Game Thread Spurs (6-2) vs Pelicans (2-6) (Sat 11/08/25) [7:00PM CDT]

With a 7-2 record at this point things are so much more exciting to watch then the past 5+ years. The Spurs have been hobbled with injuries (as have many of their opponents) and there have been infuriating moments by many of the rotation players but dang, we are 7-2 and one of those losses was only by two points on the Lakers home floor. There is room for improvement as always but with some of the injured returning and chemistry getting better, I find myself getting unreasonably optimistic.
 
Weave the Lakers game away. We played quite poorly in the 4th Q. The officiating didn't help matters, but we shot ourselves in the foot with poor turnovers and poor FT shooting.

Still, I am excited to see what this team can be when we get the full squad back. Our depth will be insane.

Teams will continue to double Wemby hard in the half court. He needs to see this quickly and find a good outlet. Then we can pass the ball around to find a great shot while the defense is scrambling.

We also need to get back to pick and roll and getting the ball up high for Wemby to do his above the rim theatrics.

Wemby needs to get with Timmy and work on the bank shot from both sides. He also should try to add a hook shot, specifically the sky hook. If he can master that shot, he will be virtually unstoppable.
 
Jimmer Muse account lay dormant, for now... waiting for the return of the king
 
Valparaiso said:
Derik Queen will no doubt be happy today after hearing that Tim Duncan was watching and texted Antonio Daniels during the game that he was impressed with his play.


Queen's +/- numbers are interesting: his On Court number is -1.7, which makes sense being on a 2-7 team, but his On/Off number is +17.7, by far the best on the team, showing that at least so far the Pelican are substantially better with Queen on the floor.

www.basketball-reference.com

2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the latest New Orleans Pelicans Roster and Stats for 2025-26 on Basketball-Reference.com
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Click to expand...
This is awesome. Theoretically, a Fears, TM3, Herb, Queen core is a pretty good foundation. Problem is I really don’t see a Zion market
 
scott said:

Swipa definitely not sounding like a man who feels he's a transitory piece in his post game @OK Computer

Interesting note, Fox hadn't played 5-on-5 since his surgery until two weeks ago and hasn't had much time with the regular rotation guys

Some great stuff in this press conference.
Click to expand...
You weren't kidding! Fox was very candid here, thanks for linking :st-tu:

I was particularly pleased by him taking time to breaking down the stats of scoring by quarters during the interview; he's clearly aware of what winning basketball looks like -- which was honestly a point of concern for me during the trade, having toiled in Sacramento his whole career.... So that's encouraging.

Also liked him being very real about his role as an asset and the Spurs medical staff's duty and interest in preserving his health as their asset, in stark contrast to Kawhi and his saga. A very mature/realist way of looking at things.
 
That’s really cool. The knock on him is that he uses the first 3 quarters to determine if the game is worth his effort. Ideally you have a guy just play steady for the whole game. But with him it may always be a matter of him applying his own analysis and nuance to his career, where he’s actually onto something. It just seems unorthodox. You’d have a hard time convincing me he was holding the kings back. He’s just a dude with a supernatural gift that he’s choosing to wield in ways we don’t understand, maybe.
 
Fox played for the Kings for 8 years, barely sniffing the playoffs. He just got paid as well. I'm not worried about him playing winning basketball and being nothing but a positive for the team at all tbh.
 
CGD said:
This is awesome. Theoretically, a Fears, TM3, Herb, Queen core is a pretty good foundation. Problem is I really don’t see a Zion market
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I ultimately see his market being a team that needs to quickly cut payroll in a major way, and trades for him to use his weight clause to waive him. He’s the ultimate get out of jail free card for apron teams. I think if I were really in a jam, I’d give NO 2 FRPs, protected of course, to get off $40M in salary in an instant.
 
It’s not important for wins and whatnot but I think the block streak is a thing for fans and it’s not a bad idea to lean into it and acknowledge that it has some importance.

So…while you shouldn’t bend your game plan around it, you should understand that he’s now being avoided like the plague which makes the streak a little fragile and when he gets a legitimate block like last night that the refs just do a lazy auto pilot thing and call it a goaltend - you should be watching replays closely and calling a challenge.

Mitch isn’t into replay reviews but it’s pretty irresponsible of him, overall, to not be on top of this element of game management.

Would have been good to challenge that goaltend last night for both the team and the fans. He got his blocks either way but if this streak ends because some dipshit ref misses an obvious one, that’s going to be a very very stupid thing.
 
Valparaiso said:
Derik Queen will no doubt be happy today after hearing that Tim Duncan was watching and texted Antonio Daniels during the game that he was impressed with his play.


Queen's +/- numbers are interesting: his On Court number is -1.7, which makes sense being on a 2-7 team, but his On/Off number is +17.7, by far the best on the team, showing that at least so far the Pelican are substantially better with Queen on the floor.

www.basketball-reference.com

2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Checkout the latest New Orleans Pelicans Roster and Stats for 2025-26 on Basketball-Reference.com
www.basketball-reference.com www.basketball-reference.com
Click to expand...
Duncan "really likes that queen"?

the bi fundamental strikes again
 
For those concerned about Fox, Castle, and Harper all being healthy and thinking it's a problem. If the three of them all play 32 minutes it fills the 1&2 plus Castle can play the 3. It means two of them always being on the floor. Not a bad problem to have.
 
