Analysis GRADES: 12/31/2025 - Spurs 134 Knicks 132

[scott]

SPURS POP THE CHAMPAGNIE TO CLOSE OUT 2025 24-9

Scott's Notes:

• How we can we start this anywhere other than Jules Champagnie? The performance of a lifetime just as man fans were beginning to write him off. One thing I always like to think about with role players - are they the kind of dudes that will win you a game every now and then? So far, I feel like all our main role players (Jules, Dev, HB, Korndog, Keldog) have risen to that occasion at some point this year... the sign of a team with winning DNA. That doesn't mean we're a championship contender quite yet, but we have the ingredients...
• Obviously we got a major scare with Vic's hyperextension of the knee. His post game comments are encouraging, we'll just have to wait for official news. But after a bad defensive 1st Q from Wemby, he responded by going Beast Mode. This is the best our offense has looked with him, IMO.
• Fox was fantastic and one thing that really stands out to me, another 7 assists with zero TOVs. He's been doing a great job taking care of the ball lately, and we needed it... in part because of one of my small gripes...
• Stephon and Vic are still to reckless with the ball. Another 6 combined TO from them last night, 54.5% of our 11 total TOVs. In the last 9 games (including the cup final), Vic and Stephon have accounted for 60 of our 125 TOVs (48%). That's kind of nuts. If these guys can clean that up, there is a next gear for us to find.
• Speaking of Steph, maybe his worst game as a pro. I'm not worried overall, he'll bounce back. Every player goes through a mid-season funk, Steph is in his now. He'll get through it.
• Keldon was fantastic off the bench again, as was Korndog.
• I was higher than consensus on Barnes, but he did a lot of little things that were pretty big, which is why I gave him a 4. He did have one terrible TO late though. I like that he knows his 3 isn't falling right now so he isn't forcing it. It will come back around.

What You Said:

• @Area 51.247 - What are we doing well? What's causing us to do those things well? How can we do more of those things well? Celebrate our successes! Learn from our mistakes! Play hard, find joy, love the game! Go Spurs Go!
• @mazerrackham - What an appropriate "pop the Champaigne" game on NYE!
• @Guru of Nothing - You know what's on Champ's mind.
• @Correct Crusader - Way to kick off the new year, with some Champagnie!
• @PhantomDashCam - Objectively, it’s just 1 of 82. Seemingly heading for another disappointing loss, (with Castle and Harper morphing into Branham and Wesley 2.0), Champ put on an all time Spurs shooting performance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Prayers up for Wemby.
• @LeBowen - Wemby and Champ carried the game, the lack of shooting from everyone else is becoming a huge concern since it's not an one off night, but a recurring theme. The 3pt defense is still a huge concern and has to be the #1 priority for the coaching staff. The other priority should be giving back the ball to Fox since Castle has been on a really bad run and we can't afford to be going down early, especially if Wemby is out again.

 

[Area 51.247]

Without research, seemed like a rare game where second team were all negative in +- while starters were all positive. May just be the statistical noise from VW's stint off the bench, though. Thought the bench unit was pretty strong, usually.