Following two electrical come-from-behind victories, the Spurs rode their momentum into Tuesday evening’s NBA Cup showdown in opposition to the Jazz, pushing their win streak to 4.
Each groups got here out firing from the soar. Stephon Citadel hit back-to-back threes to place the Spurs on the board, whereas Keyonte “Key” George answered for Utah. San Antonio ran units to get open appears on the basket, and Harrison Barnes continued his sturdy play by discovering cutters for straightforward factors. The Jazz did the identical, although, as George remained sizzling by ending with 15 factors within the first quarter alone.
Utah’s torrent taking pictures continued into the second, however that’s when the gates to Space 51 opened as effectively. Wemby caught hearth from deep and made a number of triples whereas additionally placing his off-the-dribble recreation on show: as an alternative of taking pictures from the elbow, he drove to the rim and completed with acrobatic layups. Equally, Citadel confirmed off his power by muscling his option to the basket earlier than ending via contact, as he and Wemby mixed for 40 factors in simply the primary half.
After all, what makes the duo so particular is their prowess on each ends of the courtroom. With the sport coming right down to the wire, Wemby and Citadel turned up the defensive depth. Wemby registered a number of blocks and his presence alone deterred Jazz gamers from difficult him on the rim. In the meantime, Citadel helped decelerate Utah’s backcourt and made an important contest within the last minute on Colin Sexton.
Sure, the win got here in opposition to maybe the worst group within the league, however the performances from the younger weapons and veterans confirmed that this roster is perhaps able to greater than we initially thought. The season remains to be younger, however this group seems forward of schedule.
Recreation notes
Citadel has been getting probably the most love, and rightfully so, however I’d like to offer Julian Champagnie a shoutout too. He completed the sport with 15 factors, 4 rebounds, and three steals with all of his 4 discipline targets coming from deep, and seems to be a burgeoning 3&D wing. I understand that Jeremy Sochan was breaking out previous to getting injured, however I can’t assist however surprise if the Spurs ought to preserve Champagnie within the beginning lineup and have Sochan come off the bench. If staggered proper, the latter can nonetheless play near half-hour and will function as the first choice with the second unit.
Extra importantly, how would this impression the group long-term? I nonetheless suppose that Sochan can develop right into a poor man’s Aaron Gordon, however maybe a extra apt comparability is Bruce Brown. That may not be an attractive identify, however Brown is a really useful function participant who’s able to each beginning and coming off the bench as a sixth man, which he did for the championship Nuggets group. If Sochan accepts that function, the Spurs’ beginning group might then embrace Citadel, Vassell, Champagnie, Wemby, and the ultimate piece needs to be some extent guard who’s an elite passer and shooter. That lineup has no flaws, and Sochan can play a Brown-esque point-forward function off the bench.
Returning to the current, this Spurs group will probably be deep when everybody will get wholesome. If the teaching employees elects to start out CP, Vassell, Barnes, Sochan, and Wemby, then meaning the bench would function Jones, Citadel, Keldon, and Champagnie. Minutes will probably be arduous to come back by for anybody else.
It’s fascinating to see how far forward the Spurs are of their rebuild when in comparison with the Jazz, though each groups began tearing issues down across the identical time. After all, a lot of that has to do with lottery luck, however I do surprise why previous mate Danny Ainge didn’t commerce Lauri Markkanen this summer season when he bought excessive on Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. At the moment, their three greatest prospects embrace Mr. Key, a man greatest referred to as JDub’s youthful brother, and maybe the one man to rejoice being drafted by Utah resulting from some questionable off-court decision-making. On the brilliant facet, they do have an amazing younger coach in Will Hardy, who’s nice at establishing counters in opposition to opposing groups. Nonetheless, the West is loaded sufficient that it’s good to have one group who’ll stay unhealthy for some time. So once you’re feeling down, simply rely your blessings that you simply’re not a Jazz fan.
Play of the sport
Citadel’s offensive recreation is progressing at a scary price…
Subsequent recreation: vs Lakers on Wednesday
Let’s make it 5 in a row in opposition to the dad of legendary streamer Bronny James.
