After a protracted 176 days, Spurs basketball is again! The Silver & Black performed their first preseason recreation main as much as the 2024-25 season on Monday evening, leading to a 112-107 loss to the OKC Thunder.
San Antonio’s patented ball motion was evident from the bounce, as the nice guys continuously discovered the open man by their slicing and fast passing. The Spurs bombed away from deep and constructed an early lead whereas OKC was nonetheless discovering their footing. Particularly, Tre Jones and Jeremy Sochan made sensible passes that led to simple photographs, and beginning Harrison Barnes at heart gave the house staff extra offensive versatility as properly.
Nonetheless, the Thunder’s expertise and measurement quickly proved to be an excessive amount of for San Antonio, particularly with Wemby absent. OKC’s massive males tandem of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein gave the Thunder a mismatch on each offensive possession as a consequence of their ability, passing, and capturing. The Spurs additionally had no reply for Jalen Williams, who proved to be too quick for San Antonio’s bigs and too sturdy for his or her guards. He completed the primary half with a cool 18 factors and helped OKC go up 58-45.
With OKC sitting their starters, the Spurs acquired again within the recreation largely on the again of Stephon Citadel. As the first ball handler, the fourth general choose flashed his excessive basketball IQ by making affected person reads to seek out the open man. On protection, Citadel was his traditional tenacious self, combating by a number of screens at a time to stick with his task. Although he wasn’t probably the most vocal, Citadel’s management qualities had been placed on show by his unselfish play and never-say-die perspective.
The rookie’s infectious effort helped San Antonio go on a 10-0 run to tie the sport, however the Spurs couldn’t full the comeback within the closing quarter. Pop determined to tug Citadel and different rotation regulars to present the depth gamers some run, leading to a 112-107 OKC victory. Nonetheless, there have been essential takeaways from the sport:
Sport notes
Citadel’s modest line of 5 factors, 3 assists, and a couple of rebounds received’t blow anybody away, however his poise actually stood out within the recreation. The 19-year-old seemed very snug making choices with the ball in his arms, and he stayed lively off-ball too by continuously shifting and slicing. Even when his jumper stays beneath common for his profession, Citadel will nonetheless be a really impactful connective position participant for years to come back.
Watching OKC jogged my memory of the place the league is heading – groups that wish to compete want gamers who all know how one can dribble, go, and shoot. It isn’t a coincidence that the 2 favorites from every convention are the Thunder and the Celtics, as they’re probably the one groups within the league that may roll out a beginning 5 filled with gamers who can do all three issues.
Making use of that to the Spurs, it’s not a coincidence that their 4 most essential gamers shifting ahead are Wemby, Vassell, Sochan, and Citadel, as they will all dribble and go at a excessive degree. The general capturing is the one query mark – the previous two are above common for his or her place, whereas the latter two are nonetheless liabilities. If these guys do make up 4 of San Antonio’s long-term starters, their fifth participant should must shoot at a excessive degree. With that in thoughts, it isn’t stunning in any respect that the Spurs had been allegedly considering buying and selling for Lauri Markannen in the summertime.
Followers shouldn’t count on a lot from Harrison Barnes on the court docket, as his greatest years are from behind him. Nonetheless, the veteran will convey tons of knowledge to the Spurs’ younger locker room and set them on the appropriate path. It isn’t a coincidence that San Antonio’s latest draft picks have all been excessive character gamers, and surrounding the younger guys with veterans comparable to Barnes and Chris Paul will assist them attain their full potential
Play of the sport
Citadel certain lets his play do all of the speaking.
Subsequent recreation: vs Magic on Wednesday
The Spurs is likely to be in for an additional entertaining recreation on Wednesday if Wemby fits up and faces off towards 2022 #1 Paolo Banchero.
