Welcome to the Week in Overview: a Monday function that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a have a look at the week forward, and extra. Get pleasure from!
Week 12: The Spurs obtained off to a great begin in Chicago earlier than utterly falling aside within the second half, blowing a 19-point lead for arguably their worst lack of the season. That was adopted by a blowout loss in Milwaukee in a sport that even Victor Wembanyama appeared overwhelmed, adopted by the postponement of the primary sport of their miniseries in opposition to the Lakers as a result of Los Angeles wildfires.
Week 13: 1-3 (19-22, twelfth in West)
126-102 win @ Los Angeles Lakers
Recap: The Spurs and Lakers returned to the courtroom for the second sport of their miniseries after the primary was postponed, and the Lakers understandably obtained out to a scorching begin whereas motivated to play for the struggling folks of their metropolis. Nevertheless, in what would show to be the exception for this week, the Spurs got here out robust after halftime, outscoring the Lakers 73-40 for a blowout win and concluding with one of many extra heartwarming moments of the season.
What we realized
115-129 loss vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Recap: In what would flip right into a disturbing norm for the remainder of the week, the script was flipped from the final sport, because the Spurs obtained out to a double-digit halftime lead in opposition to the Grizzlies, however then all the things utterly fell aside after halftime whereas Memphis used their tempo (and Ja Morant) to blow by the Spurs, particularly in transition, spoiling a profession sport from Stephon Citadel.
What we realized
112-140 loss vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Recap: Oh, you thought that was unhealthy? Strive a repeat however even worse. This sport was truly nearer all through the primary half, however the Spurs nonetheless managed to get the result in 10 ever so briefly within the second quarter at the start unraveled once more. Even with out Morant, the Grizzlies as soon as once more went nuclear within the second half, and this time the Spurs couldn’t even hold it respectable, getting blown off their very own courtroom (the place they’ve often been robust this season) for the second sport in a row.
What we realized
107-128 loss @ Miami Warmth
Recap: Oh, you thought that was unhealthy? But once more, the Spurs adopted the identical disturbing pattern of beginning robust earlier than struggling an entire meltdown. Regardless that it began within the second quarter this time, with simply 11 factors scored for the Spurs, for the third straight sport, they allowed a crew to attain 40 or extra factors within the third quarter, resulting in their newest embarrassing loss and sixth in seven video games.
What we realized
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 21 (final week: 20)
OffRtg: 111.6 (20) DefRtg: 113.3 (16) NetRtg: -1.8 (20) Tempo: 99.4 (17)
The Spurs head to Paris having misplaced six of their final seven video games, sliding from eighth to twelfth place within the Western Convention.
Three takeaways
1. The Spurs obtained a comeback win in L.A. final Monday, outscoring the Lakers by 34 factors (52-18) over the ultimate 15 1/2 minutes. However they’ve additionally led 5 of those final six losses (together with every of their three final week) by double-digits. Their 29 losses (they’re 33-29) after main by double-digits during the last two seasons are six greater than every other crew has.
2. Earlier than Wednesday, the Spurs had been the league’s third-best third-quarter crew (plus 11.8 factors per 100 possessions). After which they misplaced every of their final three third quarters by at the least 18 factors. Over the three-game dropping streak, they’ve allowed a tremendous 155.6 factors per 100 possessions after halftime and, with that, they’re now a worse-than-average defensive crew.
3. With Jeremy Sochan out, rookie Stephon Citadel has been again within the beginning lineup for the final 5 video games. He’s been struggling from 3-point vary (10-for-48 since mid-December) and the Grizzlies had been giving him the Tony Allen therapy, guarding him with Zach Edey and leaving him alone on the perimeter. However Citadel nonetheless averaged 23 factors over a three-game stretch that included the 2 losses to Memphis, capturing 20-for-29 (69%) within the paint.
The Spurs head to Paris having gained simply three of their 9 video games in opposition to the Jap Convention, and two video games in opposition to Indiana will check their struggling protection.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 21 (final week: 21)
Nothing has gone proper for the San Antonio Spurs as of late, ensuing of their NBA energy rankings freefall. The Spurs have misplaced six of their final seven video games, therefore why there is no such thing as a higher time for them to take a deep breath and head abroad to Paris for the week. Victor Wembanyama is returning to his stomping grounds, the place he’ll get to play the function of Michael Jordan as the most well-liked individual in France over the subsequent week forward of the NBA Paris Video games.
Developing: Thurs. 1/23 vs. Indiana Pacers (Paris); Sat. 1/25 vs. Indiana Pacers (Paris)
Prediction: 1-1 — The final time the Spurs obtained an prolonged break after three straight losses, they’d time to suppose and had been able to play of their solely win within the final 17 days. They get the same break this week as they head abroad to Paris, however that might be far more chaotic than bunkering inside their resort amidst wildfires. Wemby specifically has been in a January hunch, so hopefully enjoying in entrance of his dwelling nation will function a revitalization for him and result in at the least one win. The Spurs want to show issues round shortly earlier than they fall out of the play-in tier and require the kind of profitable streak we haven’t seen from them in a number of years to get again in.
