San Antonio is 11-9 after what should have been the first 21 games on its schedule, until the contact tracking of COVID-19 interrupted its fight with the New Orleans Pelicans. While Spurs are not the only ones affected by the health and safety protocols recently instituted this season, they are one of the few organizations in the league that have yet to see several postponements.
Although Prata and Preto started the year with a frustrating tendency to play down to compete less, they recovered monumentally. Coach Gregg Popovich and company eliminated a handful of shorthanded opponents, eliminated two title contenders in the Nuggets and Celtics, and maintained balance in all defeats except for the warriors.
Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker IV are receiving praise from writers across the league. Fiba Patty is doing a darkhorse race in the Sixth Man of the Year, and DeMar DeRozan is well on the way to the fifth All-Star award of his career. There are many good points to be found, and the good guys finally have a clean bill of health for the first time in over a year.
This version of Spurs was incredible, but they are doing more than just producing a brand of rim that is easy to see. San Antonio is translating its small ball strategy into success on the court and has won three of its last four matches. A favorable list of ten games can give them a chance to maintain the playoff aspirations, so let’s skip ahead to opponents to come.
February 1: incentive of São Antônio vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies may still be without some essential rotational players in Grayson Allen and Jonas Valanciunas. And Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justice Winslow have yet to make their Memphis season debut.
Ja Morant is playing as an All-Star in his second round in the NBA, and Memphis extended his winning streak to six games after easily defeating the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.
Brandon Clarke’s disorganized gang, Dillon Brooks, Xavier Tillman, De’Anthony Melton, Tyus Jones, Kyle Anderson and Desmond Bane helped keep Grind City afloat, so don’t write this as an automatic victory.
Verdict: Victory
February 3: San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Although the Spurs split a dispute behind Minnesota the last time they met, San Antonio should have no trouble dispatching the T-Wolves when they visit the AT&T Center for the first time in their season.
A litany of injuries and contact tracking problems have hurt Karl-Anthony Towns and his team from the start. And to be very honest, they have never been in a privileged position to be competitive every night, as built.
Although D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Malik Beasley have added a little talent to this team from last place, it will be difficult for coach Ryan Saunders to divert his club from yet another trip to the lottery.
Verdict: Victory
February 6: San Antonio Spurs @ Houston rockets
Silver and Black also shared a mid-season streak with less than half the strength of the Houston organization a few weeks ago, but their initial defeat to the eight-man Rockets seemed to be a turning point for their mentality.
Up to that point, San Antonio had played regularly to the level of their competition. Since then, they have taken care of business against Trail Blazers and Wizards who live under the sea.
The Rockets have surpassed the 5-3 record since dispatching James Harden at conferences, and his 103.4 Defensive Rating is the NBA’s second best in that period. Strap to another nail rodent.
Verdict: Victory
February 8: San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry and the unrecognizable Warriors defeated San Antonio in the first round earlier this season. And they set up a three-point shooting clinic that recalls the days when their dynasty dominated the league.
Despite success beyond the arc against the Spurs, Golden State is among the least efficient long-range teams. Let’s hope that your supporting cast will return to average at the premiere of this miniseries.
Even if the Dubs cool off the perimeter, the good guys will still have to find an answer to end James Wiseman. The rookie burned our guys the last time, and they had trouble restraining big athletic men.
Verdict: loss
February 9: San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors
We discussed how back-to-backs tend to favor younger teams in my ten-game preview, and while a casual fan may believe San Antonio is old and boring, this is the youngest club of the Popovich era.
Of course, veterans like LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills play a significant role in the night game plan. But less experienced Spurs are also part of the weight.
Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are under 25. And although Derrick White and Jakob Poeltl don’t fall into that category, they still toss their tails at both ends.
Verdict: Victory
February 12: San Antonio Spurs @ Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks may be a disappointment after all the big-name additions out of season, but Atlanta is far from the total shame it once was. And on 10-9, they occupy the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Coach Lloyd Pierce has struggled to integrate and acclimate Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, Solomon Hill and Khris Dunn. And injuries didn’t make his job any easier.
This squad is undoubtedly talented enough to do some legitimate damage if it ever gets on the same page, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that they don’t find out about things before their encounter with the Spurs.
Verdict: Victory
February 14: San Antonio Spurs @ Charlotte Hornets
While Hornets was on my list of surefire lottery hits at the beginning of the season, former Spurs assistant coach James Borrego made this group exceed expectations in a totally brutal first quarter of its lineup.
Charlotte claims the second youngest list (average 24 years old) in the NBA. Still, they distribute 28.3 assists per game, the best in the league, and commit unusually personal fouls per game (27th).
An 8-11 record is not exactly something to write home about. That said, the Hornets are turning heads behind Gordon Hayward’s constant and veteran presence and the supernatural passage of a wildly entertaining LaMelo Ball.
Verdict: loss
February 16: San Antonio Spurs @ Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are a terrible basketball team. And the sudden appearance of seventh-year striker Jerami Grant was one of the few currencies for Detroit out of the possibility of winning the first general choice.
I have no doubt that their front office hit the reset button a year ago, when they swapped All-Star Andre Drummond twice for Brandon Knight, John Henson, and a 2023 selection in the second round.
Detroit seems committed to reconstruction. His young Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey and Sekou Doumbouya nucleus are not ready to contribute to the victory, and Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose are shells of what they were.
Verdict: Victory
February 17: San Antonio Spurs @ Cleveland Cavaliers
While the Pistons are in the early stages of reconstruction, the 7th place Cavaliers look set to make an appearance in the playoffs in 2021. They are not a finished product, but they do have some promising pieces in place.
Rumors of a purchase by Andre Drummond may dampen his momentum, but they did acquire a potential replacement in Jarrett Allen via exchange a few weeks ago. And they also received a revitalized Bull Prince in the process.
Collin Sexton is playing as a perennial All-Star, Darius Garland is beginning to live up to expectations of being the fifth overall choice and Larry Nance Jr. is in the midst of a two-way revival. Don’t sleep on the Cavs.
Verdict: loss
February 20: San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
The Knicks have been better than announced so far, largely due to Julius Randle’s stellar game, whose 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and six assists per game make him play his first All-Star appearance.
New York also received help from Elfrid Payton, Austin Rivers, Reggie Bullock and Nerlens Noel. And RJ Barrett is taking off as a top scorer and point guard in the second year, after an inconsistent rookie campaign.
This clash will be San Antonio’s fifth straight run away from the AT&T Center in what appears to be replacing his perennial Rodeo Road Trip, so don’t be shocked if you notice signs of travel fatigue.
Verdict: Victory
Registration: 7-3 (18-12 overall)