Game Thread Spurs (27-11) @ Timberwolves (25-14) (Sun 1/11/26) [6:00PM CST]

[Quentin_Compson]

Kinda funny how this thread started by making fun of Jaylen Brown for complaining about the officiating - and then evolved into people here complaining about the officiating ...
The offense is really rough right now for the Spurs. Castle seems to have been figured out, Harper seems to have hit the rookie wall and lost all confidence in his scoring abilities, Fox alternates between short scoring outbursts and long droughts, the 3P shooting has been mostly bad (it was actually okayish in this game, I'd say) - that pretty much leaves only Wemby as the sole source of efficient offense.
While some of those problems will get better, I guess, the coaching staff should get more creative and active in trying to help steady the ship. Having iso possessions resulting in fadeaway jumpers as your only offense in crunch time is not a good look. Why are there no pre-screens to try and free up Wemby? Why no secondary screens when the first attempt at running a play gets thwarted? Why no P'n'R actions?

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

couldn’t watch, saw the highlights.

really need to start having serious conversations about Fox. Castle and Harper get a pass because they’re so young but Fox, again, seems to be lollygagging until it’s too late. not what he’s paid to do.

 

[BigTimeBum]

At least the rockets lost. So that's always a plus

 

[spursparker9]

Rocket is now in the play-in. 7th seed

I know everyone is saying we are above expectation at 2nd seed but this is the freaking Western Conference....a few stupid (winnable) losses and you will be in the play-in soon enough

 

[Shmurs]

really good team that cannot shoot. Everything else is pretty marginal or in our favor. This is all just about shooting. Could be worse.

 

[TBdog]

Fox isn't being used right. But I think this is more to do with Harper and Castle getting their reps. God our shooting is dreadful. I wonder if it's magic awful from last season?

 

[Ice009]

Rocket is now in the play-in. 7th seed

I know everyone is saying we are above expectation at 2nd seed but this is the freaking Western Conference....a few stupid (winnable) losses and you will be in the play-in soon enough

I believe the Spurs would have had a good grip on the second seed if they won this game (would have given them good momentum as I wasn't expecting a win against OKC), but I think they've maybe thrown it away along with this game. I guess we'll see.

Fox isn't being used right. But I think this is more to do with Harper and Castle getting their reps. God our shooting is dreadful. I wonder if it's magic awful from last season?

I haven't commented on Fox because I believe the Spurs are trying to push Castle and Harper to handle the ball more to improve their games. I don't think that is helping Fox at all. If you're going to pay Fox all that money and not use him as the lead guard, what did you get him for? Why did you pay him? I don't expect him to just turn it on when/if those two falter. It's not easy playing like that.

 

[spurs2112]

I believe the Spurs would have had a good grip on the second seed if they won this game (would have given them good momentum as I wasn't expecting a win against OKC), but I think they've maybe thrown it away along with this game. I guess we'll see.


I haven't commented on Fox because I believe the Spurs are trying to push Castle and Harper to handle the ball more to improve their games. I don't think that is helping Fox at all. If you're going to pay Fox all that money and not use him as the lead guard, what did you get him for? Why did you pay him? I don't expect him to just turn it on when/if those two falter. It's not easy playing like that.

Yup. Fox should be our primary ball handler when hes in the game with Castle. I like Castle, I think hes going to be a great player but not now. Hes shown flashes but I think he is trying/forcing things a little to much and its starting to add up. I think this on/off thing they got going on with Fox is messing with his game. Probably cant get into a rhythm and then he starts forcing things and thats no bueno also.

 

[Ice009]

Yup. Fox should be our primary ball handler when hes in the game with Castle. I like Castle, I think hes going to be a great player but not now. Hes shown flashes but I think he is trying/forcing things a little to much and its starting to add up. I think this on/off thing they got going on with Fox is messing with his game. Probably cant get into a rhythm and then he starts forcing things and thats no bueno also.

Nicely put. You said it a bit better than me. I mentioned in another thread, Fox has already shown earlier this season what he can do as the lead guard when Victor missed around a month or so. Steph and Dylan haven't shown they can do that. I don't know what the Spurs are trying to do by pushing those two when they haven't shown they can do that. Are they trying to see if they're capable of it, are they trying to force it? I really don't know. All I know is, they're looking terrible right now, and it's making Fox look bad too.

 

[Ice009]

My last word for this disappointing night. Fox is fast ,but he there is nothing 'clutch' about him. He played poorly all game and gave us false hope by making a couple shots finally in the end. I worry Wemby is not buying in to him and several other players not named Johnson and Kornet. Redemption is the best recipe for the blues I reckon.

Who are the other guys you don't believe Vic is buying into?

