Game Thread Playoffs Round 2, Game 1: Spurs vs Timberwolves (0-0) (Mon 05/04/2026) [Start Time TBD]

[dn0774]

Interesting we have not played the Wolves since Jan 17th. We played them twice during our roughest stretch of the season, not a lot to be gleaned from those games. They haven’t seen the Spurs during our dominant stretch that started in February.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

We’re playing basketball in May, dudes…

 

[Exstatic]

Gives Gobert an excuse to camp the paint while he guards Luke

but it is an interesting question... what if Wolves roll out their 3-big lineup we saw yesterday. Champagnie needs to be ready for an extremely physical series. its also possible we give Castle the Randle assignment and let Vassell guard McDaniels.

Luke rarely parks in the paint. He’s at the top of the circle, the DHO maestro.

 

[spurraider21]

Luke rarely parks in the paint. He’s at the top of the circle, the DHO maestro.

i mean thats fine. Gobert can play off of him the same way we say Wemby would do against Gobert

 

[Ice009]

Kinda happy for the series to start on Monday to give Wolves extra time to heal up and get a couple of guys back. Wouldn't be even remotely fair with all their injuries to ask them to turn around on SAT for WCSF opener.

The NBA hasn't always been fair to the Spurs. What about after game 7 against New Orleans in 2008 and having to play in LA the next day while sleeping on the plane due to not being able to get a hotel room.

 

[Exstatic]

The scouts better prepare the reports for all Twolves players. All the way to their 2 way players.

Don't want any surprises from some 3rd, 4th string players

2 ways can’t play in the playoffs, but, point taken.

 

[Exstatic]

i mean thats fine. Gobert can play off of him the same way we say Wemby would do against Gobert

If he doesn’t pick up the guard coming off the screen, it’s an easy 15 ft jumper. I mean, they, and the rest of the NBA are fucked.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2050274146580410514

 

[BatManu20]

Notice they have the Spurs-Blazers game on in the background at the practice facility.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2050267058106204311

 

[ambchang]

On defence:

• Have Wemby hang around the paint when Gobert is on the floor, leaving him wide open anything outside of 15'.
• Funnel all drivers to Wemby, guard the three point line closely.
• When Gobert is on the bench, and they put in Naz Reid, active pre-switches to keep Wemby as close to the basket as possible.
• Focus on defensive rebounding. The Wolves can run.
• Put Castle on Randle, limit his bruising bully ball style. Not sure if CB is up to task yet. Avoid having Wemby switched on him but use Wemby as a defensive helper.

On offence:

• Wemby has to be no at the perimeter, draw Gobert outside, and then either shoot 3s, or attack him with his speed.
• If Gobert is drawn up, attack the paint, and either finish or kick it out. Be mindful that McDaniels, Randle, and Reid can also help pack the paint.
• Castle, Harper, Fox, Barnes, Bryant, Vassell and KJ cannot be hesitant when open, shoot it.
• Do not worry too much about the offensive boards, protect the transition because the Wolves have athletes. McDaniel, Bones, Ayo (if back), and of course Ant if back are Gazelles, once they go out in the open court it would be very difficult to rein them in.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2050277087521476996

https://twitter.com/x/status/2050276602756362314

 

[frenchfred]

On defence:

• Have Wemby hang around the paint when Gobert is on the floor, leaving him wide open anything outside of 15'.
• Funnel all drivers to Wemby, guard the three point line closely.
• When Gobert is on the bench, and they put in Naz Reid, active pre-switches to keep Wemby as close to the basket as possible.
• Focus on defensive rebounding. The Wolves can run.
• Put Castle on Randle, limit his bruising bully ball style. Not sure if CB is up to task yet. Avoid having Wemby switched on him but use Wemby as a defensive helper.

On offence:

• Wemby has to be no at the perimeter, draw Gobert outside, and then either shoot 3s, or attack him with his speed.
• If Gobert is drawn up, attack the paint, and either finish or kick it out. Be mindful that McDaniels, Randle, and Reid can also help pack the paint.
• Castle, Harper, Fox, Barnes, Bryant, Vassell and KJ cannot be hesitant when open, shoot it.
• Do not worry too much about the offensive boards, protect the transition because the Wolves have athletes. McDaniel, Bones, Ayo (if back), and of course Ant if back are Gazelles, once they go out in the open court it would be very difficult to rein them in.

yep, good summary.

Don't be complacent, take care of business at home for the first two games in case Ant comes back.

 

[DAF86]

 

[ChrisC21209]

Anyone have an idea how the 150 mile radius thing works when purchasing tickets? I'm from Del Rio (156 miles out) and wanna take my daughter to her first playoff game but don't wanna try and buy tickets only for them to cancel the purchase. Any idea if I can get by that rule by using Affirm or Paypal Pay later?

 

[spurraider21]

Anyone have an idea how the 150 mile radius thing works when purchasing tickets? I'm from Del Rio (156 miles out) and wanna take my daughter to her first playoff game but don't wanna try and buy tickets only for them to cancel the purchase. Any idea if I can get by that rule by using Affirm or Paypal Pay later?

ive already determined that if the spurs make the finals, im going, so if this shit is still around during the finals i'll gladly send somebody trusted on this board money thru venmo/zelle so they can buy the tickets for me

ill even give them a commission for their trouble. or heck take the seat next to me and im covering concessions

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2050286088137191741

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2050257017961349417

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2049951585204375780

 

[siraulo22]

initial thoughts

spurs better win if ant is gonna miss at least a couple of games vs twolves

if they can shut down the Nuggets offense, they're more than capable enough to make it really uncomfortable for the spurs

Good call on some of the posts here: this could be Keldon series, he should be able to bully himself vs Conley, Shannon, Hyland etc...

Well come to think of it, Castle and Harper will also have the advantage when not guarded by McDaniels

Shooting once again is gonna be key especially Victor. If he shoots at a decent clip, Gobert's gonna have a tough time and Finch will have to make a decision

If Vic has a rough shooting series, Rudy can really clog the paint and make it tough for the Spurs

 

[90sBum]

What kind of whistles can we expect against this team?

I wonder if we will get the more favorable calls from Silver wanting to push SA vs OKC Wcf. Especially after the comments Victor said during his mvp statement regarding the thunder

 

[OU812]

I wonder if we will get the more favorable calls from Silver wanting to push SA vs OKC Wcf. Especially after the comments Victor said during his mvp statement regarding the thunder

We sure didn’t get the whistles against Portland

 

[90sBum]

Yeah fair point, especially Steph. I know now with us being one step closer to okc wcf being a reality, the media train is going to shove that down our throats.
I can hear Kendrick and Stephen A right now

 

[poopbox]

We sure didn’t get the whistles against Portland

Would have been Lakers vs Kings bad had Denver advanced tbh.

 

[Exstatic]

initial thoughts

spurs better win if ant is gonna miss at least a couple of games vs twolves

if they can shut down the Nuggets offense, they're more than capable enough to make it really uncomfortable for the spurs

Good call on some of the posts here: this could be Keldon series, he should be able to bully himself vs Conley, Shannon, Hyland etc...

Well come to think of it, Castle and Harper will also have the advantage when not guarded by McDaniels

Shooting once again is gonna be key especially Victor. If he shoots at a decent clip, Gobert's gonna have a tough time and Finch will have to make a decision

If Vic has a rough shooting series, Rudy can really clog the paint and make it tough for the Spurs

Respect the hell out of Denver and what they’ve accomplished, but we have WAY more weapons than their current version. Murray is their only creator, and we’ve got three.