Welcome to the Week in Evaluation: a Monday characteristic that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a take a look at the week forward, and extra. Get pleasure from!
Week 9: Absolutely wholesome for the primary time this season, the Spurs have been lastly in a position to trot out their most popular beginning line-up to promising outcomes, together with two residence wins over the Hawks and Path Blazers whereas using Victor Wembanyama’s Western Convention Participant of the Week efficiency.
Week 10: 1-3 (16-16, tenth in West)
106-111 loss @ Philadelphia 76ers
Recap: In a sport that ended up being extra concerning the referees than something — Andre Drummond getting ejected for nothing earlier than being introduced again, Wemby getting a technical for nothing that was rescinded after the 76ers took the FT, and Joel Embiid (justifiably) ejected, all within the second quarter — the Spurs had their possibilities to kick off their street journey with a victory, however too many errors down the stretch handed the sport to Philly.
What we discovered
114-117 loss @ New York Knicks
Recap: Wemby had one other magnificent sport in his Christmas debut with 42 factors (second solely to Wilt Chamberlain), 18 rebounds and 4 blocks, however in a back-and-forth sport that was tight all through, Mikal Bridges was practically in a position to match him, and the Spurs have been as soon as once more thwarted by late errors whereas the Knicks made the ultimate run to safe the victory.
What we discovered
96-87 win @ Brooklyn Nets
Recap: In the event you can’t win fairly, go ugly. The Spurs offense struggled from the outset in Brooklyn, solely barely avoiding a single-digit first quarter due to a Keldon Johnson half-court heave, however that offered the spark they wanted, they usually have been in a position to bide their time with their protection till the offense caught again up, incomes their first win of their four-game street journey.
What we discovered
110-112 loss @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Recap: In the event you have been to be informed the Spurs received three out of 4 quarters by a complete of 18 factors, you’d in all probability suppose they received the sport. However alas, for the second sport in a row, they have been solely saved from a single-digit quarter by a miracle three, and that 12-32 second quarter mixed with extra errors within the ultimate minute value the Spurs their third sport of the street journey, ending 1-3.
What we discovered
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 19 (final week: 16)
OffRtg: 111.4 (19) DefRtg: 112.7 (15) NetRtg: -1.3 (17) Tempo: 99.2 (19)
The Spurs went 1-3 on a four-game journey, with all three losses being heartbreakers.
Three takeaways
1. On Monday in Philly, two straight Julian Champagnie turnovers turned a one-point lead right into a five-point deficit. And in New York and Minnesota, the Spurs blew a pair of eight-point, fourth-quarter leads. They’ve nonetheless been significantly better after halftime (plus-5.0 factors per 100 possessions) than they’ve been earlier than (minus-7.9 per 100) they usually nonetheless have a greater file in clutch video games (8-6) than they do in any other case (8-10).
2. The Spurs have now been 16.2 factors per 100 possessions higher with Chris Paul on the ground (plus-5.3) than they’ve been with him off the ground (minus-10.9). That’s his largest on-off differential within the final eight seasons since he was tied for the league’s largest differential (19.4 per 100) in his final season with the Clippers.
3. With Paul and Wembanyama typically sitting collectively, the Spurs try to determine what to do with their bench items. Zach Collins bought 5 straight DNPs, first with Charles Bassey getting minutes because the backup 5 after which with the Spurs taking part in small-ball (Harrison Barnes or Jeremy Sochan on the 5 when Wembanyama sat) for a few video games. Then, in Minnesota on Sunday, each Collins and Bassey bought minutes off the bench. Nothing has labored, partly as a result of Stephon Citadel has seemingly hit the rookie wall after a robust begin to the season.
The Spurs may have a relaxation benefit once they host the Clippers on Tuesday, with two days off following that. Then they’re again on the street for 5 of their subsequent six, with the one exception being the second half of a home-and-home back-to-back (their first two conferences of the season) in opposition to the Nuggets.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 15 (final week: 12)
After surging up the NBA energy rankings final week and reaching a brand new season excessive, the San Antonio Spurs misplaced three of their 4 video games this previous week. San Antonio is again to No. 15, but that is nonetheless a staff with a variety of potential heading into the second half of the 12 months.
Victor Wembanyama has been spectacular as of late, and it’s not like this staff actually suffered any dangerous loss. The Spurs nearly pulled off a Christmas Day win over the Knicks in MSG, and a few missed free throws value them a win in Minnesota. If San Antonio had closed out these video games, we might be speaking about them as a borderline high 10 staff within the league.
Developing: Tues. 12/31 vs. Los Angeles Clippers; Fri, 1/3 @ Denver Nuggets; Solar. 1/5 vs. Denver Nuggets
Prediction: 2-1 — I’m going dangerous once more, however I just like the Spurs of their two residence video games in opposition to two groups who’re solely barely above them within the standings. It may be a bit dangerous betting on the Spurs to beat the Clippers, however there’s one thing to returning residence from a protracted street journey that may be rejuvenating, after which it’s not laborious to see the Spurs splitting an away-home miniseries with the struggling Nuggets.