Fox isnt making anyone better right now. He’s just settling for jumpers mostly. He’s not bending defenses or getting paint touches and collapsing defense and making great reads etc…I do think he can do those things. Feels like he’s “lebron’ing” right now and coasting some and fitting in

I believe you're wrong. You think Fox is playing like this on purpose? I think the Spurs are trying to feature Castle and Harper more and try and do some sort of equal opportunity thing among the three. I don't think their time is now (over Fox), but it feels like the Spurs are pushing them as their time is now. This doesn't help Fox at all. He can't get into a rhythm playing like that, and you can't expect him to save the day at the end by chopping and changing it all game between the three guards. I thought they bought him in to be the lead guard/playmaker, but they're not using him in that role. You use in in that role now while he's in his prime, not when he's older. He has already shown us what he can do with that earlier in the season. I don't think Fox is just playing like this because he wants to. The Spurs are calling the shots and he's doing what he's told IMO.

Best summary out there. A horrendous loss, no two ways about it..We are starting to serve up too many bad losses of late.

Wolves ratched-up playoffs intensity and we wilted players and coaches alike (Wemby, Champ aside)

Unfortunately, I know it's a young team overall so anything can happen between now and the end of the regular season, but as a lot of us would remember with the old Spurs teams, the pretenders usually start losing the second half of the season. I really hope the team can turn it around and isn't in that category. I also don't believe Mitch's coaching is helping the situation any further.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2010535660013379789

 

[BacktoBasics]

Feel Better?

I would if you would stop acting like an insufferable child.

What compels you to act like that in public?

Is there something wrong with you that keeps you from being able to act normal?

 

[Shmurs]

This place is certainly not “in public”. Message boards are a dumping ground for whatever inner monologue crops up when you have your phone out. It’s not that big of a deal.

 

[Dex]

This place is certainly not “in public”. Message boards are a dumping ground for whatever inner monologue crops up when you have your phone out. It’s not that big of a deal.

Good point. I'll obviously let some eff bombs fly on occasion here when I am frustrated with the teams and the refs, but I am rarely like that in person. I am usually very quiet and stoic IRL when I am watching the Spurs or any of my favorite teams, especially when I am around my wife or other people.

She actually gets louder than I do and gets annoyed because I am so "forgiving" to what she thinks are bad plays or bad calls, especially when I explain that it's actually the right call

 

[spurs2112]

Good point. I'll obviously let some eff bombs fly on occasion here when I am frustrated with the teams and the refs, but I am rarely like that in person. I am usually very quiet and stoic IRL when I am watching the Spurs or any of my favorite teams, especially when I am around my wife or other people.

She actually gets louder than I do and gets annoyed because I am so "forgiving" to what she thinks are bad plays or bad calls, especially when I explain that it's actually the right call

I'm the opposite. When I'm at home I let the f bombs fly at the tv lol. But if I'm watching the game in public somewhere (restaurant, friends place etc.) I'm quiet like a mouse. Even on here on pretty much mute, just look at my post count and I've been around since spurstalk lol.

 

[Corso]

Yes I know what a roundhouse kick is. He wasn't in the sideline in street clothes in that video either. It's not complicated stuff to understand what I meant.

Just yankin'your chain bud.

 

[WembyFan]

Missed the game, what's the takeaway? The guys still in a funk?

 

[onechance87]

Missed the game, what's the takeaway? The guys still in a funk?

Harper and castle have turned into wesley and branham.

 

[Neuromancer]

I think we may have underestimated how important Vassells offense has been to this teams ability to function normally. Their defense has been fine but the offense has been ass since he went down

 

[Fireball]

we just cannot beat this fucking team. like last time TOs and offensive rebounds in the 4th were our downfall and in any close game against guys like Edwards we come up short. Still good road trip so far ...

 

[Dex]

we just cannot beat this fucking team. like last time TOs and offensive rebounds in the 4th were our downfall and in any close game against guys like Edwards we come up short. Still good road trip so far ...

They said Ant is shooing 70% in crunch time situations, that's just insane and he got us again last night.

 

[scott]

I feel like Vassell being out the last week and a half or whatever it’s been is having a trickle down affect on the guards. It’s forcing all 3 of Fox, Castle and Harper to try and do more. Not saying he’s perfect or the “missing piece,” but it has had an affect on everyone else. He can get hot and hit timely shots (as we saw against OKC in the cup game). Hopefully he’s back soon.

A very astute and level headed observation and I think you are absolutely correct. Vassell's absense has narrowed the spacing and closed off driving lanes for Fox, Castle and Harper, taking away the best parts of their games and turning them into jump shooters.

 

[Ice009]

They said Ant is shooing 70% in crunch time situations, that's just insane and he got us again last night.

What's the context? This season in all the games he's played so far? He's shooting at 70%? That's an insane stat if true.

 

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2010517294686839138

 

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2010802660589683099