Is it time for the San Antonio Spurs to stop overusing the 'young team' excuse?

[@steviez28]

The progression they’ve made this year is a step forward. Doesnt mean we they’re automatically a playoff contender. Chris Paul’s leadership is gonna affect the team positively and Wemby is amazing. Let’s give the young players credit for what they’re able to accomplish and wait for them to blossom into something even better

[@richardchavez7899]

At least they aren't being blown out by good teams. They weren't supposed to win anything this year. They will soon start learning how to win close games. No issues just in the learning stage, and people are just impatient.

[@kevinprice7046]

I'm not understanding why he's not using castle to close out games. This is the second game. And both are losses.

[@floydkizzie8728]

Objectivity and negativity is not the same thing. The negativity of the site is tiring. 1. CP3 as the the hardass leader should say that. 2. Listing years in the league does not account for age. For the most part these are young men playing against grown men when we play the better teams. 3. This team is growing, way better than last year. 4. The problem is not the team but some of the media and fan unrealistic expectations.

[@MrSteviethegreat]

They probably would’ve won if they had played castle in the end. I think this loss had to do with youthful coaching not a youthful team.

[@snappyjunexzy]

Agree with this. Mitch should've benched CP on defense and put castle or Vassel benched and put Vastle

[@abdesselemelhassouni281]

CP3 should give the lead to Wemby! Even if he stay the real leader, he should push Wemby to behave as such. For example, he should shot the Tech. That will permit to Wemby to grab much more important rebounds when he is more fighting with his team mate than with the opponent. I never saw a SF try to get a rebound on the head of his Center except in SA! He should impose himself.

[@MichaelConMusic]

No. This team is still young.

[@Mr.Byrnes]

OKC is the youngest team in the NBA 🤷 Excuses Excuses Excuses

[@genorivera2207]

Barnes and Vassell need to step up , the physicality wasn’t there on offense or defense

[@RighteousRhythm]

Paul is 100% correct.

[@bigseanpd7302]

I'm heading for the exit on Vassell tbh. This is year 5 and THAT'S all he's yielding?

[@RasLion]

They are a young team but age isn't the issue here, it's the quality that is. I think they need to get rid of a few youngsters and put some good proven players in the roaster.

[@marcus8214420]

I think Chris Paul's comment is more about raising the expectations of the team, rather than a message to the team about coddling. Makes sense, he's probably tired of the narrative, in both the locker room and the media. Doesn't seem like Paul to publicly accuse the organization of coddling Wemby and the Spurs. Thats my read anyways.

[@MrJed010]

Yes! Because only one guy made a giant leap this year and that's Wemby! Others like Devin, Keldon, Tre, Malaki and Blake, you know what you're getting from these guys and it's not a lot. Their yearly progress doesn't move a needle and we can pretty much tell what their ceiling is. Wemby deserves to have an all-star if not superstar duo.

[@OweNoManAnything]

I think a 35 win season would be a success. Anything over 35 is over-achieving! But anything less in my opinion is a failure.

[@floydkizzie8728]

The team played with plenty of grit and determination. They lost by 3 to one of the best teams in the league. Chill,

[@SeanRobinson-g9c]

Chris is right if you're not doing your job. You should be hell accountable

[@TheRadamus]

Paul is wrong. I think he will realize this and apologize. The team is young. Even with Paul and Harrison they have the 3rd or 4th youngest team. People have to pump the brakes on the Stephon Castle nonsense. He has a PIE of 7 (below average) a TS% OF 48%(abysmal) and a 3p% of 28.6% (unacceptable). It's risky to have Castle and Sochan on the floor at the same time at the end of close games, and Sochan is a far superior player at this point in time even on defense. Also, the Knicks are one of the best teams in the league and the sixers had all three of their top players starting the game for a change.

[@egolandz]

Not ! Already too Much players with a GLeague Level to Trade ! Only CP3 help to build a stability, Barnes help a little but it's not enough at all, very fragil. KJ, Tre Jones, Colins, etc are not very good, Vassel too much expensive and no efficient for this price.

[@TheRadamus]

Barnes is known as an iron man.

[@orioguy9]

Over-rating. Pop is done, and the replacement plan has been neglected. I would be writing a massive blank check to Admiral or Dream, prop up Avery Johnson or some experienced head coach beside him. Take advantage of Wemby being a frigging alien. Sochan is ready. Get Castle up to speed. Pull the trigger on a Keldon trade for Kuminga or Zion. The Spurs are too patient. Patience is a virtue, but scared money don't make money. Time to start making some bets and writing some checks, this team is either gonna cash or bust. Get busy trying to cash.

[@HighlanDre4573]

Sit CP3 and see what happens, he's a distraction imo

[@adeniyioduguwa4040]

They should make the play in at least. They needs to grow up. Wemby needs help.

[@joeandgod1]

Pop created that too young crap. In 1989-90 The Spurs almost got to the western conference finals, with rookies and 2nd year players.

