Game Thread Spurs (1-0) @ Pelicans (0-1) (Fri 10/24/25) [7:00 PM CDT]

[spursparker9]

 

[Spursgenius]

Ugly win, but I’ll take it.

NO packed the paint all game, and then the spurs had no clue what to do against the zone. They’re lucky they were playing the pelicans and not a good team

This will be the blue print against Wemby and our poor three point shooters. If champ and Barnes need 7 shots to make one. Put Lindy or James Garcia in.

 

[PokerFace21]

He would have, but Mitch sat him because he was not playing in control late in the game. I'm all for Mitch coaching Harper hard like that, it's going to take time for him to develop but learning from these are how he develops.

Just another example IMO that we have a guy who understands what is needed to get this team and Wemby battle ready for future title contention down the road.

Agree, but I wouldn’t just limit it to Harper as being out of control.

 

[Spursgenius]

Good news: Spurs somehow found a way to win this game in OT without Wemby, even if it was a disgusting display of basketball. This is a game they most likely lose last season.

Bad news: This roster still sucks tbh. Too many poor shooters and poor defenders. Any team that plays Vassell, Keldon, Champagnie, and Barnes meaningful minutes will never compete for anything in this league. Ever.

Need to consolidate keldon, vassal and/or sochan into a trade. Get a great shooter. Troy Murphy 3. Add our own first round pick if you have to. tM3 plays s too. Harper needs to play pg while fox out. Castle would be better off the ball with his turnover potential and lack of ft shooting.

 

[Spursgenius]

Half of those were overthrown lobs, he's calibrated for wemby

Whose fault is that. They were horrible air mails.

 

[Em-City]

Lucky win but holly fucking shit , that was horrific 3pt spacing, shooting and turnovers

 

[brazil]

This will be the blue print against Wemby and our poor three point shooters. If champ and Barnes need 7 shots to make one. Put Lindy or James Garcia in.

Yep.. and 3 pts shooting is not this team forte.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

OKC is the only team I'd say they're fucked against in a series. Victor has played some of the best games of his career against Jokic. Not saying I'd pick them to beat Denver or anything, but you always have a real chance in a series with a player like Victor. OKC is historically great though, you're not beating them in a series until Harper and Castle have improved more and maybe Fox gets back to being the shooter he was a couple years ago. Thankfully OKC isn't going to be able to pay Hartenstein nor Cason Wallace and is going to have to make a really hard decision between Dort vs Caruso + some extra money in the summer of 2027. This might be the last year they can keep Hartenstein, though I wouldn't be shocked to see them go into the second apron for one year in 26-27 by picking up their $28 million team option on him.

with the way Wemby locks down the paint, I think we actually have a chance against OKC. They are not a good 3-point shooting team either and score from the midrange/paint area

 

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs are the #1 seed. When's the last time that happened?

 

[Fireball]

Has Wemby ever thought instead of swatting the ball 20 rows up but he could block the shots gently and potentially grabbing possession?

Wemby is one of the best to secure the possession with the block ... does not work all the time especially when you are amped up in crunch time.

 

[Davidicus]

Gotta look at this game glass half full.
Easy trap game for us. Bunch of young guys coming off the high of destroying a contender on national television. Next game on the road, against a historically bad team, injured.
3pt shooters gone cold. Refs sucking hard.
We still found a way to win.
Devin lead the way without forcing it. Steady campaign from our young alien superstar. Our rookie stood up and lead the team when no one else could. 3pt shooters found their stroke in OT. Our backup C held down the fort! Clutch FTs.
Plenty plenty to learn from the tape. So much of what not to do, especially with Castle my god.
But playoff teams find a way to win.

 

[O_V]

Watching on league pass my God, those NO announcers took being a homer to a brand new level.

You mean Joel Myers and former Spur Antonio Daniels? The least homer crew that exists in the league, who were complimentary of the Spurs throughout the game.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

He sucks so bad net negative player. Just want him gone in a trade. Same with keldon. Rara etc but on the court net negative. The bone head foul with .8 seconds left. Just a dumb player

+22 highest plus/minus of the game, but according to you he's a "net negative"

 

[Ni-G]

Had to look at the standings just to admire. Spurs No1, Rockets 15th.
Who would expect it.
I know it's after 2 games only but still, fuck Houston.

 

[thiste]

Victor 4 FTA
Zion 16 FTA

sure refs, sure.

 

[OK Computer]

We had a game last night?

 

[ambchang]

Lots to complain about but Vassell is not one of them. We easily lose this game without him and yet people are still pissing all over him. He played a good game, was decent defensively and shot because nobody else could.

Kornhub was phenomenal, and Harper will be something truly special. Castle played a pretty bad game but turned it up in OT. Wemby was ok (then I saw the stat line and was amazed that is a meh game from him). Sochan didn’t even play but was blamed for the spacing. Fox didn’t play but was credited for running a good offence. You just have to love this place.

