Transcript
Elias Hansen: Okay, welcome back. Spurs Journal entry number seven. um It's a long season. addition. Charlie. How you feeling? NBA basketball is back.
Charlie: I'm feeling good man. I feel, I mean obviously You know, it could be better but more than that anything.
Elias Hansen: It's stupid.
Charlie: Just excited to have. Some things that actually talk about now, you know what I mean?
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: um some are Some real updates.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, this is true
Charlie: It's offseason. inch dawn you know day by day but we're finally back here
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: And... I think. I don't know. I hate to say it like deep in my soul. I had like a feeling this would kind of happen on opening night. It just like.
Charlie: you know the way that we kind of kicked off kicked out you know okc and the western conference finals and like really kind of put like an emotional stamp on it And it just like, it made.
Charlie: It made a lot of sense that they they came out so strong, so focused.
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: and um and they're fully healthy right now and then on top of that we're starting a
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: No. lineup. That I think is going to take. if we stick to it, is going to take. a little bit. to for our team to adjust to, for 1B to adjust to.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: Overall, I think, you know. We move on. It's a bummer because... we also kind of Obviously ended the season last year with it. in a heartbreaking manner and wanted to come out. and Show people. how we change, how we got better, blah, blah, blah. But I think that.
Charlie: it's not time for nearly as many of the overreactions as I'm seeing online.
Elias Hansen: Yes. Yes. Well, yeah, yeah you you summed it up. perfectly. Um... we'll We'll talk through the game. we'll talk about Our thoughts, lineup thoughts, matchup thoughts.
Elias Hansen: um and then we'll quickly talk about the next upcoming games over the next week or so that will likely happen between when we would talk to you all again. but you I think you said it perfectly. I think we can we can take a second to vent.
Elias Hansen: um And.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: The second event is. I was lucky enough to be at the game. which I was so hyped to do, required a lot of driving, a lot of creative scheduling. And.
Elias Hansen: I agree with you Charlie. I kind of had a feeling that this was not going to go this first way. I was not expecting to win. Um. And... Credits OKC, we can talk about this too.
Elias Hansen: They look fantastic. We said it this summer. We said this team is going to be better. They looked every bit better. They looked like a juggernaut. All that said... My one bit of complaining I'm going to do before we can be a little bit more positive. is that was a piss poor effort.
Elias Hansen: From a lot of the team Individual efforts, people trying to make things happen, sure. And I'm not going to pretend like I am a better coach or certainly not a better player.
Elias Hansen: than anyone even near the court. um for the game However, from where I was sitting... That was embarrassing. That was an embarrassing first half, especially um I don't know about you.
Elias Hansen: But watching a lot of those offensive sets. um as the game was getting going event and you know first First half of the first quarter, I was like, we're shaking off some rust. Like, we'll see if we get better. I'm a naturally optimistic game watcher, so as the game was going on, I was like, let's cut it to this, and then we'll do this, and we'll cut it to this.
Elias Hansen: But. By the end of the first half and you could feel it in the stadium I almost thought, like, this I don't think Spurs fans would ever do this. But I was like if this was another franchise, I think people might be booing.
Elias Hansen: At half. Um, because the wind was taken out of everyone's sails it was like man what are we watching Bye. This sucks.
Charlie: so
Elias Hansen: This sucks.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: So that's my overreaction. I got it out of the way. We're not even overreaction, but my my frustration and venting.
Charlie: Your negative thoughts.
Elias Hansen: That was pretty ugly. my negative thoughts are out of the way
Charlie: Yeah. I think it's, I mean, for me... like what that is for me, honestly. I think almost like And again, it's too early for me to like make this claim and like really stick with it. But like. Like all the problems we talked about.
Charlie: kind of last year, towards the end of last year. like over the summer that we're talking about like Wemby's offensive game. in particular and obviously that's kind of that's the shadow of this game is like This is the worst game he's ever had.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: You know what I mean? you You can't expect him to ever have a game. this bad which is like Gives you some hope, but like... I think the root of the problem is the same kind of thing.
Charlie: We always talked about over the summer which is when... When as teams adjust to him and have adjusted to figure out how. to play him, how to keep him out of the paint, how to force bad shots.
Charlie: cut them off in certain ways. it And like, honestly, like. be like like putting like smaller guys on him and that are really aggressive and getting low it's like We almost... it it kind of feels like, you know, this first game spurs in general just kind of got punked but like when we me specifically it felt like
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: he didn't Again, didn't really have any answers for that. End. It's almost like, and again, too early to say. Like the new lineup kind of. exacerbated those problems even more because the whole point of that lineup is like speed and attacking from all these different angles.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: and you know facilitating this like very quick offense and um And like, you know. several players I can just really push the pace and like attack the room and get going on both sides and I think that like...
Charlie: A lot of times I saw Wemby kind of struggling, figuring out like what he was going to do with that. You know what I mean? and like what he was gonna do like as a part of this like Offense is supposed to be really. fast.
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: and um and so yeah i think you know i i'll see it I trust our coaches. I'm sure they're. talking about all these things right now. And like. One of you is also talking about this after the game, how he was too hesitant.
