Welcome to the Week in Overview: a Monday function that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a have a look at the week forward, and extra. Get pleasure from!
Week 1: The Spurs cut up their first two video games towards Dallas and Houston to open the season 1-1.
Week 2: 2-2 (3-3, eighth in West)
101-106 loss vs. Houston Rockets
Recap: One recreation after the Spurs staved off a Rockets comeback to safe their first win of the season, the Rockets returned the favor in virtually precise mirror picture style to shut the miniseries, getting out to quick a begin of their very own earlier than ultimately staving off a Spurs comeback themselves.
What we discovered
93-105 loss at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Recap: The extremely anticipated first match-up of the season between younger large males Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren didn’t go the Spurs’ approach as Wemby performed the worst recreation of his profession with simply 6 factors, and in consequence the Spurs couldn’t make the most of a uncommon off evening from MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Suffice it to say, Gregg Popovich was not blissful along with his staff’s effort and let the media know they’d an extended discuss after the sport.
What we discovered
108-66 win at Utah Jazz
Recap: Apparently Wemby obtained the memo from the final recreation and upped his effort stage the very subsequent evening in Utah, making historical past within the course of by turning into simply the the third participant in NBA historical past to put up a number of 5×5 video games in his profession. The remainder of the staff adopted go well with in blowing out what’s going to doubtless be the worst staff within the West. One other commentary: Pop could have instructed Chris Paul to begin searching for his personal shot to assist open up the offense, and it labored. Aggressive CP3 and Wemby take the Spurs’s offense to a different stage.
What we discovered
113-103 win vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Recap: The Spurs offense continued to thrive underneath an aggressive Paul, and this time the bench got here alongside for the journey with a 25-point outing from Keldon Johnson to assist the Spurs put away a drained Timberwolves staff on the second evening of a back-to-back. It’s simply two video games, however right here’s to hoping the Spurs have figured one thing out in these final two video games and it carries into this week.
What we discovered
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 18 (final week: 21)
OffRtg: 106.6 (27) DefRtg: 107.4 (4) NetRtg: -0.8 (16) Tempo: 98.1 (26)
The Spurs have received two straight video games, getting their greatest victory of the early season on Saturday, after they knocked off the Wolves with a giant second half.
Three takeaways
1. The Wolves had been the league’s greatest defensive staff by a large margin final season. However the win on Saturday, was the Spurs’ greatest offensive recreation (113 factors on 96 possessions) to this point. And that was extra about their capturing within the paint (26-for-34) than their capturing from past the arc (13-for-42), although the 13 3s had been a season excessive. General, the Spurs are one among two groups – the Pelicans are the opposite – that rank within the backside 10 in three of the 4 elements on offense.
2. Because the Spurs started the season 1-3, they had been outscored by 18.9 factors per 100 possessions with Chris Paul on the ground. However over their wins towards Utah and Minnesota, Paul was a plus-49, totaling 34 factors (on 13-for-22 capturing) and 23 assists (with simply two turnovers). The 39-year previous has taken 60% of his photographs from 3-point vary, simply the best charge of his profession.
3. Victor Wembanyama’s Defensive Participant of the Yr candidacy will rely, no less than partially, on the place the Spurs rank as a staff on that finish of the ground. By way of two weeks, they rank fourth, having allowed 18.9 fewer factors per 100 possessions with Wembanyama on the ground (99.2) than they’ve with him off the ground (118.1).
They’ll play three groups that rank within the backside seven offensively this week, with the exception being their go to to Houston on Wednesday, their third assembly with the Rockets.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 19 (final week: 19)
A current 10-point win over the Timberwolves could also be that inflection level for the San Antonio Spurs to vary their current misfortunes and actually grow to be a menace within the Western Convention. Except for Victor Wembanyama’s brilliance, the Spurs as an entire are locking in defensively and forcing their opponents into powerful, contested photographs. Lately, it was introduced that legendary head coach Gregg Popovich will probably be out indefinitely after a well being scare, so assistant Mitch Johnson will function the appearing head coach in San Antonio transferring ahead.
Arising: Mon. 11/4 @ Los Angeles Clippers; Wed. 11/6 @ Houston Rockets; Thurs. 11/7 vs. Portland Path Blazers; Sat. 11/9 vs. Utah Jazz
Prediction: 3-1 — This may be a dangerous guess contemplating the Spurs have grow to be identified for enormous November dropping streaks the final two seasons, however I really feel like they’re going to keep away from that this season. They appear to have discovered their stride within the final two video games, they aren’t in tank mode, they aren’t “experimenting” with gamers out of place, they usually have the veteran management to assist them preserve focus. I’m predicting they may cut up the highway video games in LA and Houston, then take the 2 house video games towards the one two groups who had been predicted to complete decrease than them within the West.
