Season 50, Game 05
San Antonio 91, Utah 106
4-1
It looks like the early season schedule finally caught up with the Spurs. After playing 5 games in 8 nights, and traveling from the Bay Area to San Antonio to Miami back to San Antonio, the Spurs looked a little flat on Tuesday night.
Not to take anything away from the Jazz. They played a great game, bolstered by exceptionally hot 3-pt shooting (15-31 on the night). Even down a few key players, they just kept attacking the Spurs relentlessly. Normally a strength, the Spurs’ bench was thoroughly outmatched against the Jazz bench. Shelvin Mack, Trey Lyles, and Joe Ingles all outplayed their counterparts on the opposing bench.
The Spurs were able to make a few pushes, but the Jazz always had an answer. With about 5 minutes left, the Spurs seemed to finally run out of gas, only managing 5 points in the final 5 minutes, with the game ending on a 10-0 Jazz run.
There were just too many little mistakes, both mental and physical. Miscommunication. An unwillingness to attack the paint (where the always fearsome Gobert was waiting). Settling for mildly contested jump shots. Being content with ‘good’, never seeking out ‘great’. On the other side, defenders were shook loose a little too easily by screens. The Jazz hot shooting was aided by the Spurs being a step slow to most close outs.
These are all symptoms of fatigue, tired legs. With this early season schedule, a loss was in there somewhere, we just weren’t quite sure where. This loss is easily understood and accepted.
However, this game did expose the fault lines for this team, the places where the cracks might occur. Attacking the rim can be problematic, with no real slasher on the team. If the outside shots aren’t falling, there is too much reliance on “save us, Kawhi” (which, to be fair, is a reasonable answer to many questions). With so many new faces, the team can no longer rely on chemistry to eke out of many a tight spot.
On defense, the team is particularly vulnerable at PG and C. You know, the two points of attack for pick and roll, only the most important basketball play to be able to defend. George Hill made Parker and Gasol look silly again and again on simple pick and rolls or just lone attacks to the paint. Parker, never a great defender, gets even worse with each step lost. And Gasol will never be mistaken for Duncan. He is close to blocking the layups, but never quite gets there. Makes you appreciate Timmy’s uncanny flat-footed rim protection even more.
The team really misses Danny Green on both ends of the floor. He can help out with the guard defense, and his shooting should hopefully be a boon to the starter’s offense. Simmons, given his first start of the season, did not impress filling in for Green. Simmons natural role is off the bench. Green is the player that allows the entire guard rotation to work properly.
On the plus side, Kawhi had another excellent night. He needed a bit more help, and it just wasn’t there.
The Spurs get another shot at the Jazz on Friday night, this time in Utah.
Go Spurs Go.
