Game Thread Spurs (23-7) vs Jazz (10-19) (Sat 12/27/25) [7:00 PM CDT]

[Limguoguolo]

An evening that mirrored Wemby's game. When you try to slam dunk the ball as hard as possible, you run the risk of it coming back at you with equal force. Slapped by the ball, slapped three or four times in the face. A nice slap in the face for the team.

Talented young teams need that. Humility, indeed, can't hurt. It's better to have a defeat like this when the others are losing behind you. According to Captain Obvious, that means you stay ahead. It's more annoying to have lost at home (in front of the Jackass, the Jackals, sorry).

I have no complaints about the coaching. Playing the bench players who didn't participate in the last victories in the first rotations against a negative team helps to strengthen team cohesion, even, and especially, in defeat. Everyone must remain involved. It would have been even more “humble” to have lost with Fox.

And I still don't like the use of Victor. He's not Giannis, or not yet. There are guards who can drive, and if he plays like KD by simplifying his game, it would be beneficial to the team. While going for alley-oops and rebounds... Either way, we didn't get the “cheat code,” but the “Chet code”, a face that, like Manu's own during victories, takes slap after slap. Take this.

 

[spursparker9]

Yes...KG has also said that he want the Spurs to call him to coach Wemby a bit.

KG wants to "clean up and simplify" Wemby's game and it should unlock his true offensive potential.

 

[Quentin_Compson]

Well, I hope this loss doesn't mean that the Spurs will have to give back their Christmas championship rings ...
It was a pretty sluggish game from our guys, including the coaching. Wemby was good on offense, but coasting quite a bit on the defensive end. Also, I'm not a big fan of Castle "heroballing" and shooting too many threes. The wild/weird/bad perimeter defense of pretty much everyone in a Spurs uni didn't help matters either.
Credit to the Jazz, though, they played well and had a hot shooting night.

 

[couchman]

Bryant was one of the only bright spots on defense. It’s not surprising that we made a run when he became our POA defender with Wemby behind him. They brought us to a tie and then got subbed out immediately and that was the game.
Substitution patterns in the 2nd quarter were garbage and turned the tide of the game.
We shot poorly but I put this loss on Mitch.

 

[Ice009]

They arent improving in this area. It should be a point of emphasis. The teams who can shoot the three well will always be in games with us. Why do you think Suns own us. Denver will murder us in playoffs if their 6 40 percent 3 shooters are healthy by then.

Spurs have to fix this or they could get torched in the playoffs by some of these teams. It's really shocking how poor their 3 point defense can be at times.

The Jazz have been scoring a lot in their recent games (mabye all season?)_, so their offense is very good, it's just their defense that sucks and Hardy called them out on their effort a few games ago. When the Spurs couldn't stop them on defense, and coupled with their poor offense, it was an easy win for Utah.

Bryant was one of the only bright spots on defense. It’s not surprising that we made a run when he became our POA defender with Wemby behind him. They brought us to a tie and then got subbed out immediately and that was the game.
Substitution patterns in the 2nd quarter were garbage and turned the tide of the game.
We shot poorly but I put this loss on Mitch.

I wanted to see Bryant finish out the game. I thought he had one of his best stints of the season there and gets subbed. I would have also loved to have seen Victor finish out the whole quarter too, but I knew he couldn't do it and would have been ultra gassed if Mitch left him in. That was the ballgame right there as Utah took off again after Victor went out.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2005292543790219662

 

[heyheymymy]

After going back and watching parts of the game again, the more I lay blame on Mitch. He clearly didn't take the Jazz seriously tonight. Its one thing for the players to do that but an NBA HC should know better.

Yeah, you already have Fox out which pulls down the margin of error and you try some stunt with a Sochan/Waters III/CB lineup that cratered momentum and allowed UTH a foot in the door. Too much risk taking.

 

[Area 51.247]

You're risking a permanent game thread ban, tbh, but I like the boldness

Prescient or superstitious?

 

[Robz4000]

They were 28th a few weeks ago so it looks like its improving at least.

after last night its clear their 3-pt defense hasn't improved at all

 

[ginobilized]

The frustrating thing is Utah torched us the previous game from 3 especially Sensabaugh and Clayton, Jr. The game plan and/or it's execution didn't seem to take that into consideration. Looks to me like the only way the Jazz can beat you is by heating up from 3, why give that up so easily? Vassell on Markannen was a weird matchup. Champ and Barnes really struggle against these kind of teams. Phoenix is similar with the pace/space and athleticism. Everyone was due for a comeback to terra firma. Onward!

 

[PanameSpur]

They arent improving in this area. It should be a point of emphasis. The teams who can shoot the three well will always be in games with us. Why do you think Suns own us. Denver will murder us in playoffs if their 6 40 percent 3 shooters are healthy by then.

It's infuriating to watch.

We still see unnecessary over help when Wemby is in the paint in year 3 smh

If we have to give something up, the 3s should be the last thing considering we have 2 of the best shot blockers in the league.

Let them kill us in the mid-range if they can

 

[mikec]

that was me online in NBA 2k8 XBOX 360 Xbox Live in 2007.

this is why I don't watch the NBA anymore, it's devolved into skittleball pick-up ball. Dave & Buster's NBA Jam arcade ball is now real life pro basketball. Sad.

same here. I watch Spurs games only.

 

[PanameSpur]

We don't have enough reliable scoring to outscore our opponents, except occasionally when a player is hot

Our identity is first and foremost the defense and as good as this one is below the 3pt line, Spurs are one of the 3 worst teams in the league at defending the 3!!

We're worse at it than tanking teams ffs!!!

Literally every opponent knows it and game plan for it. Mitch needs to find a solution asap

 

[spurs10]

Strange line-ups, not good D on 3, and we lost. We have a good team on Monday, no time to wallow.

 

[heyheymymy]

I bet that road trip was a sort of hangover on the legs as well. Add that to the post OKC mini series success hangover/sugar rush collapse. Some aspects of the game that could still be tough to navigate for this young team. But glad they are getting the lessons now to grow through adversity. Got to be resilient and bounce back quick for CLE tomorrow night.

 

[Spursgenius]

Bryant was one of the only bright spots on defense. It’s not surprising that we made a run when he became our POA defender with Wemby behind him. They brought us to a tie and then got subbed out immediately and that was the game.
Substitution patterns in the 2nd quarter were garbage and turned the tide of the game.
We shot poorly but I put this loss on Mitch.

he needs more mins, he is also hitting three adequately.

 

[Ice009]

he needs more mins, he is also hitting three adequately.

That three he made, he shot with confidence. Not sure why Mitch didn't let him play out that 4th quarter.

 

[heyheymymy]

Keyonte George has been playing really impressive lately.

 

[Ice009]

Keyonte George has been playing really impressive lately.

Was he highly rated coming out of college? He's playing awesome. I remember Charles Barkley saying he's good earlier in the season. I didn't pay much attention to it. I'm certainly paying attention now, though.