Charlie: and this is not like the game he likes and the game he likes to play And I agree all those things. I think more than anything, this was like a. We just got pumped. You know, they came out.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: Okay, so you looked. Amazing.
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: I've not seen Jared McCain miss a three in an OKC jersey.
Elias Hansen: Good lord.
Charlie: is crazy it's like and that's that's another thing Like that was horrible.
Elias Hansen: Oh my god. that Sucked
Charlie: And we we didn't shoot great from three.
Elias Hansen: they They we're shooting uh 88 or 89 percent from three at the end of the first half. Just...
Charlie: it's insane.
Elias Hansen: And. And now listen. That is an anomaly. It's a statistical anomaly. No team's going to shoot that good from three over the course of the season.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: However, the Spurs did a very bad job of defending the three. They were swinging the ball. They were... pick and pop. um up and down the floor and it worked everything.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: They were finding open shooters. These were not contested shots that they decided to put up late in the shot clock. They have SGA who can make those.
Charlie: no
Elias Hansen: These were intentional open.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: three pointers, it was their game plan. And it. It worked. um Yeah, but um to what to to your point about... um the Wemby performance and the offense. I think.
Elias Hansen: there's there's Once again, there's like the really pessimistic and the somewhat more realistic view of this. um The more realistic view is like you're saying. like It was a dud. Um...
Elias Hansen: it happens anything can happen in the nba you're gonna lose I optimistically, this may happen like. I don't know, 20 more times where... Or let's say 10, maybe 10.
Elias Hansen: Hard -fought losses tend to just kind of... Lay an egg. weird situation. um And Wemby's not going to play that poorly again. However... Giving more credit to Oklahoma and the the biggest concern I had, one while I was watching the game at the end of the game, you know most of me was thinking, whatever, move on. Like I said at the beginning. It's a long season.
Elias Hansen: Um. The offense was concerning, and it was concerning because Oklahoma City... was very intentional about tensionable intentional about shrinking down the paint.
Elias Hansen: Um... and would let leave Steph Castle. pretty wide open. And the offense clearly, like when someone is that wide open. They can either shoot.
Elias Hansen: or you can create enough motion. towards the basket and around the back of the basket. to where someone can get open. And there were so many possessions where you could see it. You'd walk the ball up the floor.
Elias Hansen: So there's probably like... a good 17 seconds left on the shot clock And they get to the half court. and there are two guys in the corner, two in the wing. and one with the ball.
Elias Hansen: and they're standing there. and maybe someone comes and sets a screen and maybe maybe they come and switch spots and kick it back
Charlie: Yes. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Um. But there was no flow in the offense. And we talked about this before the FIBA games. We talked about Wemby trying to develop a signature move. And now in this situation.
Elias Hansen: That is what would have worked a little bit. i mean all the credit to Shea like the it's frustrating to watch with the foul but I mean he's selling calls that the refs have to call and he makes incredibly difficult shots I mean it is It is.
Elias Hansen: remarkable to watch. And so. okay see when the offense got stagnant has a guy that can drive that can get to his spot and can fade away and can make a shot.
Charlie: o
Elias Hansen: We didn't have anybody. going to a signature move when the offense got stagnant. We just had a stagnant offense and people trying to create for themselves. And the only player, going back to another conversation, made this summer the only player.
Elias Hansen: who was able to do that somewhat successfully. Darren Fox. He was the only one with enough control of the ball and understanding of the spacing to get a few shots here and there. But like Wimby said in the postgame, like you mentioned.
Charlie: no
Elias Hansen: Everyone was doing a little bit too much. after the shot clock got down to about nine seconds.
Charlie: Totally.
Elias Hansen: Someone would. do their version of a KJ and just get as close to the basket as they can.
Charlie: head down just
Elias Hansen: Um, or Chuck up a three or chuck up a three
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: um And... it was it was It was pretty tough to watch. Are they going to figure it out? Are they watching the film? yes absolutely however the reason i say that it's somewhat cause for the cause for concern is that this is a pretty simple simple defensive formula that other teams can replicate.
Elias Hansen: Sag off of Steph Castle.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: If you don't have enough shooting in the lineup, if Julian Champagny is not in the starting lineup. Sag off of Steph Castle. and make the Spurs offense figure out how to create enough space. If they can't, we're fine with leaving Steph Castle open.
Elias Hansen: we'll We'll let that happen. Um. And that's going to be something they're going to have to figure that out. They're going to have to figure it out. Like I said, it's one game, trying not to overreact. And I'm not i'm not freaking out. Like, i' these is this is the...
Elias Hansen: very specific issue. that I saw. but it is still an issue. that probably needs to be addressed.
Charlie: Yeah, I got it as far as um I think one... other issue that I kind of forgot about because I I remembered it. kind of after watching this game.
Charlie: um i I forgot how much of a... gap in bench points there was the entire Thunder series.
Elias Hansen: Mm hmm.
Charlie: And that was like a huge problem.
