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. Get pleasure from!
Week 17: The struggling Spurs’ remaining two video games earlier than the All-Star break went as anticipated: an unpleasant however much-needed win over the Wizards, adopted by an anticipated loss to the Celtics, the place the Spurs a minimum of confirmed some combat after getting down massive early to the defending champions.
Week 18: 1-2 (24-31, twelfth in West)
120-109 win vs. Phoenix Suns (Austin)
Recap: Coming back from the All-Star break hoping to proper the ship and a make a remaining push for the play-in, the Spurs had been slapped with the heartbreaking information that Victor Wembanyama would miss the rest of the season with a blood clot in his shoulder. That didn’t harm the Spurs for a minimum of one sport, as they had been capable of counter the Suns’ small-ball lineups and placed on an inspiring efficiency in Austin in opposition to one of many groups standing in the best way of their fading postseason hopes.
What we discovered
110-125 loss vs. Detroit Pistons (Austin)
Recap: The Spurs couldn’t sustain their inspiring play on the second night time of a back-to-back in opposition to a way more bodily Pistons squad, as Wemby’s absence began to indicate. After getting down early, the Spurs made a roaring comeback whereas driving Keldon Johnson’s vitality within the second quarter, however they couldn’t maintain that stage of play within the second half as they ran out of fuel.
What we discovered
96-114 loss at New Orleans Pelicans
Recap: Once more hit with tough information between video games — on this case, not solely will Gregg Popovich not return from his stroke this season, however his future stays unsure — the Spurs got here out robust in opposition to an injured Pelicans squad and obtained up by as a lot as 17 factors. Sadly, the identical previous challenge of sustaining leads got here again to chew because the offense went ice chilly within the second half, turning a cushty lead right into a blowout loss.
What we discovered
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 20 (final week: 21)
OffRtg: 112.1 (17) DefRtg: 114.1 (18) NetRtg: -2.0 (19) Tempo: 100.1 (12)
Victor Wembanyama is out for the remainder of the season and the Spurs look like Lottery-bound for the sixth straight season.
Three takeaways
1. Earlier than the All-Star break, the Spurs had allowed 5.4 fewer factors per 100 possessions with Wembanyama on the ground (110.0) than that they had with him off the ground (115.4). That’s not fairly as massive as his on-off differential on protection final season (6.1 per 100), however nonetheless massive for a full-time starter who’s principally defending in opposition to different starters.
2. Even with Wembanyama taking part in 46 of their 52 video games, the Spurs ranked nineteenth defensively on the break. With out him for the ultimate 30, they might have a bottom-10 protection for a 3rd straight season after rating within the backside 10 on both finish of the ground simply as soon as within the 25 seasons prior.
3. They’ve moved up a spot for now, having held the Suns and Pelicans below 110 factors per 100 possessions final week. In fact, the protection fell aside (74 factors allowed on 53 possessions) within the second half on Sunday, because the Spurs blew a 17-point lead in New Orleans. They proceed to have probably the most losses (they’re 38-32) after main by double-digits during the last two seasons.
The Spurs could have one other sport in New Orleans after which face three of the most effective groups within the West. They’ve wins over six of the highest seven groups within the convention, with the exception being the Grizzlies (who they’ll go to on Saturday).
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — N/A (final week: 22)
Coming quickly
Developing: Tues. 2/25 at New Orleans Pelicans; Wed. 2/26 at Houston Rockets; Sat. 3/1 at Memphis Grizzlies; Solar 3/2 vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Prediction: 1-3 — Discuss a tricky stretch. Even the much-needed return house from the Rodeo Highway Journey to finish the week occurs to be in opposition to the most effective crew within the West. The one win in my prediction is banking on the concept unhealthy groups (on this case, the Pelicans) hardly ever sweep miniseries whereas hoping the Spurs play extra like they did within the first half of Recreation 1 in New Orleans for the whole lot of Recreation 2.