Shmurs said:
Would have been good to challenge that goaltend last night for both the team and the fans. He got his blocks either way but if this streak ends because some dipshit ref misses an obvious one, that’s going to be a very very stupid thing.
Click to expand...
both of his goaltends were, in fact, goaltends
 
Shmurs said:
It’s not important for wins and whatnot but I think the block streak is a thing for fans and it’s not a bad idea to lean into it and acknowledge that it has some importance.

So…while you shouldn’t bend your game plan around it, you should understand that he’s now being avoided like the plague which makes the streak a little fragile and when he gets a legitimate block like last night that the refs just do a lazy auto pilot thing and call it a goaltend - you should be watching replays closely and calling a challenge.

Mitch isn’t into replay reviews but it’s pretty irresponsible of him, overall, to not be on top of this element of game management.

Would have been good to challenge that goaltend last night for both the team and the fans. He got his blocks either way but if this streak ends because some dipshit ref misses an obvious one, that’s going to be a very very stupid thing.
Click to expand...
I predict Vic's block streak will eventually end because a team will decide they want no part of it and simply won't attempt a shot against him... and that will be just as good of defense as any block Victor will ever get and an amazing sign of respect. Kind of like in American Football when a QB just simply avoids throwing near one CB.
 
Biggems said:
Weave the Lakers game away. We played quite poorly in the 4th Q. The officiating didn't help matters, but we shot ourselves in the foot with poor turnovers and poor FT shooting.

Still, I am excited to see what this team can be when we get the full squad back. Our depth will be insane.

Teams will continue to double Wemby hard in the half court. He needs to see this quickly and find a good outlet. Then we can pass the ball around to find a great shot while the defense is scrambling.

We also need to get back to pick and roll and getting the ball up high for Wemby to do his above the rim theatrics.

Wemby needs to get with Timmy and work on the bank shot from both sides. He also should try to add a hook shot, specifically the sky hook. If he can master that shot, he will be virtually unstoppable.
Click to expand...
He's 7'5'' he doesn't need a sky hook, just a regular hook shot is enough. Ain't nobody blocking that.
 
Splits said:
both of his goaltends were, in fact, goaltends
Click to expand...
Nope. First one he pinned against the backboard. They showed a replay but Sean was too busy talking about something else to acknowledge it.
 
KobesAchilles said:
I mean if he gives us 18 boards and 3 blocks a game then it doesn’t really matter if he is scoring 19-21 ppg. We have plenty of scorers. Wemby is basically our only defender still. It’s tiring doing both at an elite level. He’s going to have some off games.

It literally happens to every player ever
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True. This next game will be a big test. 6-3 Bulls on the road. I feel good about this team at home. It's the road games against .500 and above teams where I want to see how we do. I'll be happy if we break even, or even just a little below, on the road this year.
 
spurs10 said:
For those concerned about Fox, Castle, and Harper all being healthy and thinking it's a problem. If the three of them all play 32 minutes it fills the 1&2 plus Castle can play the 3. It means two of them always being on the floor. Not a bad problem to have.
Click to expand...
Fair enough until you have to acknowledge that Devin starts at the two and eats up a fair amount of minutes there even if you think he can play some at the three
 
NotoriousHOP said:
Fair enough until you have to acknowledge that Devin starts at the two and eats up a fair amount of minutes there even if you think he can play some at the three
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Devins minutes need to be down to 25.
Castle 30
Fox 30
Wemby 30
Barnes 25


When everyone healthy

Harper 25
Keldon 20
Kornet 20
Sochan 15
Champ 20

This keeps everyone fresh. Dont like 35-40 min every night on our 4 Studs(eventual and current max contracts) Wemby, Fox, Harper, Castle.

With blowouts give CB some time.

While Harper and Kornet hurt

Play Waters, CB, Olynk to eat those minutes along with giving champ, Keldon, Sochan 5-10 more each. We are 13 deep Bitches. Bimbo and Mac suck. Only should play if we a ton of injuries like beginning of season.
 
Last edited:
Sugus said:
You weren't kidding! Fox was very candid here, thanks for linking :st-tu:

I was particularly pleased by him taking time to breaking down the stats of scoring by quarters during the interview; he's clearly aware of what winning basketball looks like -- which was honestly a point of concern for me during the trade, having toiled in Sacramento his whole career.... So that's encouraging.

Also liked him being very real about his role as an asset and the Spurs medical staff's duty and interest in preserving his health as their asset, in stark contrast to Kawhi and his saga. A very mature/realist way of looking at things.
Click to expand...
I mentioned a week or two ago that the Spurs should look at keeping teams to 25-27 points per quarter defensively. They should take it by quarters and it seems Fox said something similar that 27pts is good, but not the 30+ point quarters.


ShoppingCartFestival said:
True. This next game will be a big test. 6-3 Bulls on the road. I feel good about this team at home. It's the road games against .500 and above teams where I want to see how we do. I'll be happy if we break even, or even just a little below, on the road this year.
Click to expand...
It's not just this year. Usually a lot of these guys that were on the team previously on the team struggle on the road. I don't look at the numbers, but this is one reason I really like how Dylan was playing, he was playing the same way on the road as at home, it didn't seem to deter him if it was a road or home game like it does a lot of young players, Steph I think also plays decent on the road too. Fox no problem for him, so that should help immensely. Champ is one guy that I think does poorly on the road. If he and others can start being more consistent in road games, then the Spurs will have a chance to be a very good team.

Also, cool to hear that TD likes what he's seen of Queen so far. I thought he looked good and wasn't sure why everyone here was trashing him or more so the Pelicans for the traded first round pick to the Hawks to get him. I'm sure there was also a poster or two on ST that were very high on him.
 
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