It was a bizarre night time for the San Antonio Spurs, on a number of fronts.
A day that began with one of many San Antonio Spurs’ finest gamers telling the media that the group held a players-only assembly ended with head coach Gregg Popovich taking the general public deal with announcer’s microphone throughout that night time’s sport vs. the Los Angles Clippers to chastise followers for booing former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard.
The backdrop is a now 10-game dropping streak with generational prospect Victor Wembanyama within the fold.
A typical day for the famously ‘boring’ San Antonio Spurs it was not.
The players-only assembly
Within the midst of a skid that has seen the Spurs both blow huge leads or get blown out, the group held a players-only assembly over the weekend. Following the group’s shootaround on Wednesday morning forward of a second straight matchup with the Clippers, Spurs guard Devin Vassell mentioned it occurred “two video games in the past.”
Nonetheless it is outlined, the #Spurs gamers met “two video games in the past” absent the coaches.⬇️
Piece coming with extra particulars… pic.twitter.com/vtMrLT83BB
— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) November 22, 2023
“We talked about it. There is a assembly that we had and I believe that we have addressed loads of stuff and I believe there’s going to be modifications because the 12 months goes on.”
The Spurs are 3-12 in a season that got here with tons of pleasure with the addition of Victor Wembanyama. The 19-year-old high total draft decide this previous June joined a roster filled with younger gamers, although the 24-year-old Vassell mentioned there’s extra to their troubles than inexperience.
“I simply do not suppose that typically we come collectively as a group when stuff goes downhill,” the fourth-year guard mentioned.
“On the finish of the day, it is solely us on the court docket, so we won’t sit right here and get mad at one another, get mad at this individual or get mad on the scenario,” Vassell continued in alluding to the group’s incapability to carry leads.
Vassell, who has missed 5 video games all through the month with a groin damage however returned Wednesday night time with 18 factors in 27 minutes, confirmed gamers met absent the coaches and talked about Saturday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies when requested when the assembly happened. The Spurs blew a 19-point lead in opposition to the Grizzles en path to an eighth straight loss. The Silver and Black have squandered a number of double-digit benefits already this season and have led on the finish of each first quarter at residence aside from these final two video games vs. Los Angeles.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, San Antonio has already endured a very good variety of lopsided outcomes simply 15 video games in. 5 of their 12 losses have come by a minimum of 20 factors, together with Monday’s 124-99 rout in opposition to the Clippers. Three of these shellackings have come by a minimum of 30 factors, two by a minimum of 40. In truth, a 123-87 blowout in Oklahoma Metropolis on November 14 meant the group matched the 1990-91 Denver Nuggets as the one franchises to lose three video games by 30-plus factors of their first 11 of a season.
“No person would not like one another on the group. It is all love right here, so we have simply bought to have the ability to take constructive criticism and simply get higher,” Vassell mentioned.
“Gamers-only assembly sounds a bit of dramatic. It wasn’t like folks had been yelling at one another,” Spurs middle Zach Collins mentioned, citing the group’s youth and a generational distinction as potential causes for an absence of communication which will show a motive for his or her off the court docket troubles.
“That was extra (about) everyone getting vocal; say what you are seeing, and actually simply find time for that area. It was good. Hopefully we will proceed doing that going ahead.”
Talking of going ahead…
Little did Collins know that in simply hours, his head coach would make a lot greater information than even a really uncommon Spurs players-only assembly.
Pop grabs the mic in the course of the sport
With 3:08 remaining within the first half of their sport in opposition to the Clippers, Gregg Popovich, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame this summer season, surprised everybody by strolling over to the general public deal with announcer’s microphone on the Frost Financial institution Heart and, with Kawhi Leonard on the free throw line, requested the group to cease booing the previous Spurs star.
“Excuse me for a second,” Popovich mentioned, “Can we cease all of the booing and let these guys play? Have a bit of class. It’s not who we’re. Knock off the booing.”
Instantly following, most of the followers began booing louder and continued to take action because the half went on. The Spurs, who had been down for many of the sport by double digits, made a run to get inside three at one level earlier than the break. LA took a 54-48 lead into the locker room.
Leonard was traded from San Antonio in July 2018 after he demanded the transfer following a season stuffed with angst. Uncomfortable with group docs’ analysis of a leg damage, he started to rehab away from the group and grew distant from the gamers. Spurs legends Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, each nonetheless on the group throughout that 2017-18 season, puzzled publicly about Leonard’s absence.
The now-32-year-old star gained the 2014 NBA Finals MVP, serving to lead the Spurs to the NBA championship within the second of consecutive journeys to the Finals. By the point he left San Antonio, The Klaw had earned two All-NBA First-Staff alternatives, gained a few Defensive Participant of the Yr awards, and was their anticipated centerpiece for the foreseeable future. He gained a title with the Toronto Raptors within the season following the commerce.
Following Wednesday night time’s 109-102 loss, when requested why he addressed the group in the course of the sport, Popovich caught to 1 reply as he was pressed.
“Nicely, I believe anyone that is aware of something about sports activities, you don’t poke the bear.”
Spurs postgame
Pop mentioned he requested the followers to cease booing since you don’t “Poke the Bear”
Observe up questions right here by Andrew Lopez and @tom_orsborn on Pop’s feedback over the general public deal with announcer’s microphone⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jZGK8t7F9n
— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) November 23, 2023
When requested for his response by CluchPoints, Zach Collins mentioned he was really relieved that it was Pop on the microphone.
“At first I believed it was a fan, like trolling or one thing, operating on the court docket and grabbing the mic, however I noticed it was Pop so, I suppose, I used to be a bit of bit extra at peace that it was Pop and never some loopy fan.”
It is a response that embodies the day for the San Antonio Spurs; the notion that somebody from the stands would seize the PA microphone in the course of the sport to make an announcement. Something appeared attainable on at the present time for the Silver and Black — a day that ranks among the many most weird within the historical past of the humdrum Spurs.
