Game Thread Spurs (23-9) vs Knicks (23-9) (Wed 12/31/25) [6:00 PM CDT]

[John B]

That was a miracle win with Champs needed to score career high 36 pts to win it. Keldon is becoming a rock anchoring that bench. And Wemby likely few games instead of months (crossing my fingers) is great.

I love Wemby and he is the future. But until he’s post dominant, I think the play should be centered on the guards attacking the rim, and Wemby more of a 2nd or 3rd option. He will get plenty of open shots and ally opps. The ball just rotates better with the guards hands, instead of Wemby catching at the to of the key.

 

[barakz21]

During the part where Julian was banging the drum, I saw Bismack holding his jersey the way he did Harper’s a while back.. then Vassell did the same too. Guess that’s a new thing with the team?

 

[ird80]

View attachment 254

Forgot to close pornhub tab

 

[1kangaroo]

Just now watching replays of the game since I did not get to watch live what is up with castles hand I see he had some type of sleeve on his lower left arm and over the thumb

Ok i found the answer Castle has a sprained left thumb so that probably effected his shooting tonight

 

[1kangaroo]

If Vassell can play the level of defense we know he can consistently? No. The usual Vassell though? Yes.

Wondering if Vassell should be coming off the bench with KJ it just seems like Champagine knows his role play defense, shoot the open shot, pass if not open and rebound. Vassell sometimes trys to do to much and wondering if coming off the bench as second unit gives him more freedom to do the little extra he tries

 

[SanAnSpursFan21]

I was calling this a moral loss when talking about it with my wife (Spurs recently catching on with her, only took a decade). But the more I think about it, the more a good team needs games like this. Good teams find ways to steal games they don’t deserve to get them through major slumps without losing a ton of ground.

Now go whoop the ever loving tar out of those hapless Pacers. May it not be close from the tip off and they get their much needed groove back.

 

[SpurPadre]

I mentioned multiple times already but CB looks completely lost and overmatched out there. Frankly, it’s embarrassing to see and sorely sticks out on a 24-9 team. He is far from NBA ready and it’s doing him no favors looking like a fool against real professional players. Why he isn’t in Austin is mind boggling. I’m not writing him off completely, of course. It’s way too early to give up on him but it’s enough of a sample size to know he shouldn’t be playing in the league yet. I’m not going to lie though…I have my doubts about him. In the meantime, we need to see him develop in Austin for at least a couple months.

 

[elpimpo4cc]

Only trash needs to get high

I'm sorry this is happening to you

 

[T Park]

Couldn’t disagree more on Bryant. His defense alone shows hes NBA ready, he also doesnt get enough consistent open shots for him to know anything on that anyways. Kids 19. Maybe dont drop ignorance like “I have my doubts” lol hes effing 19

 

[SpurPadre]

Couldn’t disagree more on Bryant. His defense alone shows hes NBA ready, he also doesnt get enough consistent open shots for him to know anything on that anyways. Kids 19. Maybe dont drop ignorance like “I have my doubts” lol hes effing 19

I can respectfully disagree without being a dick. Again, I made it a point to say I’m not writing him off completely. I know it’s fucking early.

 

[Spursgenius]

If Vassell can play the level of defense we know he can consistently? No. The usual Vassell though? Yes.

you guys have followed him longer than I. He was touted as 3 and D guy coming from College. What happened to him ? Just lack of effort ? He played a great defensive role in the okc games.

 

[dn0774]

Re CB I would tend to agree that he needs reps in the G. Tidjane Salaun spent a few weeks there and is back with the main squad now and looks significantly improved. For reference, Salaun last season was one of the worst players I have ever seen touch an NBA floor. He even looked terrible in the recent Vegas Summer League.

The Spurs development team clearly feels getting CB 6-10 mpg with the big team is more beneficial. -19 plus/minus in 7 minutes is brutal work though so idk.

 

[SpurPadre]

Re CB I would tend to agree that he needs reps in the G. Tidjane Salaun spent a few weeks there and is back with the main squad now and looks significantly improved. For reference, Salaun last season was one of the worst players I have ever seen touch an NBA floor. He even looked terrible in the recent Vegas Summer League.

The Spurs development team clearly feels getting CB 6-10 mpg with the big team is more beneficial. -19 plus/minus in 7 minutes is brutal work though so idk.

That’s my main point, that he needs seasoning in Austin. Didn’t think that would be a hot take lol.

 

[Rod Strickland]

All I can say is FUCK ALL the morons and contrarians who said the Spurs wouldn't be ready to contend this year.

We OWN OKC and we avenged our NBA cup letdown.

This is the most stacked roster in Spurs history and we are young as fuck. We're only getting better. We have 8 players, minimum, who can go off for 25+ a night.

Anyone trying the snarky, doomsday shit....FUCK you.

We are a legir contender and I know we're getting to the WCF, at the very least this season.

14 mins til New Years here.

 

[Robz4000]

you guys have followed him longer than I. He was touted as 3 and D guy coming from College. What happened to him ? Just lack of effort ? He played a great defensive role in the okc games.

What happened to a lot of players during the tanking years: picked up bad habits. Took three years to get rid of most of Keldon's, prolly gonna take another season to get rid of Vassell's.

 

[Arcadian]

All I can say is FUCK ALL the morons and contrarians who said the Spurs wouldn't be ready to contend this year.

