Analysis Hello new coaching era...hello defense.

[benefactor]

I know it's only one game, but we are seeing the effects of the coaching change. We are seeing the effects of a new era and new coaching minds. I can't recall any of this defensive urgency from last season. But here we are, and I'm here for it.

 

[Splits]

almost everyone on guard, except Keldumb. He's been horrible

 

[Corso]

Real commitment to D is what makes a team a contender. This was greta to see. Hope it stays this way. *knocking on wood*

 

[RC_Drunkford]

I said about 4 years ago: This team will start winning again once the old man is gone. We need a young headcoach who's hungry. Here we are.

There's no doubt in my mind that we would've lost this game with Pop at the helm, playing defensive schemes from 1997

 

[John B]

I really liked when they showed Mitch in the huddle keeps reminding the team to do the mundane stuff, and repeating while everyone to the last man was fixed listening, reminds of younger Pop. It’s the 1st time really that I see Mitch that young Pop protege taking the Spurs to the next era, reminiscent of young Pop and the Big 3, and now with the new Big 3 Wemby, Castle and Harper. and co. repeating history.

 

[brazil]

almost everyone on guard, except Keldumb. He's been horrible

Keldone had a fine game last night tbh.. he was efficient on offense and active on defense

 

[Em-City]

I really liked when they showed Mitch in the huddle keeps reminding the team to do the mundane stuff, and repeating while everyone to the last man was fixed listening, reminds of younger Pop. It’s the 1st time really that I see Mitch that young Pop protege taking the Spurs to the next era, reminiscent of young Pop and the Big 3, and now with the new Big 3 Wemby, Castle and Harper. and co. repeating history.

Agree - it really did sound like a younger pop, harping on about the basics, the fundamentals. Beautiful to see.

It's not just old pop gone, and Mitch, but also that we've got a capable, modern bunch of assistants to drive the technicalities into the gameplan

 

[Splits]

Keldone had a fine game last night tbh.. he was efficient on offense and active on defense

Comment was made before his great 2nd half. In my game grades, I gave him a 4 and was the topic of my comment correcting my shitting on him

 

[brazil]

Comment was made before his great 2nd half. In my game grades, I gave him a 4 and was the topic of my comment correcting my shitting on him

makes sense indeed

 

[Splits]

makes sense indeed

and @scott you have my permission to publish my comment if you so wish

 

[RC_Drunkford]

I really liked when they showed Mitch in the huddle keeps reminding the team to do the mundane stuff, and repeating while everyone to the last man was fixed listening, reminds of younger Pop. It’s the 1st time really that I see Mitch that young Pop protege taking the Spurs to the next era, reminiscent of young Pop and the Big 3, and now with the new Big 3 Wemby, Castle and Harper. and co. repeating history.

Especially the part where he told them to keep executing when they were up 20+ points. That's the fire that I've been missing from Pop for so long.

 

[Chinook]

I was saying last season that the main issue for the defense and rebounding was coaching rather than personnel. They've addressed both factors, but the new players will prove their worth as they gel. Guys like Vassell and Castle playing to their defensive potential could have happened last year. Keldon moving back to PF and playing in the paint could have happened last year. Pop was uniquely bad at the end of his career. He was holding the team back when a lot of folks assumed he was propping them up.

 

[Splits]

Given all the highlight dunks, blocks, embarrassment of Dallas' backcourt, this was probably my favorite play of the night. This is in transition after Wemby completely confuses Copper and rips it out of midair. Look at the spacing of Castle, Vasselline, and Champ. All 3 defenders collapse on the 7'6" point guard who makes one of the most disguised no-looks I've ever seen. Thing of beauty.

 

[Seventyniner]

28 teams have played one game.
All of them scored at least 108 points, except one.
The Mavs with 92.
Amazing.

 

[couchman]

I can't remember the last time I saw Pop show the kind of urgency and in-game leadership that we saw from Mitch last night.
That matters, but it only really works if it's backed up by sound scheme and techniques being taught. I'm seeing some obvious signs that we're using better tactics on both sides of the ball.
It's just one game, but here are my overreaction notes on defense:

1. We are not overreacting to people getting in the paint and giving up an endless parade of wide open kick-out threes. Even Wemby is not just rushing over to pick up players who beat their man to the paint. He is hovering in their vicinity, close enough to get the block if they try to shoot, but also in position to rotate should they pass.
2. We are swiping at the ball almost every time there is a dribble handoff on the perimeter. There were at least 5 times that I saw our defenders swipe at the ball on those handoffs. We created several turnovers that way. Even when it didn't create a turnover it often disrupted the flow of the player receiving the ball. I love this technique because the defender can anticipate where the ball will be on that handoff and just aim for that point with the swipe.
3. We have active hands on the perimeter looking to deflect passes and get turnovers. I'm seeing better eye discipline and effort from our defenders to anticipate those passes and get deflections. Castle and Vassell both made big plays like this. VASSELL MADE IMPORTANT DEFENSIVE PLAYS! When you can get a clean steal that leads to a fast break layup it is a huge turn in the game. Get a stop and a score on the same play? Yes please!