Elias Hansen: Surviving the cornet minutes.
Charlie: Yes, exactly. And it was I remember like. um It's because for this game, there was a 20 point gap. Um...
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Which is... He was 29 to 48. And.
Elias Hansen: Wow.
Charlie: So 19 .4, whatever. um but you know, it's kind of this thing that happens when we play. OKC specifically is that our rotations just kind of shrink.
Charlie: You know what I mean?
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: and it's like it kind of like squeezes in on like These, like... six guys or seven guys because for whatever reason. I mean, I can name multiple reasons, but those are the people we can trust.
Charlie: to handle you know this team And while I'm really excited about the New lineup in... I think that Dylan Harper has proven Amen. You know, he's... He's ah he's really he's one of the best offensive players we have.
Charlie: um if not the best. and um I will say though, it is... I felt like it was a slight disadvantage that we didn't have. someone like him coming in.
Charlie: you know when the starters are resting And really just like lighting things up being this kind of spark plug.
Elias Hansen: Absolutely.
Charlie: for our offense and you know kind of carrying things down the line. for us. And, You know, that's it's one of the things that we're talking about where it's like it's a good problem to have Too many good players.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: But. It is something to think about, you know. How do we get? Art Bench. No matter like what it looks like this season, how do we get them more involved and get to a place where we can...
Charlie: trust them more at a certain point i wanted to see like Terrace Reed Jr. in there and just see, like, can he get some boys?
Elias Hansen: You got to see him with 30 seconds left.
Charlie: Peace. Yeah, exactly.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah, the last. yeah
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: but um
Elias Hansen: Yeah. ah youre I do think that... Tobias Harris coming back is going to be interesting.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Um,
Charlie: Definitely.
Elias Hansen: he's not goingnna If they stick with this three -guard lineup, he's not going to take the spot of Devin Vassell. Which is interesting um And I wonder what the conversations look like this offseason.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: when trying to get him to San Antonio. I doubt the Spurs misled him whatsoever.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Um... And i'm I'm sure it was continuing conversations, but it's interesting that he would. be willing to some come to the Spurs and take a bench roll. um But I think he could provide a little bit more of the...
Charlie: m
Elias Hansen: the bench. numbers, but Speaking to the gap in scoring between the benches, like i I do want to like switch. Because... yeah This is a small sample size for the Spurs.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: We've got a lot of games coming up, and we'll talk about the games coming up.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: But I want to switch to the Thunder. I mean... This team is good, man. This team is really, really good.
Charlie: It's so good It's...
Elias Hansen: And and watching this game and thinking back to the the Western Conference Finals and thinking. They didn't have... j -dub or AJ Mitchell. And they...
Elias Hansen: Look even deeper. You know, we talked about this summer, like, oh, maybe they traded away some of their depth.
Charlie: o
Elias Hansen: It doesn't look like it to me.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: Like, Jared McCain, Darryl Morey. Giving the Thunder, Jared McCain. Uh... I always mispronounce the the rookie's name. Um. who played for Michigan.
Charlie: oh
Elias Hansen: I don't, I don't, I, it's fake ball nowhere.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Looked incredible. Looked incredible.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I think he played like 12 minutes or something. He had a block on Vic.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: that was like. Whoa!
Charlie: Ade Mara.
Elias Hansen: Nobody. Yes, Ade Moura, yes.
Charlie: and Adai Mara.
Elias Hansen: Nobody does that. Nobody does that. like I have not seen anybody do that.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: He looked like What? Chet. would look like before when it was this kind of unique. physicality on the court that was like quick and responsive but also still really tall and lanky.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: um The thunder. i like I haven't listened to my and any of my regular podcasts. yet, but the the Poop Collective or Zach Lowe show. But I would imagine I'm going to listen to them and I'm going to hear Zach Lowe and Brian Windhorst say.
Elias Hansen: Thunder made a statement. Thunder came out and said, Y 'all forgot that we are the best team in the and NBA.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And we almost proved it again. Without all of our team. So the Spurs. Listen, I'm not saying that they Can't win the West. It's one game. We did it last year.
Elias Hansen: We got better, I think. um but Thunder are still here and they are going to be an incredibly hard team to beat and I'll be really really interested to see
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: What the balance of the regular season looks like for this team because barring any injuries Like they're going to. mow teams down. There are not a lot of teams that can hang.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: with that. with that team.
Charlie: totally It kind of reminds me of of last year. Hope. incredible the Thunder look to the start of the season and they I mean they're incredible the whole season but like in the beginning they were on pace to beat
Elias Hansen: Mm hmm.
Charlie: the Warriors record for, you know, winning this.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: season of all time.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: and um yeah no they looked incredible the bench looked incredible they looked just like a well -oiled machine they knew their identity they knew their spots they knew their sets it was like There was no confusion out there, and it felt like there was a lot of confusion.
Charlie: with the Spurs and a lot of kind of looking around. unsure what to do.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: But um...
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: can safely
Elias Hansen: What did you what did you think? What did you think of the the Fox?
Charlie: I was just...