[@TheRadamus]

? Pop did not create so called "too young crap". The average age of the 1989-90 spurs was over 30. Sean Eliot. was the youngest player on the team at 21. David Robinson was a rookie at 24 after serving a few years in the Navy after graduation.

[@joeandgod1]

@TheRadamus David Robinson and Sean Elliott we're rookies and Willie Anderson and Rod Strickland were in their second years

[@TheRadamus]

@@joeandgod1 Rookies in 1989 are not the same as rookies in 2024. 2nd year players in 1989-90 are not the same as 2nd year players in 2024. You are comparing teams that are over 30 years apart in time. A better comparison are the 2021-22 OKC Thunder. They were 28W 54L on the season.

[@joeandgod1]

@@TheRadamus I get your point and still disagree.... However, the main point is that Wemby wants to win NOW, not in 3,4,5 years. RIGHT NOW. You don't know what will happen in 5 years, everyone needs to stop assuming, things usually never go as planned. Take ADVANTAGE of this moment and do everything you can to make them contenders. That would be for RC Buford.

[@TheRadamus]

@@joeandgod1 I'm not sure what your RC Buford comment means. One of the hallmarks of the Spurs, particularly under Popovich and Bufford, has been that they are patient and haven't let short term success jeopardize their midterm and long term success. That's why they drafted Robinson knowing that he might not play for them for years, and that's a big part of why they have 5 rings and 25 teams have 3 or fewer including 10 with 0. In any case there's no guaranty no matter what you do, but you are going to have to give up some pretty good already young guys who are still improving to get one star player that may not end up being a good fit for your team or may get injured. The rumors are that they are looking to trade for Fox (I don;t believe the rumors.) What will they have to give up to get him.

[@ChrisLei3]

Babying grown men, making millions of dollars, don’t worry it’s not just the spurs organization. It’s spurs fans as well.

[@adeniyioduguwa4040]

I expect more from Vassell, Champagne, Mamu, Johnson and Jones etc.

[@TheRadamus]

Why? Vassell is coming off an injury. The other players are about what you should realistically expect, except maybe Mamu, but he is only being played about 9 minutes per game. From what I've seen he probably could be played more minutes safely, although he has some real defenses holes in his game.

[@SeanRobinson-g9c]

Stephon Castle in the starting lineup makes them a better defensive five, then Devin, in the starting lineup, he could be a force coming off the bench with the second unit . Devin is inconsistent in being a starter

[@TheRadamus]

Devin is coming off an injury and in any case is a much more consistent player than Castle, and is far better on defense than Castle is on offense. Castle is just too bad right now on offense to start.

[@michaelelizondo9368]

I absolutely disagree that anything above 22 wins is a success. 23 wins would absolutely NOT be a success. I think the word you're looking for is improvement. There are too many guys on this team that are too good to turn in a sub 30 win season and call it a "success". Especially at 15 wins already. You're saying that if they win 8 more games this year (out of the remaining 52!!) that that would be successful?! I don't think the spurs are overachieving. Most of these games have been solid, non-fluky wins. Maybe the home OKC win w/o a bunch of their rotation guys was fluky. Listen to what CP3 has been saying since he got here "these are talented guys"! They just need to get a little tougher to not drop games like the last 2. For being a Spurs podcast there is often quite a bit of negative talk about the team.... I get being realistic is important, but I think you can do that in a way that is not so negative

[@michaelelizondo9368]

I should've listened longer before I commented earlier. 2 more things: 1) Success is not necessarily numerically quantifiable. I think it's based more on expectation and other context. If we win 60 games and lose in round 1 in one year, and follow up with 50 wins but get to the WCF the number of wins would be trumped by the depth of run in the playoffs. I don't see a 1-8 game improvement as successful bc of the expectations of this team for growth. I think CP is right that it's time to throw the excuse out the window and just play like that's your job. 2) what do you mean "with the way the spurs have been playing"?! They have been in close games with plenty of good teams. They only have 1 or 2 blowout losses this year. Yes the 76ers game was frustrating but that team has been playing much better basketball than their early season record suggest. In fact they just downed Boston on Christmas Day! So how bout we lay off the negativey and just enjoy a .500 record

[@bigseanpd7302]

Chris was right to speak about this openly. Like the Bible says, Open rebuke is better than secret love (Prov. 27:5).

[@johnortegon912]

Some of these guys don’t have a Killer Instinct or a Junkyard Dog mentality. I’ve said it before. They need to get rid of the guts that aren’t hungry and bring some in that are. Talent will get you only so Far. Heart and Desire to win will take you to the top.

[@TheRadamus]

No it won't

[@tp76ben5]

Vassell and the others have to step up. No more they are young and need time. If they can do what they are expected to do, it’s better they get traded.

[@TheRadamus]

Nonsense.

[@ThePrayingDon]

Coach lost the game never start two point guards that don’t rebound or box out

[@TheRadamus]

They didn't start 2 point guards.

[@ThePrayingDon]

@ in the 4th quarter he did