They say beating a team three times in a row is difficult. As we’ve seen over decades of playoff series, beating them four times in a row is even more rare. Sweeps aren’t something that happens all of the time, especially against historically good teams. In many ways, it shouldn’t surprise fans that the San Antonio Spurs were dominated by the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-98. After the Spurs defeated them thrice before New Year’s Eve, OKC was looking for its revenge, and it got it.
What is more concerning
is that this Spurs team has simply not looked the same since Christmas. Call it hubris from defeating the league’s best team three times in a short stretch, call it a slump, or diagnose the issues stemming from injuries, call it whatever you want – this team has looked poor, going 4-6 in their last 10 games. Against mediocre teams, it looks like close games that the Spurs should have won by double-digits. Against elite teams like OKC, it looks like a blowout where nothing works for a whole half.
San Antonio’s offense is broken right now. They are too isolation-heavy and can’t hit three-pointers. The ball movement and transition offense that thrilled fans early in the season is essentially non-existent this month. Fortunately, their defense has remained one of the best in the NBA. Without it, this stretch could look much worse. Against a team like the Thunder, you have to be nearly perfect on both ends. Shooting 40% from the field and getting outscored 56-40 in the paint won’t get it done.
Now, San Antonio gets to go home for three games. Three winnable games against the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz. It’s time for this team to get back on track and start building momentum so they can get even with OKC in their next and final regular-season matchup on February 4th.
Takeaways:
- It feels like a sin to say this these days, but Victor Wembanyama had a bad game on Tuesday. San Antonio’s defensive strategy of having him be the low man defensively at all times backfired on them in a major way. Oklahoma City drove right at him and found open shooters, of just finished around him. He was too slow-footed and often out of position defensively. His team didn’t do him a lot of favors on the offensive end. There was too much isolation and 1-on-1 play from Wemby, seemingly by design. When the Thunder ratcheted up defensive pressure in the second half, he had a miserable time getting good looks at the basket.
- If anyone finds Harrison Barnes’ jump shot, please return it to the Frost Bank Center at your earliest convenience. Tuesday marked another 0-for-three-point shooting night for the veteran, who has gone ice cold in January, shooting 21.2% from three. Without Devin Vassell in the lineup, the Spurs desperately need Barnes and Julian Champagnie to provide floor spacing. With two of their best shooters disappearing, one from injury and the other from a slump, the Spurs’ offense is missing a key component to what made it successful before the new year.
- Speaking of Vassell, it’s so clear that this team needs him back. Especially against OKC, Vassell provided a needed offensive release valve. Someone who could hit tough shots when things broke down. He’s one of the few Spurs players who can both dribble and shoot. He was also the primary defender on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had his best game against San Antonio this season. Vassell isn’t an elite defender by any means, but just having a big, athletic wing who can take turns with San Antonio’s other perimeter defenders in attempting to slow down SGA seemed to work in their previous matchups.
- De’Aaron Fox has been woefully miscast on this team. He’s done his best work this season as the team’s primary playmaker. When he can operate out of the pick and roll and get downhill in transition, he has been fantastic. What he is not great at is being an off-ball two guard who waits in the corner for his opportunity. Instead, the Spurs have elected to give Stephon Castle primary playmaking responsibilities. It’s good for Castle to develop those skills, but if the Spurs want to win games, the most advantageous setup is having Fox handle the bulk of playmaking duties, while Castle acts as a big, physical wing who screens, cuts, and takes advantage of lanes to the basket coming off ball reversals. The Spurs’ staff has to figure out how to play these two together successfully.
- To end things on a positive note, Dylan Harper looked much better in his minutes on Tuesday. His jump shot was falling, and he made some good defensive plays. It still seems like teams have figured out how to slow him down inside a bit. Regardless, the rookie needed a confidence-boosting game where he saw the ball go in a bit, and he got it against the Thunder.
