Earlier than the newest NBA season started, I wrote a bit entitled Finish of Summer time Disjointed Basketball Ideas. Now that we’re previous the All-Star break, and groups have performed about two-thirds of their schedules, I believed it was a very good time for a follow-up, particularly with all of the data we have now gained since final August. However with that data, “disjointed” doesn’t sound like the precise time period. What’s the reverse of disjointed? Jointed? Or is disjointed a type of works with out an reverse? You’ll hear about disgruntled staff, however you don’t repair that drawback by making them “gruntled”. Yeah, that sounds worse. And if a staff’s season unravels (see, as an illustration, the Sacramento Kings), they don’t hope to “ravel” or “re-ravel” within the following season.
Maybe that is a type of unsolvable points with the English language. I may go Unhealthy Bunny and write this in Spanish, however sadly, no hablo Español. So I’ll proceed with my post-All-Star recreation jointed ideas in English.
My first disjointed thought in my publish from final August addressed the three-guard conundrum the Spurs had purportedly created by drafting Dylan Harper after they already had DeAron Fox and Stephon Fortress. I feel I nailed this one:
“The basketball universe unanimously accredited the Spurs’ choice on Dylan Harper because the clear second greatest participant within the 2025 NBA draft. The one concern I’ve heard is that Harper’s expertise overlap with these of the anticipated beginning backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Fortress.
“Having coached a bit, I do know that having three good guards for the 2 backcourt spots is an effective factor, not a foul one. The reason being easy — gamers don’t play all 48 minutes. Certainly, the Spurs’ greatest participant final 12 months (you already know his title) averaged simply 33 minutes per recreation. In 17 video games with the Spurs, Fox averaged 34 minutes whereas Fortress averaged 27. If Fox and Fortress play the identical quantity this season, they may play a complete of 61 minutes out of the 96 minutes out there. That leaves 35 minutes for Harper or others — as an illustration. if Devin Vassell splits his time between the two and the three. Harper will probably be not be 20 years previous till March 2026 — and 20 might be about the precise variety of minutes for such a younger participant in his rookie season.”
Popping out of the All-Star break, Fox was averaging 32 minutes per recreation, Fortress was at 30, and Harper was at 22 minutes per recreation. A complete of 84 minutes out of the 96 out there. And to cite Teri Hatcher — these minutes have been actual and spectacular. As predicted, Vassell absolutely soaked up about 12 minutes per recreation enjoying the 2-spot on the uncommon events the Spurs play solely one among their spectacular guards.
I additionally addressed the log-jam on the ahead spots:
“The three man rotation might not work as properly for the Spurs frontcourt as a result of the Spurs have 5 gamers competing for these minutes: Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie.”
The Spurs “solved” that log-jam by primarily not enjoying Sochan, after which electing to not play him proper out of city. All of us hope he does properly with the Knicks — he simply didn’t get vital time this 12 months with the Spurs. The remainder of the group are all a part of the common rotation, with Vassell averaging half-hour per recreation (which incorporates his time on the 2), Champagnie beginning with 28 minutes per recreation, Johnson thriving within the Sixth Man position at 24 minutes, and Barnes (who has forgotten how one can shoot) now coming off the bench – nonetheless averaging 28 minutes however with a downward arrow.
For the publish guys, I mentioned this:
“After Harper, the Spurs’ second most vital addition was Luke Kornet, signed away from the Celtics. Though I’ve not watched very a lot Celtic basketball, my Celtics’ fan buddies (simpler to have these buddies as soon as I deserted the Lakers) all actually like him. Sticking with the minutes theme, Kornet averaged simply over 18 minutes per recreation, which inserts properly into the minutes that Victor will not be on the ground. In the event you double Kornet’s counting stats, over 36 minutes Kornet averaged 12 factors, 10 boards and a pair of blocks — way more productive than anybody who stuffed the back-up 5 position for the Spurs final season.”
Due to some minutes restrictions and missed video games by the Spurs fundamental publish man (you already know who that’s), Kornet has averaged 23 minutes per recreation, greater than the 18 minutes I projected. However the predicted productiveness has been there – over 36 minutes, Kornet is at 11, 10 and a pair of – and a few very efficient and bone-crushing screens to free shooters.
All in all, I feel my pre-season disjointed ideas concerning the Spurs had been truly fairly jointed. Different jointed ideas:
