We may have just witnessed the most frustrating and exciting game of the season, all in one. For most of the night, Spurs played without energy and looked confused at both ends of the track. Fortunately, they turned the button and turned it on when it mattered most, mounting a furious turnaround in the 106-99 victory against the Bulls.
From the start, San Antonio’s attack crackled, missing open kicks and launching wild passes that were difficult to corner at best, or went straight to the Bulls’ defenders at worst. Jakob Poeltl was the only player to keep the good guys in the game, as he scored the first six points for Spurs and was the team’s cornerstone in defense. However, with the Bulls going five of six beyond the arc to start the game, San Antonio quickly found itself below double digits. Some unforced turns gave Chicago some easy baskets too, with one leading to a fully open dunk for Zach Lavine.
Dejounte Murray had an especially difficult start, losing his first five shots and coughing up the ball in various possessions. Spurs looked like a team that was playing together for the first time, as they entered the same track and didn’t seem to know where to go. On the defensive end, the good guys were being divided by Chicago’s offensive movement, which produced a beautiful ball movement that usually resulted in open kicks from three. In the first two quarters, Spurs made just two of their 16 three-point attempts and were lucky that the Bulls hit just 6 to 19 of the arc, given the quality of their appearance.
The start of the third quarter was not much better, with San Antonio losing 20 to five minutes from the end of the third. Fortunately, they had some impressive plays from Lonnie Walker IV. With his shot not falling, Walker decided to drive more, resulting in several beautiful submissions around the basket. Patty Mills also provided his usual spark off the bench, which forced Chicago to chase him every time he passed the half-court.
The turn of the game came at the end of the third day, when Pop made the team use an entire court press. Applying extra pressure to the Bulls’ ball handlers resulted in a 12-0 streak that continued into the final quarter, and the Spurs reduced Chicago’s lead to one with less than 10 minutes remaining. It looked like the basketball gods had done a Freaky Friday on the teams. San Antonio was clicking on the attack, as it moved the ball efficiently and generated a good appearance for the open pitchers, while the Bulls suddenly forgot how to pass, giving the ball several times as time passed.
In the absence of Demar DeRozan, Murray became the alpha dog at both ends, making life difficult for Lavine while swinging one mid-range jump after another to build San Antonio’s leadership. Spurs’ discipline also played a big factor in the return; the first foul of the fourth was just over two minutes from the end of the game and, at that point, the victory was practically guaranteed. Lavine made things a bit interesting by hitting a few three with time slowing down, but the Spurs completed the comeback with some timely plays from Derrick White, and ended up beating Chicago 39-19 in the final frame.
Wednesday’s game showed the resilience of this team, which is especially impressive given the number of youngsters on the squad. Like all young teams, Spurs can work on their consistency and it is obvious that they miss DeRozan’s calming presence and playing skills. San Antonio has one of the toughest calendars in the league and will need to play more like they did in the second half if they want to make it to the playoffs.
Game notes
- DeRozan lost his fourth run in a row as he continues to take time off due to the death of his father. As much as I want him to get back on the court, it is good for him to take the time he needs, as everyone remembers that there are things that are bigger than basketball.
- Poeltl’s stocks are skyrocketing to the moon! The big guy played one of the best games of his career, ending the night with 20 points and 16 rebounds. He was the only player to keep San Antonio close to Chicago in the first half and hit nine of his 11 shots in the game.
- As I mentioned earlier, Lonnie Walker had some impressive submissions around the basket, which is a great sign considering this has been one of his game’s biggest weaknesses. With his explosive first step and incredible body control, Walker can become one of the most difficult players to contain if his finish continues to improve.
- After a cold first time, Murray really took the reins along the way, slowing Lavine down while creating on the offensive side. With DeRozan out, it was clear that Murray was the right guy for San Antonio and he did not disappoint.
- Derrick White played more than 30 minutes for the first time since the return of the COVID protocols. He struggled hard with his shot, going 4-14 off the field, but he still contributed by rushing in defense by creating goal opportunities for his teammates. It’s only a matter of time before we see Maximum Derrick again.
Next game: vs. Cavaliers on Friday
The Spurs will try to improve their momentum when they face the Cavaliers on Friday. With a brutal remaining schedule, San Antonio needs to take advantage of a struggling Cleveland team and win another victory on the road.