Game Thread Playoffs Round 2, Game 1: Spurs vs Timberwolves (0-0) (Mon 05/04/2026) [8:30 CDT]

[Spursgenius]

My thoughts exactly.

Did Champ get a look? Yes.

But it was a rushed shot off a broken possession where he was probably wondering wtf am I shooting this? And we didnt need a three.

You’ve got the tallest guy in the damn building, draw up something for him

no. mitch cant draw up plays at this juncture, We cant even get the ball in accurately. So with only 5 seconds left they got open look and bricked it. Problem was the guy taking the shot is flay in the front in bigtime plays. That was only issue.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I’m not sure why you’re looping Castle with Fox. He made a good amount of three and he was taken out of the rhythm by the fucking RFS and I never say that. It was pretty obvious. But he has to be smarter and not picking up any ticky-tacky fouls. It’s going to cost San Antonio Antonio if he does.

Plus, ICastle looked pretty solid otherwise. He went to the hole when necessary and had some nice passes. Oh and zero turnovers. I guess I’m blind.

 

[MannyIG]

You have to understand these people are addicted to despair.

I still think the Spurs win the series, but I actually think there is a lot of fair criticism to go around tonight. I haven't bothered with Fox because it just seems like low hanging fruit that all the Fox haters are already salivating at, but Keldon's decision making, Castle's decision making, Wemby's decision making, and Mitch's decision making were all pretty shit tonight.

Also I didn't pay attention to much of the talk prior to this series but is Carter Bryant legit hurt because if not WHY THE FUCK IS THAT MAN IN STREET CLOTHES?!?!?!?!

There's just a lot to be annoyed with after the game tonight.

 

[Ice009]

We weren’t winning in OT btw, that shot by champaignie was our best shot at a win in that situation. Hopefully mitch can build on this and not use the challenge halfway in the 1Q

I'm not normally good at picking challenges, but on that one, I didn't even need a replay to know not to challenge. What the fuck was Mitch thinking on that. Spurs fucking suck at challenges.

 

[KDKSpurs24]

It is NOT a great look. That is kinda the point! Its a dribble step back 3! When has that been a great look for Champ? When did he become a good step back shooter? The Spurs best person shooting step back 3s is Fox and almost everyone here is annoyed when he does it which should tell you how good that shot actually is.

He literally made that same exact side step 3 ball against Camara in game 5 last series btw fwiw

 

[Arguendo]

I refuse to get on social media until Wednesday’s game tbh. I absolutely cannot handle seeing T-Wolves fans gloat (as they rightfully should) or other fanbases dunk on Wemby for the next 48 hours

They deserve to gloat. That was a really impressive showing, coming off an even more impressive showing.
Fucking Ant, on 2 dinged knees. Baller.

 

[John B]

I think he’s also gassed from all his defensive efforts. Idk, we have to somehow find a reason why he lived outside when he shot 4/5 from inside (before the last minute rushed shots).

Wemby mentioned something about putting too much energy on “something” that didn’t help the team in winning and kept him from scoring more… balance between offense and defense

 

[MannyIG]

I think he’s also gassed from all his defensive efforts. Idk, we have to somehow find a reason why he lived outside when he shot 4/5 from inside (before the last minute rushed shots).

The reason is that Wemby wants to be Steph Curry/Durant. He wants to play like a guard. He knows he can hit that shot and WANTS to hit that shot. This has been his fall back so often in his career. Its honestly the one major criticism I've had of him is that he takes way too many 3s off the dribble.

The good thing is I know he's smart enough to adjust and I'm sure he'll look the film and stats and see that when he took it the hole we benefited.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

I still think the Spurs win the series, but I actually think there is a lot of fair criticism to go around tonight. I haven't bothered with Fox because it just seems like low hanging fruit that all the Fox haters are already salivating at, but Keldon's decision making, Castle's decision making, Wemby's decision making, and Mitch's decision making were all pretty shit tonight.

Also I didn't pay attention to much of the talk prior to this series but is Carter Bryant legit hurt because if not WHY THE FUCK IS THAT MAN IN STREET CLOTHES?!?!?!?!

There's just a lot to be annoyed with after the game tonight.

“Foot sprain” whatever that means. can be anything from a great toe to a lisfranc…happened in practice apparently

 

[J_Posse301]

Spurs didn't lose the game on the last shot... that was all Fox and Wemby on the offensive end. Barnes and Kornet being borderline unplayable also didnt help with Bryant out. Vassell on Randle was a terrible decision.

What's happened with Kornet that he's badly lately?

Harrison falling off in the second half of the season with no real quality PF on the roster was always gonna hurt, IMO. Wish we would've swung a trade for someone serviceable instead of loading up on unplayable centers.

Anyway, they gotta not let Minnesota ugly up the game, play faster and actually play someone with size (not Wemby) on Randle.

Note: Minnesota was getting away with a lot of clear outs (on Wemby) to get drivers a free lane. Spurs are gonna need to figure out how to counter that or play more zone defense.

 

[Snake Eyes]

You're right.
Castle did well not to make mistakes while being pressured by McDaniels, but that also took him out of the game.

Well, give Jaden credit. Fox should’ve taken advantage of his matchup. San Antonio just was really poor on offense and that was the game. Like I said you just shake Minnesota hands, fucking go back and watch the film and then come out and kick ass. It’s the playoffs. There’s some adversity you have to overcome. Now nobody thought it would come this early, but we’ll see how things play out..

 

[100%Duncan]

Wemby mentioned something about putting too much energy on “something” that didn’t help the team in winning and kept him from scoring more… balance between offense and defense

He’ll learn. I think Wemby has rightfully earned all of our trust in adjusting.

