For one half of play, it was a aggressive recreation. For the opposite, it wasn’t. In the event you suppose you’ve heard that narrative earlier than, welcome to the San Antonio Spurs’ 2023-24 season. It already didn’t look promising after Victor Wembanyama was a late scratch and Luka Doncic was again after lacking the Mavericks’ recreation the earlier night time with a quad contusion, but when this staff has confirmed something this season, it’s that it doesn’t matter who’s on the courtroom; the narrative is nearly all the time the identical.
The primary quarter remained even for the primary 9 minutes, tied at 24-24 with each groups attacking the opposite’s defensive weak point. For the Spurs, it was making the most of Dallas’ lack of rim safety, whereas the Mavs took benefit of the Spurs’ poor defensive rotation, propensity to chunk on ball fakes, and an absence of boxing out. In fact, with a participant like Doncic, that will ultimately be benefit: Mavs. He scored 17 of his 39 factors within the first quarter alone, which the Mavs would end on a 16-5 run the take a 40-29 lead.
One brilliant spot from the primary quarter was Jeremy Socham, who had seven factors, and that carried into the second quarter, as he scored eight extra to assist the Spurs reap the benefits of Doncic’s relaxation time. They hitting their first 4 threes to get again inside two, 50-52, with seven minutes left within the half, however as soon as Doncic got here again in, he immediately led the Mavs on 7-0 run. Happily, the Spurs’ red-hot capturing saved them in it, hitting 7-11 from three within the quarter, and so they received as shut as a degree however couldn’t fairly recover from the hump, heading into halftime down 72-66.
Not dangerous, however then after all comes the third quarter, and Dallas rapidly unfold the lead again to double digits with a 7-2 begin. Gregg Popovich rapidly known as a timeout to try to stop one other one in all his staff’s signature meltdowns, but it surely didn’t assist, because the Mavs’ run stretched out to 16-2 in its entirety and the lead ballooned to twenty. Both to see if what he can do defensively in opposition to Doncic or as a slight wave of the white flag, Sidy Cissoko received some third quarter burn, as did Blake Wesley, but it surely didn’t assist as Doncic continued to make it rain. With out going again and looking out, this may increasingly have been the Spurs’ worst third quarter but, as they have been outscored 45-20 and located themselves down 86-117 heading into what could be 12 minutes of prolonged rubbish time.
Credit score to the Spurs’ third unit, they didn’t fold, with many gamers making their case for extra taking part in time. After the Mavs lead maxed out to 41 with 17 minutes left, the group of Cissoko, Wesley, Julian Champagnie, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Devonte’ Graham led the “cost” again, getting as “shut” as 23 earlier than Jason Kidd re-inserted his second unit, more likely to “punish” his third string for not taking part in exhausting sufficient. Mamu led that group with 14 factors earlier than the sport got here to a merciful finish at 119-144.
Recreation Notes
There was beginning lineup chaos earlier than the sport even started. First, Pop made a change by shifting Keldon Johnson to the bench for Champagnie (no, not Tre Jones), doubtless as a way to verify both Johnson, Devin Vassell or Wembanyama are all the time on the ground. Then, simply earlier than the sport started, it was introduced that Wemby could be out after stepping on a ball boy’s foot throughout shootaround, which moved Zach Collins to the beginning lineup. Wemby appeared okay and wasn’t limping as he continued capturing for one more minute earlier than heading to the locker room. He reportedly wished to play however was instructed to take a seat for precautionary causes. Hopefully he’ll be able to go on Tuesday.
One place the Spurs actually missed Wemby was rebounding. Regardless of hitting 10-23 threes within the first half, they discovered themselves down as a result of the Mavs have been killing them on the offensive glass, with 17 factors off 7 offensive rebounds (or 2.4 factors per rebound, which is an absurd stat). The Spurs have been higher within the second half, solely permitting six extra second-chance factors, though that will have had one thing to do with the Mavs’ incapacity to overlook.
Regardless of getting some pointless wrath from conspiracy-minded Spurs followers after the final recreation (during which everybody, not simply him, struggled to search out Wemby far too typically), Sochan laughed it off and had a pleasant recreation. He led the staff with an environment friendly 23 factors, together with a profession excessive 4 three-pointers, in addition to 9 rebounds and 4 assists. He’s significantly better off when he has an outlined position (as is commonly the case with position gamers), so hopefully he can discover a degree of consistency quickly.
Play of the Recreation
Take observe, Spurs: that is how you discover the cutter. Now if they will simply apply this to Wemby (when he’s obtainable)…
Up Subsequent: Tuesday vs. Utah Jazz
Because the staff with the fewest video games in opposition to groups with dropping information within the league, the Spurs ought to welcome three straight, starting with the Jazz at house the day after Christmas. Tip-off might be at 7:00 PM CT on Bally Sports activities.
I hope all you Pounders have a Pleased Holidays!
