The Spurs seemed utterly misplaced on their go to to Los Angeles. The turnovers piled on early on and the protection had no solutions because the minutes handed for a San Antonio group that was outclassed. The Clippers barely needed to break a sweat as they cruised to a 123-83 win that was as one-sided because the rating suggests.
The main target coming into the season for the Spurs was on protection, however it was their offense that doomed them on Sunday. San Antonio began off the sport by making extremely lazy passes that the Clippers’ ball hawks simply snatched away with the intention to gasoline their transition assault. Even when the Silver and Black bought a shot up, it got here after solely a handful of passes and little off-ball motion, so the seems weren’t nice. Issues improved marginally when Cedi Osman and Tre Jones checked in, however a few threes and some good pick-and-rolls weren’t sufficient to truly proper the ship. The second unit’s good stretch, the Clips’ personal sloppiness and some nice possessions by Wembanyama on protection by which he affected photographs and delayed choices stored the sport from being out of attain after one, however the dwelling group nonetheless led by six.
There was no epiphany within the second quarter. The offense was nonetheless caught in mud, with the Spurs making an attempt to start out possessions from the publish too typically as an alternative of going for the equally ineffective handoffs they used earlier. With Zach Collins’ threes not falling and the protection not paying a lot consideration to non-shooters like Sochan, the spacing bought cramped. There have been just a few good possessions, however not even all of these resulted in buckets, as a result of the Clippers had been locked in on protection. San Antonio labored for each level whereas their opponent, with out shining, stored getting sufficient photographs to fall to tug away. The lead reached 21 factors at one level and regardless of the very best efforts of Devin Vassell, who hit some large photographs, the Silver and Black struggled to shut the hole in any significant method. On the break, the Clippers had been forward by 19 and it appeared like they might have been up extra.
No matter Gregg Popovich instructed the gamers within the locker room throughout halftime didn’t work. The turnovers weren’t as plentiful within the second half, however the Clippers didn’t want any assist to utterly dominate at this level. The veteran group smelled blood within the water towards a younger group that wasn’t powerful bodily or mentally on Sunday, occurring a run to get the lead within the excessive 20s and never slowing down from there. San Antonio struggled to get Wembanyama touches and there was no savior placing a powerful stretch collectively to carry off Los Angeles. The sport was over on the half, in all probability, however the Clippers made positive there was not even the potential for some Wemby late-game heroics by disposing of an inferior group and turning your complete fourth quarter into rubbish time, en path to a 40-point win.
Sport notes
The offense is a large number at occasions, so it’s comprehensible to query the system or the beginning lineup, however a whole lot of the early turnovers towards the Clippers got here from lazy passes. The Spurs can’t afford to have many empty journeys and so they positively can’t enable opponents to run. The easy purpose why San Antonio bought steamrolled is as a result of nobody was targeted or sharp towards group that made them pay for his or her errors.
Victor Wembanyama couldn’t determine the way to get in place to attain or create. He must catch the ball nearer to the basket when he’s within the publish and he must be already transferring when he catches the ball on drives. Each Wemby and his teammates must work on getting him not solely extra touches normally but in addition precise alternatives to attain.
Sooner or later, these Zach Collins threes will fall, and that can assist the offense so much. They weren’t happening on Sunday, although. Collins, who not often rolls after screens, will get dared to shoot from outdoors by opponents and up to now this season he hasn’t been capable of make them pay.
Keldon Johnson actually struggled to attain or create, ending the sport with 5 factors on 9 photographs and no assists. Jeremy Sochan didn’t rating and had extra turnovers than assists. Neither was an asset on protection. When two starters wrestle that badly, 40-point losses usually are not completely shocking.
Devin Vassell scored 14 factors on 10 photographs and had a few good drives. Within the first one, he bought an And-1 alternative. Within the second, he completed in transition after a Eurostep. It’s encouraging to see him assault the rim extra and look assured and in management whereas doing so.
Cedi Osman continues to seem like a fantastic pickup. He hits his photographs and performs inside himself, which is what the Spurs want from their veterans. Charles Bassey additionally offered some good minutes off the bench, largely by bringing vitality. These two get a passing grade.
The remainder of the bench didn’t have night time. Jones had a few good performs in his first stretch, however he had as many turnovers as assists and wasn’t the X-Issue the Spurs wanted him to be off the bench. Doug McDermott and Malaki Branham padded their stats within the fourth quarter however did little when it counted. They don’t seem to be the explanation the Spurs misplaced, however they didn’t assist.
The deep bench guys all bought some rubbish time minutes aside from Devonte’ Graham, who didn’t play in any respect. Nobody did something noteworthy.
Play of the sport
The Collins-to-Wemby high-low go is finally going to provide opponents nightmares, as soon as these two develop extra chemistry.
Subsequent recreation: vs. the Suns on Tuesday
The Spurs will journey to Phoenix to tackle the house group twice in a row, with a second matchup on Thursday. After dealing with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Kevin Durant awaits. Issues usually are not getting simpler for the Silver and Black.
