Welcome to the Week in Overview: a Monday characteristic that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a have a look at the week forward, and extra. Take pleasure in!
Week 13: After successful their second sport in Los Angeles (after the primary was postponed because of the wildfires), the Spurs went on to have a fairly depressing remainder of the week. First in a home-home miniseries towards the Memphis Grizzlies then on the street in Miami, the Spurs fell right into a disturbing pattern of getting out to double digit-leads early earlier than utterly falling aside, normally within the third quarter the place they gave up a minimum of 40 factors in all three losses.
Week 14: 1-1 (20-23, twelfth in West)
140-110 win vs. Indiana Pacers (Paris)
Recap: Flipping the script from their three prior losses, after a good first half, the Spurs exploded within the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 45-23 to bust the sport vast open for his or her first win in 10 days. Victor Wembanyama placed on a present for his dwelling nation, Harrison Barnes couldn’t miss, Jeremy Sochan made a triumphant return from again harm, and Devin Vassell continued his steak of scoring 20+ factors. Nook turned?
What we realized
98-136 loss vs. Indiana Pacers (Paris)
Recap: Nope, nook not turned. The Pacers have been puffed up and able to return the favor after that embarrassment, and did they ever. The Spurs got here out flat and bothered by the Pacers’ full court docket press, and after a flurry from Wemby within the second quarter and Barnes and Stephon Fort after halftime to briefly tie issues up, the Spurs as soon as once more utterly collapsed whereas the Pacers outscored them 57-18 within the last quarter-hour of the sport, delivering their seventh loss in 9 video games.
What we realized
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 21 (final week: 21)
OffRtg: 111.7 (18) DefRtg: 113.6 (19) NetRtg: -1.8 (20) Tempo: 99.6 (14)
Having break up their two video games in Paris, the Spurs are simply 2-7 over the past 23 days and two video games out of a SoFi Play-In Event spot within the West.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs rank twenty ninth defensively (119.9 factors allowed per 100 possessions) over the 2-7 stretch. As traditional, they’ve been significantly better with Victor Wembanyama on the ground (115.3 allowed per 100) than they’ve been with him off the ground (123.5) over the 9 video games, although that former quantity remains to be nicely above the league common.
2. A season-high 24 turnovers (14 of them stay balls) didn’t assist the protection on Saturday. The Spurs have dedicated extra turnovers than their opponents in 5 straight video games and their season-long differential (1.8 per sport greater than their opponents) ranks twenty seventh and is precisely what it was final season. They’ve dedicated simply 13.6 turnovers per 100 possessions with Chris Paul on the ground, however 15.9 per 100 with him off the ground.
3. Harrison Barnes was a vibrant spot in Paris, totaling 45 factors on 18-for-25 taking pictures over the 2 video games. Barnes’ utilization fee (14.7%) is tied for the bottom of his profession, however he’s registering career-best marks in efficient area aim proportion (59.6%) and true taking pictures proportion (63.8%).
Again within the States, the Spurs can have a few extra days off earlier than beginning a stretch of 4 straight video games towards groups that rank within the high 10 defensively.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 22 (final week: 21)
Victor Wembanyama acquired to return dwelling this previous week and play in entrance of his Paris trustworthy. The French phenom put collectively some spectacular performances towards the Pacers, dropping 30 factors, 11 rebounds, six assists, and 5 blocks in a 140-110 victory over Indiana. He then had 20 factors and 12 rebounds within the Spurs’ 38-point defeat. The Spurs have been trending within the flawed path as of late within the NBA energy rankings, as they’ve misplaced seven of their final 9 video games.
Developing: Wed. 1/29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers; Fri. 1/31 vs. Milwaukee Bucks; Sat. 2/1 vs. Miami Warmth
Prediction: 1-2 — A part of me actually desires to go 2-1, nevertheless it’s simply exhausting to belief this staff proper now, even at dwelling. The brutal January schedule concludes with the Clippers and Bucks, and whereas the Spurs blew out the Clippers final time they got here to San Antonio, they now have Kawhi Leonard again, and he has been stable (if unspectacular) for them. The Bucks burned the Spurs fairly badly earlier this month, so there’s some proving floor there as nicely. Lastly, they conclude with a Warmth staff that’s nonetheless going by the Jimmy Butler saga but in addition burned the Spurs per week in the past. I count on revenge towards them forward of the Rodeo Street Journey, however the different two video games are wild playing cards.
