Social media could be terrible today. However each infrequently, in my scrolling, I discover gold that’s truly thought-provoking. This tweet (from a Steven Adams stat-based fan account? Man, I really like the web typically.) was virtually serendipitous with a thought I’ve been having in regards to the San Antonio Spurs.
It tracks the online ranking for the Spurs, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, and Houston Rockets. Three younger Western Convention groups who hoarded property and are constructing towards rivalry. It’s unusual how their paths comply with one another. Whereas watching the logos dart throughout the display, I didn’t anticipate the Spurs to maintain tempo. Regardless that they’re behind, San Antonio is on the ascent.
You’re most likely considering, “Get to the purpose, Jacob. What does this must do with the Spurs 120-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers?” Right here it’s: for the primary time within the final 3 seasons, it seems just like the Spurs actually have a great younger core. Not just a few what-ifs that may grow to be function gamers, however some REAL promising younger guys that may turn into the way forward for this franchise.
Victor Wembanyama doesn’t want an evidence. You may complain about his shot choice if you would like, however as a second-year participant, he’s making huge time performs towards top-of-the-line huge males within the league in a recreation that “issues” (extra on that later). Having 28 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 assists in an NBA Cup recreation is All-Star degree stuff from Wemby.
The participant that ought to be getting each Spurs fan excited is that this 12 months’s rookie, Stephon Fort. He was going towards top-of-the-line gamers to ever contact a basketball on nationwide TV and he didn’t flinch – 22 factors and 5 assists whereas making huge play after huge play down the stretch. Wanting assured within the mid-range and pulling down extra threes than lots of people anticipated this 12 months. Fort is huge, athletic, he performs exhausting and he has a successful pedigree. It’s early, and I don’t wish to overreact, nevertheless it looks as if the Spurs could have discovered a gem in a “weak” draft class.
Then add in Devin Vassell, whose shot making stored the Spurs within the recreation throughout a number of Laker runs. Don’t neglect about Jeremy Sochan, who was having one of the best season of his profession earlier than his thumb damage. These 4 guys are one thing you may construct round. That’s an actual promising younger core.
Successful can be nice, however simply being in that recreation appears like a step ahead for the Spurs. Positive it “means extra” as a result of it’s an NBA Cup recreation, however… will anybody keep in mind an in depth NBA Cup loss in even a 12 months’s time? Perhaps that is too optimistic of a take after dropping to the Lakers, however Spurs followers ought to come out of this one enthusiastic about the way forward for this group.
Takeaways:
The Lakers crushed San Antonio in transition. Fast, lengthy pictures led to lengthy boards and Los Angeles beat the Spurs again each. single. time. The Lakers had 23 quick break factors, and that’s not counting the secondary break buckets the place a shooter would get broad open because the Spurs scrambled to determine who they had been guarding. These are the sloppy errors a younger workforce has to scrub up.
Keldon Johnson struggled mightily on the defensive finish. He was caught out of place a number of occasions, together with an Austin Reaves three-pointer to offer the Lakers a lead late within the recreation. Offensively he’s nonetheless an influence participant, as he made clear along with his energized run within the fourth quarter. But, a few of his determination making is perplexing. Mitch Johnson should imagine in him, although, as KJ has closed out video games for the Spurs routinely whereas Johnson fills in for Gregg Popovich.
Johnson wasn’t the one bench participant to battle. Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham and Sandro Mamukelashvili didn’t give the Spurs hardly something of their restricted minutes. That power Mitch Johnson to shrink the rotation. Zach Collins had a troublesome matchup towards Anthony Davis, and was outmatched at occasions. As soon as the Spurs get Tre Jones and Sochan again, anticipate this bench unit to play higher.
As thrilling because the younger core is, the veteran additions of Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul have actually elevated them. Paul managed the sport with one other double-double, scoring 11 factors and 11 assists. He’s been a great decide and roll associate with Wembanyama. Barnes held his personal defensively towards LeBron James and chipped in offensively with 8 factors.
The Vassell-Wembanyama two-man recreation is again. The Spurs ran some nice units to get these two rolling. Vassell set flex screens for Wembanyama to get him into the paint, after which open himself up for 3 when the protection collapsed on the massive man. San Antonio ran some enjoyable elbow dribble handoff motion to get Vassell the ball going towards the ring, as soon as leading to a mid-range jumper and the opposite a lob for Wembanyama. This could turn into a staple of the Spurs offense all through the remainder of the season.
The NBA Cup can be 100x higher with out these silly courts. I perceive that you must name consideration to the truth that it’s an NBA Cup recreation. However what about, I don’t know, A GIANT TROPHY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT? It makes the Cup really feel like a gimmick and never one thing we should always actually be taking significantly. I’ll stand by this take without end. Change the courts!
