As 2024 closes, it’s a superb time to mirror on how the 12 months handled the San Antonio Spurs. Whereas they actually began the 12 months on a tough notice, they’ve completed sturdy, going .500 within the new NBA season. On New Yr’s Eve, the Spurs can have an opportunity to complete the 12 months sturdy and head into 2025 with a file above .500.
They’ll want to beat a troublesome Los Angeles Clippers squad so as to take action. The Clips have been a top-5 protection within the NBA with out Kawhi Leonard, who has missed the start of the season attributable to accidents. Outdoors of their main scorers, James Harden and Norman Powell, LA has some scrappy gamers like Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., and Ivica Zubac, who make life robust for opposing groups. Los Angeles is coming off a late-game victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night time.
San Antonio misplaced their earlier assembly with the Clippers this season regardless of leaping out to an early 40-14 lead. The Spurs have performed two straight video games wherein they failed to attain over 20 factors in 1 / 4. One other body like that may very well be disastrous for San Antonio on Tuesday night time.
This recreation marks a troublesome stretch of the Spurs’ schedule wherein they’ll solely play three video games towards groups with a shedding file in January. Getting a win to finish the 12 months may assist them construct momentum going into what is going to possible be a troublesome month.
December thirty first, 2024 | 6:00 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Southwest | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: David Duke Jr. – Out (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), Riley Minix – Out (G League)
Clippers Accidents: (coming off back-to-back, should report by 1 p.m. CT)
What to observe for
The Spurs bench unit
San Antonio has gotten uneven play from its bench currently. Spurs appearing head coach Mitch Johnson hasn’t discovered a solution at backup heart, Stephon Fortress has struggled, and the wings haven’t given constant manufacturing. Due to this, the Spurs bench rotation has fluctuated over the previous couple of video games. The Clippers are a reasonably deep squad with contributors like Nic Batum, Amir Coffey, and Kevin Porter Jr. coming off their bench. It will likely be fascinating to see what mixture of gamers Johnson makes use of to take care of the Clippers’ depth.
Preserving Zubac off the glass
If the Spurs aren’t cautious, Zubac will make them pay on the glass. Of their final matchup, Zubac snatched up 13 rebounds; 10 had been offensive. The Spurs simply gave up 11 offensive rebounds to Rudy Gobert on Sunday night time. They should discover a technique to restrict the Clippers’ second alternatives – that begins with making issues troublesome for Zubac within the paint.
Constant offense
San Antonio can not afford to have the offensive droughts they’ve skilled within the final two video games. A part of that has to do with the lack of the second unit to create constant benefits within the half-court. The Spurs’ offense can’t be Wembanyama-or-bust towards the Clippers’ protection. Offensive drivers like Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson have to search out methods to attain, making the Spurs a extra dynamic assault. An inefficient night time from the supporting forged may bury San Antonio.
For the Clippers fan’s perspective, please go to Clips Nation.
For those who’d prefer to, it’s possible you’ll comply with together with the sport on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or go to our Recreation Thread!
