What we discovered from the Spurs loss to the Wizards

Expectations are ever so barely altering for the Spurs, they usually realize it. You could possibly see it of their eyes as they sat on the bench, ready for Gregg Popovich to attract up a fruitless play along with his staff down 5 with 5 seconds left in opposition to a Washington Wizards staff that prior to now, had by no means received in San Antonio in consecutive seasons. The Spurs regarded extra dejected that they’d simply misplaced a house sport to one of many few groups within the league with fewer wins than them than they’ve throughout a number of 30-point annihilations by the hands of contenders.

As irritating because the loss was, partly as a result of it prevented them from profitable three consecutive video games for the primary time since December 2022, it will not be the worst factor to occur to this staff. (It’s not like they’re preventing for his or her postseason lives or something.) Certain, it was an enormous letdown two nights after an exciting victory over the top-seeded Timberwolves during which the Spurs confirmed up bigtime within the clutch whereas they failed to take action final night time, however the truth that the staff was visibly upset with themselves reveals that they’re rising and shifting their very own expectations.

Simply take a look at them, particularly the all the time jovial Keldon Johnson, who, whereas removed from alone in being complicit of their fourth quarter meltdown, in the end had the game-deciding turnover with 32 seconds left that allowed Wizards to go up by 5. (And though the Final Two Minute Report will certainly present the Spurs ought to have gotten the ball again nonetheless down three and an opportunity to tie it since Daniel Gafford blatantly held Victor Wembanyama down on the offensive rebound try of their final bucket, the Spurs weren’t complaining about that as a result of they knew it by no means ought to gotten to that time within the first place.)

That’s not the look of a cellar-dwelling staff shrugging off “simply one other loss”. They need to have received final night time, they usually knew they blew it. After spending latest weeks preventing off the demons of blowing double-digit leads from the primary half the season, they let their complacency return final night time. Perhaps they’d gotten slightly too used (relative) success, having gone 5-6 of their final 11 video games, and assumed the win would simply occur contemplating the opponent and having a principally wholesome squad, however this sport taught them they don’t seem to be but at a stage the place wins will simply come naturally, even in opposition to equal or inferior groups. They should battle each night time whatever the opponent, venue or circumstances.

Regardless of the loss, this staff has nonetheless turned a nook in latest weeks, and we would look again finally night time as an vital studying level when revisiting the arc of this whole season down the street. I’m prepared to wager that they study and develop from final night time, and win or lose, you’ll see a a lot stronger effort on Wednesday when the Magic come to city.

Takeaways

We’re reaching some extent the place merely a 20-10 night time from Wemby is sort of “meh”, and that’s saying lots for a rookie no matter if he’s a generational expertise. Final night time’s 22-11-4-3 stat doesn’t off the web page (despite the fact that it ought to), however a better take a look at the sport itself explains why. He shot 9-19 from the sector, which isn’t horrible, however he was additionally 0-4 from three with 4 turnovers, many of the careless selection. I suppose the purpose is, the truth that he put up that stat line as a rookie, and we’re over right here shrugging about it’s a signal of nice issues to return. Assuming Wemby stays wholesome and may proceed to play 30-35 min per sport from right here on, it’s fairly attainable he at the very least catches Tim Duncan (36) within the variety of 20-10 video games for a Spurs rookie, though David Robinson is likely to be robust to beat with 47. (Oh, and a reminder, each of these guys have been full grown adults once they entered the league. Take into consideration that.)
I get why veterans like Doug McDermott and Cedi Osman are on the buying and selling block, however regardless of the Spurs get in return for them if they’re dealt (understanding Brian Wright, he’ll need picks firstly), I simply hope it contains shooters. Three-point taking pictures is the Spurs’ largest weak spot, and none of their prime 5 gamers are dependable in that division (but). They’re engaged on it — for instance, Jeremy Sochan has proven vital enchancment in restricted makes an attempt — however nobody may be counted on to ship on a nightly foundation but. My private hope is at the very least one in all McDermott or Osman stick round for the remainder of the season to supply offense off the bench, and if they’re dealt, hopefully some precise expertise comes again of their place, not simply draft picks which will or could not ship.
I wish to make one factor clear: I’ve not given up on Zach Collins. I do know some followers have, and that’s simply the character of the beast, but when the Spurs can get final season’s model of him again, they are going to be significantly better off. He has been requested to do an excessive amount of this season, akin to play point-center and be a fringe participant whereas beginning subsequent to Wemby. Then, simply when he was getting right into a circulate with the second unit, he suffered an ankle harm that’s nonetheless bothering at the moment. Sure, Dominick Barlow has proven huge enchancment from final 12 months, and it’s attainable that if the Spurs re-sign him subsequent season (on what must be assured contract since gamers can’t signal greater than two two-way contracts), he could have taken one other leap to the purpose that Collins is expendable. However he’s not there but, and the Spurs are nonetheless higher off with Collins when he’s wholesome and on his sport. Personally, I’m rooting for him to seek out his kind once more.