Analysis GAME GRADES: Spurs @ Lakers | Nov 5 2025

[scott]

Spurs fall to Lakers 116-118, San Antonio drops to 5-2.

Scott's Thoughts:

• Not sure if it was the late start and 3 hour game, or just depression from the outcome, but only 15 grades submitted. Let me know if you think I should hold off a little longer before posting these.
• Another absolute stinker from Wemby on the offensive end. I think we've discussed ad nauseum the issues there, but I did want to point out that as bad as Wemby has been the last two games, he's only been a -2 against LAL and a -3 against PHX. Just goes to show the impact he has on the game even when he isn't contributing offensively.
• Feels like if we had Fox we win this game easily. This stretch has definitely proven Stephon Castle is not a PG (he's a 3... like I've been saying).
• Speaking of Stephon... he had a stretch in the 3rd where it was he and Barnes keeping us in the game, and his defense on Luka was very good. But those turnovers man... woof.
• For the Sochan Stans, today is the day you get to gloat over the Sochan Skeptics (like me). Offensively and defensively I thought he was fantastic. He was poor on the rebounds though and at times you could see his CPU getting frozen in calculating what he was supposed to do with the ball. I'm not sure we'll ever get past that. The solution is to limit his opportunities in those situations. Two handed FTs look good and he he made 1 of his 2 threes... every masterpiece starts with the first note.
• I rated Kelly O higher than consensus. He doesn't provide rim protection, but he does get boards and make some nifty passes. I definitely seem him more as a PF than a C, but even at the 5 he provided infinitely more than Bismack ever did.
• Black Falcon is now shooting 44.1% from 3 on the season, for all those who thought his shot was washed.
• Keldon was a mixed bag for me... lots of great hustle plays and tough inside scoring, mixed with a lot of boneheaded fouls.
• I want to see more Lindy minutes...
• Devin of the first 5 games is being held hostage somewhere with Wemby of the first 5 games. I don't like this version of Devin at all.
• Champ... I don't know what to say.

What You Had to Say:

• @spursfanfromafar
  • This was a disappointing loss, for sure. But I am actually relieved that the Spurs lost such a game in early season than later. The Spurs actually played well in many points of the game - they have begun to adjust well to the physical pounding that Wemby is subject to and the defensive attention he garners - and Wemby himself was able to do much better than the Phoenix outing. But Wemby (and others) went a bit too aggressive; Wemby shouldn't have, while I wont blame Caste, Sochan or Barnes for their fouls because they had a very difficult defensive assignment. Which they did relatively well. I liked Mitch and Sweeney's defensive plans for Doncic as well. It did slow him down even if it didn't stop him. And the wings made a lot of good threes when required.
  • What the Spurs lacked was a competent PG who could slice and dice the Lakers' defense and set the table better for Wemby. Castle did an adequate job but it was amply clear that he is at best a secondary playmaker yet again. While McLaughlin was laughable in his the couple of minutes he played - a total disaster. Hypotheticals are of little use, but I bet we would have won the game if Dylan played this one. Or perhaps the good / better version of Fox. When the hell will he be back! The Spurs desperately need him.
  • There were other positives. Sochan showed some progress by draining a corner three and some decent defense plus good finishing and hustle. Waters was a net negative on court but he has a dead-eye stroke and that bodes well. Champs was hit and miss, but he was more hit than miss (and an agonizing miss) in the game. Keldon was his energetic self and Devin could have been better but he didn't hurt the Spurs. I still believe that this squad when Fox/ Harper are healthy, will be in line for a semi-deep playoff run. And this game didn't really suggest anything otherwise even if it resulted in a gut-wrenching loss. Go Spurs Go!
• @Guru of Nothing: Ugly game, says it all.
• @Area 51.247:
  • The deep value of players who've gone deep into the playoffs and learned the necessary skills to grit out close games and win was demonstrated by Luka, Smart, and Ayton against the young Spurs in L.A.
  • We'll learn a little more about the Spurs' makeup on Friday against the Rockets. Can they keep bringing focus and intensity against another playoff team?
  • Is it progress when opponents appear to be circling the date and game planning for the Spurs and Wembanyama?
• @NotoriousHOP
  • Mitch avoids a zero because he didn't play Biyombo. Also, there is no option for zero.
  • Barnes. Worse defense than normal. Alternated between turnstile and mannequin. Where is the zero option?
  • Castle. Showed a flash but should have just thrown the ball into the stands. Not a PG. And his performance wasn't PG. Had to shield my children's eyes.
  • Wemby. Boxed out by LaRavia over and over. May have bitten a poisoned apple cuz he was sleeping out there. Maybe a kiss from the Polish Prince would help.
  • Sochan. Shot didn't look like ass and the effort was there. One of the few bright spots in the darkness of ineptitude.
  • Olynyk. The Lunch Lady was serving spoiled sloppy joes but it was his first game back so I'll allow it because he gave us a chance at the end.
  • Champ. Could have been a hero, ended as a goat. And not a good kind. I don't like cabrito.
• @flox: The way Luka's whistle gets called he's essentially untouchable. We need to get Wemby to that point. I really think as good as Castle is, we need to start McLaughin and Castle together to hopefully get Wemby some better looks. He's getting the ball in some very questionable positions.
  

