GAMEDAY!

Don't want the season to end today. GSG.

The Spurs have three problems, imo. They are all things that have changed since the beautiful game, and I think it's because they tipped from having mostly one kind of player to mostly another kind of player. The culture changed.

1. They exert playoff level effort in spurts, it's not something they just do. In game 5, Marco Bellinelli was working noticeably harder on defense than certain other players. That's... a problem.

2. There's little movement off the ball on offense. Even on post isos for Aldridge, they don't do the usual down screen+screen the screener+clear the strong side as much. Same on DeRozans dribble drives, he's trying to drive with the whole defense standing there looking at him, so help is always in position.

3. Related to point 2, there's too much iso and not enough passing, which means the core of the offense, especially at critical moments, is Aldridge/DeRozan/Gay putting up contested midrange shots. Pro-Spurs writers like to talk about how we have the best midrange shooters in the game... great, we're the best at a losing strategy.


But, they had some of these same issues in the first round against Dallas a few years back and that turned out ok. I hope they lock in tonight.

I think we are having trouble moving the ball because Denver is playing great defense on the perimeter. To add to your list our fast break defense has been pretty bad too.

True. They are definitely playing great defense, especially once they figured out that Derrick White can beat Murray off the dribble every time.

Do or die tonight. Go Spurs Go!

Good first quarter. We actually look into it so far.

Yea let's post Rudy Gay up 18 feet away from the basket against a good defender. Damn. Couldn't make the entry pass.

And three fouls on white and he'll have to sit for the rest of the half. No bueno.

Something about the second quarter.

Now three on Poeltl. Certainly not getting any home court love on the calls.

West Texan said:

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And three fouls on white and he'll have to sit for the rest of the half. No bueno.

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The third foul was his own doing.

I don't know how many times the Spurs has lost the ball when getting a defensive rebound this series. Need to rebound.

This is the point where our team folds.

If I'm the spurs I don't double Jokic. Let him expend all of his doughy energy trying to get a shot.

Way to hustle Demar.

That was a generous .8.

Well our bench is playing better than the Nuggets bench but their starters are making baskets.

They are getting killed by Jokic. He's making shots, posting up then kicking it out and rebounding. I wonder if the Spurs should just play him one on one and stop the others.

Enzo The Baker said:

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That was a generous .8.

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Sports-Ag said:

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Well our bench is playing better than the Nuggets bench but their starters are making baskets.

They are getting killed by Jokic. He's making shots, posting up then kicking it out and rebounding. I wonder if the Spurs should just play him one on one and stop the others.

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With White and Poeltl being in foul trouble we're not able to match their two best players with our best defenders. That's gonna let them feast. I'm not worried about Jokic scoring but we can't let Murray and Jokic continue to kill us. Got to find a way to slow one of them down.

It's been Jokic and Murray for Denver so far in the third.

Just can't figure out the pick and roll.

Got to get stops

Need to box out.

These stupid off balance unnecessary threes are going to hurt us

Spurs missing on some great opportunities tonight. Those last two fast breaks being the most recent.

Here we go last quarter. GSG!

Take advantage while Jokic is off the court.

I would say an 18 point lead is safe but...

Like I've been saying this whole time. Need to play Gay more.

Didn't even notice Bertans didn't play until garbage time.

Spurs win. Game 7 at 9pm.

Just forced a game 7. Man our fan base is spoiled.

Ball movement was so much better tonight. We did a great job from the opening tip of attacking the basket and kicking it out for open shots. If we can keep doing that (and knocking down those open shots) then I really like our chances in game 7. Defensively I think the big story was the number of 3s Denver attempted. We limited Denver to 24 3s, which is the same amount we took. It's easy to contain shooters when they don't take that many shots.

West Texan said:

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Ball movement was so much better tonight. We did a great job from the opening tip of attacking the basket and kicking it out for open shots. If we can keep doing that (and knocking down those open shots) then I really like our chances in game 7. Defensively I think the big story was the number of 3s Denver attempted. We limited Denver to 24 3s, which is the same amount we took. It's easy to contain shooters when they don't take that many shots.

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Maybe the answer is letting Jokic get his. Most of Denver's 3s were contested.