Game Thread GAME# 40: BLAZERS @ SPURS - JANUARY 16, 2015 - FRIDAY, 5:30 PM (PST), CSNNW

Spurs are on another level right now.

I hope HOU faces them in the first round.

 

FG%
Us - 50%
Them - 44.7%


3P%
Us - 31.6% (6-19)
Them - 37.9% (11-29)

OReb
Us - 2
Them - 15

Fast break points
Us - 6
Them - 17

Points in the paint
Us - 28
Them - 38

Turnovers (Opposition points off of turnovers)
Us - 16 (25)
Them - 13 (11)

 

I see terrible shooter, total bust and waste of a roster spot CJ McCollum was 7/10 and 2/2 for 17 points. Meanwhile, last year's total bust and waste of a roster spot Meyers Leonard shot 4/4 and 2/2, and 2/2 at the line, and had 2 blocks.

 

Just now watching the game. One thing that is encouraging even though it didn't effect the Spurs shooting this eve but in the end I think it will is the defensive rotation and getting to the shooters. It is much, much improved this year.

This will key if not huge.

 

I have to laugh when I listen to the opposing announcers the last few games when Leonard scores. They can't believe his soft touch from the outside. It is amazing how fundamental sound he is on the offensive side of the ball. (Compared to the other side of the ball) I feel comfortable with him passing the ball and I like that he is not forcing anything. Rarely does he put the ball on the floor.

If he improves like this on D.......he could be a pretty damn good by the time he hits 25.

 

There's another reason the Spurs have done what they have done for so long, the rest Pops gives his players. No other coach gives players rest like Pop and his rotations / days off.

I decided to look at some stats to see how much more our starters played than theirs. I know our group is younger, but perhaps we should still consider diversifying the minutes a bit more. The s5 is good, let's see how our bench can do. I saw a bit of that tonight and I think they played well enough to merit another opportunity to play some meaningful minutes.

Do you guys agree?

 

Fully Agree. Stotts biggest negative, imo, is he uses the starters as a crutch a bit too often. Sure we have the best record, but we need to season our youngsters/bench a little - even at the expense of a handful of wins.
I think it's unreasonable to hardly play the bench guys any time on the court at all, and then penalize them with even less minutes when they don't perform in said limited minutes. They need to be able to play through their mistakes as younger players, so they can develop.
It's one element of Terrys' coaching that I dislike and hasn't changed for our team since McMillan was riding his starters.

 

Speaking of starters, we need Lopez back asap.

 

Patty Mills was on fire just like Jamal Crawford was on fire. We are lacking that bench punch on offense and we couldn't buy a defensive rebound all night. Nico and Wes just don't look good out there the last couple of games. I think they are both trying to play injured with Rolo and Joel out and it's actually not helping. Spurs just played a hell of a game and that crowd was so loud I could barely hear Wheels and Tone.