2022-2023 San Antonio Spurs Season Thread - Tits, Ass, N’ Keldon

[Pam Cummings 9,689]

[LTtxfan 49,386]

Go Big or Go Home...

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

Sochon running point was fun. The results were mixed but not altogether awful. He’s really versatile and has great instincts. I can’t imagine how good a fit he would be next to a superstar. 

On the other hand…

Edited November 18, 2022 by Mitch Cumsteen

[Kermit 3,159]

18 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Sochon running point was fun. The results were mixed but not altogether awful. He’s really versatile and has great instincts. I can’t imagine how good a fit he would be next to a superstar. 

On the other hand…

That’s ugly. I do want to use this graph to comment on Pop. You know that dude wants to kill after every turnover. This inefficiency is killing him. Yet, I’ve never seen him so calm and relaxed. Everything is a teaching moment. 
 

I will say that our players are pretty efficient at exposing themselves to staff.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

1 hour ago, Kermit said:

That’s ugly. I do want to use this graph to comment on Pop. You know that dude wants to kill after every turnover. This inefficiency is killing him. Yet, I’ve never seen him so calm and relaxed. Everything is a teaching moment. 
 

I will say that our players are pretty efficient at exposing themselves to staff.

I honestly think Pop is loving this shit. It's like he's back at Pomona Pitzer --- zero expectations or pressure. He gets to teach and mentor young dudes while flying around the country eating at the best restaurants and drinking wine with his buddies. He's got zero chance of getting fired. It's the best gig going.

I don't know how they calculate the defensive efficiency stats, but their terrible number probably has something to do with them being so turnover prone (2nd to last in league) and giving up easy shots on the other end as a result. On paper, they should be decent on defense. Vassell, Poeltl and Sochan are plus defenders and Keldon is solid. Jones is meh, but he at least competes. Whatever. We all know what this season is about.

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by Mitch Cumsteen

[ztejas 43,605]

The throwaway games against GS and TOR are definitely tanking that - especially since it's just last 10 games. But the D is really bad any way you slice it. The offense actually has its moments - just not when it comes to closing games out. 

I think Socan is the best player we've drafted since Kawhi. I'm excited to see how much he can improve this season. Pop seems to be making him earn it 

SAC is white hot right now. They dropped 41 in the 4Q. For KJ being out the offense actually looked pretty damn good last night. 

It's looking like we'll settle nicely into the bottom 5 or 6 in the league. The Rockets and Pistons are just fucking horrendous though. I don't see any way we don't scratch together more wins than those 2. 

Edited November 18, 2022 by ztejas

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

12 minutes ago, ztejas said:

The throwaway games against GS and TOR are definitely tanking that - especially since it's just last 10 games. But the D is really bad any way you slice it. The offense actually has its moments - just not when it comes to closing games out. 

I think Socan is the best player we've drafted since Kawhi. I'm excited to see how much he can improve this season. Pop seems to be making him earn it 

SAC is white hot right now. They dropped 41 in the 4Q. For KJ being out the offense actually looked pretty damn good last night. 

It's looking like we'll settle nicely into the bottom 5 or 6 in the league. The Rockets and Pistons are just fucking horrendous though. I don't see any way we don't scratch together more wins than those 2. 

Maybe the GS and TOR games are skewing the numbers a bit. And we are looking at fairly small sample size this early in the season, but these numbers are horrific:

PTS/G: 112.0 (15th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 120.2 (30th of 30)
SRS: -7.98 (29th of 30) Pace: 101.4 (7th of 30)
Off Rtg: 109.7 (25th of 30) Def Rtg: 117.7 (30th of 30) Net Rtg: -8.0 (29th of 30)
Expected W-L: 4-12 (29th of 30)

If you believe in SRS... here is the competition:
Detroit Pistons   -8.13
San Antonio Spurs     -7.98
Houston Rockets     -6.37
Charlotte Hornets    -5.8
Los Angeles Lakers  -5.53
Orlando Magic  -3.58

There's a better than zero chance that this team really is that bad. 

[ztejas 43,605]

41 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Maybe the GS and TOR games are skewing the numbers a bit.

They're skewing them a lot. I did the math.

Against GSW our ortg/drtg was 95.2/132.3

Against TOR it was 90.9/130.0

Assuming possessions for all 16 games are fairly equal (I'm not taking the time to do the exact math - and the pace in those two was actually a bit higher than our avg) - in the 14 games outside of those 2 our ortg/drtg would be 112.1/115.7 for an SRS of -3.6 (and it would actually be marginally better accounting for pace - so -3.5 maybe). 

