The Spurs introduced some dangerous information on Tuesday. Jeremy Sochan, who didn’t play the second half of the sport in opposition to the Clippers due to harm, suffered a fracture on his left thumb that may require surgical procedure. The franchise didn’t present a timeline for his return.
It looks like Sochan suffered the harm whereas attempting to get steal and in the end fouling James Harden with 3:31 to go within the second quarter within the matchup in opposition to the Clippers. He instantly grabbed his left hand in ache, was subbed out and by no means returned. Now the character of his harm is evident and it’s severe sufficient to require surgical procedure, which may sideline Sochan for some time.
It’s horrible timing for the Spurs, which had been getting near being injury-free, as Devin Vassell neared his return and Tre Jones was making progress. For Sochan, it’s in all probability extremely irritating to not be capable to go well with up and proceed what has been a unbelievable begin to the season. The versatile ahead was averaging 15.4 factors, 7.7 rebounds and three assists per recreation and had taken a step ahead on protection. He’s been essential to San Antonio’s success, as evidenced by the truth that the Silver and Black had a horrible second half with out him on Monday and coach Mitch Johnson struggled to discover a rotation that labored with out Sochan.
Changing him will likely be powerful. Vassell ought to return quickly, so he may merely slot in at taking pictures guard whereas Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes man the ahead spots. A unit that includes Chris Paul, Victor Wembanyama and three outdoors threats ought to do nicely on offense. The problem is on the opposite finish, the place Sochan was all the time tasked with guarding the opponent’s finest perimeter participant. It is going to take a collective effort to aim to make up for the stable work he did containing essentially the most harmful scorers.
The second unit may additionally wrestle much more than it has to this point with him gone. Sochan did rather a lot when sharing the ground with principally subs, from offering ball dealing with and driving potential to screening and diving as a middle. Sandro Mamukelashvili, who could possibly be an attention-grabbing possibility as a starter till Vassell is cleared to return, can change Sochan’s off-ball motion to a level, and Keldon Johnson might want to provide the rim strain that will likely be lacking, however regardless of how nicely they play, Sochan will likely be missed.
The excellent news is the Spurs will play eight of their subsequent 10 video games at house and they’ll face some weak opponents throughout that stretch. Vassell and Jones ought to return quickly, too. Hopefully a considerably favorable schedule and a few reinforcements will enable San Antonio to keep away from falling to the underside of the West within the standings, however getting wins will likely be a lot more durable with out Sochan. Hopefully, he received’t be out for too lengthy.
