“Be disciplined to be disciplined to love and embrace the boring.”
These phrases echoed all through basketball our on-line world after the San Antonio Spurs dismantled the Dallas Mavericks on opening night time. Flash ahead a couple of weeks, and it doesn’t look like Mitch Johnson’s phrases have essentially caught along with his younger staff.
The Spurs beat themselves on Wednesday night time in a 118-116 loss to the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers. It’s the second straight loss the place they weren’t the aggressors, made foolish errors, and seemed nothing just like the staff that began the season 5-0.
There have been instances when San Antonio seemed extra just like the staff from two years in the past that received 22 video games, reasonably than a staff that proclaimed they have been able to win in a playoff-esque celebration after their fifth straight victory. Possibly it’s youth. Maybe it’s key gamers lacking video games with accidents. Possibly it’s hubris. No matter it’s, it received’t get the job carried out.
The foolish errors piled up for the Spurs on Wednesday night time. They made sloppy inbound passes that received swiped away. They dedicated turnovers earlier than clearing the ball after a defensive rebound. They allowed offensive rebounds off free throws and lengthy misses. They allowed gamers to separate double groups beneath the basket. They dedicated a back-court violation (this one was robust to keep away from, to be honest). They missed essential free throws. They dedicated foolish fouls earlier than the ball even crossed half-court, falling for Marcus Good’s foul-baiting.
It didn’t appear to be a really disciplined staff. And but, they nonetheless discovered a strategy to keep within the recreation towards the Lakers. Think about what the staff may accomplish if they only minimized these avoidable errors. That is nonetheless a proficient staff, however it looks as if they want a little bit of a wake-up name and some changes. Possibly a 0-2 West Coast street journey can be sufficient to make that occur.
