Analysis GRADES: 12/29/2025 Spurs 101 - Cavs 113

[scott]

Scott's Notes:

• Spurs really have lost their offensive identity the last couple of games
• Probably the worst games I've seen out of Castle this year, he'll bounce back
• Two games in a row... if all three of our wings are providing nothing, we're not going to win
• Luke was solid
• Let's bounce back against the Knicks

What You Said:

• @Amuseddaysleeper - Outside shooting is a red flag that isn’t going away anytime soon. Mitch needed to stop with the musical chairs when it came to rotations.
• @spurs10 - Started off poorly with Castle taking every shot and missing. Our shooters were terrible. Wemby kept leaving his man wide open at the three. Kornet was our only good player it seemed. Fox didn't help much. Harper always contributes, but when everyone else is playing so poorly the 19 yr old ain't gonna carry them. They better watch some film before the Knicks. Is it Mitch's design to not guard the 3 point line? The Cavs didn't shoot a high percentage but made the many wide open 3s they were allowed.
• @heyheymymy - Just a terrible night all around. Spurs shot poorly and defended the perimeter poorly. Hats off to CLE who caught fire in the 4th and never looked back. Tyson looks like a nice pick for the Cavs.
• @LeBowen - We've been figured out and don't know how to adjust.

 

[spurraider21]

the last game ive been able to watch in full was the win over washington which feels like ages ago. i didnt see much of yesterday's other than bits and pieces of second half when it just looks like everything we did on offense was a chore

 

[scott]

the last game ive been able to watch in full was the win over washington which feels like ages ago. i didnt see much of yesterday's other than bits and pieces of second half when it just looks like everything we did on offense was a chore

So you're saying this is all your fault?

 

[scott]

In 8 quarters against the Cavs this season:

G1Q1	+5
G1Q2	+3
G1Q3	-25
G1Q4	+4
G2Q1	+1
G2Q2	+5
G2Q3	-4
G2Q4	-14

We got smoked in two of the eight quarters, and that's the difference.

 

[spurraider21]

So you're saying this is all your fault?

to be fair i also didnt catch the last 2 OKC wins in full lol

 

[spurraider21]

but with only seeing stuff like highlights, box scores, etc... i feel like this is the kind of game that falls on Fox. he's the guy we went out and got, gave a max contract to, to have our offense humming. and he has shown for large stretches of this season that he is still capable of carrying an offense just fine. with all the surrounding pieces there, if it a night where wemby/castle arent just physicall dominating opponents into submission, sorry, but this is where Fox needs to step up and be that 25 point 7 assist guy at a minimum. yeah shooters werent hitting shots so he gets a little slack, but 4-13 from the field for 14 points is just not enough

he's already had a handful of these games this year where it just seems like he's taking the day off and "letting others get theirs" and we wind up losing.

 

[LeBowen]

but with only seeing stuff like highlights, box scores, etc... i feel like this is the kind of game that falls on Fox. he's the guy we went out and got, gave a max contract to, to have our offense humming. and he has shown for large stretches of this season that he is still capable of carrying an offense just fine. with all the surrounding pieces there, if it a night where wemby/castle arent just physicall dominating opponents into submission, sorry, but this is where Fox needs to step up and be that 25 point 7 assist guy at a minimum. yeah shooters werent hitting shots so he gets a little slack, but 4-13 from the field for 14 points is just not enough

he's already had a handful of these games this year where it just seems like he's taking the day off and "letting others get theirs" and we wind up losing.

Go through the GT if you haven't, some good analysis in there.

The issue is that we're apparently good with Castle running everything and taking the most shots, which shouldn't be the case.
Fox is a volume scorer and you can't expect those to both defer to others and be on top of their game whenever needed.

Our best offensive performances have come when Fox was the one running the show and being the first perimeter option, not Castle or whoever else.

 

[Correct Crusader]

In 8 quarters against the Cavs this season:

G1Q1	+5
G1Q2	+3
G1Q3	-25
G1Q4	+4
G2Q1	+1
G2Q2	+5
G2Q3	-4
G2Q4	-14

We got smoked in two of the eight quarters, and that's the difference.

Defense kept them in the game, but once the cavs started hitting, we couldn't keep up. That's an offense problem

 

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Will have more thoughts later but really encourage people to submit their grades and comments. Love this aspect of this site and the write ups!

 

[Mugen]

Have the Cavs really beaten us 8 straight times? Jesus

 

[Mugen]

Will have more thoughts later but really encourage people to submit their grades and comments. Love this aspect of this site and the write ups!

Bend over, I'll show you some encouragement.

 

[scott]

but with only seeing stuff like highlights, box scores, etc... i feel like this is the kind of game that falls on Fox. he's the guy we went out and got, gave a max contract to, to have our offense humming. and he has shown for large stretches of this season that he is still capable of carrying an offense just fine. with all the surrounding pieces there, if it a night where wemby/castle arent just physicall dominating opponents into submission, sorry, but this is where Fox needs to step up and be that 25 point 7 assist guy at a minimum. yeah shooters werent hitting shots so he gets a little slack, but 4-13 from the field for 14 points is just not enough

he's already had a handful of these games this year where it just seems like he's taking the day off and "letting others get theirs" and we wind up losing.

Fox definitely could have played better, but especially against the Cavs the ball just wasn't in his hands. Unless he was going to come steal it from Castle or Wemby, I'm not sure how he could have done anything other than shoot better.

 

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Bend over, I'll show you some encouragement.

Dinner first though!

 

[ginobilized]

Some weird lineups and coaching schemes these 2 games. Teams have scouted us well and it's time to adjust. Integrating Wemby is not a seamless prospect by any means.
Learning to win will take us a couple of full seasons and some painful losses. This was a great test for the playoffs. We've got a long way to go.
Mitch's postgame comments about the anxious approach seem on point. He's letting the team figure it out as they go which is a strong strategy in the long run.

 

[spurraider21]

Fox definitely could have played better, but especially against the Cavs the ball just wasn't in his hands. Unless he was going to come steal it from Castle or Wemby, I'm not sure how he could have done anything other than shoot better.

a) then thats an indictment on Fox for not being vocal enough such that Castle is trying to run the show every possession

b) who was Garland defending?

 

[Bones]

CIA Pop. December isn’t for being the best team in the league, it’s for getting over themselves

 

[scott]

a) then thats an indictment on Fox for not being vocal enough such that Castle is trying to run the show every possession

b) who was Garland defending?

We have a coaching staff, who I presume is developing a game plan and calling plays. I don't think our guys are just freelancing out there and Fox is passing the ball to Castle because he's lazy.

Blaming Fox for Castle's play is wild.