Final week, Pounding the Rock checked out what the 2024-2025 San Antonio Spurs’ strengths and weaknesses could be on the offensive finish of the ball. As any hoops fan is aware of, there are two sides of the ball. It’s like they are saying: protection wins championships.
The Spurs made enhancements on the defensive finish final yr. Within the 2022-23 season, San Antonio had its worst defensive score in franchise historical past at 120.0, in 2023-24, that quantity fell to 116.4. That slight enchancment may be chalked as much as including the Defensive Participant of the 12 months runner-up, Victor Wembanyama. Wemby had the very best particular person defensive score on the workforce at 106 and posted 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per recreation. His impression gained’t simply present up within the numbers, as his presence alone deterred gamers from coming into the paint towards San Antonio.
The Spurs come into the 24-25 season with extra defensive expertise than they’ve had in previous seasons. Wembanyama highlights the group, plus the additions of the older however nonetheless respectable Chris Paul and rookie Stephon Fort will praise the Spurs’ supporting forged of defenders in Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie and Tre Jones. With extra expertise on the roster, it’s price asking what the strengths and weaknesses of this unit might be.
Energy: rim safety and paint protection
Mark this one down beneath “duh.” The Spurs have certainly one of, if not the perfect, rim protectors within the NBA. Wembanyama modifications the way in which groups assault San Antonio. Gamers actively keep away from drives and alter photographs within the paint merely as a consequence of Wembanyama’s size and instincts. Curiously sufficient, San Antonio’s backup middle, Zach Collins, additionally ranks close to the highest of the NBA in rim deterrence.
The highest 10 Anchor Bigs in Rim Deterrence
1. Dereck Vigorous II2. Ivica Zubac3. Marvin Bagley III4. Rudy Gobert5. Victor Wembanyama6. Joel Embiid7. Zach Collins8. James Wiseman9. Wendell Carter Jr.10. Chet Holmgren
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— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) September 29, 2024
Wembanyama is joined by some large wings that ought to assist with the workforce’s paint protection. Jeremy Sochan has confirmed to be a bodily defender on the ball who can guard large wings within the submit. Julian Champagnie has proven promise as a assist facet defender. Harrison Barnes is a big-bodied veteran addition. The rookie, Stephon Fort can guard in and out. This improved unit ought to make it powerful on groups to get constant, beauty within the painted space.
Weak point: three-point protection
The Spurs struggled to defend the three-point line final season. Opponents made 12.7 threes per recreation towards the Silver and Black final season (thirteenth within the NBA). Groups received up plenty of threes towards the Spurs, which led to some barrages from deep that will bury them. Most of these threes got here off miscommunications or poor display navigation – two points typically related to younger groups.
Sure, the Spurs added veteran expertise that ought to assist them with with the psychological side of the sport, however that is nonetheless a workforce outlined by its youth. San Antonio will doubtless undergo irritating defensive stretches as younger gamers work out the NBA. Even sturdy collegiate defenders like Fort will wrestle to mentally adapt to the skilled recreation. The Spurs certainly one of their greatest defenders, Sochan, nonetheless wrestle to defend by means of screens and sophisticated NBA offenses.
There needs to be an enchancment guarding the three-point line – actually, it can doubtless be an emphasis. But, out of all the problems this workforce will hve on the defensive finish, this one appears more than likely to rear its head.
Energy: level of assault protection
San Antonio has the weapons to provide groups suits on the perimeter. Paul, whereas older continues to be a savvy defender with a number of the quickest fingers within the historical past of the league. Jones is a pesty on-ball defender who has a excessive motor. Fort is a flexible defender, however most significantly is a disruptive, sturdy and athletic on the ball. These three defenders alone ought to give Spurs followers a purpose to be excited concerning the groups level of assault protection.
Throw in some good defensive wings like Sochan and Champagnie, and San Antonio ought to have the personnel to make life tough for opposing ball-handlers. While you pair that with Wembanyama patrolling the paint, the Silver and Black needs to be set as much as be a a lot better defensive workforce this season.
Weak point: physicality
A significant storyline to observe this season is how Wembanyama progresses in his sophomore yr. For essentially the most half, he dominated his rookie season defensively. There have been video games when he took his lumps towards greater, stronger facilities. Total, groups have been capable of play bodily ball towards the youthful Spurs. In the event you’re searching for areas of enchancment for these Spurs, being a extra bodily imposing defensive workforce is certainly one of them.
