As a Spurs fan dwelling in Los Angeles, and a Dodger fan too, the previous few weeks have been nice. The Spurs have had an traditionally nice begin, even higher than anticipated or predicted. Throughout the identical time, the Dodgers received the World Sequence — capped by the perfect Sport Seven within the historical past of the sport. And although the Dodgers have an enormous payroll which makes them a bit more durable for outsiders to root for, the person gamers themselves, and their supervisor Dave Roberts, seem to be good guys. As I’ve written right here beforehand, that has all the time been an amazing a part of being a Spurs fan — the Spurs group has all the time been full of good individuals. In a previous publish, I wrote this after randomly operating into Rudy Tomjanovich at a West LA driving vary:
“Particularly in gentle of every thing occurring within the sports activities world, I cherished to listen to Rudy T’s feedback in regards to the group all of us root for. He used the phrases “good individuals”. Amongst all of the issues to be glad about this Thanksgiving, the checklist contains the flexibility to cheer on a Spurs group that may be a group of excellent individuals. Not everybody can say that, however we will.”
I considered that article whereas studying in regards to the Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani within the Wall Avenue Journal, of all locations. In describing why the Dodgers are likable regardless of their large payroll, WSJ sportswriter Jason Homosexual (who even knew the WSJ had a sportswriter?) mentioned this:
“A part of that is Ohtani, a legend in actual time, who performs with pleasure and enthusiasm and is the precise reverse of the chilly, indifferent celebrity. Ohtani’s pleasure for the sport and his teammates – particularly Yamamoto, whom he giddily bear-hugged within the celebration final evening – does as a lot to raise the game as his outstanding two-way expertise.”
The nice Joe Posnaski mentioned primarily the identical factor in his weblog from Wednesday:
“However, I’ve to say, I type of prefer it when there’s a group on prime to detest. And this Dodgers group is such an ideal group to detest as a result of, individually, they’re so darned likable. I imply, Shohei? Freddie? Yoshi? Mookie, for crying out loud? They’re delights!”
One of many Dodgers’ co-owners is Magic Johnson, who has all the time gone all over the place sporting a giant smile. Magic had that smile glowing as he walked across the Toronto Blue Jays ballpark after Sport Seven.
However the feedback in regards to the Dodgers, and Ohtani particularly, delivered to thoughts the Spurs’ personal star, Victor Wembanyama. Like Ohtani (and Mookie and the opposite Dodgers), Victor performs the sport with Ohtani-like “pleasure and enthusiasm”, and like Ohtani, “is the precise reverse of the chilly, indifferent celebrity”. Despite the fact that they grew up 6,000 miles aside (flying throughout Asia), Shohei and Victor have related personalities – and drive to succeed. My basketball buddy Steve requested me ultimately evening’s sport which participant I might quite coach, realizing that teaching both could be a pleasure. (Victor).
All of it is a lead-in to the Spurs – Lakers sport Wednesday evening. The final time I attended a Spurs – Lakers sport was March final season. That was the “make-up sport” that had been postponed after the January 6 wildfires that devastated Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. My Sunday morning sport continues to be not again within the Pali Excessive health club, although we hope to be in January. After the Spurs blew out the Lakers within the first sport in January, that second sport in March didn’t go almost as effectively. Maybe not having Victor and new Spur De’Aaron Fox contributed to the loss, as I mournfully described on the time.
New-at-the-time Laker Luca Doncic was rounding into form through the sport final spring. Although Luca in March 2025 was nothing in comparison with the form Luca acquired into this summer time when he misplaced 20 kilos. As predicted, dropping that weight changed into a giant acquire for Luca and the Lakers. Going into Wednesday’s sport, Luca was averaging 41.3 factors, 11.5 boards and eight.3 assists. All of which led a great pal to ask me earlier than the sport whether or not Luca is the perfect on the planet at enjoying basketball. Not essentially the perfect participant within the sport (that man in Denver is), however the perfect at doing the stuff that makes up the sport.
The Lakers have been additionally doing effectively as a result of their ‘third wheel”, Austin Reaves was averaging 31.1/5.1/9.3, which is fairly good. Sadly, Reaves didn’t play towards the Spurs, so each groups have been short-handed. Lebron James additionally continued to sit down out, protecting his season averages at 0/0/0.