Elias Hansen: Foul. what did what you what what did you do What did you think about that?
Charlie: You know, I think maybe maybe Fox is a smart man. and knows how to get right back on the good graces of the spurs community you know was immediately my thought like wow he's he's trying he's like he knows he knows what he has to do
Elias Hansen: Yeah. That's funny. That's good.
Elias Hansen: Go after Chet.
Charlie: I think. I think... um It is. One like. Like. I agree with him that like, it's pretty.
Charlie: I find it hard to imagine. Like little deer and fox could throw a chat. like that and such a Quit like in such a you know easy and simple way like that just doesn't make sense to me Yet again, but with that being said definitely a hard foul definitely going to start something it was hilarious that everyone on that team
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And both teams seem to be involved in that scuffle. except for chet like i just feel like it's a good metaphor of like what
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: what's been going on.
Elias Hansen: That's hilarious. yeah
Charlie: um It's very, it's safe to say there is still a lot of Bad blood. and
Elias Hansen: Oh yeah.
Charlie: emotions between these two teams.
Elias Hansen: Oh yeah.
Charlie: And I think like, that's just. going to be the case for as long as these teams are. butting up against each other and getting each other's way.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I don't know I like it. I saw a meme where it's like... like every time like It's either like the Spurs and the Thunder play or the Nuggets and the Timberwolves play.
Charlie: It's like game seven. It was just like an edit of all the fights and scuffles.
Elias Hansen: Yep. Yeah.
Charlie: and like I think. I think it's i think it's it's a part of, like... I don't know, being being one of the top teams. in your conference.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And I think that like, you know, there was By then it was pretty clear they'd already gotten the best of us. It was, I think. in the second half of the game. um But it felt...
Charlie: I don't know. I think it's like. you you kind of... Like, this the Spurs have this kind of... massive target on their heads. They made a lot of enemies. last year and i don't I don't have a problem with
Elias Hansen: Yep. Exactly what I was going to say.
Charlie: with Fox. taking one for the team and just getting something started like that.
Elias Hansen: I completely agree. um And like... you know my of my initial yeah while i was at the game i was like are you fucking kidding me like you can't throw that guy down like he's two feet shorter than him like that is ridiculous um But like realistically, like, you know.
Elias Hansen: he threw him down it was a foul people defend their teammates whatever but what you said i think is exactly right because We can talk this. uh team and this match up to death and we will have to because the spurs are going to have to keep thinking about how they can beat the thunder realistically um But this idea of like...
Elias Hansen: Team's best effort. night in and night out and i think it's a perfect like segue to start talking quickly about the other few games that are coming up. Um. it It does really matter. like It sounds kind of like, oh, whatever, but I think it really does make a big difference. Every team is going to bring their best effort.
Elias Hansen: to try and beat the Spurs because last year the Spurs proved that they were better than that team. At some point in the season.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And so.
Charlie: Mmm.
Elias Hansen: Each game? you have to be ready for that kind of energy from whatever team you're playing. Teams are going to look to Get under your skin.
Elias Hansen: Everyone's going to be geared up. Everyone's going to be the most locked in as they can be because they know they're going to be playing one of the top teams. If they beat the top team, look at them. Huge win for them. um And so there's no more like.
Elias Hansen: You know, I think I texted y 'all of like. I kind of miss being mid where it's like we walk into a game and it's like we're the scrappy underdog and like. oh we gotta win like that's right don't count us out There's no more of that approach to any of the games this season.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: m
Elias Hansen: Um. and So in some ways, I think. this the the first game i i texted y 'all i was like you know Real Spurs fans know this is the perfect first half. is like This is a really good wake -up call. We spent the last few weeks of the end of the offseason with all of the experts saying Spurs are going to win the title.
Elias Hansen: And Wemby's going to be MVP and defensive player of the year.
Charlie: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And, you know, good luck catching Thunder and Spurs, and that's it. They're in a tier of their own. It's just those two duking it out. And this game. was a Kind of like a reminder. i Like you said at the beginning, like I kind of expected us to lose.
Elias Hansen: And a part of me is like, you know what? It's a really long season. Um, Unfortunately, this game might matter if we stay close in the and the standings.
Charlie: Yeah, that's what I was thinking about.
Elias Hansen: and and something like a tie break later in the season. but
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Realistically like a punch in the mouth like this i think could be helpful. um for the approach Kind of a reminder, like, hey. You can't, there's no nights off anymore.
Elias Hansen: Like every team is going to be coming.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: After you. for the next 81.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: games and then thereafter.
Charlie: Totally. And like you're. Yeah. Style of play is not. a shock to anyone anymore as well.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: you know what i mean like the pace of it. the kind of the wimpy of it like these things they now need to have systems in place and sets and plays that kind of execute.
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Charlie: everybody's strengths in the best way. I think that's like. That's the thing I always see Spurs fans the most frustrated with and the thing we always talk about is like... How can we execute this? like in a planned like strategic Way, that's you know doesn't just look like our guys get out there have a play get blown up and look All right, now it's ISO ball.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: You know what I mean? Now it's time to... you know See what I can do alone. and so um
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: So, yeah, no, I totally agree.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: you're you're and it i should We should have talked about it, or I should have brought it up. like Sooner, but... what you're saying. saying you know You're totally right. And it makes it, I think, even more clear about like.
