Game Thread Spurs (24-9) @ Pacers (6-28) (Fri 01/02/26) [6:00 PM CDT]

[Fireball]

Castle with another inefficient shooting night. Westbrookesque tbh. thankfully Harper and Keldon showed up

 

[Robz4000]

Castle with another inefficient shooting night. Westbrookesque tbh. thankfully Harper and Keldon showed up

In fairness, he had several shots roll off the rim that should've fallen.

 

[100%Duncan]

In fairness, he had several shots roll off the rim that should've fallen.

Castle had a night that looks horrible in the box score, and even this is debatable because he flirted with a triple dub. But he absolutely was crucial to start the game on both ends. Felt like he was the only one playing in the first qtr tbh.

He went to toe with Siakam on the defensive end, that’s a lot to ask for while facilitating the offense.

 

[Robz4000]

Castle had a night that looks horrible in the box score, and even this is debatable because he flirted with a triple dub. But he absolutely was crucial to start the game on both ends. Felt like he was the only one playing in the first qtr tbh.

He went to toe with Siakam on the defensive end, that’s a lot to ask for while facilitating the offense.

He was the only one to reliably guard Siakam tbh.

 

[Quentin_Compson]

That game was a useful illustration for how vital it can be to win the possession battle. The Spurs' shooting wasn't great, to put it politely, but they had 12 OR (compared to just one for the Pacers) and ended up taking 12 more FGA and shooting 13 more FTs than Indiana.
Kudos to the Pacers, by the way. Their roster is depleted, but they still play hard and smart with whatever personnel they have left.

 

[spursparker9]

Castle with another inefficient shooting night. Westbrookesque tbh. thankfully Harper and Keldon showed up

tbh He got fouled several times. The refs were just letting them play on in this game. Tbf, refs did not call fouls on Pacers as well

 

[spursparker9]

This game marked the 2nd time that Mitch rolled out the Hydra lineup (Fox, Castle, Harper) to close the 4Q

We have Slash Brothers nickname for Castle + Harper.

Maybe we can have Hail Hydra nickname for Fox + Castle + Harper

 

[Quentin_Compson]

 

[e78]

Castle gets fouled on almost every drive to the basket but usually doesnt get the call.

He's finishing around the rim has regressed a little the last couple games but still love his aggression.

Dude is a jump shot away from being a super star

 

[DAF86]

Playoffs are a different animal and this team has some of the same issues tbh. Honestly a little eerie how similar they are, though this team is deeper.

I don't see much similarities, tbh. Unlike the Rockets last season, the Spurs have a real, elite #1 player on their team, capable of being the best player on the court no matter who he faces. The Spurs also have a #2 capable of going nuclear and be a #1 option on any given night, plus 2 other guys (Castle and Harper) capable of running an offense as primary ballhandlers. Add to that 3 guys (Vassell, Barnes, Champ) capable of giving you 20/30 pts if they are feeling it.

Also, unlike the Rockets last season, the Spurs aren't inflating their record by going balls to the wall during the regular season. In fact we haven't even be able to field an entire roster for more than a couple of game and we're still the 2nd seed in the West.

The Rockets always felt like a farce, that's why they had to trade for a 40 year old to be their #1 option. This Spurs team is different, they are building something real.

 

[LeBowen]

I don't see much similarities, tbh. Unlike the Rockets last season, the Spurs have a real, elite #1 player on their team, capable of being the best player on the court no matter who he faces. The Spurs also have a #2 capable of going nuclear and be a #1 option on any given night, plus 2 other guys (Castle and Harper) capable of running an offense as primary ballhandlers. Add to that 3 guys (Vassell, Barnes, Champ) capable of giving you 20/30 pts if they are feeling it.

Also, unlike the Rockets last season, the Spurs aren't inflating their record by going balls to the wall during the regular season. In fact we haven't even be able to field an entire roster for more than a couple of game and we're still the 2nd seed in the West.

The Rockets always felt like a farce, that's why they had to trade for a 40 year old to be their #1 option. This Spurs team is different, they are building something real.

Well said.
We're so much better than last season's Rockets on offense player for player.
And we're better on defense with healthy Wemby.

 

[Trainwreck2100]

That's the same shitty side from the New York game

 

[tim_duncan_fan]

You're right, but it doesn't have to be the sentence you're thinking it will be -- Curry's ankles say hello.

Wemby's body will obviously require significant attention, and training dedication from him, through his entire playing career, but that doesn't == extended missed time every single season. Everyone thought Curry was doomed with the "glass ankles" and could never handle the load of full NBA seasons, yet there he is, one of the more elderly star players in the entire NBA, 4 rings under his belt.

Steph Curry looks way stronger/higher constitution/built thicker (for him) than year 1, is the thing. We will have to see if Vic develops in that sort of fashion.