As much as winning the draft lottery and the 7'3 generational prospect prize that came with it sent the city into hysteria, the perception of the 2022-2023 San Antonio Spurs added to the intrigue.
Tons of questions surround any NBA team that wins just 22 of 82 games. But unique types of questions surrounded last year's version of the Silver and Black. Most importantly: especially when accounting for their youth, were the Spurs really as bad their record? And if not, what could a young core a year in look like with Victor Wembanyama in the fold?
Organizationally, the goal wasn't to win last season. That their best players frequently found themselves on the injured list, excluding Devin Vassell's season-ending knee surgery, was not a coincidence. When Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Malaki Branham did play together, they showed flashes.
Any flashes of brilliance seem like a distant memory nowadays.
“It sucks,” center Zach Collins reveals.
Struggles a year in the making
The 2023-24 Spurs admittedly sound like a broken record. They don't have the answers on why consistency has so thoroughly plagued them through a 4-25 record.
ClutchPoints asked multiple Spurs if the mounting frustration dates back to last season given the potential that excited many in and around the organization heading into October.
“It definitely does. You'd like to build on what we did last year and we haven't done that yet in terms of wins and, yeah, it's frustrating,” Collins shared. “I keep saying it but we see where we can play well. We see the stretches we go on, how good we can be and then we just let off the gas. I don't know what it is. I don't know if it's the sense of urgency, if it's getting comfortable. I don't know what it is but that's the most frustrating part, I want to say.”
“Both years are frustrating in the way that we're not winning,” second-year forward turned point guard turned forward again, Jeremy Sochan said. “We're on a losing streak again and we want to win. That's the end goal. We want to win together. I wouldn't say it's more frustrating this year than last year, no.”
Gregg Popovich not happy
Through the struggles, Gregg Popovich has kept a mostly positive demeanor. That changed following Tuesday's 130-118 loss to the Utah Jazz.
“We're still searching for consistency. We're not consistent offensively or defensively. We go in spurts and really haven't matured enough to understand that winning an NBA game is difficult and calls for consistency,” the Hall of Fame coach continued before stating that line up changes may be in store. “It's a 48 minute game and you can't be consistent on offense and execute on defense for 20 minutes of the game. You're not going to win that way.”
The Spurs look to break a five-game losing streak Thursday night in Portland. A second-year guard who has spent a big chunk of this season with the G League's Austin Spurs appears to be picking up Pop's positive slack.
“We're young. We just got Victor. We're a young team, we're building. We've got to get better on the defensive end most importantly,” Blake Wesley insists. “It's a process. Nobody likes to lose but we're going to get together, we're going to win a couple of games.”
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