I don’t care what the pro-tank crowd says or needs, that was a enjoyable recreation. And never simply because it was a win or as a result of Devin Vassell went scorched earth for a career-high in factors and three-pointers made, however as a result of the Spurs performed a comparatively regular basketball recreation. Outline regular? For starters, they performed a strong first half in opposition to a crew in an identical state as them, main many of the manner (however by no means by double digits) whereas overcoming just a little sputter to start out the second quarter for a halftime lead of 5 factors. Not a lot to complain about there.
However as everyone knows, the Spurs haven’t been a traditional second half crew. It has hardly even mattered how a lot they get forward by within the first half or who they’re taking part in; they’re certain to blow it, having misplaced 33 video games when main by double digits during the last two seasons. That’s unacceptable whatever the report, age or expertise stage of the roster. If they’ll rise up by that a lot, they’ll play simply adequate the remainder of the best way to not utterly blow it. (J.R. Wilco says I’m obsessive about this stat, however what can I say? It’s an ongoing drawback, probably a psychological or adjustment situation, that should cease for the Spurs to go to the subsequent stage.)
Now we have watched them rise up huge within the first half many occasions, however then that sinking feeling that they’ll inevitably blow it persists. I’ll even be texting with my fellow PtR writers how we all know the nice vibes gained’t final. Typically, the Spurs maintain on, like they did in Memphis final week, however typically occasions they blow it, even to dangerous groups just like the Hornets and Pelicans. By some means, I didn’t get that sinking feeling final evening in opposition to the Nets. Possibly them not getting out to a giant lead that they might blow helped, however it proved prophetic.
After taking part in nicely within the first half, however to not the purpose that they felt too comfy popping out of the locker room, the Spurs truly did one thing that ordinary basketball groups do, particularly at residence: come out with a objective and squash the opponent. Possibly a scarcity of consolation at halftime is their present recipe for fulfillment. After all, we don’t need it to be their long-term recipe for fulfillment — that will be preserve having nice first halves with out letting up within the second — however for now, if we will solely anticipate one nice half per recreation from this crew, then they’re higher off with it being the second whereas taking part in simply nicely sufficient within the first that they aren’t too comfy. Is that an excessive amount of “regular” to ask for?
Takeaways
Devin Vassell had a fantastic recreation. He readily admitted it was a very long time coming after the sport, and you possibly can inform his feelings had been bouncing everywhere between pure pleasure and reduction. If there may be one factor I hate, it’s followers rooting for a participant’s demise, attacking them after they’re down however staying silent after they’re up, or simply straight up demanding a commerce for pennies on the greenback when he’s in a droop. So long as a participant is on my crew, I’ll root for him to succeed, not fail “so we we will commerce him.” Apart from, even when a commerce is in the end what you need, tanking a participant’s worth shouldn’t be the objective if you would like one thing higher in return. (Not each commerce goes the best way the De’Aaron Fox one did, when the Spurs by some means landed a star with out giving up any rotation gamers.)
Victor Wembanyama seemed joyful on the sidelines throughout this recreation. Towards the Thunder, which was his first time again along with his crew because it was announcement he would miss the remainder of the season with a blood clot, he seemed melancholy on the sidelines, even throughout that thrilling first half. He clapped some, however that was it; he wasn’t his traditional, jovial self. Towards the Nets, he seemed a lot happier and was standing and cheering his teammates on. He’s actually going by quite a bit each bodily and mentally, and I’m positive he hates being away from his crew — he most likely can’t fly whereas the clot remains to be there — and never serving to them on the courtroom, however it was nonetheless good to see him smiling final evening. Meaning he’s adjusting.
Rumors are beginning to swirl (as a result of don’t they at all times?) that the Spurs will look to commerce for Kevin Durant through the offseason. I may give a large number of explanation why they possible wouldn’t and shouldn’t do this — they already acquired Fox to be Wemby’s sidekick and might want to pay him; Durant would price an excessive amount of of the younger core for only a 12 months of manufacturing; he could be poisonous; as soon as once more, they’d be placing somebody in the best way of Jeremy Sochan’s growth, and so on. — however I can consider just one motive that will even make Durant barely value it: Wemby sees him as an idol, so he may take pleasure in a 12 months taking part in collectively. That’s it, I can’t title one other constructive to Durant becoming a member of the Spurs that isn’t outweighed by a damaging, so no, Spurs, don’t make that commerce. He’s not value it anymore.