We OWN OKC and we avenged our NBA cup letdown.

This is the most stacked roster in Spurs history and we are young as fuck. We're only getting better. We have 8 players, minimum, who can go off for 25+ a night.

Anyone trying the snarky, doomsday shit....FUCK you.

We are a legir contender and I know we're getting to the WCF, at the very least this season.

14 mins til New Years here.

Haha, I like the passion. Happy new year

 

[ird80]

Yes they were down Robinson n Hart but dont discount shamet. He's another 3pt threat for them (which we dont defend) n had a career high 36 this year for them

 

[1kangaroo]

We look like shit unfortunately, will take the win but really discouraging watching us try to defend anyone

Been on that band wagon since game one pointing out wemby hides a lot of warts on team defense.

 

[spurraider21]

to be fair there havent been many to avenge. the warriors and suns are the only teams we've dropped 2 against

i want to say that i think i meant other than cavs given the recent loss

 

[Limguoguolo]

It's traditional to play rookies at the start of the season and send them back and forth to the G-League. We saw that he didn't play in the Cup. It's normal to give him playing time during the regular season, especially when there are one or two injuries. He's learning much faster with the San Antonio team, where he has a specific role as a defender.

The G-League is useful for scoring points and finding your feet offensively. Defensively, it's useless.

The comparison with Salaun doesn't seem relevant to me. He's a sophomore, he lacked playing time and confidence. He only played for a few days and came back right away. CB needs to learn the plays, understand how the NBA works, understand the intensity, the pressure. He wouldn't learn any of that in the G-League. He'll have the opportunity to go there later. For now, they're using his defense in playing time that isn't decisive yet.

That's always how it works. They have tons of coaches on the team, they know better than we do when and why to send this or that player to the G-League.

 

[Robz4000]

Yes they were down Robinson n Hart but dont discount shamet. He's another 3pt threat for them (which we dont defend) n had a career high 36 this year for them

McBride sure as hell filled in admirably for Shamet tbh.

 

[STAT88]

Been on that band wagon since game one pointing out wemby hides a lot of warts on team defense.

The defense in the first half was abysmal. Same type of lazy shitty 3 point defense as we saw against the Jazz and the Cavs. Guys getting lost on switches and screens, just wide open 3s everywhere. Wemby standing in the paint not guarding anyone.

The defense in the first 9 minutes of the 3rd I thought was awesome. Turned a 10 point half time deficit into a 2 point lead 93-91. And it wasn’t the Knicks missing shots it was mostly due to the defense. Very few wide open 3s for the Knicks.

Then with 3:08 to go and the score at 93-91 Spurs Mitch subs out Champ and Castle for Bryant and Fox. Remember at this point Champ had 7 threes, Victor had 2 threes who was also on the bench at this time, and the rest of the team had 1 three combined from like 20 attempts.

Knicks would go on a 11-0 run to close the quarter. While it’s easy to blame Bryant for this he deserves some blame it wasn’t all his fault.

First possession Bryant firmly sticks his forearm into Clarkson body for about 5 seconds until Clarkson just rips through for an easy foul call. Mitch chews out Bryant. Puts the Spurs at the foul limit for no fucking reason. Gotta have better IQ than that.

Same possession Clarkson hits a 3 after Harper stumbles and gives him too much room. Knicks up 94-93. Btw I thought Harper defense was great all game minus a couple of minor mishaps like this one.

Harper misses a 3.

Kornet blocks a Clarkson layup.

Fox misses a 3 and Bryant ploughs through Brunson going to crash the glass. Spurs over the limit free throws for Brunson because Bryant’s earlier dumb foul on Clarkson put the Spurs in the penalty. Knicks up 96-93.

Mitch brings Champ back in for Harper realising his fuck up for taking him out.

Champ misses a 3.

Fox brain dead defense leads to a Brunson open 3. For some reason Fox standing in middle of no where forcing him and Champ to get confused leave Brunson wide open.

Bryant misses a good look for 3.

Brunson makes a tough step back 3. Knicks up 102-93.

All the momentum was just fucked by taking out Champ and Castle for Bryant and Fox.

 

[John B]

you guys have followed him longer than I. He was touted as 3 and D guy coming from College. What happened to him ? Just lack of effort ? He played a great defensive role in the okc games.

Vassell is much improved player from a year ago, and even playing better defense. BUT, Champ is a better fit I think with the starters, a better rebounder, a better catch and shoot player, and who knows his role as a 3nD. Devin tries a little too much, granted at some nights he’s the highest scorer out there.

 

[STAT88]

Also the Spurs had a disastrous end to the first quarter as well. It was 30-29 Knicks with 2:19 left and somehow the quarter ended with the Knicks up 45-36 wtf . How the fuck do you concede 15 points in 2:19.

Some bad plays here by Harper and Bryant including the flagrant foul by Harper and Bryant falling asleep on a McCullar 3. Also a few tough shots made by McBride.

 

[spursparker9]

CB has to really contribute defensively to have some positive impact to the team.

Offensively, his stats till date is 33% FG, 30% 3P FG, 66% FT in 7 mins. Opponent's scouting report on him is probably leaving him open and go do help defense based on these stats. He should still shoot the open 3s if he is open and also run hard to get easy transition points for now.