Elias Hansen: how this isn't one of these fault everybody didn't give a good enough effort i think mitch johnson had a great quote of like he was asked about the three guard lineup and he was like i think uh everybody gave a pretty well -rounded poor effort um I think that's a good way to put it. But like this offense.
Elias Hansen: No matter how creative you get, this offense works. And just while you see a jump in bench throwing, it works. when um when b is near the basket and when b couldn't figure out how to get near the basket and draw defenders in in a productive way at all and so we're gonna have to figure that out
Charlie: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: How okay?
Charlie: Totally.
Elias Hansen: We have played one game and we have quite a few Good games coming up. ah I actually. did a little scouting for the Spurs. Yesterday. afternoon i drove from san antonio where i was to watch the spurs game and i drove back to my home in Houston.
Elias Hansen: And I went to the... Mavs. Rockets game. Last night. uh Absolutely disgusting game. from we'll We'll talk about it in a second. But the Spurs will play. The Rockets on Friday in Austin.
Elias Hansen: um They will then play the Mavs on Saturday. They will play the Kings. on Tuesday and then the Jazz on Wednesday.
Elias Hansen: Um. So realistically probably all those games are gonna happen before we talk to you guys again. And I want to start... We got to talk about this Rockets game.
Elias Hansen: um The Rockets last night. I will say. Whew! I said I went with my sister to this game. And I was like. Man, this looks a lot like Thunder Spurs.
Elias Hansen: Um. The Rockets were playing. free. They were playing remarkably fast. Now this is like, there's a one game and it's a tough, you know, there's no sample, zero sample size here. I don't know if the Mavs are not as good as I thought they would be. or the rockets are a lot better than we thought I would be. But I will say the one thing that helped.
Elias Hansen: The Rockets build their lead and keep it. is they were playing so fast. They were getting up and down the floor, the amount of fast break points that they got. Even if it wasn't a fast break, they were getting either getting a rebound and getting it up the court or getting the ball inbounds so fast.
Elias Hansen: The Mavs didn't have time to react on defense. And even if it ended up being a half court set, it wasn't a fast break. They were able. like um Kevin Durant or Shangoon, they were getting to their spots on the floor, and then the defense was getting set. which is something that Spurs couldn't do against the Thunder. We couldn't get to our spots. so This Friday. This is going to be an interesting game.
Elias Hansen: um and if the spurs want to hang with the rockets because the rockets look Pretty damn good. um If they want to hang with the Rockets, they need to get back on defense. This is just one game, and you know the Rockets' identity on offense is yet to be established with Fred. Fred Van Vliet.
Elias Hansen: Back. But. They were flying. up and down the court i mean absolutely flying and I it it had There are some differences in that I think Oklahoma City. executed in the half court a lot better.
Elias Hansen: um but It was a similar story Rockets playing great defense. um Mavs relying on some individual creation seeing if they could get anything done and then just dismantling. um on defense. So...
Elias Hansen: I don't know what your thoughts are, Charlie. I always... Um... A little worried about a Houston game. I know that the Rockets hate us, and I... I feel like we kind of hate Houston, but I feel like that was kind of driven by Sohan a lot, which I loved.
Charlie: Heh heh heh heh.
Elias Hansen: Um... But this is gonna be a really interesting game
Charlie: Yeah, i I feel like, ah so i didn't I didn't get to watch. full transparency the the game but i watched some highlights and looked at the box score
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And I think... the take that I kept seeing or like the you know attitude I saw online and I feel like I'm getting from you is that the rockets looked better than people thought they would look and the Mavericks looked worse than people thought they would look.
Elias Hansen: Yep. this up Perfect combo.
Charlie: and You know, so that's like pros and cons for.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: The fact that we're playing both of them and and this weekend. But um yeah, I don't know, as as as long as I can remember.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: It's like even when we were like the worst. Like... of iteration of the spurs like years ago like for some reason it was always like this like competitive grudge match
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: against the Rockets. ah Even at the Spurs' worst, when they were you know the Rockets were... a legit team. And I would say right now they're a legit team as well.
Elias Hansen: Oh yeah.
Charlie: Um. Yeah, I think, I mean... going into it the spurs and rockets are coming at it from very different ways We just, you know. got our home court taken away from us on the opening night on the you know first like game after the Cinderella season.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: you know I'm sure the team is pissed.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Mm -hmm.
Charlie: Um... and the rockets are feeling probably pretty good about themselves coming out you know a statement when executing this new, ah like quicker offense. with a few new faces, I feel like...
Charlie: It is not gonna be... An easy game. You know what I mean?
Elias Hansen: No.
Charlie: It's going to be something that the Spurs have to... kind of show up for and show that like This this matters to us. We care. We're going to go out here and... and take this game because i'm sure the rockets are looking at us like hey they just got punked on opening night you know, we played great. Like let's.
