The Spurs not too long ago suffered a shellacking by the hands of the Pistons. It’s not the worst factor for the Silver and Black to lose some video games at this level, however this one damage, and never simply due to how lopsided it was.
No, it damage as a result of the Spurs may have had a really related season to the one the Pistons are having this yr. It appeared doubtless in the beginning of the season after which once more after the Fox commerce. Alas, a punishing schedule and premature accidents made it unimaginable, however the two groups may have been on an analogous trajectory as an alternative of 1 simply outclassing the opposite on their method to a playoff berth.
Earlier than the season, the Pistons determined so as to add some veterans to their younger and previously horrible squad. They introduced in Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. to supply some know-how, management and consistency to a gaggle that beforehand severely lacked it. The target wasn’t to develop into an in a single day contender, however to develop into a good crew that complemented the expertise of their younger star and to create the construction wanted for his or her youthful guys to develop. It went effectively sufficient, with Cunningham breaking out and Detroit hovering round .500 for a lot of the season earlier than an enormous win streak that put them firmly within the inexperienced and confirmed that they’d taken a mini-leap. They’re presently sixth within the East, in a playoff spot.
The Spurs did one thing related. San Antonio added Chris Paul to run level guard and manage the offense for them, and Harrison Barnes to supply much-needed spacing and consistency from the ahead spots. These have been their two greatest weaknesses, and so they addressed them with veterans whereas staying younger elsewhere. They didn’t go all in by making an attempt to get an older star subsequent to Wembanyama however created a extra well-rounded roster that might compete with everybody as soon as Wemby began to play just like the celebrity he’s. San Antonio, like Detroit, hovered round .500 for a lot of the yr after which made a commerce that might catapult them additional. With De’Aaron Fox in tow, a post-trade deadline push appeared attainable, particularly with so many disappointing groups within the West.
We all know how issues went. Wembanyama was recognized with deep vein thrombosis and dominated out for the season. It occurred in the midst of a road-heavy schedule and shortly after the deadline. Victor by no means received to develop chemistry with Fox, who performed for a number of video games earlier than present process surgical procedure to repair a finger damage he had been taking part in by way of all yr. There have been some good particular person performances currently, and even some wins, however the season is over for the Spurs.
The Pistons, in the meantime, get able to return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2019. They’d be underdogs towards the third-place Knicks, however with Damian Lillard additionally being out with deep vein thrombosis and the Pacers trying weak, they might leapfrog Milwaukee and Indiana, get to fourth, and have homecourt benefit in a first-round sequence in the event that they shut the season effectively. There’s hope in Detroit, not only for the long run however this yr. They usually have carried out it with mainly the identical recipe the Spurs used.
The apparent takeaway is that luck issues greater than most prefer to admit within the NBA. The Spurs have had an unlucky season with numerous unfavourable occasions past their management derailing what may have been a return to the postseason. The Pistons haven’t been almost as unfortunate.
The extra optimistic conclusion is that the Pistons’ success reveals that San Antonio was on the precise path in the beginning went mistaken. There are lots of methods to rebuild, however the one each the Spurs and Detroit picked appears viable, which is nice information. With Fox and Wembanyama wholesome subsequent season, plus one other rookie and a veteran or two, the playoffs must be a lock, as it’s for J.B. Bickerstaff’s squad.
The blowout the Spurs suffered by the hands of the Pistons damage as a result of it confirmed what San Antonio may have had this season if issues had gone effectively. Hopefully subsequent yr, because the Silver and Black are those working an injury-riddled opponent off the ground late within the season as they put together for the playoffs, the loss will flip right into a optimistic reminiscence, an early signal that the unique plan was sound all alongside however simply required just a little extra endurance and much more success.
