Season 49, Game 48
San Antonio 103, Cleveland 117
39-8, 2nd in the West
If this week was a test for the Spurs, they just barely passed. We’re talking D+ (not a grade they like to give out [that’s for Tommy Boy fans]), and that plus is only for the 31-point win against the Rockets. But in the games that really mattered, the Spurs failed to show.
Thankfully, this week was more of a pre-test that’s not counted towards the final grade. While getting blown out by two contenders never looks good, the Spurs have an opportunity to use these games to learn, re-focus, and understand that, as amazing a season they’ve had so far, they’ve accomplished nothing yet.
As for Saturday’s game specifically, let’s start with the bright spots, since there were so few: Kyle Anderson and Jonathon Simmons played well. Simmons in particular showed me something, and I won’t be surprised to see his minutes continue to increase in the regular season as Pop prepares him for a playoff rotation spot. I was especially impressed with his individual defense on Irving, and his overall defensive tenacity. He is scrappy and unafraid of the big moment. He was also perhaps the only Spurs player who competed as if this was an important game.
Everything else was pretty dim. Aldridge got into early foul trouble and never found his rhythm. Manu looked every bit of his 38 years, getting snuffed out at the rim on at least 3 occasions (once just by the rim).
(David Richard, USA TODAY Sports)
Boban looked completely outmatched by Mozgov, losing him on most defensive possessions and failing to use his size on offense. The defense couldn’t stop anybody, alternately giving up huge quarters to Kevin Love, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving. LeBron got the best of Kawhi, showing that Kawhi still has a ways to go to being the every night playoff superstar that we all expect he’ll be in a few months.
Mostly, though, this was a failure of defense. As it was Monday night in Oakland. For ‘the best defensive team in the NBA’, this is very troubling.
The big talking point coming out after the firing of Dave Blatt in Cleveland was that the Cavs needed to run more. The Spurs were happy to oblige, showing little to no resistance in transition defense. Even off of Spurs’ baskets, the Cavs were out in transition, as both James and Irving just ran it down the gut of the defense, with Spurs defenders haplessly backpedaling. That is inexcusable, particularly as good transition defense is a tenet of Pop’s defensive principles.
When the Cavs weren’t scoring easy layups in transition or making every shot in the half court, the Spurs gave up way too many second chance points off of offensive rebounds. Again, strong defensive rebounding is the backbone of Pop’s defense, and it was lackluster tonight.
By late in the 2nd quarter, Pop went to a 2-3 Zone, switching to a 1-3-1 Zone in the 2nd half. A zone is a nice change-up look, but when you make it your only defensive look, you’re basically saying you’re giving up and you can’t guard the other team. It threw the Cavs for a bit, but as any good NBA team will, eventually they figured it out. And while zones can confound the other team for a bit, they leave the defense vulnerable to offensive rebounds and wide open 3-pointers (particularly off of rebounds). Again, the Spurs were happy to oblige, letting the Cavs get too many second chance points and too many wide open 3-pointers.
The Spurs lost badly. Ultimately, it’s just one loss, and probably doesn’t mean much. Eventually, though, these losses start to mean something. When the Spurs are the only ‘elite’ team not showing up to the big games, you can start to question how elite they truly are. We’re not there yet, but this week offers too many questions and no answers.
The Magic come to San Antonio on Monday night. The Rodeo Road Trip is right around the corner.
Go Spurs Go.
