One factor that has turn out to be obvious through the Spurs’ current run of not-much-success is a lot of their rivalries, each historic and comparatively current, have turn out to be dormant. The Lakers and Suns have each typically had extra success than the Spurs over the past a number of years, and past something that got here from now-disgraced former Suns proprietor Robert Sarver or Lakers followers on Twitter making an attempt to assert Anthony Davis is best than Tim Duncan, there hasn’t been a lot pressure on the courtroom when the Spurs play these groups.
On a extra localized stage, the Dallas Mavericks have been up and down, and whereas their star participant Luka Doncic could appear to be a simple punching bag at occasions along with his fixed smiling and whining (with little in between), it simply hasn’t been the identical as when somebody like Jason Terry or Eduardo Najera stirred the pot within the 2000’s. Mark Cuban additionally hasn’t contributed something these days, in order that matchup has been little bit of shrugger after almost twenty years of intense bitterness. (Possibly the Spurs’ tribute to Dirk Nowitzki was too variety.)
That will begin to change quickly, particularly if two of the Spurs’ first three video games have been any indication. In preseason video games in opposition to fellow (should-be) up-and-comers within the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Houston Rockets — two groups the Spurs have had varied ranges of rivalry with over time, though they’ve usually been dictated by postseason play — there was a stage of depth and physicality that’s often missing in meaningless exhibitions. In opposition to the Thunder, each Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have been out to show themselves of their rookie debuts and present the way forward for the large man is as shiny as ever.
That was thrilling sufficient, but when any rivalry has been lingering these days, it’s been with the Rockets. Although each groups have been vying for the underside final season, the video games have been intense, and issues solely obtained much more bitter over the summer season with the Spurs profitable the lottery and drafting Wemby, which has actually gotten below the pores and skin of followers on social media. In final night time’s matchup, it was extra of the identical even with Wemby on the bench. Zach Collins and Alperen Sengun continued to play like they’ve a private grudge in opposition to one another, plus the Rockets added enforcer Dillon Brooks to the equation, who wasted no time in moving into the combination with a technical for pushing Collins when he went in to interrupt up a possible scuffle between Amen Thompson and Jeremy Sochan.
And naturally, as infamous Rockets announcers Craig Ackerman and Ryan Hollins exacerbated over final night time, a posterization by Cam Whitmore over Doug McDermott was worn out by an offensive foul, much like what occurred with Sengun and Collins at one level final season (and was held up after a problem) in a momentum-killing second. It felt foolish listening to them whine about that for thus lengthy final night time, however it was additionally a reminder that it caught for a yr as a result of even when this isn’t the playoffs, the IH-10 Rivalry is as bitter as ever. Add Wemby to the equation in tomorrow or subsequent week’s common season matchup, and it’ll go to an entire new stage, each this season and past.
Takeaways
Whereas the recognized predominant rotation gamers who have been out there all regarded good final night time (Collins, Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Charles Bassey, and so forth), only a few who’re in any other case vying for the previous few rotation spots are doing a lot to face out. Cedi Osman has made his case, and Dominick Barlow continues to be the standout of the third string along with his play on each ends (making it all of the extra mind-blowing that he ended up with only a two-way contract). In any other case, Julian Champagnie’s preseason struggles have continued, Sandro Mamukelashvili hasn’t carried out a lot in restricted minutes, and Devonte’ Graham stays a wild card. Whereas Khem Birch (who lastly made an look final night time) remains to be possible the primary one vulnerable to being waived to get the roster down to fifteen, there’s work to be carried out for everybody else if they need a spot within the rotation
Blake Wesley stays an enigma. The potential is there (and we’re all getting uninterested in saying that), however it’s attending to the purpose that you simply need to cowl your eyes each time he chooses to drive with the ball. It needs to be a power along with his pace and athleticism, however he tends to get tunnel imaginative and prescient and drive into site visitors as a substitute of recognizing the open man (particularly in two-on-one conditions), and which solely provides to his already recognized lack of ability to complete across the rim. With the roster so deep on the wings, hopefully he’ll spend a while in Austin to proceed honing his abilities.
Seeing Johnson’s return made it tougher to know who will tackle a sixth man position. It feels prefer it’s right down to him and Tre Jones, however KJ additionally confirmed (in an admittedly small pattern measurement) that he has improved in ways in which imply he won’t want the ball to be affective. His three-point stroke regarded higher (the ball really stayed within the digital camera body as a substitute of touring to the moon first), he discovered the open man on drives for 4 assists, and his defensive rotations have been tighter. Rapidly, a defensive squad of him, Devin Vassell, Sochan, Wemby and Collins sounds fairly intriguing. After all, not of all them need to begin to nonetheless play collectively, however I stay up for seeing what that lineup can do.
