SPURS SQUAD SHOW: Did Wembanyama & Spurs DAMAGE Their Own Title Path? | Jokic & Nuggets in Heads?
Casey Viera, NBA champion Devin Brown and “Locked On Spurs” daily podcast host Matt Tynan discuss San Antonio’s third-straight defeat to the Denver Nuggets and whether Nikola Jokic and company are beginning to occupy Victor Wembanyama’s head space with the playoffs just days away.
The trio hits on the Spurs’ challenging path to the NBA Finals, what the expectations should be and predict the play-in round opener between Phoenix and Portland with the winner facing San Antonio.
#Spurs #SanAntonioSpurs #NBA #greggpopovich #spurs #nba #sanantonio #victorwembanyama #wemby #wembanyama #sanantoniospurs #basketball #nba #sports #jeremysochan #keldonjohnson #spursnation #basketballteam #greggpopovich #stephoncastle #deaaronfox
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everyday…
TurboTax
This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.
PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LO…
Quo
Make this the year where no opportunity – and no cutsomer – slips away.
Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.
Robinhood
You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood.
Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm.
5-Hour ENERGY
Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It’s party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.
Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast
Gametime
Today’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. During the tournament FanDuel is offering $300 back in Bonus Bets every day for ten days. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
20 Comments
Spurs are addicted to load management. Should have played to win against Denver to push them to 4 and get Lakers or Wolves in the second round, NOT the Nuggets.
Spurs played themselves.
Didn't understand the logic of playing Wemby against Dallas, but sitting him out against what could potentially be the most important game of the regular season. This made our path to the chip way more arduous. With us being a young team, with minimal playoff experience, an easier path would have meant alot more in the long run
On top of your great analysis about the 82nd game against Denver, I would add something that nonody seems to pay attention to while they should because it is very, very significant: when Victor isn’t on the floor, have you seen how the team minimizes the shots of their big men, be it Plumlee last night or even Luke Kornet in match 2 against Denver on March 13 (Denver won 136-131)?
So on March 13, hold on, Kornet and Plumlee played a total of 33 mn (26 and 8) with 0 shot, 0! On April 13 against Denver, hold on again, Plumlee and Byombo played a total of 22 mn (16 and 6), so 26 mn without any big man in the team (!), and these two players, hold on again, had the grand total of 2 shots, 2 shots for 2 big men in 22 mn!
So, what does it tell us? It tells us that Mitch does not really trust the shooting ability of his big men aside from Victor and trusts more the 3 pts shooting ability of his team as a whole that, we all know, is not very good and led to defeats twice against Denver.
In doing so, Mitch, despite being a great defensive coach, a great ball movement coach, a great motivational coach, etc., makes a serious strategic mistake whose fallouts will probably be apparent during the playoffs.
And there is a direct consequence of not letting the Spurs big men do what they should be doing: the Spurs are very often outrebounded in terms of offensive rebounds. In the playoffs, such a shortage of offensive rebounds can be fatal against any team.
When it comes to offense, Mitch will be seriously tested during the playoffs. If he does not change this very important aspect of the Spurs game, which is how to maximize the offensive production of Kornet and Plumlee, I think that the Spurs will seriously reduce the probability of being champions this year. It would be frustrating and disheartening because I personally feel that the Spurs have all they need to be champions.
But you have got to respect what these three big men (Plumlee, Kornet, Byombo) can bring offensively. It’s not an option. To me, it is probably an obligation to become champions.
Because of a lack of a big physical PF near Victor, the "ghosts" of Jeremy Sochan and not drafting Maxime Raynaud may also come back to haunt the Spurs here and there.
I believe the Spurs don't fear any team at all. They had their head to the playoffs already for this last game
We made a choice, lets focus on the next step now. What would be the best playoffs préparation for you?
what is done is done. Wemby might form into another type of beast to go through Jokic, Shai , Brown & Tatum for the Crown
A Healthy Suns team is a difficult round 1 opponent as well….VERY DIFFICULT PATH…that should have been avoided!
If the Spurs can't face the Nuggets and beat them we are not good enough to win the Champions. Its that simple.
So your logic is the 2014 Spurs should've rooted for the Heat not to make the Finals…sadly this is what Spurs fans have for their "experts" smh
If it comes down to a couple points at the end of the game vs Denver, put Kornet in with Wemby. He can box out, rebound, roll for alley oops, screen and defend. He’s got that recent championship experience. And he’s a good free throw shooter
I haven't even seen this video and y'all making it seem like you trying to sew seeds of negativity by saying the nuggets are in their head. Look viktor missed 2 games vs them and minutes restrictions throughout mid season. I think by resting wemby last game they are sticking to a rigid plan to extend their longevity throughout the playoffs. You heard it here first the the spurs will be ready for these playoffs and may even get MORE minutes of play time from their core members which will be a big difference. I hope all teams will be full strength amd injury free. To be the best, you have to beat the best. The spurs will feed off of negative summaries like this. The only people in the spurs heads are the coach and the players themselves. Bring that A game spurs and prove them wrong!
Just in case spurs and nuggets meet in the 2nd rd, I’d like our boys to try have a big lead and maintain it all throughout the game. Don’t let Joker and the gang come back and make it a close game in the last 5 mins.
Should the Spurs run a double big line up against Denver? French Vanilla whenever Jokic and JV are on the court?
Spurs should have won that last game vs nuggets to avoid them in semis..
Now, they must beat nuggets n than okc.
Not gonna happen. Spurs will lose in semis against Denver should they meet.
This should be the last show where Denver is mentioned. The 2nd round is not guaranteed, the Suns gave the Spurs problems throughout the season.
If the Spurs can make it to the WCF from the West Bracket of Death side, I like the Spurs' chances. But until they get there, they're gonna have to show me how formidable they can be before I jump aboard the hype train
What happen to Jeff? Did he get axed?
i think were good, we shouldn't worry until we lose some games or the series so that we can fix those problems in the future and three peat later on. Obviously, fox and castle haven't measured or stepped up enough to change the ESPN and NBA worlds mind. Also, the game is also rigged so factor that in. The fans need to spend money, and we need to be entertained. so, while the nba players get rich while we stay broke asf and try to have peace and unity in the city of san antonio. We need to stop saying that we need game 7's that just proves the GAMES ARE RIGGED. But anyway, we got a Catholic/Christian city name so well be alright praise God and pray for a 3 peat nothing less. We already took the leagues eyes and minds and held it, were in a great spot.
Go Spurs Go!! Some people are crying or intimidated of the Nugget’s!? Why!? Who cares who the Spurs have to go through to get to the finals and win a championship! The Spurs will have home court against the Nuggets if they meet again and it will be the best of 7 let’s go!! The Spurs are young and they need more experience and they don’t fear any team. 62-20 obviously they aren’t perfect so don’t panic 😱