 

[amans]

Conley and Shannon scoring 28 was even fine, Castle and Fox matching them wasn't.
Randle is a good player, but not enough of an issue to warrant a roster change or whatever you guys are implying.
He'd be an issue if he was doing way more than he should be doing, instead he had an average game by his standards.

His advantage should be a disadvantage on the other end, but we couldn't take advantage of it.
We're supposed to be either a way more mobile team with better spacing when Gobert is on the floor or a team that should get Wemby easy looks against Naz/Radnle lineups and we did neither of those things.
I don't care how physical they get, if Gobert isn't on the floor, we need to get to the rim one way or another.

Agree with the last part. But Randle was a problem today with his size and offensive rebounds and his buckets at the end of the game that gave the wolves the win.
By the way You might think it’s nothing, but his 10 rebs are the highest rebs game he’s had in 2 months!

 

[Max_power]

One last thing, hats off to the Minnesota timberwolves, they are battled tested, and make some of us humbled a little bit. I don't expect a sweep either way, but they aren't scared of us one bit

 

[Ice009]

Wouldn't shock me if its another close loss tbh. Like you said though, plenty of lessons from this game and should be plenty more from this series. Unfortunately it might be a short series; if game 2 is close I think Minny wins again and this shit ends in 4.

I'll agree on the possible outcome if they don't get game 2. I believe the Spurs win game 2. I am confident they will get it.

 

[100%Duncan]

The reason is that Wemby wants to be Steph Curry/Durant. He wants to play like a guard. He knows he can hit that shot and WANTS to hit that shot. This has been his fall back so often in his career. Its honestly the one major criticism I've had of him is that he takes way too many 3s off the dribble.

The good thing is I know he's smart enough to adjust and I'm sure he'll look the film and stats and see that when he took it the hole we benefited.

I trust Wemby to adjust. But I hope the reason he’s taking those is not as stupid as wanting to be KD, when he could be so much better…

 

[Arguendo]

Keldon 6MOY actually makes me audibly laugh. He’s a ghost in playoffs

Yes, scoring 11 points on 50% shooting without a TO or foul is truly truly awful. Spurs didn't need those points.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

Also I was right about us needing to test ant.

First half when he came in Harper was relentless on offense and defense, making ant pick up fouls he wouldn’t normally commit, frustrating him and making him pass.

Finch then outcoached Mitch and schemed him open in the 4th q. We were remiss to not have fucked him up physically while he was in and left him off the hook.

Of course you’re not trying to injure anyone but if they’re on the court they’re healthy enough to be played against a certain way. Ridiculous we didn’t press the issue

 

[Kick-Stand]

Mid season I felt like Wemby’s jumper was coming nice all along.

His middy was golden with MIN, Bos, DEN high stake games. Then he suddenly stopped taking them. He dont have patience if he is not getting the ball.

He keeps asking for the ball at the three point line. This shit has driven me nuts all season because it's such a low percentage option when he puts the ball on the floor from that deep. So often it's a turnover or he has to awkwardly pick up his dribble without an easy pass to make or it's a charge or he makes a spin move and jacks up a wild shot. Very frustrating to see this horrible tendency not coached out of him in Year 3.

 

[LeBowen]

Agree with the last part. But Randle was a problem today with his size and offensive rebounds and his buckets at the end of the game that gave the wolves the win.

Of course he's a problem, I'm not saying he's not, I'm just saying he's not enough of a problem for us to warrant a roster move or whatever.

By the way You might think it’s nothing, but his 10 rebs are the highest rebs game he’s had in 2 months!

Don't you think that has something to do with Gobert being benched? I don't think Champ gets those two offensive rebounds if we hadn't run Gobert off the floor.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

He keeps asking for the ball at the three point line. This shit has driven me nuts all season because it's such a low percentage option when he puts the ball on the floor from that deep. So often it's a turnover or he has to awkwardly pick up his dribble without an easy pass to make or it's a charge or he makes a spin move and jacks up a wild shot. Very frustrating to not see this horrible tendency not coached out of him in Year 3.

He did that like 15 times and the problem is he’s asking for the ball like 10 feet inside the three, but they are just shoving him out there.

 

[Arguendo]

I trust Wemby to adjust. But I hope the reason he’s taking those is not as stupid as wanting to be KD, when he could be so much better…

I don't think there was forethought, any wanting. It looked like he default to last yr Vic. Wasn't thinking at all on O, on full-tilt, out of control, just jacking shit up.
His postgame interview made it pretty clear, it was a whirlwind. I think he'll calm down and adjust to the moment.

 

[Ice009]

Or Harper should've just gone right to the hoop, make, miss, foul. However it played out, Harp was electric attacking and that's how we should've closed it.

I could feel in the moment this was the right play. Some posters said Harper looked gassed, and if not, maybe he didn't think it was his place to do that. He should have done it. I could have lived with that outcome much easier. I find it hard to accept losses with role players taking the last shots or creating a play for themselves.

 

[MannyIG]

You do a lot of patting of yourself on the back don’t you? I can’t imagine you ever think you lost an argument in your life.

I’m slowly inching my way towards the ignore button

I've lost plenty of arguments in my life. I've never lost an argument to someone who's defense of their postion is "most people say", though. Just make a well reasoned argument instead of moving the goalposts or relying on bullshit. But if you'd rather rely on bullshit and get tired of losing arguments when you do that, then by all means, hit ignore.

 

[Snake Eyes]

One thing I love about this forum is people disagree and there’s civilized debate for the most part. It’s very healthy and gives you a different perspective on all things Spurs. Of course there’s some idiot takes, but it’s mostly trolls. I was on Spurstalk from the beginning, but hardly ever posted. It is so refreshing to see 95% of this group cheering for the Spurs, Whether we agree on tactics or not. Let’s have them faith. LFG Spurs.