On account of a quirk of this 12 months’s scheduling, the Spurs will end their season collection with the Utah Jazz tonight. How the NBA managed to clump so lots of San Antonio’s video games towards the identical opponents this early within the season is maybe a query for an additional article, however the finer factors of the match-up are fairly effectively established at this level.
The Jazz are usually not good. They might maybe be a bit much less unhealthy, had been that their aim, however after resident Utah overlord Danny Ainge one way or the other forgot to tank for Victor Wembanyama (regardless of being handed so many good excuses) the Jazz now seem like absolutely invested in tanking for what most agree is a reasonably deep draft class.
At the moment, at 4-12, they’ve a backside 5 file. Nevertheless, they’ll must do even worse to enhance their odds on the primary decide. I’d anticipate them just do that, as their one win over the Spurs got here throughout San Antonio’s most injured stretch, and by a single level at that.
The Spurs, however, are decidedly not unhealthy. They’ve their 1st optimistic web score and +/- as a crew in fairly a while, with a protection that continues to sit down within the prime 10 of the league and seems to be enhancing with assistance from rookie Stephon Fort.
Sitting at 9-8, the Spurs discover themselves lodged in the midst of the packed Western Convention standings, and it’s possible they’ll want each win they will recover from groups just like the Jazz to have an opportunity on the postseason.
After a three-year absence from the play-in (and 5 years from the postseason) the younger Spurs look hungrier, more healthy, and primed for an actual push with the assistance of their regular new veterans.
I’d guess on the Silver and Black on this one.
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
November twenty sixth, 2024 | 8:00 CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports activities Community Southwest |Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Keldon Johnson – Possible (Hamstring), Devin Vassell – Out (Knee), Jeremy Sochan – Out (Hand)
Jazz Accidents: Taylor Hendricks – Out (Leg), Jordan Clarkson – Out (Foot), Kyle Filipowski – Out (Ankle)
What To Watch For:
The Bassey — Collins Minutes Break up
It possible comes as no shock that the dialog over backup large man has been considerably contentious since Charles Bassey’s return from a season-ending damage. Followers have been upset about Collin’s protection and three-point capturing since final season, and minor enhancements to each haven’t been sufficient to scale back the ire directed at Spurs Twitter’s annual designated scapegoat. Bassey’s current performances have solely added gasoline to that fireside, as his seemingly infinite power reserves and enchancment as a rim protector (to the tune of 6 blocks off the bench in a sport, one thing San Antonio hasn’t seen because the mid-80s) have led to a gradual improve in minutes. Mitch Johnson appears dedicated to mixing and matching his bench bigs (a sensible thought since every brings totally different abilities to the desk), however each improve in minutes for Bassey will possible come at Collins’ expense. It might take not more than a weeks-long damage to the brittle Collins for Bassey to unofficially supplant him.
For the Jazz’ followers’ perspective, go to SLC Dunk.
PtR’s Recreation thread will likely be up this night for many who need to chat by way of the sport. You too can observe together with the motion by way of PtR’s Twitter feed.
