Spurs NBA 2K24 simulation: silver linings in a dropping season

The NBA season is correct across the nook with preseason hoops kicking off this week. In just some weeks, we can be watching Victor Wembanyama make his NBA debut alongside the newly prolonged Devin Vassell and firm.

Right this moment nonetheless, the very best we’ve got is digital basketball. Quickly we will commerce within the controller for a distant and watch actual San Antonio Spurs hoops (thank goodness.) The digital Spurs in Pounding the Rock’s NBA 2K24 simulation must do for at present.

Final time we caught up with the sim, the Spurs struggled to take care of accidents to key gamers like Vassell and Tre Jones. A struggling offense couldn’t get off of the bottom because the Spurs limped to the All Star break with a 15-40 report. They’re on tempo for the worst report within the league.

As we wrap up the 2K24 collection, let’s have a look at how the Silver and Black faired in the long run of the simulation.

Outcomes + Statistics

The Spurs improved their report from final yr, however nonetheless completed the yr tied for the worst report within the NBA. The Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio completed with a 25-57 report.

The offense continued to battle via the tip of the simulation. They have been the worst offensive staff within the league in nearly each metric. The Spurs scored simply 106.6 factors per sport, and shot 43% from the sphere. They shot 32% from three, which might have been the worst within the NBA final season as properly.

What would show to be the primary of many silver linings in a nasty season, the Spurs completed as a top-10 protection within the league, permitting 114 factors per sport. They have been the 4th finest rebounding staff within the NBA (51 per sport) and blocked 5 pictures a sport (thanks, Wemby.) Opponents shot simply 47% from the sphere agains the digital Spurs, and hit 35% of their threes, adequate for top-10 within the league in each classes.

Keldon Johnson ended up main the staff in scoring but once more, placing up 17.8 factors, 5 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 44.6% taking pictures from the sphere and hit 34.3% of his makes an attempt from deep. The Spurs different promising wing, Vassell, had a down yr. he averaged 14.5 factors, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals whereas taking pictures 39.9% from the sphere and 35.1% from three. Regardless of the decreased effectivity, the uptick in playmaking is a promising improvement.

Wembanyama struggled to begin the season, however discovered his footing because the yr went on. He scored 14.9 factors a sport whereas including in 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and a pair of.2 blocks. He struggled along with his effectivity, hitting 39.7 of his pictures from the sphere and pulling down 27.9% of his three-point discipline objectives. His defensive affect was clearly felt, and helped the staff enhance on that finish within the simulation.

Accolades and the NBA Draft Lottery

Regardless of a tough season that left the Spurs with the worst report within the league, there are causes for hope in regards to the future.

Wembanyama was named rookie of the yr and first staff all rookie alongside Brandon Miller, Chet Holmgren, Scoot Henderson and Amen Thompson. He turns into the Spurs first rookie of the yr since Tim Duncan within the 1997-1998 season.

The Spurs missed out on the playoffs but once more, and judging by the simulation, it was a fairly boring postseason anyhow. The Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics ripped via their conferences for the “Marcus Good bowl” within the NBA Finals. The Grizzlies would deal with the C’s in 5 video games, taking house their franchise’s first NBA championship. Ja Morant was named Finals MVP.

I don’t plan to simulate the offseason, however I did wish to see how the Spurs faired within the lottery. They’ve a 14% probability to get the primary decide entering into. Right here have been the outcomes:

Oof. Not the outcome you search for after a dropping season. Maybe the simulation is making the Spurs pay for touchdown a generational expertise within the earlier draft. Thankfully for the Spurs, the 2024 class just isn’t identified for it’s excessive finish expertise, however has some good depth. With picks #5 and #19, they may be capable of decide up two promising younger gamers. Alexandre Sarr, Isaiah Collier and Matas Buzelis are gamers to be careful for with a top-5 decide.

The NBA 2K24 simulation ought to be taken with a grain of salt. The online game bases it’s outcomes on their ranking system that rewards gamers for his or her efficiency within the earlier system. The Spurs didn’t have an ideal season final yr, so it is smart that they might predict that to proceed. It’s an attention-grabbing train in analyzing attainable outcomes for the yr forward.