The Spurs desperately want a win. They’ve misplaced 12 straight and adversity is clearly beginning to have an effect on a younger group that appeared to have play-in aspirations earlier than the season began. At this level, it could take an enormous turnaround for San Antonio to be out of the basement within the West within the close to future, however even a single victory might convey extra life to a gaggle of gamers who’ve been on the incorrect finish of beatdowns slightly too typically these days.
The duty gained’t be straightforward. The Hawks have been underwhelming to date, sitting at tenth within the East with a adverse report, however they’ve expertise on their roster. The Trae Younger-Dejounte Murray backcourt duo has not delivered quick success, however it’s nonetheless fearsome. They’ve taking pictures on the wing and athleticism inside. Quin Snyder is an effective coach. On paper, they’re higher than their report would recommend. Will probably be on the younger Spurs to pounce on the road-weary Hawks to stop them from delivering loss No. 13 in a row.
Atlanta Hawks at San Antonio Spurs
November thirtieth, 2023 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: Bally Sports activities Southwest|Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Victor Wembanyama – Questionable (Hip), Jeremy Sochan – Possible (Knee)
Hawks Accidents: Jalen Johnson – Out (Wrist), Mouhamed Gueye – Out (Again), Kobe Bufkin – Out (Thumb)
What to observe for:
Can the Spurs hold tempo on offense?
The Spurs and the Hawks have so much in widespread. They rank twenty seventh and twenty fifth within the league in defensive score, respectively. Each rebound poorly on the defensive finish and permit factors off turnovers and within the paint. They don’t seem to be good at stopping threes. Getting stops isn’t what characterizes both squad. The primary distinction between the 2 is that whereas San Antonio is horrible at each ends, the Hawks can truly rating at an elite stage, rating fifth within the league in offensive score.
Atlanta put factors on the board. They’ve the items to do it, as they’ve proved. The query is, can the Spurs sustain? We’ve seen the Silver and Black undergo lengthy droughts typically this season. These are survivable in opposition to a foul offensive group that gained’t take benefit. Towards the Hawks, they may very well be the distinction between an in depth sport and a blowout. Will probably be particularly necessary to not make issues straightforward for the guests by not turning the ball over and working again in transition.
The Wembanyama at middle minutes may very well be key
Trae Younger is a foul matchup for the Spurs as a result of he’s precisely the kind of participant who can completely dismantle a drop defensive scheme when he’s feeling it. He can pull up from three or hit floaters if the massive man stays again and he can drive previous a slow-footed middle that tries to play on the stage of the display screen or change. Zach Collins is probably going going to have a troublesome time guarding pick-and-rolls. So will Charles Bassey. That leaves Victor Wembanyama as the perfect wager to have the ability to contest these pull-ups whereas additionally recovering on drives.
The Spurs might actually wrestle on the defensive glass with Wemby at middle, particularly in opposition to a group with good offensive rebounders, however he might even have a bonus on the opposite finish. If Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongu need to step outdoors to protect him, the paint may very well be broad open for some Keldon Johnson drives. Generally, it looks as if giving Wembanyama extra minutes at middle is each good for him and the group, however on this matchup specifically these minutes might have a huge effect on the end result of the sport. Hopefully his hip damage is minor and he’ll have the ability to go well with up on Thursday.
Preserving Dejounte Murray chilly would assist so much
With Snyder in cost, Dejounte Murary is taking extra threes than ever and is hitting them at a career-high charge, changing 37 p.c of them. Up to now three video games, although, he had a 0-for-6 evening and a 1-for-6 evening from past the arc. He’s averaged simply 10 factors per sport in that quick stretch whereas taking pictures 27 p.c from the ground general. As Spurs followers know, Murray does different issues on each ends to assist even when he’s not scoring, however ensuring he doesn’t escape of his mini-slump would go a great distance towards defanging the Hawks’ offense. Whoever defends him must contest his outdoors seems and stop him from attending to his spots contained in the arc.
In his final outing, in opposition to the Cavaliers, Murray had extra pictures than factors regardless of taking pictures the lengthy ball nicely and logged extra turnovers than assists. It’s unlikely the Spurs’ protection will have the ability to power him into that unhealthy of an evening, however that’s nice. The purpose must be stopping him from going off. Will the followers boo and, as Pop put it, “poke the bear”? Possibly. However Murray and a whole Hawks group that has underperformed this 12 months ought to have already got loads of motivation to return out swinging. The Spurs should be targeted from the get-go to no less than attempt to restrict the impression of their former All-Star or they may very well be in for a protracted evening.