Elias Hansen: There's blood in the water Absolutely.
Charlie: let's Let's take it to them. Yeah. Exactly. And it's it's part of that, what you were saying of... Now that... You know, we've had the run we've had. And we've... you know, showing teams who we are it's like there's a there's a massive target on our backs.
Elias Hansen: I just want to prepare all Spurs fans out there right now. the thunder and the nuggets. Play tonight. if and i'll say We'll all save our prediction. We we can save our like expectations of the record of the games that are coming up at the end.
Elias Hansen: but In the where the Thunder win tonight. and the Spurs either get really challenged or lose to the Rockets. On Friday. I would turn off your TV.
Elias Hansen: I would get off Twitter. Get off Instagram. Because it is going to get ugly. out there if you are a spurs optimist and you were leading the charge of Spurs.
Elias Hansen: breezing back to the finals avenging a tough end of last season Um. The narrative will... shift around a little bit. If, which honestly is a very likely scenario.
Elias Hansen: The Thunder, take it to the Nuggets. I think that's probably going to happen. And the Spurs.
Charlie: Nuggets don't stand a chance. I'm sorry.
Elias Hansen: Not yet.
Charlie: They got worse.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: They they got worse.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, I think you're i think you're probably right.
Charlie: They they actually Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And if the Rockets look as good.
Charlie: um
Elias Hansen: as they did. last night.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Spurs are gonna have to try to figure out a way to slow down that Rockets team. They can. They absolutely can. like This is not like... The rockets looked really good, but...
Elias Hansen: They still have a lot of... Hmm. holes in the armor, I guess, on offense. Steven Adams didn't play last night, and I don't know if he's playing on Friday.
Elias Hansen: Um, who's a big part of their at least last year's offensive scheme of throw the ball at the backboard and see if you can get an offensive rebound. They seem to be big. to doing something a little bit different and a little bit more sophisticated but Just want to put the warning out there.
Charlie: I don't know where this is.
Elias Hansen: Just want to raise a red flag.
Charlie: Good.
Elias Hansen: there's That's a possible scenario. and it could get a little scary. happens.
Charlie: Yeah, I mean... I mean... This is how Like the only reason. Like the... the thunder word. 25 in one. last year or was it 24 -1 until we played them and then they lost like three times in a month to us.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah
Charlie: like You know, i I haven't looked how many times we play them because we also have all these other huge games like Timberwolves on Halloween or Christmas Day in New York and And so.
Charlie: i I mean, I don't know. I could see with how OKC looked last night. it I can see them going on a... on a massive run Um... there Yeah. So.
Charlie: I agree.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. yeah so and and Now I will say like what we can wrap up on more of a positive note.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Regardless of the outcome of this next game, the Spurs have kind of an opportunity to. create some stability. And the team, honestly, like I hate to say it, but get some reps in.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: um no team no game is an is an easy game no night is an off night this is nba like everybody has fantastic players but The maps look really bad. um and you may be able to get.
Elias Hansen: Um, a nice win there The Kings are the Kings. The Kings suck. And the jazz looked... Jazz looked pretty bad in their opening.
Charlie: Yeah, they looked worse than I was I was hoping
Elias Hansen: I was high on the Jazz, and the Grizzlies beat them by 20.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Um...
Elias Hansen: Yeah, Grizzlies I don't think are going to be that good. I don't know maybe I don't I know Zach Lowe. says that he's very high on the Grizzlies. But yeah, I don't know. So regardless, there's a chance to create some stability. And overall... you know we'll We'll talk about each week.
Elias Hansen: as the season goes on. as if it's its own season. Um...
Charlie: you
Elias Hansen: the only thing that The only reason people are going to remember the first game of the season is because it's the first game of the season and it was Thunder Spurs. Doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: you know What matters is how you respond.
Charlie: It's also, it's funny. Every, every single favorite loss, like it was like, it was, you know, Nick's loss, Celtics loss, Spurs loss.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: is funny
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: I would say i'd rather I'd rather lose to... the thunder than The 76ers.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, absolutely. absolutely Um... So before we do our predictions... ah for the next week Just some, I don't know, interesting like ah other around the league stuff.
Elias Hansen: Anthony Edwards had 45 points. kind of the other Betting. sweetheart for MVP. That's how you open up an MVP campaign. That is you.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: blowout win. uh opening night and put up nearly 50.
Charlie: Mm hmm.
Elias Hansen: That's going to be interesting. I can't wait to play. them on Halloween night And then the Yaxo Lindenborg, like Luca comments, that was kind of fun.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah, well...
Elias Hansen: I love it.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I love it.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Like what? it Yeah, absolutely.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: You're, you know, you don't have to like. kiss the ring it's like whatever he's always bitching to the refs like
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: This guy sucks.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: ah that No one is going to pretend. I'm sure Yaxel would never pretend that he is better than Luka. Everybody knows Luka is better. It's just some great trash talk. um And I loved it.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I thought it was great. Warriors need something to root for. Uh... This season.
