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

[O_V]

Also grateful that nobody went out and cried about the officiating to the press. That shit is embarrassing.

 

[DPGSpurs]

Size is really bothering Fox+Castle+Harper and neutering them and their ability to get to rim and with a lack of confidence in their jumpers? You get this terrible stretch.

 

[DPGSpurs]

He really does seem to be. That play where he threw that wild crosscourt pass to Castle in the corner, nearly over his head, had me puzzled. OK maybe you make a risky pass like that if Champ has an open shot, or HB or Keldon. But for Steph shooting 26% from behind the line and with a man up on him? Dylan has looked so cool and in control, slowing the game down and making great passes all season but these last two weeks he looks like a poor man's Scoot Henderson. I know there's a HOF point guard in there from what he has shown until these last two weeks but damn where is he?

I dont blame him nearly as much. He’s so young and team is winning and he’s thrust into having to play winning ball immediately while learning.

 

[spurs10]

Mitch needs to take some responsibility in this 19 point turn around. Sitting Wemby when he was on a roll was beyond stupid. Also has 'Mr. Clutch' ever made a shot to win a close game in our history. Of course he would miss. Didn't he miss almost every other shot all night? Fox, Castle, and Harper were very bad, with Fox being the one I blame the most. If he doesn't turn his bad play around we are in trouble and Wemby knows it too.

 

[ChrisC21209]

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.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

And all signs point to Oklahoma City beating the crap out of us, but I thought that would happen on Christmas Day.

We will see.

 

[ChrisC21209]

And all signs point to Oklahoma City beating the crap out of us, but I thought that would happen on Christmas Day

Oddly enough I can see the Spurs taking it to them again, with the way things have been going lately the Spurs are unpredictable as hell right now

 

[Raven_]

He really does seem to be. That play where he threw that wild crosscourt pass to Castle in the corner, nearly over his head, had me puzzled. OK maybe you make a risky pass like that if Champ has an open shot, or HB or Keldon. But for Steph shooting 26% from behind the line and with a man up on him? Dylan has looked so cool and in control, slowing the game down and making great passes all season but these last two weeks he looks like a poor man's Scoot Henderson. I know there's a HOF point guard in there from what he has shown until these last two weeks but damn where is he?

getting buried by mitch "no pick and roll"

 

[spurs10]

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.

 

[Kick-Stand]

Oddly enough I can see the Spurs taking it to them again, with the way things have been going lately the Spurs are unpredictable as hell right now

IDK the guard play has been extremely consistent the last couple of weeks.

 

[TDomination]

I honestly didn’t expect a win but once they got a 19pt lead I was thinking don’t lose this guys.

So because of how it played out, it became frustrating to lose this one even though prior to the game I expected the loss.

 

[Fabbs]

Pop would do…..

This is a huge concern to me.
How many bad habits did he pick up when under Popped and are we now seeing it.

 

[Spurs Homer]

This asshole mitch actually threw out the phrase
"Where out of our weight Class"
WTF does that mean.
This isn't the NFL, MMA or SUMO
Look at that Skinny Fuck in Dennis Rodman weighed 210 TOPS his whole career, maybe 6'8" in shoes, technique and desire allowed him to go toe to do with a 300-pound Kaiju like SHAQ
That's why he is in the hall of fame
Isn't that a message you deliver, and example, instead of "Well Vic, is too skinny, Keldon is too short, "

FUCK THIS GUY

The Dunning-Kruger head coach you get from Professor Pop, the Dean of Social Justice and Citizenship, “It’s only basketball” and “It’s not who we are” era of the Spurs.

What do you expect from this Millennial Simulator Coach...

Stop it.

Or learn how to pay attention.

Mitch said the opposite. He was asked about the physicality and how the team should respond to it and how to way wemby was being moved out of his spots, etc…

Mitch basically answered that it was NOT like the spurs were out of their weight class or anything and he said the team needs to just respond with equal force/physicality….

 

[spursistan]

Fox also had Wemby wide open on that last shot. Horrible court vision for a PG tbh

He was compared to TP speed-wise but he is nowhere near his playmaking capabilities and Parker wasn't known for his great vision either. Another issue is that he's settling for his step back too much and not attempting to attack the paint even in opportune moments (FTR is probably at a career low).