 

[Neuromancer]

For the first time in years I didn't see our guys constantly over helping and leaving dudes wide open from three consistently. Such a breath of fresh air

 

[BankShot21]

I'll get lambasted for this sure. But the coaching change will be amazing this season.

Especially if Mitch has free range to do what he wants to do, as he should be able to do. Many of you think Greg can do no wrong, he did a lot of wrong. That was a different era and most of it he had the greatest franchise player in sports history in TD on his side holding down the Fort. Times have changed.

New era of basketball, new unseen era of colossal Wilt/Kareem/Duncan/Bird/Durant/Curry freak motherfucker as the franchise cornerstone.

It's gonna be an amazing interesting few years. Let's hope for health and continuity. I said early last year Mitch looked promising. Then Victor went down and things went to shit which was understandably. Hopefully everything goes well this year and Mitch can be who he wants to be and it'll stand the test of time as the last generation did

 

[Hyrup]

Trying not to overreact based on one game, but holy cow does it feel like they have been checked out on Pop for years.

 

[Ice009]

28 teams have played one game.
All of them scored at least 108 points, except one.
The Mavs with 92.
Amazing.

Not sure if it's doable in this modern NBA, but a goal I sort of have it to try and keep teams to 25-27 pts a quarter (100 for the game).

As Couchman said, I think they're getting taught better defensive principles and it may be helping guys like Devin. If Devin can play decent defense and shoot better on top of that, that'd be huge for him and the team.

Edit : Last season would have been the first time Pop had a decent team in years, so I won't rag on him as we didn't get to see what he would have done with the team last season.

 

[TDomination]

28 teams have played one game.
All of them scored at least 108 points, except one.
The Mavs with 92.
Amazing.

awesome!

For the Spurs, in the past 3 seasons they have held a team to 92pts or less only 5 times. In 246 games only 5 times. And on our first game of this season, 92.

 

[ginobilized]

I agree with everything recently stated here.

The coaching staff has been greenlit and is a major upgrade. I couldn't be happier with the hirings.
This staff would've given us 8-10 more wins with last season's squad.

The player upgrades have been just as positive. Harper, Fox, Bryant, Kornball, Lunch Lady are huge upgrades over their former counterparts. All is true and leads to a winning brand of basketball as our former leader would've said.

The thing that makes it all work is that Victor Wembanyama has made a quantum jump in his strength, conditioning, incorporating actionable skills that are indefensible, and his confidence has taken a giant step. If we get last night's version of Wemby on most nights we are suddenly and easily a top 6 team in the West. Seeing him initiate contact, gather and score over and over is such a thing of beauty. Defensively, I saw AD trying to body him with no success, unlike last season. This is a new Wemby. Wemby 3.0 has been rebuilt in the Shaolin temple with some help from KD and Hakeem. If the Spurs win 5o games and are top 5 defensively, Wemby might nab MVP & DPOY. Stay healthy, bro!

Also of note, the Spurs spirit and cohesion are a joy to behold as well. It's clear that Wemby and Castle are forming a bond and have built some real trust. Everyone seems like they are on the same plane of energy and vibe, except for Sochan. He looks a bit lost to me. I hope for the best outcome from him, but, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

Trying not to overreact based on one game, but holy cow does it feel like they have been checked out on Pop for years.

"watch these penguins fuck. It'll make you better basketball players."

 

[Quentin_Compson]

Not to take anything away from the Spurs' defense, which indeed looked both different and better than last season, but the Mavs in their current iteration are a seriously challenged team on offense.

 

[Mugen]

BWrong's vision coming together. Lot of rangy defenders (that can't shoot ) backed by the greatest help defender in NBA history.

I haven't seen that many contested 3s by the Spurs in a long, long time tbh.

 

[spurraider21]

Given all the highlight dunks, blocks, embarrassment of Dallas' backcourt, this was probably my favorite play of the night. This is in transition after Wemby completely confuses Copper and rips it out of midair. Look at the spacing of Castle, Vasselline, and Champ. All 3 defenders collapse on the 7'6" point guard who makes one of the most disguised no-looks I've ever seen. Thing of beauty.

yep, and it wasnt just for flash. watching the replay at regular speed and its clear that he froze flagg up with the look-away, and gave just enough time for champ to get the shot off