Funny thing is if Keldon played exactly like castle did today, which would have been a phenomenal game for him, he’d be ragged on to no end. The double standard of some of these people through haterade glasses is really a sight to behold.

 

[O_V]

Ugly road win against a motivated team. I'll take it.

Vic fouling out and the other guys stepping up to close it out. I'll take it.

Team relying on defense and communication instead of hot outside shooting. I'll take it.

This is one of those games you look back on at the end of the regular season when the playoff seeding is set.

 

[Shmurs]

it was a privilege to listen to the guys on the NO broadcast last night. One of the few teams who give you exactly what they’re supposed to.

 

[mo7888]

One of the brights spots for me last night involved Mitch. Nola was laying off Castle leaving him completely alone to shoot a 3 from the top and he bricked it. Mitch immediately calls timeout and draws up a play for Castle to get a corner 3 and he nailed it. Thay type of coaching with an eye on building a team as opposed to what may have been best in the moment is what I'm here for. I think it played into the confidence in OT when Wemby went out too. Loved it..

 

[Knoxxx]

The missing players are evident as we played Champagnie and Barnes too many minutes and McLaughlin should not be seeing the floor at all.

Castle was putrid after the first quarter and as stated Fox will be a huge addition. Fox will add a speed element that no team can quite match up against. Compared to Castle who was really shut down most of the night.

Fears and Queen were very impressive rookies also. Need to give NO some credit they came to play last night.

 

[Ice009]

One thing is pretty clear, the Spurs either need to get some good shooters around Victor, or the guys on the team have to hit their shots. They'll be making much harder for Victor if they can't hit shots. Lindy Waters may have even been a huge help last night. The team really needs to hit their shots. to help make it a bit easier for Vic. Good win, but they did not play well.

 

[NASpurs]

Lots to complain about but Vassell is not one of them. We easily lose this game without him and yet people are still pissing all over him. He played a good game, was decent defensively and shot because nobody else could.

Kornhub was phenomenal, and Harper will be something truly special. Castle played a pretty bad game but turned it up in OT. Wemby was ok (then I saw the stat line and was amazed that is a meh game from him). Sochan didn’t even play but was blamed for the spacing. Fox didn’t play but was credited for running a good offence. You just have to love this place.

Funny thing is if Keldon played exactly like castle did today, which would have been a phenomenal game for him, he’d be ragged on to no end. The double standard of some of these people through haterade glasses is really a sight to behold.

What year is Keldon in again? What about Castle? You can see why one has more leeway than the other.

And Vassell is empty calories, we all know that. He's pretty consistent at being inconsistent.

 

[spursfanfromafar]

it was a privilege to listen to the guys on the NO broadcast last night. One of the few teams who give you exactly what they’re supposed to.

This. I dont know the guy who has probably the most authoritative sounding voice on any broadcast (the one with the baritone). But it is a pleasure to hear the NO broadcasters. Less of homers and more of analysts.

 

[spursfanfromafar]

Lots to complain about but Vassell is not one of them. We easily lose this game without him and yet people are still pissing all over him. He played a good game, was decent defensively and shot because nobody else could.

Kornhub was phenomenal, and Harper will be something truly special. Castle played a pretty bad game but turned it up in OT. Wemby was ok (then I saw the stat line and was amazed that is a meh game from him). Sochan didn’t even play but was blamed for the spacing. Fox didn’t play but was credited for running a good offence. You just have to love this place.

Funny thing is if Keldon played exactly like castle did today, which would have been a phenomenal game for him, he’d be ragged on to no end. The double standard of some of these people through haterade glasses is really a sight to behold.

Indeed. This is one game where Vassell's presence was vital for the Spurs. He not only hit a key three in OT that helped the Spurs win, but was active throughout the whole game. He has clearly taken his game up at least one notch since last season so far. This is the Vassell that is a vital role player for the Spurs.

Castle made a lot of turnovers and was sloppy but otherwise he too made some key shots, and had a great chemistry with Wemby, plus was very active on defense.

Harper, is indeed en route to something special. That stretch when the Spurs went 14-0 in the last 3rd quarter (or was it 4th quarter).. it was all Harper or Harper-induced. The kid plays like a veteran and is a freight train in transition, going to the paint. Such subtlety and nous. He still has to iron out a number of things in his game but for a rookie, the start has been awesome. Wemby-Castle-Harper is indeed on the way to become the next TD-Manu-TP, IMO. Early days as yet, though and as Spurs fans we should relish them as much as we can.

I like how Kornet is being used along with Wemby and the Spurs actually benefitted from it, but I would still prefer Sochan/ Bryant in the longer run at 4. Time for now for Sochan to earn his keep once he comes out of injury. He, I think, is the one Spur with the most to prove. If he ups his shooting, and keeps improving on his already good defense, he will be a no brainer role player and a vital PF. If not, the Spurs might want to cut loose and get a better alternative through trade (along with Keldon, who as much as I admire his team spirit and energy, is still too flawed and can be a great trade fodder).