SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 7: SPURS AT PACERS, 6-11-2023, 6PM (CT)

[imagump1313]

Wait did we really not attempt ANY 3s in the 3RD Q? We're still stuck at 5-9...

No, we missed like 4 in one possession. Their announcers were saying it looked like a shoot around

[G R E Y]

Wait did we really not attempt ANY 3s in the 3RD Q? We're still stuck at 5-9...

No, we missed like 4 in one possession. Their announcers were saying it looked like a shoot around

Uuugh that's worse. I think.

Just an abomination of a game.

[G R E Y]

40 point deficit.

[imagump1313]

Bench emptied. GG

I'm going to go watch the football game lol

[G R E Y]

Oh GOOD! Now Pop has put in Barlow, Julian, Mamu, Blake, and Graham with just over 7 minutes left.

[G R E Y]

Nice Mamu drive and finish.

[G R E Y]

WHEN IS BLAKE GOING TO LEARN?

We get a steal, we push, we run out to the wings, and Blake in his wisdom decides to... chuck a bad looking missed J. Not even ONE pass out or attempt to run something, or reward the other guys who did their job properly.

[G R E Y]

Too soft by Barlow. Got swatted away convincingly. Take it STRONG to the basket. Or reverse it. Can't show the ball like it's layup practice with n o defender.

[G R E Y]

4TH Q: SPURS 111 PACERS 152

Where to begin? Well with effort and mental fortitude and focus that were lacking right from the very first Sochan and Zach B2B turnovers to start the game. Brilliant.

I get fatigue. In the middle of February on the third game in four nights. With travel. I don't really now.

We have a LOT to learn. And I bet the teachable film from this one will either last longer than the game itself or we just burn it.

We were only 5-13 from 3. Wait, I'm going to check NBA's website to make sure that's accurate. No, we were 8-23 from 3 per nba.com. ESPN box score is broken. They have new stats with every refresh. You can send a space probe to Mars... Anyway, we hardly fared much better.

So yeah, we were 8-26 to their 20-38. TWENTY made 3s against, one night after getting 19 poured in.

The early book is in. Keep away from Wemby. Spam the hell out of the 3 point line. We HAVE to adjust. Our effort tonight wasn't there, our focus wasn't there, and our heart wasn't there. It felt like it was a collective mail in before the game began for everyone but Wemby.

Is he a darling? Of mine, YES. Is he shielded from criticism. Of course not. His conditioning will need work, and shot selection and positioning when he's tired. Like gump said, he wandered around more this game. But he was also taking the ball up the court himself a lot more in the second half what with six mage of us missing him A LOT when he worked to get open. He was only 3-12, 2-5 from 3 on some questionable shot selections, those especially when he brought up the ball himself (just had it with us missing him and at least trying to make something happen) and took sideways fadeaway Js or pull up 3s.

One thing opponents have taken away early (like by game four or so) was his dribbling from the outside. It would be good to get him the ball earlier and outside more to get him comfortable with the ball, create his shot, get him involved. The corollary is that Wemby has to get involved earlier more aggressively. He's done that in games 4 and 5 a lot more, but a more concerted effort to run plays for him sooner will get us all going around him.

When it's too egalitarian, we're either trying to over work passes or getting shots for guys who are more likely to miss. It's fine if Sochan wants to use a screen and pull up for a J with an opening in the paint, but man oh man does he ever need to get his touch back.

I appreciate it's a new position for him, that he's doing well defensively, but like basic short Js and layups off glass or recognizing that a taller opponent is there so don't drive to get blocked needs to be there. These are not just skills of a PG. These are basic drive and kick recognition or learn to finish HIGHER off the glass, like Keldon has, like Tre has, like Devin has, etc., etc.

It came across like he was too lackadaisical form the start, and even if the smile if from pressure, the effort HAS to be there.

I don't like guys looking like they're enjoying themselves **** up or being down 40 **** points. I also don't like guys looking defeated like they forgot how to play. Devin is out and suddenly we look like we're playing together for the first time. And we don't have the requisite FU spirit and attitude. We rolled over too easily when another opponent had another hot 3s night. Like work to get there to contest or something... prevent the passes, switch and rotate harder, etc.

Doug led us with 17 from the bench. Keldon (16) and Zach (14) were solid and efficient from the starting group. Despite Wemby's efficiency struggles, he was our lone double double getter with 13 and 10 boards. Another two blocks and a steal were good outputs. He also led us with 5-6FTs.

Keldon and Wemby were the only Spurs with double digit shot attempts, so the idea of spreading the workload in a B2B worked against us because too many struggled.

Tre has twins coming. Maybe it's too much to deal with at home or whatnot, but he hasn't been as steady and reliable as we need him to be. He led us with 8 assists, but was 1-5, 0-2 from 3.

Julian: 2-8, 0-3 from 3. It's early still, but I'm starting to wonder whether that hot last 20 or so games to finish last season was a great grasp of a guaranteed contract and for some reason the spell's broken and he's turned into a pumpkin.

Dom is doing right things positionally on both ends, hustles, but like many others, has to finish strong at the rim.

Blake. *sigh* Sorry, unless and until he runs plays CORRECTLY, like basic pass the ball to the open team mate who ran ahead of you instead of taking a contested J that misses badly, you will sit. It's easy to be an arm chair coach, but like this is stuff we learned in girls high school basketball. Just basic recognition of fundamental plays. It's not about standing out with making shots, it's about doing your job/fulfilling your role well.

Look at Bassey. 5-5. 3 boards (2 on O), 1 assist, team high 3 steals. He's screening and cutting well, has a nice floater touch in the paint, does his job well, and is getting more usage. Mamu, too. In 8"49 of playing time, he led the bench with 4 boards. Not great numbers, and opponents count, but still, know your role, be a reliable player in it.

Our physicality was wanting - we need to be far more aggressive going downhill, our cohesion and movement was wanting, our focus and mental toughness was wanting, and our hunger was wanting. Leaves a lot of room for improvement, then. I hope we show it.

[G R E Y]

Over to Pop:

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