This is why using SRS can be disingenuous (in the same way that W/L can) because those games are only worth 2 losses but they are worth over half of our negative RTG differential. 

That SRS places us as the 5th or 6th worst team in the league. Which is what our record is bearing out right now. 

Now - can I make similar adjustments for these other teams removing certain outliers? Of course. But some of those other teams are 3-13 and 3-12. 

At the end of the day it's the record that matters. I think with everyone healthy and trying to win games this Spurs team would be a slightly negative SRS team and maybe win 30 games. With our current injury rate, abundance of caution when sitting guys out, and Pop just punting games a few mins into the 3Q it's going to drag that SRS and get us in the mid 20s W neighborhood. 

And yet, I love watching these guys play. I think we're working on a really solid foundation - and if we can snag one of these 2 golden cows (calfs?) then maybe Pop sticks around long enough to head a couple more 50 win Spurs teams. 

(You could also adjust out the Bucks game where Giannis and Jrue sat and it would lower the SRS a bit but MIL was competing hard until the end of that one)

Edited November 18, 2022 by ztejas

[Kermit 3,159]

[kingkoopa6 8,395]

[kingkoopa6 8,395]

Not my pics. Was traveling back from Nashville. But my cuz went. 

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

On 11/18/2022 at 10:28 AM, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Maybe the GS and TOR games are skewing the numbers a bit. And we are looking at fairly small sample size this early in the season, but these numbers are horrific:

PTS/G: 112.0 (15th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 120.2 (30th of 30)
SRS: -7.98 (29th of 30) Pace: 101.4 (7th of 30)
Off Rtg: 109.7 (25th of 30) Def Rtg: 117.7 (30th of 30) Net Rtg: -8.0 (29th of 30)
Expected W-L: 4-12 (29th of 30)

 

It's getting worse, not better. I think what is really skewing the numbers is that the Spurs suck. Really, really suck. The shitty Lakers sans Lebron just ran us out of the gym. We now own the worst SRS in the league by almost 2.5 points as well as the worst net rating.

PTS/G: 110.1 (20th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 120.3 (30th of 30)
SRS: -10.48 (30th of 30) Pace: 101.1 (7th of 30)
Off Rtg: 108.2 (27th of 30) Def Rtg: 118.3 (29th of 30) Net Rtg: -10.1 (30th of 30)
Expected W-L: 4-14 (30th of 30)

The next 10 games:
19    Wed, Nov 23, 2022    8:00p                New Orleans Pelicans                                
20    Fri, Nov 25, 2022    8:00p                Los Angeles Lakers                                
21    Sat, Nov 26, 2022    8:00p                Los Angeles Lakers                                
22    Wed, Nov 30, 2022    8:00p            @    Oklahoma City Thunder                                
23    Fri, Dec 2, 2022    8:00p                New Orleans Pelicans                                
24    Sun, Dec 4, 2022    4:00p                Phoenix Suns                                
25    Thu, Dec 8, 2022    8:30p                Houston Rockets                                
26    Sat, Dec 10, 2022    5:00p            @    Miami Heat                                
27    Mon, Dec 12, 2022    8:30p                Cleveland Cavaliers                                
28    Wed, Dec 14, 2022    8:00p                Portland Trail Blazers                                

That Houston game on 12/8 is shaping up to be something special!

[TommysTinyTowels 787]

21 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

It's getting worse, not better. I think what is really skewing the numbers is that the Spurs suck. Really, really suck. The shitty Lakers sans Lebron just ran us out of the gym. We now own the worst SRS in the league by almost 2.5 points as well as the worst net rating.

PTS/G: 110.1 (20th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 120.3 (30th of 30)
SRS: -10.48 (30th of 30) Pace: 101.1 (7th of 30)
Off Rtg: 108.2 (27th of 30) Def Rtg: 118.3 (29th of 30) Net Rtg: -10.1 (30th of 30)
Expected W-L: 4-14 (30th of 30)

 

 

[Pam Cummings 9,689]

50 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

It's getting worse, not better. I think what is really skewing the numbers is that the Spurs suck. Really, really suck. The shitty Lakers sans Lebron just ran us out of the gym. We now own the worst SRS in the league by almost 2.5 points as well as the worst net rating.

