The San Antonio Spurs have misplaced 5 video games this season by a margin of 25 factors or extra. They’ve solely performed 14 video games. After sticking round within the first half, the Spurs had been blown out within the second, shedding their ninth straight sport to the Los Angeles Clippers 124-99.
The Spurs had been a nightmare defensively, permitting the Clippers to shoot 47.4% from the sector, and get to the road 25 occasions the place they made 22 free throws. They had been outscored within the paint 54-46, and gave up 10 offensive rebounds to Los Angeles.
The Spurs weren’t significantly better offensively, as they shot 43.8% from the sector. They insisted on taking pictures a barrage of threes, however hit simply 10 of their 37 makes an attempt (27%.) They turned the ball over 17 occasions, together with some key giveaways once they had been surging within the third quarter.
Regardless of what felt like a bleak sport, Gregg Popovich had solely reward for his workforce within the post-game presser.
“No one likes to lose,” Popovich advised reporters. “However I believed their competitiveness and execution had been good towards an excellent, very gifted, very well-coached workforce… I like lots of the issues that I noticed, individually and as a workforce.”
Judging by the aura of Spurs Twitter on Monday night time, it’s secure to say they don’t agree. It may be irritating to look at this workforce play poorly night time after night time. However there is no such thing as a manner Pop goes to get on the rostrum and converse discouragingly about this younger workforce. He’s defending them proper now, however how lengthy can that final? 10 video games? 15? 20? It’s laborious to seek out the sunshine on the finish of this shedding tunnel.
There needs to be some drastic modifications within the Spurs degree of play to snap this shedding streak. The protection should get higher, and so they have to determine the right way to play 4 quarters of constant offense to get again within the profitable column.
Observations
The Spurs protection is unhealthy proper now. Don’t get me incorrect, the Clippers are an excellent offensive workforce with lots of weapons. San Antonio will not be doing themselves any favors with their execution on that finish. The Spurs are undisciplined as a defensive unit. They over-commit on lots of their defensive rotations. Sending two males to the ball or serving to manner off good shooters on drives, permitting simple kick outs for threes. In fact in addition they quit lots of simple drives as a result of they’re unhealthy at containing ball-handlers. To make matter worse, most gamers completely die on a display. Jeremy Sochan specifically was unhealthy at navigating screens, permitting simple bucket after simple bucket when concerned in screens on and off the ball. Victor Wembanyama and Sochan jumped on nearly each ball faux towards the Clippers. These are younger gamers making errors that result in one of many worst defensive rankings within the NBA.
Wembanyama was significantly irritating towards Los Angeles. He had 9 factors, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a couple of blocks on 4-12 taking pictures from the sector. Wemby is forcing lots of soar photographs from the mid-range and three. There have been a number of significantly irritating makes an attempt the place it seemed like he was taking pictures the ball just because it swung to him on that specific possession. He’s taking pictures 42.9% from the sector and 28.4% from three this season. He, or the Spurs have to seek out methods to get Wembanyama the ball nearer to the basket, or in advantageous positions. He’s merely an excessive amount of of an offensive weapon to have him chucking inefficient jumpers all sport.
Keldon Johnson scored 22 factors, albeit a few of them coming within the fourth quarter when the sport was mainly over. He has been one of many few Spurs to constantly assault the basket and put stress on the rim. The three-point shot is enhancing as he’s taking pictures 37.3% from three this season. Defensively he has not been significantly better than years previous. Nonetheless, it’s good to have one man who can get to the rim, it will be good to see his aggressiveness rub off on a few of his teammates.
Cedi Osman has been a shot within the arm for the Spurs all season. He was one of the best participant on the Spurs in Monday’s contest. His mixture of aggressiveness on the secondary break, chopping instincts and taking pictures skill make him the proper Spurs function participant. Extra minutes with him alongside Tre Jones and Wembanyama can be welcomed.