Next up: Friday at home against Houston to kick off the NBA Cup! Hopefully Fox is back.

 

[spurs10]

Thanks for these grades. The reffing in this game helped determine the outcome, though there were many calls on each team. The Smart flop might have cost us the game.

 

[jeebus]

It was a rough game to watch, from fouls alone. Not sure what the NBA is trying to prove but neither team could get into any sort of flow. Ratings were shit when teams were shooting 130 a game...you try to bring some defense and toughness to the game to make it competitive and you get punished. Not to mention Luka and the Lakers whining bitch asses literally CRYING after ever call against them. Fuck me that was annoying.

 

[spurraider21]

i got my grades in just after this thread popped up lol.

i do my best not to have TV on when with the kids after work (sometimes ill cheat this if the quality of the game warrants it), and then their bath/bedtime is pretty involved, so a lot of times basically between 6:30 PST and 8:30PST i cant really watch much of whats going on, and end up having to catch up later. sometimes i can do so that night, sometimes not. so often times its not until the next day i'd even have the chance to re-watch the full game to give reasonable takes that are not just based on snippets/highlights

i also get theres some urgency of not letting game grades drag on too much.

 

[scott]

i got my grades in just after this thread popped up lol.

i do my best not to have TV on when with the kids after work (sometimes ill cheat this if the quality of the game warrants it), and then their bath/bedtime is pretty involved, so a lot of times basically between 6:30 PST and 8:30PST i cant really watch much of whats going on, and end up having to catch up later. sometimes i can do so that night, sometimes not. so often times its not until the next day i'd even have the chance to re-watch the full game to give reasonable takes that are not just based on snippets/highlights

i also get theres some urgency of not letting game grades drag on too much.

The great news is that the dashboard continues to intake them no matter when anyone submits, so your grades are definitely counted... just not in the the snapshot I lead the post with.

 

[O_V]

The Smart flops might have cost us the game.

FIFY

 

[O_V]

It was a rough game to watch, from fouls alone. Not sure what the NBA is trying to prove but neither team could get into any sort of flow. Ratings were shit when teams were shooting 130 a game...you try to bring some defense and toughness to the game to make it competitive and you get punished. Not to mention Luka and the Lakers whining bitch asses literally CRYING after ever call against them. Fuck me that was annoying.

He does things on one end that he whines about opponents doing to him on the other.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

I'm in the habit of submitting grades immediately after the game, or not at all, and nearly skipped last night because west coast, and I'll bet it was like this for many.

 

[O_V]

Jeremy looked...really good. Damn, I will be sooo happy to be wrong about him.

 

[gilmor2002]

I especially dislike Champ in the late game scenarios. Overall he is a net negative. Even Kelly plays better than him and gas more awareness.

 

[CGD]

these visuals are quite nice to see.

Didnt see the game (highlights only) but didnt seem like a catastrophic outcome. The Lakers have been playing well.

 

[heyheymymy]

Thanks for these grades. The reffing in this game helped determine the outcome, though there were many calls on each team. The Smart flop might have cost us the game.

bad idea but what if we made a ref entry for the game grades. not as a outlet for pettiness but would be cool to see the data on games like this with a debatable nature to track fan sentiment about the whistle element of the game

 

[spursparker9]

Awful Coaching had given up and he is actually calm now. Just disappointed and not angry

 

[Fabbs]

these visuals are quite nice to see.

Didnt see the game (highlights only) but didnt seem like a catastrophic outcome. The Lakers have been playing well.

Lakers were minus Lebron and Reeves.
While not a Cat 5 disaster, the Spurs losing a 10 point 4th qtr lead blows chunks.
Not just that they lost it, but the way they did. Lots of unforced errors and low IQ plays.
Lots of good plays, but too many eyebrow raising Keystone Pops 2021-23 type sinkholes.

 

[Fireball]

thx scott … great work

i like that you pointed out the plus minus of wemby in both losses. but in the lakers loss it proves that he was negative difference that cost us the game. for the phoenix loss it was a positive sign .. but when you lose by 2 and are -2 then i would feel bad