All of which led to this from the Pulse (on the Athletic) selecting Wednesday’s Spurs vs. Lakers as the sport of the evening:
NBA: Spurs at Lakers10 p.m. ET on ESPNWemby-powered San Antonio (5-1) heads West to satisfy a powerful Lakers group that’s 6-2 regardless of lacking LeBron James for all the 12 months to this point and Luka Dončić for half of these video games. For now, exterior of Oklahoma Metropolis, that is the category of the Western Convention. Good sport.
Who else loves the Spurs known as a part of the “class of the Western Convention”? Good instances are right here once more. Let’s see if the Spurs can stay among the many elite.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to be gifted tickets from one other basketball buddy, Stretch 4 TD. Thanks TD! Sadly, Wednesday’s sport didn’t seem like a battle of the elites of the Western Convention, for both group. As early because the second quarter, I turned to Steve and described the sport as “uneven”. “Disjointed” would have additionally match. To not over-rely on The Athletic, however Zach Harper wrote:
“The Lakers (7-2) received 118-116 with tons of drama on the finish. However this sport sucked as a viewing expertise. The officiating was terrible. The refs fell for the flopping of Sensible all evening. They fell for foul-baiting play after foul-baiting play. It was method too tightly referred to as, because the Spurs (5-2) shot 40 free throws and the Lakers shot 44 in a regulation sport — 66 fouls have been referred to as! Officers, let each of those groups play basketball and let go of the sport stream.”
Whereas I agree with Zach in regards to the sport missing “stream”, from my seat I noticed three issues that contributed to the shortage of “stream” on prime of the surplus variety of fouls (and prolonged video critiques).
First, trying on the group benches, I noticed LeBron, Reaves, Fox, Dylan Harper and Luke Kornet in road garments. And although Jeremy Sochan made his long-awaited debut for the Spurs, and did effectively, it’s exhausting to include anybody into the stream of the sport who has been out for weeks – particularly somebody like Sochan along with his odd ability set. The absence of guards Fox and Harper, particularly, pressured the Spurs to offer significant minutes to two-way or marginal guys like Lindy Waters III and Jordan McLaughlin. The absence of Kornet, and Victor’s foul hassle, pressured the Spurs to both play Kelly Olynyk or use unusual line-ups with Keldon Johnson as “heart”.
Second, turnovers. Coaches completely hate turnovers – and there have been many to hate on this sport. Whereas the Lakers had solely 12, most appeared to steer on to breakaway baskets for the Spurs – most have been merely dreadful passes. Equally, the Spurs had many inexcusable passes, or Victor’s two offensive fouls plowing although Marcus Sensible. If I have been teaching Victor, when he’s lined by a a lot smaller participant, I might have him inside pivot with the ball excessive, with out utilizing up the dribble, face the basket, and easily shoot the 10-footer. (Image the Nice Duncan banking the ball from the wing.) What might Sensible or equally sized participant do to contest that shot? And if the opposite group runs extra defenders at him, Victor will likely be dealing with the ring. He can see all the ground and ship the ball to the correct particular person. Easy, proper?
Third, I don’t know the way Wednesday’s sport seemed on tv, however in particular person the Spurs’ offense was remarkably stagnant. (In fact, the Lakers’ offense largely concerned Luca dribbling round, coming off a number of ball screens, after which dribbling some extra.) The Spurs would arrange with Victor and one other participant (typically Devon Vassel) on the 2 elbows, Vassel would flare to the other wing, the ball would both go to Vassel on the wing or Victor “posting up” on the elbow – after which everybody would stand round. It is a far cry from the participant and ball motion of the Lovely Sport Spurs all of us cherished. How will we return to that? As a begin, let’s transfer the gamers round, and the ball too. Pop’s rule was do one thing with the ball inside .5 second. Let’s try this! Easy, proper?
One different downside with all of the fouls – the Spurs misplaced three key guys who fouled out within the fourth quarter – Victor, Sochan and Fortress. The lack of Victor was particularly painful. Oddly, although most of the followers have been on the sport to see Victor Wembanyama play basketball, they cheered wildly when he fouled out. Even Mookie Betts, sitting 5 rows in entrance of me, was proven on the Jumbotron giving the sign for offensive foul. That might be like going to a World Sequence sport and seeing the opposite group deliberately stroll Shohei Ohtani FOUR straight instances. Checking notes… the Blue Jays did precisely that in Sport Three. The Baseball Gods reacted by giving Freddie Freeman a dangling slider within the 18th inning for a walk-off dwelling run simply earlier than midnight. Which ultimately led to one thing particular at halftime of the sport. With the ultimate rating going the improper method for this Spurs fan, this was the spotlight of the night and an surprising shock for this Dodgers fan:
