SPURS GAME DAY! GAME 26: SPURS AT BUCKS, 19-12-2023, 7PM (CT)

[G R E Y]

Bad call by the refs. Mamu was not hanging on the rim. Should have been our ball.

[G R E Y]

GREAT drive by Tre! Used screen well, took another gear driving, got into the chest of a bigger player to create space, off glass high over another swiping hand and in. Textbook.

[G R E Y]

D to O! Great transition play Mamu pass to Tre!

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Giannis jumps up and down, travel, and it's a jump ball call lol

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OF COURSE Sochan **** takes the end of Q heave with players at the wings. Of course...

[G R E Y]

2ND Q: SPURS 59 BUCKS 72

Signs of life, courtesy of the effort and hustle of Mamu, Tre, and Cedi, along with better driving by Branham and Keldon.

We are led by a stellar 6-7 for 12 by Tre and and 5-9, 2-4 from 3 for 12 by Zach.

Sochan's stats look better than his play is showing. Sure he's 2-4, 0-1 from 3, 1-2FTs, 5 boards (1 on O), 2 assists, 3 fouls (one was an over the back by Giannis that Sochan somehow got called for...) but there's also a reason why he's team low -16 and that's the poor decisions with the ball (again) and once again not looking to pass in end of Q shot situations despite literally each of these having open players on the wings looking back at him. And he has to defend bigs who are crushing us. Dame is Dame, but the game difference is a zombie start and their bench big scoring 17 too easily. Don't like his trotting back on D, smiling at TOs, getting sealed down low and dunked on. Ok it's Giannis and we didn't provide help D, but just the trotting around is bugging me.

Devin runs hot and cold and isn't doing enough to generate necessary energy for us, settling for outside shots early, nto driving enough. We need him to put us on his shoulders and lead the team momentum change.

We are also only 4-13 from 3 to their 9-24, a 15-point difference also explaining the point differential.

If any starters aren't putting in enough effort then their starting position ought not be guaranteed.

Still, we won the Q 33-28 courtesy of the reserves who did provide the momentum change. Mamu is earning minutes with hard, smart, fundamentals-based play. Tre is showing some inspired minutes, making plays I haven't seen him make before with some super crafty finishes at the rim. All downhill push all the time. Love it.

Good drives by Branham and Keldon, a one-two slash and muscle impact.

Run back on D. Get more physical. Get stops. Pass quickly. Finish strong. Play hard.

[G R E Y]

Bad and good in one play - Branham already getting down on himself for the ball slipping out of his hands but we recover and space well and score.

[G R E Y]

Of course Giannis slips and gets a foul called. Of course...

[G R E Y]

Cut it to 8, allow a run to go down 14.

[G R E Y]

Sochan once again going up against a C while slightly behind the basket and once again gets blocked. THINK.

[G R E Y]

Devin late rotation for opponent corner 3. Not a good awareness and energy game from him so far.

[G R E Y]

Sure le't leave Dame open with no one even going to him to prevent a pass let along the shot and it's another 3.

[G R E Y]

Zach block, Zach layup D to O. Oh look Sochan CAN in fact fins a C down low AND pass to him. Interesting.

[G R E Y]

What's stopping us from running back on D and covering the short corner 3 shooter? Or from always having a man on Dame to prevent passes? Nothing, that's what. So let's do these.

Nice Tre layup again. Great energy and effort.

[G R E Y]

HEY good D!

[G R E Y]

DOM BARLOW TIME! Checks in at 2:30 of the 3RD.

[G R E Y]

Mamu great staying with driver and block.

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3RD Q: SPURS 85 BUCKS 107

We brought it to within 8 before familiar culprits crept in - allowing open 3s from not running back hard enough consistently, and missing shots that then resulted in 4-5-6-point swings.

Staying with their best players at all times should be mandatory to prevent easy passes back to them.

I'm happy to see Dom and Mamu getting minutes.

Hot micro reaction: Getting unconvinced about Sochan's enthusiasm for playing with us and being with us long term.

Tre's energy and IQ are on full display.

We went to the FT line a total of 0 times this Q. This must be better.

All effort. Finish strong. Fight for every play, for every minute, for playing time.

[G R E Y]

Doug actually GETS to the right corner spot to contest but he STOPS and raises his hand to the shooter's **** wast as he hoists up an open 3. Luckily he missed. But my goodness that was mindnumbingly awful D. You're a VET, mate. Lead by example.

[G R E Y]

Sochan vs. Portis. Love it. We've not seen nearly enough of this **** disturbing from Sochan this season.