PTS/G: 110.1 (20th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 120.3 (30th of 30)
SRS: -10.48 (30th of 30) Pace: 101.1 (7th of 30)
Off Rtg: 108.2 (27th of 30) Def Rtg: 118.3 (29th of 30) Net Rtg: -10.1 (30th of 30)
Expected W-L: 4-14 (30th of 30)

The next 10 games:
19    Wed, Nov 23, 2022    8:00p                New Orleans Pelicans                                
20    Fri, Nov 25, 2022    8:00p                Los Angeles Lakers                                
21    Sat, Nov 26, 2022    8:00p                Los Angeles Lakers                                
22    Wed, Nov 30, 2022    8:00p            @    Oklahoma City Thunder                                
23    Fri, Dec 2, 2022    8:00p                New Orleans Pelicans                                
24    Sun, Dec 4, 2022    4:00p                Phoenix Suns                                
25    Thu, Dec 8, 2022    8:30p                Houston Rockets                                
26    Sat, Dec 10, 2022    5:00p            @    Miami Heat                                
27    Mon, Dec 12, 2022    8:30p                Cleveland Cavaliers                                
28    Wed, Dec 14, 2022    8:00p                Portland Trail Blazers                                

That Houston game on 12/8 is shaping up to be something special!

Not tanking was fun while it lasted. Let's show these fuckers how to suck.

 

Us to Houston on 12/8:

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Pam Cummings

[ztejas 43,605]

On 11/21/2022 at 1:44 PM, Mitch Cumsteen said:

It's getting worse, not better. I think what is really skewing the numbers is that the Spurs suck. Really, really suck. The shitty Lakers sans Lebron just ran us out of the gym. We now own the worst SRS in the league by almost 2.5 points as well as the worst net rating.

PTS/G: 110.1 (20th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 120.3 (30th of 30)
SRS: -10.48 (30th of 30) Pace: 101.1 (7th of 30)
Off Rtg: 108.2 (27th of 30) Def Rtg: 118.3 (29th of 30) Net Rtg: -10.1 (30th of 30)
Expected W-L: 4-14 (30th of 30)

The next 10 games:
19    Wed, Nov 23, 2022    8:00p                New Orleans Pelicans                                
20    Fri, Nov 25, 2022    8:00p                Los Angeles Lakers                                
21    Sat, Nov 26, 2022    8:00p                Los Angeles Lakers                                
22    Wed, Nov 30, 2022    8:00p            @    Oklahoma City Thunder                                
23    Fri, Dec 2, 2022    8:00p                New Orleans Pelicans                                
24    Sun, Dec 4, 2022    4:00p                Phoenix Suns                                
25    Thu, Dec 8, 2022    8:30p                Houston Rockets                                
26    Sat, Dec 10, 2022    5:00p            @    Miami Heat                                
27    Mon, Dec 12, 2022    8:30p                Cleveland Cavaliers                                
28    Wed, Dec 14, 2022    8:00p                Portland Trail Blazers                                

That Houston game on 12/8 is shaping up to be something special!

We're definitely tanking. We keep sitting starters on top of not playing well. 

Poeltl was out against LA and KJ started 1/16. 

That'll do it. 

I was wondering if Pop was trying to win games or not - it wasn't clear to start the season. The last couple weeks have answered that question. 

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

I’m no expert but I think this is a very bad basketball team. 

[Radical Larry 28,664]

[ztejas 43,605]

We weren't bad for about... 7 games. 

Did KJ get hurt again? 

[Kermit 3,159]

10 hours ago, ztejas said:

We weren't bad for about... 7 games. 

Did KJ get hurt again? 

Dude, he looks like absolute hammered dogshit. 

[ztejas 43,605]

13 minutes ago, Kermit said:

Dude, he looks like absolute hammered dogshit. 

Yes I can see that he is playing like dogshit. He played 16 mins last night so I wasn't sure if he maybe reaggravated something. 

Ultimately he's a nice player but on a good team he's a 3rd banana. I think DV has a bit more potential. 

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

Just checked in on the Spurs to see how they did over the weekend.

Nothing like a 1-13 stretch to show the rest of the league just how serious you are about bottoming out. The Spurs are now only 1.5 games behind Detroit and Orlando for the worst record in the league and still up 1 in the win column on the Rockets. The trajectory they're on since they were 5-2 is fucking impressive.

We can argue about what the eye test tells us and justify some outliers in blowouts skewing the results, but these numbers scream Process era 76ers shitty. Bret Brown take the motherfucking wheel:
PTS/G: 110.6 (20th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 121.0 (30th of 30)
SRS: -10.72 (30th of 30) Pace: 101.7 (4th of 30)
Off Rtg: 108.3 (28th of 30) Def Rtg: 118.5 (30th of 30) Net Rtg: -10.2 (30th of 30)

Notwithstanding being the worst defensive team in the league, being 4th in pace and 20th in points per game is a feat. 

