SAN ANTONIO – Victor Wembanyama had some causes to be grateful Sunday night time.
On the one hand, his again had not bothered him for 48 minutes. Longer than that, really, however throughout all the San Antonio Spurs dwelling recreation towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, he had no ache.
Secondly, the San Antonio Spursregardless of an undisciplined defeat, was nonetheless among the many mass of Western Convention groups with a minimum of 13 wins. They had been nonetheless in rivalry for a spot within the Play-In match or higher and a poor capturing efficiency did not change that.
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“Proper now I really feel like we’re a part of the stacked West,” Wembanyama defined. “It’s a pleasure to have the ability to compete for (these) locations. To trip alongside these groups which were nice for a few years.”
It was definitely totally different from a season in the past. Regardless of Wembanyama’s presence, the Spurs struggled to shut out video games, keep leads or carry out properly sufficient to play in entrance most nights. They definitely could not say the phrase “playoffs” both.
In different phrases, they’re lastly becoming in.
“It’s so totally different from final yr,” Wembanyama mentioned along with his standard optimism. “It’s a pleasure.”
Usually, a group that prides itself on being aggressive and within the combine can be on an upward development. Amid a slew of accidents – sufficient to increase San Antonio’s first “full power” night time of the season even additional into December – and a disastrous loss to probably the greatest groups within the West, it did not seem to be the Spurs match such an outline. .
Except, after all, they know that this defeat just isn’t consultant of their potential.
“There was nothing that occurred tonight that felt like the underside was falling out,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson mentioned, “or something that we all know is not going to occur.” just isn’t, for probably the most half, underneath our management.”
A few of these issues included successful the rebounding battle, committing fewer turnovers – an issue that has plagued San Antonio because the begin of the season – and easily making pictures.
If all these items contributed to creating the ship unstable on Sunday, it was the latter that sank it.
“Everybody has the correct intention,” Harrison Barnes mentioned. “Guys try to make the correct performs… (however) whenever you’re enjoying half court docket, it’s a must to struggle for the small print. I assumed we misplaced them tonight.”
“It was nonetheless a superb defensive efficiency,” added Wembanyama. “We didn’t make any pictures.”
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As ugly because the night time was, there was by no means a sense of “hazard”, because the 20-year-old defined. And nonetheless with out three key rotating items, the Spurs want a combined bag reasonably than a complete wash.
Nonetheless, an incomplete rotation just isn’t an appropriate excuse.
“It’s going to be uncommon to have everybody on the similar time,” Wembanyama mentioned. “We have to catch up.”
San Antonio remains to be removed from a totally wholesome roster. Including Stephon Fortress was a constructive begin, however with Zach Collins, Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones nonetheless engaged on their returns, there can be quite a lot of catching as much as do.
“Basically, we have to be extra organized,” Barnes mentioned. “We have now a plan, a technique. We sort of know what works… Tonight was extra of an anomaly from what we have been doing than a cause to fret.
“I do not suppose there’s an issue. I feel we really like the place we’re.”
On the high of the schedule, the Spurs will face the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Path Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers earlier than their massive Christmas Day recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Performing properly in these contests might imply heading into the brand new yr with a number of video games above .500 simply in time for a possible return from Gregg Popovich, or on the very least, a brand new successful streak.
LEARN MORE: How the Spurs can clip the Hawks’ wings on each ends of the ground
Photographs might ensue, however San Antonio has no intention of letting them get slowed down. In reality, nothing appears to have such energy. Particularly not an irregular efficiency.
“Oh, no,” Wembanyama replied when requested in regards to the backside drop. “We by no means felt like we had been in peril.”
Fortuitously, one other lengthy relaxation between video games offers Mitch Johnson and firm an opportunity to proceed to reset. The prolonged break is probably not one thing they’ve skilled earlier than, but it surely additionally comes at a superb time.
Spurs are able to hold pushing; Completely even they sit.
Slot in completely within the Western Convention.
“It’s simply one other reminder that the summit just isn’t distant,” Wembanyama mentioned. “It is a brief path. A really troublesome path, but it surely’s proper there.”
