Probably the most feared phrases within the NBA is “tail-end of a back-to-back.” Particularly coming off an time beyond regulation loss by which a workforce blows a 20-point lead. That’s precisely the place the San Antonio Spurs discover themselves as they journey to Indianapolis. After dropping an in depth one to the Toronto Raptors 123-116, the Spurs have an opportunity to bounce again in opposition to one other Japanese Convention foe.
They are going to face an Indiana Pacers squad who has among the best younger level guards within the NBA. Tyrese Haliburton has launched himself into superstardom with a powerful Crew USA efficiency this summer time, and an All-Star look final season. He’s coming off a 43 level, 12 help sport in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The Spurs might be tasked with stopping Haliburton and firm in hopes to get again over .500.
November 6, 2023 | 6 P.M. CT
Watch: BSSW | Pay attention: WOAI/KXTN
Spurs accidents: Spurs have till 1 p.m., November 6 to submit harm report.
Pacers accidents: Kendall Brown – Questionable (G League project,) Oscar Tshiebwe – Questionable (G League project,) Isaiah Wong – Questionable (G League project)
What to look at for
Wembanyama’s first back-to-back
In the course of the offseason when media pundits have been questioning Wembanyama’s energy, the Spurs rookie was anxious about one thing else. He talked so much concerning the capability to play a full 82-game season. An enormous a part of the damage and tear of the NBA are back-to-backs, the place gamers have much less time to get better.
This sport marks Wembanyama’s first NBA back-to-back. He’s averaging 28.6 minutes per sport by his first six contests. Watch how the Spurs deal with his minutes, and the way Wemby holds up over the course of the sport. He’s proven just a few indicators of fatigue in these early matchups, however the Spurs have executed a very good job maximizing the minutes he performs, getting him out of there when he seems drained. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he handles the fatigue of a back-to-back.
Protection, Protection, Protection
The Indiana Pacers are a very good offensive workforce. They’re top-5 within the league in scoring (120.3 factors per sport) and top-10 in offensive ranking (116.8.) Led by Haliburton, they transfer the ball properly (1st within the league in assists, 30.8 a sport,) and play quick, as they’re second within the league in tempo. They’re fifth within the league in 3-point makes an attempt (40 a sport) and are taking pictures 37% from three. San Antonio is coming off a sport the place they let Toronto punish them from deep. The Spurs might want to lock in defensively to compete.
The Pacers haven’t been nice defensively, giving up 123.5 factors per sport. This has the chance to turn into a shootout if the Spurs don’t discover a approach to decelerate the Pacers. Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson might want to guard Indiana’s succesful perimeter scorers. Wembanyama and Collins will look to choose up the place they left off, successfully guarding the paint in opposition to the Raptors.
Level guard play
It was an uneven sport for the Spurs level guard duo in opposition to Toronto. Each Sochan and Tre Jones struggled to get downhill and end, and turned the ball over 3 instances every. Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell present pesky matchups on the perimeter for the Spurs guards.
Sochan particularly may use a giant sport after struggling a bit to study the brand new place. He was wonderful within the Spurs win in opposition to the Suns. Search for each Sochan and Jones to bounce again in Indianapolis.
