A short trip home against the Washington Wizards felt like a mirage on this NBA odyssey that the San Antonio Spurs have been going on. The Spurs had been in 10 different cities since November 23rd. Through
it all, they have thrived, toppling challenge after challenge. You’d think that this team would be showing signs of fatigue at some point. A quick turnaround against the Atlanta Hawks proved to be no issue, as the Spurs dominated every aspect of the game for a 126-98 victory.
It’s been a while since San Antonio has steamrolled a team from tip-off to the final buzzer. Doing it on the second game of a back-to-back whilst dealing with the hangover of an NBA Cup loss is even more impressive. The depth and resilience of this team are the best it has been in years.
It’s been most evident in the last month, and especially the last few games. The team isn’t just able to tread water while Victor Wembanyama isn’t on the court, but plays admirably well. With him back in the fold, they have a claim to be one of the best teams in the NBA. The Hawks had no chance when Wembanyama checked into the game. He had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks in just 21 minutes. There wasn’t a player on the court who could guard him, and as usual, he completely shifted the Hawks’ offensive gameplan.
He’s backed up by players who are elite in their roles. Their trio of guards all bring something different and important to the table. Stephon Castle has become a two-way beast who is on his way to being a star. Dylan Harper is inexperienced but elite at getting to the rim and finishing. De’Aaron Fox is savvy enough to know when he needs to turn it on and when he needs to defer. Devin Vassell has thrived as the fourth option. Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson are some of the best bench wings in the league. Luke Kornet’s screening, rim protection, and lob finishing hold the fort down while Wemby is out.
San Antonio is now 20-7. It took them 42 games to win 2o last season. They have the fourth-best record in the NBA and are just 4.5 games back from the one seed in the Western Conference. With the talent and motivation this team has, the sky is the limit. It’s been easy to put restrictions on this team because of their youth, but this recent stretch has shown that they are for real. Part of being an elite team is taking care of business against the teams you’re much better than. Friday night’s blowout shows they are starting to understand that.
Takeaways:
- Just to wax poetic a bit more about Wembanyama. His game-changing ability in such a short spurt has been crazy to watch in the last four games. When the Spurs fully unleash him, this team is going to take an even greater leap. He could re-enter the MVP conversation if he keeps this level of play up over 30+ minutes.
- I love seeing Vassell in this off-ball role. The game started with him getting red-hot from three. In years past, the Spurs have needed him to play on the ball and create, and the results have been mixed. Playing off Castle, Fox, and Harper, he’s able to space the floor and attack advantages when they arise. It’s a luxury to have him as the fourth option in the starting five.
- Jeremy Sochan’s 10 minutes came almost entirely in garbage time on Friday. It’s a tough situation for Sochan, who seems just off in his reduced role. I’m still a Sochan believer and think he just needs the right situation to thrive. Whether that is in San Antonio or elsewhere remains to be seen. It feels like he just needs a chance.
- When can we start talking about KJ as a 6th man of the year candidate? He’s impacting the game in so many ways off the bench. He had 13 points, was active on the boards, and played some respectable defense. The Spurs bench is one of the best in the league, and he is its leader. He should be in the mix when awards conversations start.