 

[DPGSpurs]

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

 

[elpimpo4cc]

I am becoming kind of a player-fan

Hm

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

While Mitch hasn't been great during this stretch, I'm not sure what he's supposed to do when Fox/Castle/Harper/Barnes have all been literal dog shit since Christmas and Devin's injured tbh.

How about putting Wemby back in with, i dont know 70-60 seconds left in the game

Or maybe not yanking a guy who is on a role to stick to some chart on subs

When a team is up by 19 and it kinda goes south. I mean like 19 deep into the 3rd

How shit can those 3 actually be playing. If they need some structure, then the coach is supposed to call plays and give them structure. What plays is mitchy calling?

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

Stop it.

Or learn how to pay attention.

Mitch said the opposite. He was asked about the physicality and how the team should respond to it and how to way wemby was being moved out of his spots, etc…

Mitch basically answered that it was NOT like the spurs were out of their weight class or anything and he said the team needs to just respond with equal force/physicality….

You're asking a poster to STOP IT?
Are you for real?
Holly Snikeys

 

[Spurs Homer]

Hate to say this…but it is apparent that giving castle more minutes causes him to suck more instead of get better and better…the opposite of most players.

I really really liked how mitch was playing a 10/11 man rotation and different spurs were having breakout games and you never knew who it might be…

Since the “cup” thing happened…it appears that mitch pared down the rotation and altho some extra time was given to castle and harper…it also exhausted the 6-7-8 guys getting most minutes and then throw in that long ass early rodeo road trip of road games…

I think it caught up to those main players…

I would prefer to see 10/11 high energy excited close knit ballers…

Than 6-7 exhausted rookie-wall-type brick shooting small rotation.

 

[Floyd Pac]

What we’ve learned since Vassell is out is that he’s a Vidal to the spurs in what he brings with his shooting and somewhat improved defense. Castle has been exposed and Harper has hit a wall.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

This loss has really stirred up some emotions tonight. Let me say I’ve always thought that back to back’s suck and they should’ve been abolished like 20 years ago.

 

[Robz4000]

What we’ve learned since Vassell is out is that he’s a Vidal to the spurs in what he brings with his shooting and somewhat improved defense. Castle has been exposed and Harper has hit a wall.

Castle is a second year player tbh; he's hit a wall as much as Harper. The fact so many of his shots are hitting the front of the rim tells me tired legs are playing a part imo. Said it earlier, but the Spurs should treat OKC as a rest game. I'd sit Castle, Fox, Keldon, Barnes, Champ, and Kornet. Start Harper with Wemby, surround them with as much shooting as this roster can offer with those six sitting, and live with the results.

 

[heyheymymy]

Fox/Castle/Harper shot so poorly, Mitch had bad timing on his rotations and subs, stupid turnovers like the Donte corner 3 all prove costly in MIN.

Honestly hats off to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Naz Reid hitting those threes on us like he always does, Ant played with good energy and hustle. MIN is a good team that can push and they really ran on us in that 4th. Always did admire the Timberwolves franchise and what a strong sense of leadership from the brand management. Good to see the city of Minneapolis get an exciting victory after everything they've been through. Three cheers.

 

[spursistan]

With the standings in mind, the dropped 20 point lead, and how we played… this is by far the worst loss of the season.

Pathetic all around. It started with dumbass Mitch not starting Wemby in the 4th for no reason, inviting the Wolves to make a run instead of ending the game when the players and crowd weren’t in it at all. Then when it’s too late brings him back and asks him to play 8 mins straight when he hasn’t done that in months while getting molested by Randle off ball with no calls.

Cherry on the cake is that ridiculous “play” out of a timeout, coaching staff is completely clueless when the chips are down and they need to make something happen. Instead of Fox breaking down the defense and us running multiple screens for a clean look, he gives it up to Steph who gives it up to Wemby with no movement and expects him to chuck a Hail Mary with someone draped all over him? wtf is that?

Pathetic

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)

 

[Spursgenius]

4 one point losses all on Mitch cracks under pressure. Otherwise we playing for first place Tuesday. Have no idea whats happened to Castle, Fox, Barnes, and Harper. Surprised we are still in these games.