The Spurs avoided the “trap” series against the tanking Blazers
Mini-series - or consecutive games against the same opponent - are difficult for a number of reasons. Teams get used to playing a game before moving on to study the next team, so repetition and complacency can become an issue. Similarly, repeated games give each opponent a chance to make adjustments, and the other side may or may not be ready.
They were a common occurrence in last season's COVID-condensed schedule when the league was trying to limit travel, exposure and make contact-tracing a little easier, and for whatever reason, the Spurs weren't very good at them. In a total of 10 miniseries, they only went 4–16: not even close to breaking without winning a single series.
There were only two such series this season: a home-and-home match against the Denver Nuggets in December, where the Spurs split the result, and a home-and-home finish against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday and Sunday - both wins. 3-1 is certainly an improvement from last season (albeit in a much smaller sample size), and while some might say it was all but one they would clearly win these last two games against the tanking club. - or at least as close as you can get with these Spurs - last night they still showed why no sport can be taken lightly, especially when it comes to miniseries.
With Dejonte Murray already down for the second straight game for an upper respiratory illness, Jacob Poelt was added to the injury list with a "back pain" (which we all know is code for rest), so this Yet another fresh start was Zack Collins joining Trey Jones (and Josh Primo, if you include Doug McDermott's absence) as a part-time debutante. On top of that, Jock Landell had to leave after just six minutes of play after spraining his ankle, so the Spurs were down to just a big man (good thing Collins is no longer on a one-minute ban) and some Forced to play playful. lineup
Combine that with the potential level of complacency due to taking out the same team in two of their last five matches overall, and Spurs really had to work towards this win, possibly more than they expected. The embarrassed team doesn't go down easily, and the Blazers put up a fight that unsuspecting, shorthanded Spurs suffered the season before their superior talent finally came to an end in the second half.
It wasn't the prettiest of victories, but the Spurs escaped the trap of the miniseries (and the same opponent for three out of six games) to create a two-game cushion — three if you count the tie-breakers — between Get a game closer to the Pelicans to own and the Lakers and ninth seed for the play-in. Given the way they struggled down the stretch last season (of course not an issue with this team due to outright exhaustion), it's good to see they take care of business in the games they need. And reach the peak at the right time this season. This is a step in the right direction for the future.
Takeaway
- Keldon Johnson continues to impress. His 28-point outing was his sixth straight with 20+ points, and the only other Spur to do so at 22 years or less was Tim Duncan with 13. Johnson's energy and enthusiasm is infectious, and he carried the torch of Top Dog well into the night. A lot of attention this summer will be on Lonnie Walker and the draft, but Johnson will be eligible to sign a contract extension, which kicks in for the 2023-24 season. Will the Spurs treat him the same way they did with Murray and Derrick White: make a nice but not over-the-top offer that he'll accept before it's worth even more, or wait and ban Take the risk of killing free agency. in 2023? It's a big question that probably many people thought would go ahead this season, and yet here we are.
- About a month ago, I complained about Trey Jones not taking the open three he was given, and that it's better to get into the flow of offense and miss him than not take him at all. Last night he did just that, hitting 2-4 out of three without hesitation, and it not only led to confidence, but it also opened up the driving lane and allowed him to play more to his strengths. Shooting outside is the missing piece of his game, and if he can make it a permanent addition going forward, he'll have a solid NBA career that many don't get in the second round.