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THE SPURS DIDN’T JUST BEAT PORTLAND. THEY SHOWED WHAT CONNECTED BASKETBALL CAN LOOK LIKE. One thing I liked defensively was how San Antonio disrupted Portland’s initial penetration. Good defense isn’t always about blocking the shot or forcing a turnover. Sometimes it’s about stopping the first advantage before it forces the entire defense into rotation. When the ball handler can’t draw that second defender, the kickout becomes a regular perimeter pass instead of an open shot against a scrambling defense. Portland missed threes, sure. But the more important question is whether San Antonio forced those attempts without compromising its defensive structure. That’s the kind of discipline I want to see consistently. Offensively, Julian Champagnie deserves his flowers. He hit all three of his 3 point attempts in the second quarter and that shooting matters beyond the nine points. When defenders have to respect Champagnie on the perimeter, they can’t help as freely into the paint. That creates more room for Castle, Fox and Harper to attack gaps and gives Wemby better opportunities inside. Castle assisted a Champagnie three. That’s the connection I want us to keep building, guards creating opportunities while our shooters stay ready to punish the defense. Now, Carter Bryant. Three fouls in three minutes isn’t what you want, but I liked that Mitch continued giving him opportunities. There’s a balance between developing a young defender’s aggression and teaching him when to stay disciplined. Bryant has the physical tools to become a valuable defensive piece. The next step is learning when to challenge, when to contain and when to trust the help behind him and that’s where coaching matters. Don’t take away his aggression. Teach him how to control it. The 4th quarter rest was another positive. We created enough separation to give players developmental minutes instead of asking Wemby to rescue another close game. But let’s not confuse success against Portland with proof that every lineup combination is solved. Phoenix will present another test. > Can we maintain that early defensive containment? > Can we keep Champagnie involved when opponents stay attached to him? > Can we defend aggressively without giving away unnecessary fouls? That’s the standard I’m looking for now. Not just wins. Repeatable habits. Because this Spurs team has enough talent to beat opponents in different ways. The next step is making those advantages sustainable against better competition. #GoSpursGo #PorVida