKE A BLOODY SHOT.

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Has there been a game with more bobbled balls than this one?

TO leading to end of Q basket against...

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3RD Q: SPURS 83 ROCKETS 75

That's two consecutive 31-point Qs we've allowed. Not good. NINETEEN TOs through three Qs. OOF.

Like I said, too many bobbled balls. And not enough hustle back on D after them or after missed shots.

Sean's right that Wemby looked more comfortable this Q. And he's like in second gear all game. Scary on both ends.

Cedi, Doug, and kryptonite Julian in at the same time is a choice. Works when we spread the floor and move and hit shots, not so much on D.

We need to get our chests out and game going.

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I've missed Tre's over the screen drive and finish.

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Malaki running ahead, we pass to him, he makes the 3. Pure, simple basketball.

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Good job, Dom... NICE FINISH AT THE RIM.

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Breaking: Julian makes a basket lol

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We have Mamu, Julian - hey he just made a 3! - Dom, Blake, and Sidy in now with about 5 minutes left.

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Mamu nice finish at the rim.

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Dom great back door cut and finish!

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Aaand that's game!

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4TH Q: SPURS 117 ROCKETS 103

Well these guys who finished the game looked better together so that's a positive.

Our starting five, considering it was their first time together versus competition themselves had some positives and things to fix. We're spoiled for choice on O but have to get it going in terms of getting everyone involved better. We didn't maximize individual or collective strengths as well as this group has the potential to.

On D it's a huge, bruising, mobile group that can guard individually, disrupt lanes, protect the rim, and be a menace.

Devin with 25 points in 25 minutes on stellar efficiency is next level. And he hasn't shown his driving and breaking down defenders game yet.

Wemby barely had plays called for him and still ended up with 10 shots. He made only 3 of them (2-5 from 3) but we also didn't really design anything for him, just dumped it into the low block when he fought for positioning. Speaking of which, he's tenacious and tough in fighting for it. Led us with 7-8FTs and 2 blocks. Another game, another couple of highlights.

Keldon only took 3 shots (again, we have to figure out how to best incorporate everyone on O) but had a nice 4 board, 2 assist, 1 steal game for a game high +21. Very solid on D.

Sochan has to work on his handles and spacing awareness as point-forward. Tended to get into Zach's space in the paint. He also had a nice multi-utility game, contributing a bit everywhere. Tenacious, get under opponents' skin. Love it.

Zach was a bull with good positioning, footwork and touch at the rim. Those little rightly and lefty hooks are so effective. I would like to see him keep the ball up on O boards and try putting it in quicker.

He and Mamu are a nice inside-out combo.

Nice to see Tre driving, dishing, and making a 3.

Blake and Malaki combined for 5 assists. Good.

Cedi, Dom, and Julian with terrific plays, within their strengths, and showing more of their games. More assertive and confident.

Sidy is unselfish to a fault. Again had some shots he passed up. But then again, terrific court vision and made some great passes. Big body. Good defender. High BBIQ.

We had 54 rebounds but were outrebounded on O 16-10 - part of it was them missing more shots, part of it was us losing focus on boxing out, getting beaten to the ball when it bounced.

Better FT efficiency, and got to the FT line 35 times. Good. 29 assists, 9 steals, 4 blocks are great; 22 TOs which cost us 21 points is not.

Some messy spotty play, some encouraging signs especially defensively, and a raised floor with lots of room to reach our higher ceiling. We'll take it.

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