Welcome to the Week in Assessment: 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. Get pleasure from!
Week 16: Despite the fact that the week featured De’Aaron Fox’s Spurs debut, they nonetheless struggled to a 1-3 open to the Rodeo Highway Journey, together with three straight one-point video games: a win over the Hawks after main by as a lot as 20 factors, an unacceptable loss to a nasty, shorthanded Hornets squad, and a hard-fought loss to a bodily however struggling Magic workforce.
Week 17: 1-1 (23-29, twelfth in West)
131-121 win @ Washington Wizards
Recap: The Spurs received a much-needed win with a comparatively snug ultimate margin after three straight one-point video games. It wasn’t fairly, and points like blowing double-digit leads and freely giving too many second-chance factors nonetheless reared their ugly heads, however the Spurs received their act collectively within the fourth quarter to take down an inferior opponent, which was greater than may very well be stated of their earlier two video games.
What we realized
103-116 loss @ Boston Celtics
Recap: In a sport that was already chalked up as a scheduled loss, the Spurs initially got here out as in the event that they felt the identical method, getting down by as a lot as 24 factors early. To their credit score, they fought again within the second half even managed to chop the deficit to single digits at one level, however it was an excessive amount of to beat towards the defending champions on their very own turf, and their efforts solely served to make the ultimate margin a bit of extra respectable.
What we realized
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 21 (final week: 21)
OffRtg: 112.4 (16) DefRtg: 114.1 (19) NetRtg: -1.7 (19) Tempo: 100.0 (14)
The Spurs are simply three video games within the loss column behind the eighth-place Mavs, however they’re simply 5-13 since early January.
Three numbers to know
1. The Spurs ranked 14th defensively (111.9 factors allowed per 100 possessions) after they have been 18-16 and in eighth place within the West. Over their 18 video games since they rank twenty eighth on that finish of the ground (118.3 allowed per 100).
2. The Spurs lead the league in opponent free throw charge (19.3 makes an attempt per 100 photographs from the sphere). Victor Wembanyama has averaged 1.68 blocks per private foul, the best charge for any participant with a minimum of 100 whole blocks within the 52 seasons that blocks have been counted.
3. Over their 5 video games with De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs have been higher of their 110 minutes with each Fox and Chris Paul on the ground (plus-5.5 factors per 100 possessions) than they’ve been in 104 whole minutes with one on the ground with out the opposite (minus-2.7 per 100).
For the primary time within the final 13 years, the Spurs start their post-break schedule at residence, however their two “residence” video games this week are in Austin, and their sport towards the Suns on Thursday is the beginning of their first stretch of 5 video games in seven days.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 22 (final week: 22)
De’Aaron Fox was supposed to enhance the San Antonio Spurs. Nicely, this workforce has gone 2-3 since his arrival and is seeing its playoff probabilities slip away. Nothing will get simpler for the Spurs popping out of the All-Star break, as matchups with Phoenix and Detroit come earlier than a troublesome four-game highway journey, throughout which they may see the Rockets and Grizzlies.
Developing: Thurs. 2/20 vs. Phoenix Suns (Austin); Fri. 2/21 vs. Detroit Pistons (Austin); Solar. 2/23 @ New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction: 2-1 — After some a lot wanted relaxation from the All-Star break, it will likely be time to see if some actual apply periods collectively begin paying off for De’Aaron Fox and his new workforce. It’s removed from a frightening schedule, however the Spurs have proven energy of opponent doesn’t matter in current weeks. They’ll want to alter that towards two middling groups within the closest factor they’ll need to residence video games this month, adopted by what needs to be a win in New Orleans. It’s the ultimate stretch of the season, and if the Spurs are going to make a postseason push, they’ve to start out now, particularly with a way more daunting schedule arising subsequent week.
