Recreation Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Portland Path Blazers

They may not have a historic double-digit shedding streak to their identify just like the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs have, however the Portland Path Blazers have struggled simply as a lot as these two ball golf equipment this season. They’re 8-21 of their first season with out longtime franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard, who was (ultimately) traded after the franchise determined to draft Scoot Henderson with the third general decide in June’s draft. Together with Henderson, Portland has a handful of attention-grabbing younger gamers, however discover themselves in the identical boat because the Spurs in relation to their capacity to play successful basketball.

Tonight’s match-up represents the primary of two straight video games from the Moda Middle. Victor Wembanyama can also be poised to overlook a minimum of one of many two video games because the crew slowly works him again from the ankle roll he suffered earlier than the Dallas sport. This all comes at a time the place head coach Gregg Popovich seems to be, if his feedback following the newest loss to the Jazz are any indication, critically contemplating extra shake-ups in his seek for accountability with the NBA’s youngest squad.

San Antonio Spurs (4-25) at Portland Path Blazers (8-21)

December 28 2023 | 9:00 PM CT

Watch: BSSW | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Accidents: Victor Wembanyama, ankle (everyday), Devonte’ Graham, sickness (OUT), Charles Bassey, out for the yr

Blazers Accidents: Shaedon Sharpe, groin (everyday), Deandre Ayton, knee (everyday)

What to observe for

Following Wemby’s return towards the Jazz Tuesday evening after sitting out the earlier sport for the aforementioned rolled ankle, Pop instructed reporters that the Spurs rookie can be restricted to simply one of many two video games in Portland, with no indication of which sport that may be. Good cash might be on him lacking this primary one although and suiting up for the second, with Pop apparently being of the thoughts that Wembanyama didn’t fairly seem like himself in his 24 minutes towards Utah. Two further days of relaxation earlier than his subsequent sport seems like Pop Logic.

Scoot Henderson is having a tough begin to his rookie season. He missed an enormous chunk of November recovering from an ankle sprain suffered earlier that month, making his return to taking part in with Portland’s new G-League crew, the Rip Metropolis Remix. He’s averaging 11 factors a sport on simply 37% capturing from the sector and 25% from 3.
Portland was additionally, till very just lately, with out the companies of fifth yr capturing guard Afernee Simon after a thumb harm saved him out for all of November. Since making his return on December sixth towards the Golden State Warriors, Simon has averaged 28 factors per sport on capturing splits of 46/40/92, together with 3 rebounds and 5 assists. He dropped 41 towards the Washington Wizards in simply his eighth sport again from the harm.

With Keldon Johnson already set to return off the bench for the foreseeable future, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what different strikes Pop will make following his feedback on Tuesday. Following that loss, Popovich instructed reporters that he, “…want(ed) to demand extra from sure individuals. It’s time they be extra constant or I begin making adjustments.” Who these, “sure individuals,” might be is anybody’s guess (and lots of have DEFINITELY been guessing), however the actuality may be that this younger crew merely doesn’t have sufficient distinction makers on it as presently constructed. Maybe these public feedback might be what lights the proverbial match, although. Wouldn’t that be one thing?

For the Blazer fan’s perspective, please go to Blazer’s Edge.

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