The San Antonio Spurs have now misplaced 16-games in a row after dropping 121-112 to the Chicago Bulls on Friday evening. This ties the franchise document that was set by the 2022-23 group. It was completed in acquainted style. The Spurs constructed a double-digit lead within the first half, just for it to be wiped away by a disastrous third quarter through which they had been outscored 35-20.
The Spurs at the moment are 1-9 when main by 10 or extra factors this season. Final years squad was 6-4 when up 10 or extra, regardless of dropping 22-games. The expectations for this group had been greater than final yr’s squad, and but the Spurs haven’t been in a position to determine tips on how to win during the last month and a few change.
Whereas it’s not the the one cause for the group’s struggles, the third quarter (or turd quarter as I name it) is an enormous drawback. There have been so many video games over the course of the dropping streak the place the Spurs have come out flat within the second half, gone by an offensive drought, and given up an enormous lead. Turnovers, lacking open photographs, giving up rebounds, and permitting open three pointers have all been staples of those “turd quarters.”
I feel the frustration from followers on these losses isn’t merely the truth that the group is dropping – however that they’re doing it in the identical means, evening after evening, and never enhancing. This group was by no means going to compete for a playoff spot this season, they’re nonetheless younger and have made transactions like a rebuilding group. The hope was with Victor Wembanyama on the group, they’d progressively enhance this yr. Sadly, we’re studying that improvement is just not linear.
Takeaways
As I watched Torrey Craig dominate the Spurs within the fourth quarter, I puzzled to myself if San Antonio has anybody on their roster with as a lot canine in them because the veteran wing. Certain, the 5 three-pointers will stick out on the stat sheet. However he was in every single place defensively too. Pressuring the basketball, getting after free balls – he additionally had two steals. You don’t see that kind of effort and toughness from a variety of the younger Spurs. Tre Jones will stress the ball and be a pest, and guys like Cedi Osman actually play laborious. However who’s going to step up and lead this group by instance with hard-nosed play?
Talking of which, giving up 24 offensive rebounds is an insane stat. That’s one thing you may not even see at the highschool stage. Nikola Vucevic grabbed 10 of these 24 and Andre Drummond grabbed 6. The opposite boards got here from perimeter gamers who nobody put a physique on. I don’t like to guage the trouble {of professional} athletes as a result of usually occasions it’s lazy evaluation… however 24 offensive rebounds is 24 offensive rebounds. It’s a hustle stat, and the Spurs didn’t win that battle.
The most important distinction for Chicago’s offense within the second half is they really began to hit open photographs. The Bulls went 4-14 from three within the first half, however completed the sport 13-28 from deep. They acquired attractiveness within the first half however simply couldn’t convert. The Spurs protection has struggled to include the three level line this season. When Craig acquired sizzling within the second half, there was nearly no resistance on the perimeter till it was too late. In a league more and more centered on getting photographs from vary, San Antonio should enhance at defending the three.
Okay, however there have been some vivid spots from the Spurs loss. Specifically the play of Wembanyama. It wasn’t an ideal sport by any means, however changing into the youngest participant to publish a 20-20 sport is one thing to be happy with. He grabbed 7 offensive boards by tipping the ball up and grabbing it over a defender. His endurance defensively improved in actual time. Vucevic fooled him on just a few fakes, however he shortly realized and stopped falling for them on his option to 4 blocks. He seemed way more comfy on the rim on offense (the place you’ll nonetheless like him to get the ball extra.) Finally the three-point shot goes to get there. It’s too easy of a jumper for him to go this chilly for thus lengthy.
Keldon Johnson continues to be top-of-the-line gamers evening after evening, but you’ll nonetheless see Spurs Twitters placing him within the commerce machine after each sport. He’s now capturing 37.8% from three after struggling from deep final yr. In opposition to Chicago he hit 6 of his 11 threes on the best way to a 20 level, 5 help efficiency. It’s nice he’s discovering success from deep, however what makes him such a superb offensive participant is his capacity to get paint touches. I would love to see him be extra aggressive in these third quarter droughts.
Talking of aggression, it wasn’t his greatest evening, however there have been some constructive indicators from Devin Vassell. He was ice chilly capturing the basketball, which occurs infrequently for shooters (I imply, take a look at DeMar DeRozan’s stat line.) So he began to aggressively drive extra. We’ve seen some sturdy, athletic drives to the paint within the final two video games from Vassell. It’s part of his sport that’s enhancing, and can assist him change into a extra well-rounded scorer.
The bench unit was good towards Chicago. Jones, Doug McDermott and Zach Collins all carried out nicely on Friday. Gregg Popovich has made it abundantly clear that they don’t view Jones as a place to begin guard (particularly with the Spurs third beginning lineup change that didn’t embrace him.) He’s making the most effective of his bench position. He had 18 factors, 8 assists and 5 rebounds and hit two deep balls. Collins was a terrific change of tempo massive man with Wembanyama out. Hit just a few threes, and banged inside on his option to 12 factors, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. McDermott is an absolute flamethrower off the bench together with his motion capturing. It’s not going {that a} rebuilding group just like the Spurs want somebody like that, but when he continues to shoot a excessive proportion, he might internet them some draft capital from a contender in want of capturing on the commerce deadline.
