Analysis GRADES: Nets 107 @ Spurs 118

[scott]

HOME OPENER: SPURS 118 - NETS 107

Scott's Notes:

• I'm going to start out with the Power of Friendship, the part that is healthy and active anyway. We lose today without Devin and Keldon, and frankly they've been playing great going all the way back to pre-season. Keldon seems to have really embraced his role and is going old school Big Body with his tenacity on the boards. I think we were all wondering whether or not Devin would embrace a complimentary role and so far he has. I really loved his game on offense today. He was quick, decisive and unafraid to let it rip. When he was leading the bench unit he wasn't afraid to take control, but when bigger guns were on the floor he played within his role. Really outstanding from both guys.
• Dylan Harper... wow! Until Fox gets back, I really wonder if Mitch should consider going to whatever starting 5 he would with Fox, but with Dylan in his place. Part of that is because of Dylan, part is because of what we'll address in the next bullet point. I'm excited to see Dylan and Fox next to each other for stretches as well. We're so lucky to have been gifted this young man.
• Castle, woof. Still love Steph, but it's clear he is not a PG (I've been saying he's a 3 since last season). Just too many turnovers while he is handling the ball.
• It's pretty hard to earn a 1, but Barnes easily did it today. Snap out of it, old man.
• Victor was kind of "off" on the offensive end but still put up 31 points and hit some timely 3s. He's just out of this world. I think he has a real chance to lead the league in rebounding in addition to blocks.
• Liked what we got from Champ today. He found his rhythm with those corner 3s when we needed them.
• Mitch got bailed out by Harper and the POF today. Really poor by trying to get cute with rotations about 5 minutes too early.

What You Said

• @heyheymymy: Wemby was great, but it was the rookie that bailed our asses out yet again. Harper plays beyond his years.
• @mazerrackham: Harper was the story of the game. Great energy and finishing sparked the Spurs into winning a game that they could have lost. Castle is a bit concerning these last few games. Most turnovers in the league through 3 games indicate that he's not as far along as I was hoping as a lead ball handler/creator.
• @Sugus: Harper is legit! And the Spurs can now proudly say they are must-watch TV. Wemby is prime-time television, and now that he's got a real team around him now... Sky's the limit!
• @Robz4000: Might be time to start Harper tbh.
• @wemvp: The 3-1 start to the season I said was crucial if this is going to be a strong playoff team has been achieved. Now let's get greedy and go for 4-0
• @Splits:
• I hope Mitch learned to practice what he preaches. He took the game for granted up 26, took Wemby out of the game early in the 3rd thinking things were wrapped up and he could save minutes going into the b2b, and Wemby had to play the most minutes of his season (36) and will probably lead to a loss Toronto tomorrow. It's a forgivable mistake, rookie coach, but damn that was fu***** bad. Trying to scroll right of the grade 5 when I rate Harper. Never imagined a world where I'd rate 2 of the Friendship Crew a 5 in the same game.

I know these grades are a little early, but I had to get them knocked out. Grades for the TOR game will be sometime Tuesday night, as I need to travel tomorrow and will catch the replay and then get the grades done Tuesday afternoon (my time).

 

[OU812]

Harper is a bad man, but he’ll never go super nova until he develops an outside shot. I believe he will, but………

This team will be more poised with Fox and Kornett.

 

[heyheymymy]

Figure HB is just getting his legs under him but hope he warms up soon

 

[spurraider21]

Worst case scenario HB is an expiring player

 

[Thoodee]

Again, very much appreciate these post grades!

 

[onechance87]

barnes needs to start knocking down shots.Pretty much worthless if he aint making shots.

 

[Correct Crusader]

Harper is a bad man, but he’ll never go super nova until he develops an outside shot. I believe he will, but………

This team will be more poised with Fox and Kornett.

He's got the stroke, just needs more reps & confidence.

 

[024]

Wembanyama - Looking back, Wemby hit a few circus shots against the Mavs that made his offense look better than it actually was. He still struggles to get into ideal positioning leading to off balance shots and unnecessary fade aways. Can be frustrating to watch sometimes. But he continued to play otherworldly defense and still found ways to score so his impact on the team is still unrivaled.