[ztejas 43,605]

On 11/28/2022 at 9:07 AM, Mitch Cumsteen said:

We can argue about what the eye test tells us and justify some outliers in blowouts skewing the results, but these numbers scream Process era 76ers shitty. Bret Brown take the motherfucking wheel:
PTS/G: 110.6 (20th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 121.0 (30th of 30)
SRS: -10.72 (30th of 30) Pace: 101.7 (4th of 30)
Off Rtg: 108.3 (28th of 30) Def Rtg: 118.5 (30th of 30) Net Rtg: -10.2 (30th of 30)

The only thing I was ever arguing is that at full strength we had some decent stretches early in the season. 

The move that Pop has pulled since then of ensuring that at least one starter is out for every game due to some strange injury concern isn't unlike Sauron comprehensively deceiving all of Middle Earth to forge the one ring in secret. It's equal parts beautiful and disturbing.

Pop knows exactly what he's doing. This team wouldn't have been great to begin with but the incessant made up injuries and shuffling of lineups has totally cratered any potential we may have had. I'm not sure he's even trying to win games during games at this point. 

He wants that stinky Frenchman. He might get him. 

Edited December 1, 2022 by ztejas

[ztejas 43,605]

Hah - I just tuned in for the last half of the 4Q tonight - we were up 20 in the first half? 

Pop really is like someone's old, pervy uncle that was at D Day and no one has the courage to say anything about him starting at some girl's tits. 

"We aren't just going to let him make a mockery of competitive basketball like this are we?"

"The man won 5 titles with a franchise that had never won before. He's got the all time combined wins record in the NBA. You want to say something, knock yourself out."

[Radical Larry 28,664]

That was impressive.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

It was a must lose game tonight. So proud of this team. You’ve got to admire their resiliency. They really won’t let anything - even a twenty point lead - stand in their way. TST motherfuckers. 

[miguelito 11,333]

I haven't watched much this year but I see the score updates when I'm scrolling through Instagram.  The Spurs account posts highlights and score updates during games.  I always chuckle seeing the scores:

1Q: SAS 32  PHX 18

2Q: SAS 72  PHX 52

3Q: SAS 93  PHX 80

Final: SAS 108 PHX 147

[Kermit 3,159]

Exciting news gentlemen and possibly one lady! We are in third to last place. All this hard work is paying off.

[kingkoopa6 8,395]

Need some new victor highlights for some dessert 

[Welch 635]

On 10/25/2022 at 6:33 AM, Welch said:

On pace for 21-61 61-21.

61-21 21-61

[Radical Larry 28,664]

6-76

[miguelito 11,333]

Show me a win.

[hornfan785 563]

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

Another must lose game tonight vs. Houston. Could be important if it comes down to a tie breaker.
Big win for Orlando last night in OT against the Clippers tying us in the win column, with the added bonus of fuck Kawhi. It doesn't get much better than that.

PICK    TEAM    RECORD    WIN%    GB    STREAK    L10    TOP 4    #1 OVR
1     Orlando  6-20    .231    --    Won 1    1-9    52.1%    14.0%
2     San Antonio 6-18    .250    1.0    Lost 11    0-10    52.1%    14.0%
3     Detroit      7-20    .259    0.5    Lost 1    4-6    52.1%    14.0%
4     Charlotte      7-18    .280    1.5    Lost 3    3-7    48.0%    12.5%
5     Houston 7-17    .292    2.0    Won 1    5-5    42.1%    10.5%

I gotta be honest, though. This team is on such a torrid pace that it may not matter what the other tankers do. Right now, the Spurs have the fourth worst point differential (-11.79) in the history of the NBA behind the 1993 Mavs (-15.2), the 2012 Bobcats (-13.91), and the 1973 76ers (-12.09). We are witnessing history, people.

[Kermit 3,159]

1 hour ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Another must lose game tonight vs. Houston. Could be important if it comes down to a tie breaker.
Big win for Orlando last night in OT against the Clippers tying us in the win column, with the added bonus of fuck Kawhi. It doesn't get much better than that.

PICK    TEAM    RECORD    WIN%    GB    STREAK    L10    TOP 4    #1 OVR
1     Orlando  6-20    .231    --    Won 1    1-9    52.1%    14.0%
2     San Antonio 6-18    .250    1.0    Lost 11    0-10    52.1%    14.0%
3     Detroit      7-20    .259    0.5    Lost 1    4-6    52.1%    14.0%
4     Charlotte      7-18    .280    1.5    Lost 3    3-7    48.0%    12.5%
5     Houston 7-17    .292    2.0    Won 1    5-5    42.1%    10.5%

I gotta be honest, though. This team is on such a torrid pace that it may not matter what the other tankers do. Right now, the Spurs have the fourth worst point differential (-11.79) in the history of the NBA behind the 1993 Mavs (-15.2), the 2012 Bobcats (-13.91), and the 1973 76ers (-12.09). We are witnessing history, people.

