Pounding the Rock: for San Antonio Spurs fans SB Nation

J.R. Wilco (editor-in-chief of Pounding the Rock, father of five -- a white man) and Leo Clark (businessman, shooting coach, ex-ballplayer, father of five -- a black man) have a conversation about how they're responding to the death of George Floyd and the events that have followed.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J.R. Wilco and Charlie Thaddeus engage in a mid-season review of the Spurs by unpacking the phrase "sneaking up on respectability," looking at the results of LaMarcus Aldridge spacing the floor, compare Gregg Popovich's treatment of the press to George Orwell's 1984, realize that this season is about the future, discuss DeMar Derozan's record-breaking streak and how difficult it is to continuing indefinitely to play unsustainably well, talk about Dejounte Murray's game, and parse the merits of Wilco's superhero/alter-ego theory concerning Derrick White and Murray, before getting into the weekly Unnecessary Foolishness: the 21st century's equivalent of shooting free throws underhanded.
(Bonus discussion: Vince Carter pushed off on that dunk over the French dude in the Olympics!)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lonnie Walker has started his first game for the Spurs, and although there’s no guarantee that we’ve entered the Walker Era (or exited the Age of Forbes) the way the season is shaping up, San Antonio might be able to play .500 ball the rest of the way and still make it into the postseason.
In episode 51 of the Superfluous Poppycock podcast, J.R. Wilco and Charlie Thaddeus discuss the Spurs’ buoyancy, what Spurs fan should expect/want out of the rest of the season season vs. what’s realistic for the team to achieve, how LaMarcus Aldridge taking threes is like being told to eat your vegetables, how the team’s brutal upcoming schedule through January and February won’t necessarily doom them, why Bryn Forbes be back in the starting lineup very soon ... as well as a deep dive into Tim Duncan’s Assistant Coach Wardrobe, and the rookie mistake that he is making on the Spurs bench.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode # 50 of the Superfluous Poppycock podcast, J.R. Wilco and Charlie O'Charles rank the five biggest issues facing the Spurs so far this year -- some are foundational and aren't likely to change soon, but some are fixable and San Antonio could see some quick improvement depending on how they're addressed: 1. LaMarcus Aldridge can't play the 4 anymore which contributes to, 2. The Spurs' power forward rotation is in serious need of help, 3. While improved over the past couple weeks, DeMar DeRozan's defense is still league average at best, and at worst it's just the pits, 4. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White still aren't playing together, and 5. The Bryn Forbes/Marco Belinelli situation.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J.R. Wilco and Marilyn Dubinski examine DeMar Derozan's comments about how the Spurs need to improve after playing four consecutive overtime games -- and what's necessary to see good execution in the clutch situations San Antonio has been finding themselves in this season.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J.R. Wilco and Leo Clark take a close look at the game of Lonnie Walker IV, discuss the way he played in his breakout game against in the double overtime win over the Rockets and how much of it was due to Houston's poor defense. They also look at his defense against James Harden, and the way they can tell that Gregg Popovich is focused on putting him in a position to succeed. Then they turn to Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, their decision making and what to expect from them as the season progresses.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices