The San Antonio Spurs’ 2023-2024 preseason schedule received underway Monday night on the highway in Oklahoma Metropolis, because the Spurs narrowly fell to the Thunder by one level within the opening recreation.
Victor Wembanyma and Chet Holmgren had spectacular begins for his or her respective golf equipment.
Wembanyama began and performed within the first three quarters of the sport, ending with a workforce excessive 20 factors on 8 of 13 taking pictures, 5 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, and 1 block.
“I used to be actually actually excited, there was a hearth inside me,” stated Wembanyama after the sport of the anticipation he had main as much as the sport.
“I believed it was enjoyable,” stated Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich of Wembanyama’s first preseason recreation. “He simply went out and performed. No large gameplan or something, he simply went out and performed basketball.”
Right here had been some observations of Wembanyama on offense:
Wembanyama primarily had Luguentz Dort or Jalen Williams guarding him defensively. When he had Williams guarding him, he would strive to enter the submit to attempt to create for himself or for his teammates. There was a possession the place he was within the submit, noticed the Thunder double workforce coming and was affected person earlier than delivering the ball close to the rim to a teammate who was reducing.
On one other possession, Wembanyama was matched up with Holmgren. He put the ball on the ground from exterior and drove in previous Holmgren for the and-1 alternative.
The Spurs gamers have been saying how as soon as a recreation Wembanyama can have a ‘wow’ second the place he makes a play that’s astonishing. That play occurred within the second quarter, the place Wembanyama drove into the paint, noticed a number of defenders, used a spin to keep away from the protection and completed with an up-and-under left handed layup in midair.
Wembanyama additionally confirmed how comfy he’s out on the arc, the place he made two arc 3s within the recreation. On one three he popped out shortly for the three and drilled it with the defender being smaller than him and having little impact along with his shot contest. On one other three, he acquired a dribble-hand-off alongside the arc, sidestepped with a dribble and hit the opposite three.
Concerning his capability to see double groups coming, Wembanyama stated it’s one thing he expects anytime he tries to drive into the paint. “Loads of instances I do 1 step towards the basket and see 2 to three pairs of eyes simply trying straight at me…and so they overlook their man, and I can discover simple appears to be like generally like this.”
Right here had been some observations of Wembanyama on protection:
Although Wembanyama is 7’3″ on the roster web page, the Spurs had him guarding Dort who’s often stationed out on the wing on the arc, or within the corners. With Dort stationed exterior, this gave Wembanyama the flexibility to create havoc when Thunder gamers tried to drive inside from the arc into the paint. Wembanyama would use his size to swipe at ball handlers on the drive and he got here up with 2 steals within the course of. Doing this and enjoying out on the wing defensively allowed Wembanya to expire when the Spurs collected the steal or if the Thunder missed a shot, which led to transition baskets on the opposite finish, with little shot contests.
There was one possession when Jalen Williams used a crossover to get by Wembanyama and he headed to the paint. Wembanyama shortly recovered and was nonetheless in a position to block the layup try by Williams.
Whereas he didn’t spend quite a lot of time within the paint, on a number of events when he was close to, Wembanyama was in a position to make a layup try for the opponent troublesome as he tried to contest the shot.
After the sport, Popovich stated because the Spurs get extra acquainted with Wembanyama, they’ll determine the place greatest to have him on the ground, both inside or exterior. “We’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine if he needs to be on the perimeter or within the submit and in what conditions the place we will take most benefit of his talents.” Popovich stated Wembanyama will spend time in each areas, although the workforce first wants to have a look at some elements like percentages or it may very well be matchup dependent.
“I’m very hopeful, as a result of we had some sequences particularly within the first half defensively, we had been like one collectively on the courtroom,” stated Wembanyama after the sport of the Spurs’ protection Monday.
Lineup Notes
Earlier than the sport, it was reported each Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan wouldn’t play on account of normal soreness.
The Spurs began with Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Wembanyama, and Zach Collins.
Whereas it was only a preseason recreation, this beginning group might give a touch as to what gamers the Spurs plan on having within the beginning 5 minus Champagnie. Maybe both Johnson or Sochan shall be slotted in that fifth spot as soon as the entire workforce is wholesome.
For the second unit, the Spurs had Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham, Cedi Osman, Doug McDermott, and Charles Bassey play within the first three quarters. When Johnson and Sochan return, not solely will the Spurs add one other participant to the second unit, however Champagnie might additionally discover himself in that group as properly.
Gamers not within the rotation Monday who received enjoying time within the fourth had been Sandro Mamukelashvili, Devonte’ Graham, Sidy Cissoko, Sir’Jabari Rice, Dominick Barlow, and Charles Bediako.
Khem Birch was the one different Spurs participant apart from Johnson and Sochan who didn’t play on account of a training resolution per the NBA field rating.
