Welcome to the Week in Overview: a Monday function that appears again on the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a have a look at the week forward, and extra. Take pleasure in!
Week 18: The Spurs went winless of their return from the All-Star break, with a few tight losses to good groups a foul one to a not-so-good crew.
Week 19: 2-1 (13-48, fifteenth in West) — 105-114 L @ Minnesota Timberwolves; 132-118 W vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder; 117-105 W vs. Indiana Pacers
For the championship Spurs, the Rodeo Highway Journey acted as a time for the crew to come back collectively and begin their robust push in direction of the postseason. For the rebuilding Spurs, it’s simply an exhausting highway journey with little aid, making house video games all of the extra appreciated. There could also be speak of the Spurs shifting on from the Frost Financial institution Heart to a brand new and improved location sooner or later, however not less than for now, it’s nonetheless house candy house.
First, they needed to get there by ending off the RRT in Minnesota, the place they suffered a blowout loss that wasn’t almost as shut as the ultimate rating indicated as they suffered by means of their second straight recreation with 20-plus turnovers, trying utterly helpless, demoralized and never like a crew with a acknowledged objective of constructing in direction of the longer term within the ultimate stretch of the season. They have been trying so dangerous that Gregg Popovich even experimented with benching his predominant gamers in consecutive video games to discover a spark.
It seems, the one spark they wanted was their house crowd. In opposition to a Thunder crew that had throttled them of their prior two conferences, the Spurs seemed like a wholly completely different crew. They protected the ball, their starters all shot lights-out from three, and Victor Wembanyama put in yet one more stellar efficiency towards his direct Rookie of the Yr rival Chet Holmgren, all symbolically capped off Wemby blocking the 7-footer’s jumper — one thing solely he might pull off. It was a complete-180 from how the crew had been taking part in, made all of the extra thrilling by who the opponent was.
Lastly was one other matchup towards a playoff sure crew within the Pacers, who additionally function one of many prime offenses within the league however have struggled with Tyrese Haliburton not being himself since coming back from damage. The Spurs offense wasn’t fairly as scorching because it was towards OKC, however Wemby remained on a tear, and the Spurs performed wonderful protection all evening. Regardless that TJ McConnell did his greatest to fill within the function of Spurs-killer left behind by Buddy Hield, everybody else was held in examine. The tip end result was one other thrilling house victory and reminder what the Spurs might be after they carry out nicely on each ends of the court docket.
Energy Rankings
John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 25 (final week: 28)
OffRtg: 109.5 (27) DefRtg: 117.3 (24) NetRtg: -7.8 (26) Tempo: 102.2 (3)
The post-break Spurs have seemed much more aggressive, even after they haven’t gained. However they’ve gained their final two video games, ending the Thunder’s six-game profitable streak on Thursday.
Two takeaways
1. The Spurs have scored 114.5 factors per 100 possessions (thirteenth) over their six video games for the reason that All-Star break, up from 109.0 per 100 (twenty eighth) earlier than the break. Solely the Celtics have seen an even bigger leap and 7 completely different Spurs have averaged double-figures over the six video games.
2. These seven Spurs are led by Victor Wembanyama, who’s shot 29-for-64 (45%) from 3-point vary over his final 12 video games and blocked 43 pictures over his final eight. Over that latter stretch, the Spurs have been 27.5 factors per 100 possessions higher with the rookie on the ground (plus-9.4) than they’ve been with him off the ground (minus-18.1), with massive differentials on each offense and protection.
That is the fourth time that the Spurs have gained two straight video games. Their subsequent probability for his or her first three-game profitable streak will come within the constructing (the Toyota Heart) wherein they shot a season-worst 5-for-41 (12%) from 3-point vary in early December.
Brett Siegel, Clutch Factors — 25 (final week: 27)
Victor Wembanyama sealed the deal on the Rookie of the Yr race this previous week when he and the San Antonio Spurs took down Chet Holmgren and the Thunder. On this recreation, Wemby had 28 factors, 13 rebounds, seven assists, 5 blocks, and two steals.
Not solely is Wembanyaa in competition for Rookie of the Yr, however a extremely robust case may very well be made for him to win Defensive Participant of the Yr as nicely. The French phenom has recorded not less than 5 blocks in 17 video games this season, together with six of his final eight video games. Relating to his steals and blocks, which many seek advice from as “shares,” Wembanyama is averaging 6.0 shares per recreation.
The 20-year-old is a generational expertise that has the Spurs on the verge of being a power as soon as extra.
Arising: Tues. 3/5 @ Houston Rockets; Thurs. 3/7 @ Sacramento Kings; Sat. 3/9 @ Golden State Warriors
Prediction: 2-1 — The Spurs are proper again on the highway forward of an eight-game homestand beginning subsequent week (which all of the sudden sounds extraordinarily intriguing), so hopefully they’ll carry a few of their present momentum with them. The Rockets are slumping, however the matchup between these two groups are all the time loopy (and heated). The Kings have been middling however are a troublesome matchup for the Spurs, and the Warriors are rising since shifting Klay Thompson to a sixth man function however are nonetheless vulnerable to some fairly dangerous losses. Something can occur.
