Because the All-Star break involves a detailed, the Spurs return to their annual rodeo street journey this Friday in Washington. They’re 3-2 to date by way of 5 video games; throughout which, they’ve needed to considerably redefine their id after sending Derrick White to Boston. As they return to motion in opposition to the Wizards, listed here are just a few storylines to control.
Dejounte Murray Solidifying Standing as The Centerpiece Going Ahead
In every week the place Spurs followers have been nonetheless conflicted on how one can really feel concerning the Derrick White commerce and the way the beginning lineup will look going ahead, Dejounte Murray completely solidified himself as THE GUY. In Atlanta, DJ put up an absurd 32 factors, 10 rebounds, 15 assists and 4 steals. He then adopted it up the following day with one other implausible efficiency posting 31 factors, 12 assists and a pair of steals, changing into the primary participant in historical past to report not less than 30 factors and 10 assists with 1 or fewer turnovers in consecutive video games.
However extra importantly, he garnered this gem of a tweet from Manu:
(Spurs) Dejounte Murray 63pts, 27asists, 17rebs and 6stls within the final two video games. 🤯 Wonderful b2b performances!
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) February 13, 2022
It was additionally very well mannered of Manu to preface the tweet with (spurs)… simply in case we didn’t know.
Because the Derrick White commerce, Murray is averaging 25 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists per sport… all whereas barely turning the ball over AND nonetheless main the league in steals per sport. It’s been fairly clear this season that the Spurs have their centerpiece going ahead, now it’s about surrounding him with the best individuals.
Lonnie Breaking Out of His Droop
The Lonnie Walker expertise, to date, has been very up and down. As a Spurs fan, all of us have reminiscences of moments Lonnie flashes unreal potential and takes over offensively for a stretch (his popping out occasion in opposition to the Rockets will all the time be burned into my mind). Nonetheless, we even have loads of examples of Lonnie wanting uncontrolled at instances and turning it over in back-to-back possessions.
When he was in his hunch, it appeared like Lonnie was consistently making an attempt to play at 100 mph. The ball would swing to him, and he would attempt so laborious to only explode by his defender and make one thing occur that he would typically over-penetrate and switch the ball over or pressure up an off-balance shot.
He was taking part in like somebody who was conscious he was in a hunch and was making an attempt to interrupt out of it in a single play.
Lonnie appeared to interrupt out of it this week (17 pts 61% vs pels, 21pts 52% vs bulls, 17 pts 37% in throughout sloppy offensive sport from everybody). He appeared rather more decisive in all the pieces he was doing on offense, reducing to the rim, working within the decide and roll, or pulling up in rhythm, all the pieces he did simply appeared rather more below management.
Keldon Johnson Stepping Up
DJ is the chief of this squad for the foreseeable future, however Keldon could very nicely be the engine. There’s no query Dejounte runs the present, however when Keldon is rolling offensively, the entire offense appears rather more dynamic. In his first 4 video games for the reason that Derrick White commerce, Keldon’s averaged roughly 19 factors per sport and has appeared like somebody able to shoulder extra of the offensive load going ahead.
At this level, it’s protected to say Keldon is a licensed sniper when recognizing up from 3. On the season, he’s taking pictures 42.5% from past the arc on 4.5 makes an attempt per sport, so this isn’t a small pattern measurement anymore, he’s taking pictures at quantity now and knocking them down. And his makes look nice, I swear when he hits his threes he completely smokes the online each time.
Devin Adjusting to Beginning Offensively
It’s been an up and down week for Vassell offensively. Coming off his homecoming in opposition to the Hawks the place he lit it up with 20 factors on simply 13 pictures, Devin struggled to seek out his shot in opposition to the Pelicans and the Bulls earlier than selecting it again up earlier than the all-star break in opposition to the Thunder.
It’s no shock to see a bit little bit of rising pains offensively as he learns to play complimentary to DJ and Keldon within the beginning lineup. However you’ll be able to see it in his sport that he can shoot from nearly anyplace on the ground, it’s simply going to take time for him to be taught the place to select his spots offensively.
Defensively, nonetheless, Devin hasn’t skipped a beat, his on-ball protection is nice and his capability to play passing lanes off-ball is similar to Dejounte’s.
There may be a lot potential for Dejounte and Devin to wreak havoc on opposing offenses with their size.