Charlie: God Lord knows, yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah, they had their time.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: But yeah, I...
Elias Hansen: They had their tongue in the sun.
Charlie: um I saw a Yeah. Anthony Edwards had Nine three -pointers. Um,
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: That opening game. that's That's another thing people forget. That ant. i mean honestly that's it's it's it's normally a trade of all the best All the best players in the league, Shea, Ant, these are great three -point shooters.
Elias Hansen: Okay, this is a crazy tangent and side note.
Charlie: Eh.
Elias Hansen: But I was thinking this last night when I was watching Marcus Smart nail a three. And like every player in the NBA, I know we're not on cam, but most of y 'all, most of our 13 listeners to this episode aren't watching us on camera, but like.
Elias Hansen: Every player is like. cocking a gun and like and like it's just kind of insane that like the and NBA is cool with this like Marcus Smart made a three and was like
Charlie: Yeah, yeah
Elias Hansen: Like, boom!
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And I was like, I thought John Morant got in a lot of trouble for this. A lot of them are, like, kind of veiled. Like you could, like, you could get away.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Like Shays is like, you like hit his hand.
Charlie: Shazes, I hate that, bro.
Elias Hansen: And and it's like, I don't know.
Charlie: Such a cornball.
Elias Hansen: It's like, it's now like every single players, like Stefan Castle does it. Like. ah Anthony Edwards, the reason why I thought of this is like, like pull showing up is like finger.
Elias Hansen: I don't know. It's just kind of funny not to sound like a. Complete softie here, but it's just kind of hilarious to watch like Marcus Smart run down the court and like cock an AK after he made a three in the third quarter.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah. Oh f - I saw it.
Elias Hansen: something it
Charlie: I kept seeing Shay's ridiculous, like... winking at the bench and Just shit like it's so corny but uh
Elias Hansen: Oh my God. And he's so good, too.
Charlie: is... of
Elias Hansen: Unfortunately. Okay.
Charlie: I'm trying to think. Yeah. Oh, what?
Elias Hansen: What do you think? You want to make some predictions?
Charlie: Last thing.
Elias Hansen: Oh, yeah says go for it.
Charlie: Last thing I will say.
Elias Hansen: Go for it.
Charlie: Is that just the... I watched the full 76 series. Next game.
Elias Hansen: Okay. Oh, you did.
Charlie: Um, Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, I didn't get to watch. I was driving to the Spurs game, so I didn't get to watch it.
Charlie: Um. The best player on the court. of the NBA champions, LeBron, Joel Embiid. was Tyrus Maxey. It was crazy. Like, Tyrese Maxey and, like...
Elias Hansen: Tyrus Maxxie is so good.
Charlie: and like drumming like it was
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Interesting. Interesting.
Charlie: It was so, it was Tyrese Maxey, like really, I guess. I mean, there's no reason for me to watch. philadelphia last year like i saw them get walked in the in the playoffs like that was pretty much it
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Um... He was... insane and it looks like
Elias Hansen: Hmm.
Charlie: Like, LeBron. is doing exactly what he said he was going to be doing and wanted to be doing which is like He's not really taking nearly. like as many shots he's just kind of like this like floor like facilitator and like it's It's really working for him.
Charlie: i think
Elias Hansen: Interesting.
Charlie: The biggest thing they have to figure out is like. Jalen Brown's role in that. You know what I mean? If Maxie's providing all this pace and really handling the ball a lot, like it's Maxie and LeBron.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: How is... How does Jalen Brown, you know, fit in that? Um, offensive scheme. but Yeah, the 76ers, it was... It was fun to watch. i think um
Elias Hansen: Hmm.
Charlie: It's green.
Elias Hansen: The end of the game was on. when I got to Frostbank Center.
Charlie: Mm -hmm. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And I was just too excited to see like what the new intro hype video would be for the Spurs.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I realistically probably could have sat down and watched the end of the game, but. I will definitely be watching lots of 76ers though. I'm really excited to see. what the season looks like and what the availability.
Charlie: Zoom.
Elias Hansen: report looks like. um Okay, Charlie, you want to make your prediction for the next week? So we've got Rockets on Friday in Austin.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: We've got Mavs. um in Dallas on Saturday. We've got. Kings in San Antonio. on tuesday and then we've got jazz in utah on Wednesday. And you can do this, you can go game by game, you can say...
Elias Hansen: ah this is going to be the number we're going to lose one of those games however you want to do it But what what are your what are your thoughts for the next? the first full week. of the NBA season.
Charlie: good right here
Elias Hansen: Alright.
Charlie: I'm saying Mavs will be our first. Like 20 point win.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: that is i'm sticking to that ah like i don't know if you remember like wimby's
Elias Hansen: I like that I like that Yep.
Charlie: one me seems to like show out against the mavericks like that one's our Yeah, last year.
Elias Hansen: Yep. First game of the season last year? Yeah.
Charlie: um there is like he was just clip farming the whole game i think rockets
Elias Hansen: Yeah. yeah
Charlie: will be a... a tougher game. Then we like. want to admit.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: I think we should squeak out a win. I really do.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: I don't i think it would be ah it would be a...