INJURY REPORT (SPURS): Blake Wesley- OUT (MCL Sprain), Jakob Poeltl - OUT (right knee bruise), Jeremy Sochan - OUT (right quad contusion), Keita Bates-Diop - OUT (foot), Dominick Barlow - OUT (G-League), Devin Vassell - Doubtful (knee), Doug McDermott - Probable (ankle), Josh Richardson - Probabale (ankle), Romeo Langford - Probable (back)

INJURY REPORT (Rockets) - Kevin Porter Jr - Questionable (knee), Josh Christopher - Questionable (foot), Bruno Fernando - Questionable (illness)

 

They ain’t gonna out-tank the Spurs tonight.

[Pam Cummings 9,689]

2 hours ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

Another must lose game tonight vs. Houston. Could be important if it comes down to a tie breaker.
Big win for Orlando last night in OT against the Clippers tying us in the win column, with the added bonus of fuck Kawhi. It doesn't get much better than that.

PICK    TEAM    RECORD    WIN%    GB    STREAK    L10    TOP 4    #1 OVR
1     Orlando  6-20    .231    --    Won 1    1-9    52.1%    14.0%
2     San Antonio 6-18    .250    1.0    Lost 11    0-10    52.1%    14.0%
3     Detroit      7-20    .259    0.5    Lost 1    4-6    52.1%    14.0%
4     Charlotte      7-18    .280    1.5    Lost 3    3-7    48.0%    12.5%
5     Houston 7-17    .292    2.0    Won 1    5-5    42.1%    10.5%

I gotta be honest, though. This team is on such a torrid pace that it may not matter what the other tankers do. Right now, the Spurs have the fourth worst point differential (-11.79) in the history of the NBA behind the 1993 Mavs (-15.2), the 2012 Bobcats (-13.91), and the 1973 76ers (-12.09). We are witnessing history, people.

[Braff Zacklin 13,670]

WTF, Houston???!!!

[miguelito 11,333]

On 12/4/2022 at 8:39 PM, miguelito said:

Show me a win.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

That was a tough win last night. You've just got to shake it off and go get the next one.

Schedule is setting up nicely. Miami has been struggling so they can't afford to overlook the Spurs in those two games. Cleveland should pound them. Portland has been pretty good all season but that game could be trouble. Big games coming up with a rematch against Houston and a statement game against the Magic on 12/23. 

26    Sat, Dec 10, 2022    5:00p            @    Miami Heat
27    Mon, Dec 12, 2022    8:30p                Cleveland Cavaliers                                
28    Wed, Dec 14, 2022    8:00p                Portland Trail Blazers                                
29    Sat, Dec 17, 2022    5:00p                Miami Heat                                
30    Mon, Dec 19, 2022    8:00p            @    Houston Rockets                                
31    Thu, Dec 22, 2022    8:00p            @    New Orleans Pelicans                                
32    Fri, Dec 23, 2022    7:00p            @    Orlando Magic                                
33    Mon, Dec 26, 2022    8:00p                Utah Jazz                                
34    Tue, Dec 27, 2022    8:00p            @    Oklahoma City Thunder                                
35    Thu, Dec 29, 2022    8:00p                New York Knicks                                
36    Sat, Dec 31, 2022    7:00p                Dallas Mavericks                             

[Radical Larry 28,664]

[ztejas 43,605]

I get that we aren't trying to win games but I could really use Poeltl's fantasy production right now. Bench some other asshole for a random injury for a few games. I need a 16/12/4 in a 23 point loss. 

[ztejas 43,605]

[miguelito 11,333]

On 12/4/2022 at 8:39 PM, miguelito said:

Show me a win.

Fuck you.

[Radical Larry 28,664]

8-74

[Mitch Cumsteen 18,601]

What are these assholes doing?

[Kermit 3,159]

52 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

What are these assholes doing?

[ztejas 43,605]

59 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

What are these assholes doing?

They've clearly been reading your posts. 

God dammit Mitch. I was fully on board with the tank, too. 

[Braff Zacklin 13,670]

[kingkoopa6 8,395]

Let’s goooooo

[miguelito 11,333]

Well, you can't lose 'em all.

[Pam Cummings 9,689]

Stop fucking winning you dickheads