Using a franchise document 17-game shedding streak, the Spurs return house determined to expertise the candy style of victory once more, but it surely received’t come straightforward as they stare down a home-home miniseries in opposition to the inaugural In-Season Match champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs have suffered via each conceivable kind of loss throughout their streak, starting from wire-to-wire blowouts to blown double-digit leads, to defensive slugfests and offensive shootouts.
Will they lastly have the ability to put collectively a whole sufficient sport to finish the shedding streak, or a will a Lakers group that includes veteran stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis add to their distress?
San Antonio Spurs (3-19) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (14-10)
December 13, 2023 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: Bally Sports activities, NBA TV | Pay attention: WOAI/KXTN
Spurs accidents: Charles Bassey (out — knee); Charles Bediako (out —G League); Sidy Cissoko (out — G League); Sir’Jabari Rice (out — G League)
Lakers accidents: LeBron James (questionable — calf); Anthony Davis (questionable — hip); Gabe Vincent (out — knee); Jarred Vanderbilt (questionable — again); Jalen Hood-Schifino (out — G League)
What to Watch For
Las Vegas Hangover?
The Lakers’ harm report is for final evening’s sport in opposition to the Mavericks, and since this can be a back-to-back for them, they don’t need to launch an harm report till this afternoon. That being mentioned, they’re coming off an enormous weekend in Las Vegas, profitable the primary ever In-Season Match. Whereas they possible shook off the hangover final evening in Dallas, the harm report nonetheless suggests some resting could also be so as, and “relaxation” guidelines counsel they’d be extra inclined to take action in opposition to the Spurs because it’s not a nationally televised sport. It’s onerous to inform who will play –today — James and Davis each performed final evening — however the Spurs will take any little benefit they will get.
Discovering a solution to carry out on each ends
In two of their final three video games, the Spurs have finished one thing we’ve not often seen this season: play first rate protection, permitting simply 102 factors to the Timberwolves and 93 factors to the Rockets. For a group that averages almost 110 factors per sport themselves, that must be ok to win no less than one win, proper? The issue is, in each these video games, they weren’t in a position to replicate their success on protection to offense, placing up equally as inept taking pictures numbers as their opponents.
Conversely, in video games the place they’ve had good taking pictures nights, additionally they couldn’t cease the opponent (see their 135-137 loss to the Hawks). Recently, the Spurs’ offensive success has come at house whereas the protection exhibits up on the street, so they should discover a solution to carry each in the identical sport. (Of be aware, the Lakers are the sixth worst three-point taking pictures group within the league, however the second finest taking pictures general. Possibly that is a bonus to the Spurs’ fashion of protection since giving up open threes is one in all their greatest weaknesses? I’ll go knock on wooden now.)
THIRD. QUARTERS.
The batter head of the drum has been virtually crushed right through at this level, however the Spurs HAVE to begin displaying up after halftime. At this level, probably the most predictable factor about this group is they’re destined for a 3rd quarter meltdown, and on the uncommon event that it doesn’t come then, it comes quickly sufficient within the fourth. It’s like clockwork, and it has value them many double-digit leads this season. In reality, let’s revisit yesterday’s energy rankings from NBA.com:
…the Spurs at the moment are 1-9 in video games they’ve led by double-digits, having blown a 13-point result in the Bulls on Friday. Within the 27 earlier seasons for which now we have play-by-play knowledge, the worst document in video games led by double-digits was 5-9, by the 2011-12 Bobcats, who had the worst general document in NBA historical past (7-59). The Spurs and Lakers, who’re 9-1, have led the identical variety of video games by double-digits this season.
So the Spurs are 1-9 when main by double digits, whereas tonight’s opponent is 9-1. So not solely can the Spurs not let the Lakers get out forward in the event that they need to win, however additionally they can’t soften down and relinquish the lead as a result of the Lakers have the veteran and star energy to carry them off. We hold saying it, however the Spurs should play a compete 48 minutes on each ends of the courtroom in the event that they need to win once more, and there’s no higher time than the current.
For the Lakers followers’ perspective, go to Silver Display screen and Roll.
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