Welcome to the Week in Evaluation: a Monday characteristic that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a take a look at the week forward, and extra. Get pleasure from!
Week 5: The Spurs preserve preventing for that elusive win however can’t recover from the hump.
Week 6: 0-2 (3-16, fifteenth in West) — 135-137 L vs. Atlanta Hawks; 106-121 L @ New Orleans Pelicans
It has formally been over a month for the reason that Spurs final skilled the style of victory (towards the Phoenix Suns on November 2), and it’s onerous to know when that subsequent win will come. After arguably reaching all-time low two weeks in the past (when it comes to how unhealthy the video games truly have been) with an enormous blowout loss to the Thunder and two extra blown double-digit leads at dwelling, notably to a slumping Memphis group that was lacking seven rotation gamers, the Spurs have proven gradual enchancment since, however the streak-buster nonetheless eludes them.
Amidst a few sluggish weeks, with only a whole of 4 video games between final week and this upcoming one, the Spurs have loads of time to relaxation and follow to attempt to flip the ship round, they usually as soon as once more got here close-but-no-cigar. Starting with a house recreation towards Atlanta after three days off, there was query relating to Victor Wembanyama’s availability as a consequence of hip tightness. He performed, and it ended up being an thrilling, defense-optional matchup, but it surely additionally adopted the unlucky pattern of so many different Spurs dwelling video games this season: they received out to a quick begin and led by double-digits earlier than Trae Younger began doing Trae Younger issues and went nuclear for 45 factors, making each conceivable shot and foul-baiting the younger Spurs (and refs) into giving up many free throws.
However we talked about the Spurs have been trying higher since hitting all-time low a few weeks in the past, and it confirmed within the type of not blowing the sport within the third quarter (they tied the Hawks 39-39) and overcoming some fourth quarter adversity to get inside a cost of tying the sport and forcing OT on a last-possession steal. What a feather within the cap changing that may have been for Jeremy Sochan’s historic profession evening after a tough stretch of studying the purpose guard place.
Solely 4 gamers to have a recreation with not less than 30/5/5 on 85/100/100 capturing splits in NBA historical past:
Charles Barkley – 1989 (Philadelphia)Gary Payton – 1995 (Seattle) Chris Bosh – 2008 (Toronto) Jeremy Sochan – Final evening (SA)
— Jordan Howenstine (@AirlessJordan) December 2, 2023
Subsequent was a SEGABABA in New Orleans, and to the shock of nobody, Wemby sat that one out to relaxation his hip (as Pop made clear was very probably the evening earlier than). This was extra in step with a typical Spurs recreation: they remained shut within the first half earlier than the Pelicans methodically pulled away within the second, however there have been nonetheless issues to love. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have been held in examine, and the Spurs performed group ball on offense, however nobody had a giant recreation to counter Jonas Valanciunas (predictably) going off, and turnovers (many unforced) continued to be the bane of their existence for an additional winless week and 14th straight loss — two off their franchise-high of 16 set final season.
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 29 (final week: 28)
OffRtg: 107.3 (28) DefRtg: 119.4 (27) NetRtg: -12.1 (30) Tempo: 102.7 (4)
The Spurs have been extra aggressive (towards some good groups) of late, however their dropping streak has hit 14 video games, they usually’ve been a little bit worse than the Pistons on each ends of the ground over the streak.
Three takeaways
1. Jeremy Sochan had the very best offensive recreation of his profession on Thursday, scoring 33 factors on 12-for-14 capturing, including eight rebounds and 6 assists towards the Hawks. However his first steal led to his fifth turnover, when he was referred to as for a cost with an opportunity to tie the sport within the ultimate seconds. (The Final Two Minute Report deemed it an accurate name.)
2. The Spurs had solely two video games final week, however they have been a back-to-back, and Victor Wembanyama sat out the again finish, lacking a recreation for the primary time. He had 4 blocks towards Atlanta on Thursday, however his general defensive affect over his final two video games (the Nuggets and Hawks shot 18-for-29 towards him) wasn’t almost what it was early within the season (15-for-61 by the Spurs’ first six).
3. The Spurs are nonetheless sharing the ball. They’re one in every of two groups — the Kings are the opposite — that rank within the prime 5 in each ball and participant motion, they usually’ve recorded assists on 69.8% of their subject targets, what could be the very best price for any group within the final seven seasons.
The Spurs don’t have one other back-to-back till Dec. 28 and 29, and that can be two straight video games in Portland. They received a little bit little bit of a favor from the league with an inter-conference recreation towards the Bulls (who they’ll now play 3 times) on Friday.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 29 (final week: 27)
The San Antonio Spurs and prime general choose Victor Wembanyama have now misplaced 14 straight video games, throwing them to the underside of the Western Convention standings. The Spurs should not essentially a nasty group, as their beginning group possesses quite a lot of younger, high-potential skills, however San Antonio lacks productive secondary skills. It will not be a nasty concept for the Spurs to be consumers on the commerce deadline this season and get Wemby one other star to play alongside.
Yossi Gozlan, Hoops Hype — 28 (final week: 28)
Inventory Up: Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie
The Spurs had a brief week with two losses that prolonged their dropping streak to 14 video games, placing them on virtually equal footing because the Pistons. Essentially the most encouraging a part of the week was their shut loss to the Hawks backed by large performances by Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan. Past participant growth, the potential availability of veterans like Doug McDermott and Cedi Osman is price monitoring.
Arising: Wed. 12/6 @ Minnesota Timberwovles; Fri. 12/8 vs. Chicago Bulls
Prediction: 1-1 — As was talked about final week, each loss means the Spurs are nearer to their subsequent win, they usually’ll have an opportunity to keep away from tying their franchise-record dropping streak on Friday towards a struggling Bulls group that’s on the point of blowing all of it up. That being mentioned, they’re nonetheless a veteran-laden, extra proficient group than the Spurs, so the house group will as soon as once more need to convey its A-game and keep away from all the same old letdowns that has marred this season to tug it out.