Castle - 15 turnovers over the last 2 games just isn't going to cut it. His outside shooting doesn't look like it's improved either. Maybe he hasn't taken as big of a leap as I thought. Hopefully Fox returns soon and Castle be more efficient in a secondary playmaker role.

Harper - The second game he's spurred a run to lead a comeback. Already looks better than Castle at running the offense. Could be in contention for 6MOTY if he keeps this up. His defensive intensity has been an added bonus too.

Vassell / Johnson / Champaigne - Deserve praise for playing very well within their role. Vassell's shooting has always been hot or cold but he's hitting them at the right time when the Spurs are desperate for outside shooting to punish the doubles thrown at Wemby. If Johnson can sustain his 3 point shooting, he'll have a solid role on the team.

Barnes - Someone wake him up and tell him the season has started.

Biyombo - Was getting out rebounded during his time on the floor. Spurs desperately need more competent bigs with Kornet out.

MItch - Left Castle running the show for far too long. Fortunately he did course correct and put Harper in for the comeback.

Overall: Still early in the season so too soon to call out any trends. But I do think other teams will play the Spurs like the last couple of games. Pack the paint, throw doubles at Wemby, and exploit the lack of reliable shooters. Spurs will need more shooters than Vassell and Champaigne.

 

[LeBowen]

I really have to remember to submit these right after the game.
Hopefully grades submitted after the game specific topic is made also get included into totals.

 

[Em-City]

I really have to remember to submit these right after the game.
Hopefully grades submitted after the game specific topic is made also get included into totals.

Ibelieve they do.. you just miss out on getting quoted on the first post

 

[Exstatic]

Figure HB is just getting his legs under him but hope he warms up soon

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his best year shooting the rock coincided with CP3’s year here.

 

[timtonymanu]

Thanks Scott!

 

[timtonymanu]

It's very possible Barnes is washed and he shouldn't be a locked starter anymore but he still hit a big shot against the Pelicans late in the last game. His veteran presence can still come in handy but if the Spurs can get a better starting 4 in a trade for him, you go for it.

 

[Fireball]

Great job. My grades came a bit late

 

[Paramore]

The Black Falcon shall be fine

 

[spursparker9]

Korndog is the real mvp tbh lol

 

[brazil]

This win has been way more difficult than it should have been and it's all on Mitch who tried to be cute. Splits summed it up perfectly well... hopefully Mitch will act what he is preaching, learn to respect your opponents... no matter what is the lead, you don't play cute in the middle of the third.. you have the whole fourth quarter for that. Also shout out to the Nets who kept on playing despite the spurs lead, they executed well down the stretch, they could have waived the white flag but they showed character and poise.

 

[TBdog]

I know it's the nets and we should have pulled away in the third. But, we are down 3 rotational players.

 

[Ice009]

He's got the stroke, just needs more reps & confidence.

I feel he's a good shooter, and I wanted to see him take more shots, but he's so good going to the rim, not sure if he should when he's that good at getting to the rim (he may as well take the higher percentage shot at the rim). It's also a volume thing. I think if he were to shoot it a lot more, you'd see him make a good percentage of those shots, but with the Spurs, he might not be able to get that many shots as he would have if he were drafted by a team projected to be down the bottom.

Same with Steph, I want to see him shoot more (at least try an incorporate a mid-range jumper while mixing his drives to the rim), but really, there isn't that many shots to go around for him to shoot his way out of slumps. He's going to have to learn to be more efficient with the shot opportunities he gets.

I am really keen to see Lindy Waters back as he's shown to be a good shooter that doesn't seem to need volume to hit his shots.

 

[brazil]

I know it's the nets and we should have pulled away in the third. But, we are down 3 rotational players.

true but this does not excuse dat poor coaching mid third and some sloppy plays down the stretch, we had everything to make it a blow out game resting starters last 8 mn or so of the game

 

[scott]

I really have to remember to submit these right after the game.
Hopefully grades submitted after the game specific topic is made also get included into totals.

The dashboard grades are collected with no cut off. If you wait until the last day of the year to submit grades for every game, all of the averages will be updated.

The grades post is just a snapshot at the moment when I wrote the post