For some cause, I spent yesterday afternoon barely optimistic about this recreation. I don’t know why; the Spurs have given followers zero cause to imagine they’ll win one other recreation anytime quickly, with solely the legislation of averages working of their favor proper now, however I’m a naturally optimistic particular person and generally simply can’t assist myself. Perhaps it was as a result of LeBron James can be out, and that may be the “break” they wanted (as a result of completely nothing else goes their method).
They virtually bought one other break on the Lakers’ very first offensive possession when Anthony Davis twisted his ankle after trying a layup. He stayed down for a minute, however as Victor Webamyana did a number of nights earlier, he confirmed resiliency, bought up, and saved taking part in. Good. Davis has had some horrible luck with accidents the previous few years, and whereas I mentioned in yesterday’s preview that the Spurs would take any break they might get, that isn’t the kind you need. You’ll take 39-year-old LeBron needing a breather on a SEGABABA after such a loopy, emotional weekend — profitable the inaugural In-Season Event and watching his son, Bronny, return to play for USC after affected by cardiac arrest simply 5 months in the past — however nobody desires to see one other participant go down with a noncontact harm. I’m glad AD was okay and saved taking part in.
Again to the Spurs, it didn’t take lengthy into the sport for my optimism to wane once more. This crew continues to simply look misplaced at occasions. Often, they at the very least play a robust first half at dwelling (and also you solely have to start out worrying within the second half), however they simply appeared dejected at occasions. The starters particularly performed with seemingly no sense of urgency earlier than Gregg Popovich did a full lineup change, and the Lakers slowly, however certainly, constructed their lead out to twenty within the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
I used to be already taking notes for what I wished to say right here, and I used to be able to eviscerate them. They showcased a few of the laziest passing I’ve ever seen, with the Lakers effortlessly selecting off a number of nonchalant passes in transition and the half-court to simply add to the lead. Nobody outdoors of Wemby was exhibiting any sense of urgency, and even then, he too had his share of errors and carelessness, be it poor shot choice, passing or sticking his hand within the cookie jar as a substitute of taking part in vertical protection.
Then, the fourth quarter occurred. Keldon Johnson awakened and led the cost again in opposition to a shocked Lakers crew. I realized a number of weeks in the past to refuse to permit myself to imagine till the clock struck zero and the Spurs have been on prime, however even when the Spurs tried to offer it again to the Lakers — resembling one final lazy go inside the ultimate 1:30 to offer the Lakers a seven-point lead — they saved combating again. Fourth-quarter Wemby made a return with two large threes, they usually got here one missed free throw from him away from tying issues up with 21 seconds left. Get these three factors again, and perhaps issues are totally different.
Was final night time’s end result cause sufficient to be optimistic going ahead? I don’t know. It looks like a special crew exhibits up game-to-game and even quarter-to-quarter, nevertheless it’s by no means the “good” Spurs for lengthy sufficient or on the proper occasions to win in the long run. I’d prefer to suppose that fourth quarter was sufficient of a confidence booster and studying expertise that they’ll carry that effort into the following recreation, however there’s no telling. At this level, all we will do is the one factor we’ve been doing for the final month: hope that the following recreation would be the one.
Takeaways
What the basketball gods giveth in a single recreation, they take away in one other. Maintain the Timberwolves and Rockets to effectively beneath their season averages? Okay, you may’t rating both. Go off offensively in opposition to the Hawks, Bulls and Lakers? Goodbye, protection. Oh, you’re hitting threes now? No extra twos for you. Truly win the second half by double-digits? Cool, no first-half double-digit lead this time. The Spurs’ incapability to place collectively a stable recreation on either side of the ball for an prolonged time period is why they’re on such a protracted dropping streak, and it’s really loopy how issues hold understanding this manner,
Wemby had an excellent recreation, scoring 30 factors, grabbing 13 rebounds, blocking 6 pictures and developing massive within the clutch, however he additionally bought fairly the lesson from a veteran Davis, who scored 37 factors of his personal, used his weight to bully his method down low, and took benefit of Wemby reaching for the ball a number of occasions as a substitute of protecting his arms up to attract fouls, which resulted in his first ever foul-out. These are one of the best kind of video games for him to study and develop, and hopefully he takes the teachings realized into Friday’s recreation in opposition to the identical opponent.
The NBA TV saying crew of Channing Frye and Greg Anthony most likely had one of the best rationalization but for why these Spurs are struggling so badly: you merely can’t have a 19-year previous rookie as your greatest participant and count on to succeed as a result of that’s an excessive amount of stress. It’s the identical cause LeBron James and Kevin Durant had virtually equally as tough data to start out their rookie seasons. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are about pretty much as good as Wemby — Vassell ought to most likely be higher, however has been inconsistent — however that’s not ok. Wemby must be their greatest participant sooner or later, however he wants extra assist whereas he’s nonetheless rising and studying.
