Welcome to the Week in Assessment: a Monday function that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a take a look at the week forward, and extra. Take pleasure in!
Week 7: Accidents, poor protection, and fleeting three-point taking pictures led to a disappointing 1-3 week and elimination from the NBA Cup Match (which can have been a blessing in disguise) regardless of a pleasant schedule.
Week 8: 1-1 (13-13, eleventh in West)
118-116 win @ Portland Path Blazers
Recap: Already down 4 rotation gamers to harm, the Spurs quickly misplaced one other in Chris Paul after he was ejected within the first quarter for arguing with the officers. After a horrid third quarter, it appeared like they simply didn’t have sufficient personnel as they received down by 17 a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter, however all the things immediately clicked as they pulled off a large comeback, kicked off by a number of Julian Champagnie threes and sealed by clutch Victor Wembanyama free throws.
What we realized
92-106 loss vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Recap: Much like their two dwelling losses the week earlier than, when the threes cease falling, the Spurs’ offense struggles. That was the case on this sport with a torpid offensive show in opposition to an admittedly sturdy Wolves protection. Outdoors of a 3rd quarter outburst to briefly make the sport fascinating, the Spurs simply couldn’t rating sufficient to ever achieve management earlier than the sport lastly received out of hand within the fourth quarter.
What we realized
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 19 (final week: 20)
OffRtg: 111.4 (17) DefRtg: 113.8 (19) NetRtg: -2.4 (17) Tempo: 99.4 (15)
The Spurs stay simply outdoors the Play-In Match group within the West, having cut up their two video games final week.
Three takeaways
1. Having recorded 66 assists on their 81 area targets final week, the Spurs have an help charge of 71.3%, the best charge for any staff within the final 21 seasons (topping their mark of 71.2% final season).
2. The Spurs’ lineup of Chris Paul, Stephon Fort, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes and Victor Wembanyama has outscored opponents by 18.4 factors per 100 possessions. That’s the second-best mark amongst 15 lineups which have performed at the very least 150 minutes. However when Fort returned from a one-game absence on Sunday, he got here off the bench for the primary time since Nov. 4, with Jeremy Sochan beginning in his place. The Sochan lineup was good (plus-12 in 13.2 minutes), however bench minutes from Fort and Devin Vassell (who mixed to shoot 3-for-19) have been tough.
3. Vassell’s efficient area purpose share for the season (56.5%) remains to be the most effective mark of his profession. However the Spurs have been outscored by a brutal 17.5 factors per 100 possessions in his 271 minutes on the ground, and that quantity is even worse (minus 20.5 per 100 with anemic offense) in his 125 minutes alongside Wembanyama.
The Spurs are one in every of three groups — the Hornets and Blazers are the opposite — which have performed simply two video games in opposition to the other convention. They’ll host the Hawks on Thursday, having misplaced each conferences with Atlanta final season.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 19 (final week: 19)
One of many shock groups within the West this season has been the San Antonio Spurs, a youthful staff that’s on the rise. Victor Wembanyama is heading to his first All-Star Sport, and the Spurs proceed to evolve beneath the management of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. As Devin Vassell will get extra time subsequent to Paul and Wemby, he too will blossom right into a vibrant spot for this group.
Arising: Thurs. 12/19 vs. Atlanta Hawks; Sat. 12/21 vs. Portland Path Blazers
Prediction: 2-0 — I’m setting myself as much as get burned once more, however right here we go. A house sport in opposition to Portland must be a scheduled win, however the Hawks sport is fascinating. With one other prolonged break, the Spurs determine to be nearer to full power in a number of days (with solely Keldon Johnson nonetheless listed as “out” versus “day-to-day” earlier than the Timberwolves sport), and if there’s one staff the Spurs have incentive to beat, it’s the Hawks as a result of proudly owning their 2025 first spherical choose outright with no restrictions.
The issue? Atlanta is overachieving, having gained 7 of their final 10 and at the moment sitting in East’s seventh seed. Proper now, the Spurs, who’re on the rise themselves, are taking a look at two mid first-round picks as an alternative of at the very least one early choose in what figures to be a extremely anticipated class, so the least they will do is play what minimal function they will in knocking the Hawks again down a tier. (And no, I don’t need them to tank themselves to enhance their very own choose if the Hawks find yourself being too “good”. They’re too good for that, too.)
