Welcome to the Week in Assessment: 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 3: Extra accidents (particularly to Jeremy Sochan) and poor execution derailed the nice rhythm the Spurs had in-built Week 2.
Week 4: 2-2 (6-8, twelfth in West)
116-96 win vs. Sacramento Kings
Recap: After a disappointing house loss to the Jazz within the earlier sport, the Spurs got here out decided to do higher towards (however drained) Sacramento Kings workforce on the second night time of a back-to-back. Though they bought out to a gradual begin, an offended, “Gregg Popovich-like” timeout from Mitch Johnson within the second quarter lit a spark beneath his workforce, they usually responded from there, cruising to their greatest win of this very younger season.
What we realized
139-130 win vs. Washington Wizards
Recap: Victor Wembanyama posted the primary 50-point sport of his profession whereas hitting 8-16 from three. The streak put him at 20-37 during the last three video games, which alone raised his three-point taking pictures for the season from 22.6% to 34.3%. The Spurs constructed a pair large leads on the again of his large night time, and though the bench and a 42-point outing from Jordan Poole tried to spoil it a number of instances, they held on for the win.
What we realized
115-120 loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers (NBA Emirates Cup)
Recap: Of their first Cup sport towards the “defending champion” Lakers, the Spurs continued their scorching methods within the first quarter earlier than the Lakers took management within the center two. Nonetheless, they fought again within the fourth on the again of rising rookie standout Stephon Fort, who had 22 factors and a number of other clutch pictures. They even took the lead a few instances late, however some errors (plus an iffy charging name) derailed their hopes. Nonetheless, LeBron James got here out of that sport with loads of reward for Fort, each to him and to the media, which needs to be any rookie’s dream-come-true.
What we realized
93-110 loss at Dallas Mavericks
Recap: On the second night time of a back-to-back and intensely short-handed with Wembanyama (banged knees within the Lakers sport) and Vassell (load administration) sitting (and naturally no Sochan), the Spurs fought laborious however had been had been no match for a Mavs squad that has struggled of late however nonetheless has an excessive amount of particular person expertise for the shorthanded Spurs to beat, ending what was in any other case a enjoyable week with a second straight loss.
What we realized
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 19 (final week: 21)
OffRtg: 110.2 (21) DefRtg: 111.8 (12) NetRtg: -1.6 (18) Tempo: 98.7 (20)
Victor Wembanyama totaled 84 factors (with a career-high 50 on Wednesday) because the Spurs picked up wins over the Kings and Wizards to get again to .500. However they’ve since dropped two straight.
Three takeaways
1. Wembanyama continues to take greater than half of his pictures from exterior the paint, however these pictures had been falling (5-for-9 from mid-range, 14-for-28 from 3-point vary) towards Sacramento and Washington. After all, within the paint, he’s shot 58-for-79 (73.4%), the very best mark amongst 71 gamers with at the least 75 makes an attempt. He was 7-for-9 within the paint towards the Lakers on Friday, however 5-for-16 from the surface (air-balling a late 3 for the lead) and didn’t try a single free throw within the five-point loss.
2. The Spurs are operating loads of actions (pick-and-rolls, inverted pick-and-rolls, dribble-handoffs) with Chris Paul and Wembanyama, who spend most of their minutes on the ground collectively. There was additionally some success with Wembanyama handing to Devin Vassell out of the left nook late within the Lakers’ loss, although Vassell has performed simply 18 of his 90 minutes with each Paul and Wembanyama additionally on the ground.
3. With Jeremy Sochan damage and Vassell coming off the bench, Stephon Fort continues to start out and play fairly effectively. The Spurs’ present lineup has outscored opponents by an incredible 58 factors (35.7 per 100 possessions) in 76 complete minutes, with some assist from the opponents having shot simply 13-for-56 (23%) from 3-point vary in that point. It was a plus-12 in rather less than 12 minutes of their five-point loss to the Lakers.
Each Wembanyama and Vassell sat out the Spurs’ loss in Dallas on Saturday, the second sport of a back-to-back. They don’t have a back-to-back this week, however they do have two of the very best groups within the league – the Thunder and Warriors – coming to the Frost Financial institution Heart. The Spurs’ first sport towards Oklahoma Metropolis is tied with the Wembanyama-less Dallas loss for his or her worst offensive efficiency (93 factors on 100 possessions) of the season.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 23 (final week: 23)
Information out of San Antonio this previous week revolved round head coach Gregg Popovich, because it was revealed that he suffered a light stroke. Popovich will probably be away from the workforce indefinitely as he seeks the medical care he must get again to full energy. The Spurs stay optimistic that he’ll be capable of coach once more through the 2024-25 season. Within the interim, Mitch Johnson has led the Spurs to a 6-8 begin, with Victor Wembanyama coming alive just lately. Wemby had a career-high 50 factors and eight made threes final week towards the Washington Wizards. Because the second-year star finds his groove offensively and gamers like Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson contribute, San Antonio will proceed to be a risk within the NBA energy rankings.
Developing: Tues. 11/19 vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (Emirates Cup); Thurs. 11/21 vs. Utah Jazz; Sat. 11/23 vs. Golden State Warriors
Prediction: 1-2 — The Spurs met my prediction of 2-2 final week, however this week’s schedule is tougher (although it’s fully at house, once more). They could stand a greater likelihood towards the Chet Holmgren-less (hp) Thunder than I’m giving them credit score for, however OKC nonetheless has loads of hearth energy the Spurs should take care of, to not point out Wemby is listed as questionable. The identical goes with the Warriors on Saturday, who’ve stunned as far as the highest workforce within the West and added notorious Spurs-killer Buddy Hield to the combo. Their finest likelihood for a win will probably be a revenge matchup towards the Jazz, who upset them at house a few weeks in the past.
