Welcome to the Week in Evaluation: a Monday function that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a take a look at the week forward, and extra. Take pleasure in!
Week 2: The Spurs appeared discover the lacking piece of their offense in an aggressive Chris Paul to finish their week with consecutive wins, together with an upset over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Week 3: 1-3 (4-6, eleventh in West)
104-116 loss at Los Angeles Clippers
Recap: The momentum and offensive rhythm the Spurs had gained of their prior two video games appeared to hold over to a brand new week as they bought out to 26-point lead by the top of the primary quarter in opposition to the Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers, however coincidently or not, every part fell aside across the time one of many major facilitators of that momentum — Jeremy Sochan — was misplaced within the second quarter to a damaged thumb, and the Spurs blew the large result in finish their profitable streak.
What we discovered
100-127 loss at Houston Rockets
Recap: With Sochan out and Stephon Fort making his debut as a starter, the Rockets gave the Spurs no time to regulate, and their horrible play from the second half in LA carried over to Houston as they bought down massive early and by no means actually recovered regardless of a significantly better effort within the second half.
What we discovered
118-105 win vs. Portland Path Blazers
Recap: Again in San Antonio to kick off a five-game homestand, the Spurs lastly bought some assist from a bench unit that had struggled in latest video games, receiving a mixed 58 factors from Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Zach Collins and Blake Wesley to assist cause them to their solely win of the week. Sadly, the harm bug struck once more as Branham was misplaced to an ankle sprain because the second unit’s guard depth continues to wane.
What we discovered
110-111 loss vs. Utah Jazz
Recap: Every part was set for the Spurs to get by way of their first 10 video games of the season with a .500 file, which most would have thought of successful coming into the season. Sadly, a profitable season debut from Devin Vassell and profession nights from Victor Wembanyama from three (6-9!) and Fort have been spoiled by the Spurs’ offense going chilly and making too many errors down the stretch to surrender a winnable recreation.
What we discovered
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 21 (final week: 18)
OffRtg: 108.0 (26) DefRtg: 110.7 (12) NetRtg: -2.7 (19) Tempo: 98.2 (22)
Earlier than they bought Devin Vassell again, the Spurs misplaced Jeremy Sochan to a damaged thumb. They’ve additionally misplaced three of their final 4 video games, together with one they led by 26 factors.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs’ 26-point lead in LA on Monday was the most important for a dropping workforce this season and the third largest for the Spurs in a recreation they misplaced within the 29 seasons for which we’ve got play-by-play information. They allowed the Clippers to attain 99 factors on 67 possessions (148 per 100) over the ultimate 36 minutes, though Victor Wembanyama had seven of his 9 blocks over that stretch.
2. He had seven extra blocks within the Spurs’ loss to the Jazz on Saturday, and would now be the primary participant to common no less than 4 blocks per recreation since Dikembe Mutombo in 1995-96. When Wembanyama’s been off the ground, San Antonio opponents have shot 61.4% within the paint. When he’s been on the ground, that quantity is simply 49.2%, together with simply 25-for-70 (35.7%) on the rim when he’s been there to guard it.
3. Vassell made his season debut on Saturday, scoring 21 factors (on 8-for-13 taking pictures) in lower than 22 minutes off the bench. With Sochan out of the lineup and Stephon Fort (or Vassell) in, the Spurs can have higher spacing round Wembanyama, which ought to permit him to function extra close to the basket. He’s nonetheless taken no less than half of his pictures from outdoors the paint in each recreation this season, with that charge a season-high 80% (12/15) on Saturday.
The Spurs have been 0-4 within the NBA Cup final season, and their first Cup recreation this 12 months can be in opposition to the workforce that was 7-0. Their recreation in opposition to the Lakers on Friday can also be the top of a five-game homestand.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 23 (final week: 19)
Gregg Popovich’s absence is the primary concern for the San Antonio Spurs proper now. The long-time Spurs coach suffered a critical well being concern not too long ago and is out indefinitely, with no timetable given for when he might return to the sidelines in San Antonio. To make issues worse, the Spurs misplaced Jeremy Sochan to a damaged thumb, and Victor Wembanyama is struggling to say himself on offense proper now. The one vibrant spot for this workforce is that Devin Vassell has retuned and scored 21 factors off the bench in his first recreation of the season.
Arising: Mon. 11/11 vs. Sacramento Kings; Wed. 11/13 vs. Washington Wizards; Fri. 11/15 vs. Los Angeles Lakers; Sat. 11/16 @ Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: 2-2 — Each time I get optimistic with this workforce, they let me down, however this nonetheless isn’t a nasty schedule. Vassell’s return will solely assist the Spurs, and they need to no less than beat the Wizards at dwelling (though they confirmed in opposition to the Jazz that they’re nonetheless liable to a loss on any night time). I additionally suppose they’ll take one of many two dwelling video games in opposition to decent-but-not-great California groups (greatest probability being the Lakers, particularly if Anthony Davis is out).
