With a loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday evening, the San Antonio Spurs are actually tied for the longest dropping streak in franchise historical past at 16 video games. Over the course of the dropping streak the Spurs have blown a number of huge leads. They did so as soon as once more in opposition to the Bulls, dropping 121-112 regardless of holding a double digit lead within the first half. Yet one more loss would makethe 2023-24 Spurs the only homeowners of the franchise’s longest dropping streak.
They’ll face an enhancing Houston Rockets squad on the highway. Of their first matchup this season, the Spurs defeated the Rockets in extra time, 126-122. It was a superb recreation for Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, who scored 21 and 25 factors respectively. The Rockets have change into one of many NBA’s greatest defensive items (third in defensive score) underneath Ime Udoka’s tutelage. The Spurs’ struggling offense will want their stars to ship as soon as once more in a troublesome highway matchup.
December 11, 2023 | 7 P.M. CT
Watch: Bally | Pay attention: WOAI/KXTN
Spurs accidents: Dominick Barlow – Questionable (G League,) Charles Bassey – Questionable (G League,) Charles Bediako – Out (G League,) Sidy Cissoko – Questionable (G League,) Sir’Jabari Rice – Out (G League,) Blake Wesley – Questionable (G League)
Rockets accidents: Dillon Brooks – Questionable (sickness,) Tari Eason – Questionable (left leg,) Nate Hinton – Out (G League,) Victor Oladipo – Out (left patellar tendon,) Jermaine Samuels Jr. – Out (G League,) Cam Whitmore – Out (G League)
What to observe for
Avoiding a 3rd quarter collapse
The Spurs have struggled immensely within the third quarter throughout this 16-game dropping streak. San Antonio has been outscored by 146 factors within the third. That’s the worst within the NBA by a 64-point margin. In a post-practice interview, Zach Collins says enhancing their efficiency out of halftime is a spotlight for the staff.
Monday’s recreation is in opposition to a chippy rival in Houston. Possibly the Spurs will probably be further motivated to interrupt the streak in opposition to the in-state foe. They’ll want to attain the ball extra within the third in the event that they need to compete. The Spurs offense has damaged down out of halftime. Discovering units and actions that create beauty early within the third would assist them keep momentum in opposition to a superb defensive staff.
The Alperen Sengun dilemma
The Rockets have top-of-the-line younger huge males within the NBA. Alperen Sengun is averaging 20.8 factors, 9.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season. He’s been nice as a passer and a low submit scorer. The final time the Spurs performed Houston Sengun put up a monster stat line of 25 factors, 14 rebounds and seven assists on a mixture of Zach Collins and Wembanyama.
Now that Wembanyama has taken over beginning heart duties from Collins, it will likely be on the rookie to close down the opposing huge man. Wemby did a good job on Nikola Vucevic within the Bulls recreation, regardless of a power drawback. As soon as once more he’ll should be disciplined in opposition to Sengun’s flurry of fakes to comprise the Rockets’ main scorer.
Defending the paint
Equally, the Spurs might want to shut off the paint with the intention to cease the Rockets offensive assault. Of their final contest, the Rockets scored a whopping 76 factors within the paint in opposition to San Antonio.
Houston performs an analogous offensive model to Chicago. They’re methodical and need to get the ball inside to Sengun. They’re middle-of-the-pack in three-point capturing and are twenty eighth within the NBA in tempo. San Antonio has allowed groups to get to the basket far too usually, resulting in open kick outs for photographs on the perimeter, or layups. Slowing Houston down will largely depend on their capability to cease their paint assault.