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: huge disappointment. to start the the season off. 0 and 2. Again. Peace. freaking 82 games it's
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: You know, it's... you know water under the bridge whatever but it's it's i think it's important to this team to where we're at in like our development and our kind of ascension to like title contenders that This game is going to be really important for all of our guys.
Charlie: And... I... I don't know. I think we win. i think it's it's not I'm not saying it's going to be a blowout.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: I'm not going to say it's not going to be difficult.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: I think we win. I think 1B. has a bit of like ah a comeback game. I know that they're physical too, and they're specifically physical with Wemby. and him in Uh...
Charlie: shangoon kind of getting into it last time or like last few times we played them So it's not going to be easy. i'm I'm hoping that, you know. I think, I think it's going to be like either a Fox night or like a Harper night stepping up.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: And...
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: and wimby getting a little more comfortable and trying to just play a little more free.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: um Kings. in jazz i'm i'm saying we got both of those um um you know i like this knowing this damn team like that could be we win all of them except for like the Kings or some shit.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: True, true, true.
Charlie: Like, it's like, you know. Some, some.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: crazy off night but yeah i i say i think we do win out the next four
Elias Hansen: Okay, 4 -0.
Charlie: um i think I think we go 4 -0, and then I think...
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: We we parlay that. energy into our game against the timberwolves and that's going to be a really Another really difficult game for us.
Elias Hansen: Okay. I like it. So we're going to be talking next week. It's going to be sunshine and rainbows. We're going to say, listen, we shook off opening night.
Charlie: Yes.
Elias Hansen: We're looking good again. reckon Okay.
Charlie: Yes.
Elias Hansen: Um... I will. say that I... I think this nightmare scenario that I described, of a nightmare of the first two games of the season, of Thunder winning tonight and then Spurs losing to the Rockets, I think that might...
Elias Hansen: happen
Charlie: of
Elias Hansen: Rockets. Looked good, man. They looked really good. The Spurs looked really bad. and um It's tough to not have some bias because I was in person.
Elias Hansen: in san antonio in the stadium of the team that kind of got punched in the face and then i was in person in houston in the stadium of the team that punched the Mavs in the face.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: So the energy. you know was night and day. And so I'm sure I'm being influenced a little bit by that. But... The Rockets are going to look to run. They're going to want to run. And the one thing the Spurs did do, I will say, is get back.
Elias Hansen: um after a rebound. like they did They did appear to do that. I think i think it'll be a close game. Um... But I think that we haven't necessarily.
Elias Hansen: figured out an identity enough. to understand like what are we going to do when it's close this year, what are we going to do? Like realistically, probably it's give the ball to. 1B.
Elias Hansen: But have we figured out how we're going to get him in the spot? that he wants to be in? Does he know what he's going to do with the ball?
Charlie: No.
Elias Hansen: when he's relied upon to get a shot. The Rockets! They know who they give the ball to. They give the ball to KD. And KD is one of the best scorers ever.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: No.
Elias Hansen: So I think it's going to be a tough game. Well, yeah, it will be a tough game. I think it will be a close game. I think rockets will pull out a win that really scares first fans. But then, like I said, I. I think... if If any of the next three games, the Mavs, Kings, and Jazz challenges.
Elias Hansen: us it'll be Jazz in Utah. Um... it Could have been a fluke game for Jazz. I still have some faith. in in the Jazz, Mavs and Kings, I don't think I have a lot of faith in.
Charlie: Yeah, same
Elias Hansen: And like you said, I think the Spurs will get up. So I'm going to go with 3 -1. um And I think we will be heading into that Halloween game against the Timberwolves. kind of wary of how this next game is going to look, you know.
Elias Hansen: Happy that we are. Now 3 -2 on the right side of the win -loss column. but a little bit concerned to face another. Western Conference competitor.
Elias Hansen: after we lost the first two. That's my pessimistic view. And you know what I'll say? Even if that pessimistic view happens, I'll still feel... great about this season because
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Listen everybody. to take You can take note of it now. All of this. is Prep. All of this is warmup. All of this is repetition. for us in the NBA playoffs. Because we're going to be in the playoffs. As ugly as the whatever part of the season gets.
Elias Hansen: Barring any catastrophic injury and I'll knock on wood just to make anyone superstitious feel better We're going to be in the playoffs. And... This is the... you know. Blood you have to taste as you get there. we didn't We didn't lose three games in a row last year until the finals.
Elias Hansen: That might happen this year. That's probably not going to happen again.
Charlie: it's it fine
Elias Hansen: um So, you know just Just reset man. Maybe it's a good little Expectation reset. So there we go. There's my prediction for the next week. um But I think overall...
Elias Hansen: i'm just happy but I get to watch basketball. to come home. And there's basketball on the TV.
Charlie: Same here.
Elias Hansen: Cool. All right, well. Thank you all for listening. And we will talk to you guys. Soon, probably next week. Enjoy some basketball. Go Spurs go.
Charlie: Let's go.
