The Spurs got here out flat at the moment in Atlanta and look lifeless because the Hawks ran out to a 35 level halftime lead. Victor Wembanyama was invisible within the first half with zero factors and no influence as Trae Younger dominated the moribund Silver and Black with 29 factors. The plot twist is that the Spurs didn’t hand over within the second half, as they made the sport aggressive with Blake Wesley offering a spark as he introduced the Silver and Black inside hanging distance because the Spurs turned up the protection and made it a aggressive sport, chopping the deficit to single digits late.
The Spurs couldn’t overcome their horrible begin, however the end was spectacular because the Silver and Black as soon as once more confirmed their aggressive nature and made it a sport even after virtually falling aside early. This was one other chapter within the e book of spectacular enhancements of the younger Spurs squad, and it’s solely a matter of time earlier than these shut calls change into wins for the nice guys.
Observations
The pregame present was largely devoted to the legacy of Martin Luther King, which introduced consideration to issues that had been way more essential than basketball.
It was bizarre to see the house workforce in black uniforms and the Spurs carrying white for a street sport. I’ll by no means get used to that.
The Spurs seemed somewhat discombobulated to start out the sport because the Hawks moved out to a 11-0 lead earlier than Sochan scored the primary Spurs basket.
Clint Capela is among the harder matchups for Victor within the league. He’s lengthy and fast, and robust as hell.
Okongwu was killing the Spurs early as he bought free within the paint because the Spurs threw a number of defenders at Younger.
The Spurs trailed 35-16 after one quarter, wanting fairly listless to start out the sport.
When Trae Younger goes incendiary, the opponent will get burned. Badly.
The Hawks led 69-34 on the half and that’s not a typo.
Blake Wesley began the third quarter and instantly made a distinction within the protection, inflicting an 8 second violation and scoring a bucket, propelling the Spurs to a 10-0 starting to the third quarter.
Wembanyama sat out the start of the second half after a poor first half, and Pop lastly put him midway via the third and he fully turned it round with a formidable second half efficiency.
If the NBA had relegation, the Spurs could be within the G-League subsequent yr after the primary half of at the moment’s sport.
The Spurs used each challenges efficiently at the moment. I can’t keep in mind the final time that occurred.
As badly because the Spurs performed within the first half, they virtually fully reversed it within the second half. Blake Wesley and Keldon Johnson deserve plenty of credit score for the turnaround, regardless that Wembanyama will get many of the consideration.
The Spurs are headed to Boston to face the Celtics on Wednesday night time at 6:30 PM. The Celtics are on prime of the Japanese Convention this yr with a 30-9 file, however don’t all the time play as much as their skills, so it might be an fascinating contest for the Spurs heading into their weekend back-to-back in opposition to the Hornets and Wizards.
