“Protection wins championships” is a phrase used quite a bit to explain the most effective groups in sports activities. It might additionally sum up why a staff is struggling a lot. The San Antonio Spurs match the second use of the phrase. After giving up 141 factors to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening, the Spurs gave up too many factors in a 133-129 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on the second evening of a back-to-back.
“The trouble and intention had been there for essentially the most half,” stated Spurs’ performing coach, Mitch Johnson. “Among the straight-line drives and point-of-attack protection had been lower than par.”
Regardless of main for almost all of the sport, San Antonio couldn’t cease the Mavs, particularly within the second half, which finally led to their downfall. The defensive points overshadowed a rock-solid offensive evening for his or her wings. Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Harrison Barnes all scored 20+ factors in entrance of the house San Antonio crowd.
Vassell bought issues began within the first quarter with 14 factors as he knocked down threes and made sturdy strikes to the basket. He was the first difference-maker within the Spurs early 34-28 lead. The Mavericks caught round due to their aggressive play within the paint towards the smaller Spurs, who had been with out Jeremy Sochan and Charles Bassey.
Accidents can’t be used as an excuse when Dallas is lacking half of their roster on account of illnesses. The Mavs bought strong manufacturing from those that did play. Spencer Dinwiddie led the best way with a team-high 28 factors. He scored everywhere in the ground, pulling down 4 three-pointers whereas persistently entering into the paint. His play was the primary motive the Mavericks had been in a position to maintain the sport respectable within the second quarter.
The Spurs had plenty of bother fouling the Mavericks. They racked up 24 fouls and allowed Dallas to make 27-30 free throws. In the meantime, San Antonio struggled to make good on their makes an attempt on the charity stripe. The Spurs made simply 14 of their 24 free throws (58.3%).
“The free throws and a few of these fouls would have added as much as about 15 factors while you speak concerning the margin of error,” Mitch Johnson stated. “As shut of a sport as that’s, that’s arduous to make up.”
Klay Thompson got here alive within the second half to bury the Spurs. He was on hearth within the third quarter and made clutch performs within the fourth to place Dallas forward. Thompson completed with 26 factors on 8-14 capturing from the sector. He was one among 4 Mavericks to complete with 20+ factors, alongside Dinwiddie, Kessler Edwards who had 22, and Naji Marshall who scored 23.
Nonetheless, regardless of the Spurs’ porous protection, they’d a shot within the fourth quarter. Barnes and KJ had been purple scorching for San Antonio late within the sport. Barnes had a game-high 29 factors on a super-efficient 12-14 capturing evening. He was a pressure on the offensive glass the place he grabbed 6 of his 8 rebounds. Johnson was equally robust inside as he grabbed 5 rebounds, 3 of them offensive to associate with his 28 factors off the bench. The wings’ barrage of threes and well timed rebounds wasn’t sufficient to return again towards Dallas late within the fourth.
The Spurs’ protection has been far under common NBA requirements in the previous few weeks. In accordance with NBA.com, San Antonio has a 133.9 defensive ranking of their final 5 video games and 125 for his or her final ten. For reference, the New Orleans Pelicans are final within the NBA in defensive ranking for the season at 118.5 per 100 possessions.
The loss drops the Spurs to 26-37 on the season, as they sit thirteenth within the Western Convention standings. San Antonio is 4.5 video games out of the tenth seed with simply 19 video games left to go. They’ll have one other shot at Dallas on Wednesday evening after they play the Mavericks at house.
