Only some days in the past, the Spurs battled top-of-the-line groups within the West. It didn’t go properly, because the Thunder dominated the matchup. Now they’ll have the chance to tackle one other elite opponent from their convention when the Timberwolves come to go to.
The Spurs have taken on the Wolves twice this season, and have two losses to point out for it. It’s not stunning that they’ve struggled since Minnesota is a contender because of its elite protection. Nonetheless, the overall margin of victory for the guests in these two video games is 15 factors, which reveals that San Antonio can provide them some bother. Anticipating a win on the second recreation of a back-to-back in opposition to a clearly superior squad could be too optimistic, however it’s not loopy to imagine that the Spurs might preserve issues aggressive.
Wins and losses don’t actually matter a lot for the Silver and Black at this level, however the alternatives to see how their gamers measure up in opposition to the league’s greatest are at all times helpful. The Rudy Gobert vs. Victor Wembanyama duel needs to be enjoyable to look at. So will Anthony Edwards vs. Devin Vassell. As a younger crew, the Spurs can study essential classes from opponents which have issues discovered, so video games like this one can at all times assist, even when the possible consequence is a defeat.
January 27, 2024 | 7:30 PM CT
Watch: KENS5 | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Charles Bassey – Out (left knee,) Sidy Cissoko – Out (ankle,) David Duke Jr. – Out (G League,) Mamadi Diakite – Questionable (G League,) Dominick Barlow – Questionable (G League,)
Wolves Accidents: Jaylen Clark — Out (Achilles), Leonard Miller — Out (G League), Daishen Nix — Out (G League), Josh Minott — Out (G League)
What to look at for:
Victor will need assistance in opposition to an elite frontcourt
Within the first two matchups in opposition to the Wolves, the Spurs began each Wembanyama and Zach Collins. Now, they’ve moved Wemby to middle, which implies he might need to cope with Minnesota’s two big-man lineups on his personal. The guests have a strong one-two punch with Karl-Anthony Cities and Rudy Gobert inside, two gamers who convey utterly totally different however complementary talent units to the desk. Naz Reid is coming off the bench as properly, so they’re stacked. Wemby must go from guarding the paint-bound Gobert to defending within the perimeter all whereas attempting to offer assist to his teammates and staying out of foul bother.
He gained’t be capable of do it alone, although. Sochan, coming off a implausible efficiency within the win in opposition to the Path Blazers on Friday, might want to do his greatest in opposition to Cities and Collins will should be prepared to offer good minutes each backing up Wembanyama and taking part in alongside him if wanted. The remainder of the bigs out there would most likely battle in opposition to this degree of opponent, so the primary guys might want to shine and followers might want to hope that Wemby really fits up for the second recreation of the back-to-back now that his restrictions have been loosened. Each Victor and Pop appeared assured he could be out there, so it needs to be a enjoyable matchup inside.
A battle between an elite protection and a horrible offense
The Timberwolves have one of the best protection within the league. The Spurs have the third-worst offense. San Antonio, which has proven a propensity to lengthy droughts even in opposition to lesser opponents, might want to discover methods to attain constantly to actually have a likelihood.
Within the first matchup between the 2 groups, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama dropped 29 factors every, partly as a result of their three-point pictures had been falling. In the second, the Spurs outscored the Wolves inside. In each video games, they’d an edge in fastbreak factors, and that’s what they’ll positively want to copy on Saturday to maintain up.
The Spurs are a high-pace crew, rating third in possessions per recreation and seventh in fastbreak factors. The Wolves prefer to play gradual however they do flip the ball over lots. Making an attempt to get steals to run might be key, however attacking earlier than the protection is settled even after lifeless ball conditions may even be required. An excellent capturing night time from a few gamers, a large enough disparity in fastbreak factors, and San Antonio might need sufficient firepower to make it a recreation.
For the Timberwolves fan’s perspective, please go to Canis Hoopus.
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