Welcome to the Week in Evaluation: 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 20: After getting their first win in entrance of their house crowd in over month (because of the Rodeo Highway Journey) in opposition to the Nets, the Spurs had been proper again out within the highway in opposition to two groups — the Kings and Timberwolves — that had an excessive amount of firepower exterior and dimension down low for the shorthanded Spurs to take care of, resulting in a predictable 1-2 week.
Week 21: 2-2 (28-38, thirteenth in West)
129-133 loss vs. Dallas Mavericks
Recap: Regardless of getting 20+ factors from Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson, poor protection and free throw capturing let the Spurs down in opposition to a skeleton crew Mavericks squad that makes them look completely wholesome by comparability in certainly one of their extra embarrassing losses of the season.
What we realized
126-116 win vs. Dallas Mavericks
Recap: After a nasty first quarter made it appear to be the Spurs may very well be in for extra embarrassment in opposition to a Mavs group that is likely to be headed in direction of forfeiting video games on account of accidents and two-way gamers working out of video games, the Spurs lastly upped their defensive effort whereas using De’Aaron Fox’s near-triple-double to victory in what was his final sport of the season forward of finger surgical procedure.
What we realized
134-145 loss vs. Charlotte Hornets
Recap: Of their first official “tank” sport of the season with Fox out, the Spurs protection performed its half whereas the Hornets hit a franchise-record 26 threes. A few of that may simply be chalked to the opposite group being extraordinarily scorching, however it was the second time in every week the Spurs gave up over 140 factors in regulation, and finally you need to begin wanting on the protection over dangerous luck, they usually have been by far the worst within the league with out Victor Wembanyama.
What we realized
119-115 win vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Recap: The Spurs obtained an opportunity to bounce again the very subsequent night time to complete off a FIGASENI, they usually did simply sufficient in opposition to the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans. The starters weren’t nice, however the protection was higher (plus the Pelicans weren’t scorching from three), and the bench unit helped will the Spurs to victory and a 2-2 week (which usually would sound nice at this level, however the straightforward schedule and the way they obtained there made it really feel fairly “meh”).
What we realized
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 23 (final week: 21)
OffRtg: 113.7 (16) DefRtg: 116.1 (25) NetRtg: -2.4 (20) Tempo: 100.1 (13)
With an opportunity to make issues fascinating concerning the final SoFi Play-In Event spot within the West, the Spurs cut up two video games with the Tenth-place Mavs final week. Then they shut down De’Aaron Fox for the season.
Two takeaways
1. The Spurs now rank final defensively for the reason that All-Star break (when Victor Wembanyama was shut down). The super-shorthanded Mavs had their second most-efficient offensive sport of the season (133 factors on 98 possessions) final Monday, and 4 nights later, the Hornets (who rank twenty ninth offensively) had the third-most-efficient sport for any group this season (145 on 99). The Spurs have allowed greater than 130 per 100 in 5 of their 9 March video games, having carried out so 4 instances prior.
2. The Spurs had been 2-3 with each Fox and Wembanyama within the lineup and had been simply 4-8 with Fox in any other case. Over the 5 weeks that he was obtainable, they had been 12.6 factors per 100 possessions higher with him off the ground (plus-5.3) than they had been with him on the ground (minus-7.3).
The Spurs have a one-game journey to make up a sport in opposition to the Lakers on Monday. They’ll then play six straight video games in opposition to the Japanese Convention.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 21 (final week: 22)
The San Antonio Spurs at the moment are tied with the Blazers and are nonetheless attempting to find a small run to rise into the play-in area of the West standings. Their younger tandem of Devin Vassell and Stephon Fort have led the Spurs’ offense as of late, with Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox carried out for the season. San Antonio nonetheless has sufficient athletes and expertise to drag off some upsets and play the function of spoilers late within the 12 months.
Developing: Mon. 3/17 at Los Angeles Lakers (make-up sport); Wed. 3/19 vs. New York Knicks; Fri. 3/21 vs. Philadelphia 76ers; Solar. 3/23 at Toronto Raptors
Prediction: 1-3 — After I imagine (like final week), I get burned. Whereas this seems to be like one other 2-2 week on paper, I’m going with 1-3 to aim the reverse-jinx. This would be the first time the Spurs face the Lakers with Luka Doncic, however LeBron James shall be out. At house in opposition to the Knicks is the closest factor to a scheduled loss this week (though we are able to at all times dream of final season’s late matchup), however Philly sans Joel Embiid (and probably many others) is definitely beatable, as is Toronto. As at all times, the query shall be if the Spurs can cease their opponents greater than they cease themselves.
