To help preview Wednesday’s Southwest Division matchup between New Orleans and San Antonio (7 p.m., Bally Sports, WRNO 99.5 FM), we caught up with NBA.com writer Michael C. Wright, who covers this geographic region of the league for the site. Wright also authors the “Kia MVP ladder” for NBA.com, listing a familiar name from the Southwest Division (Luka Doncic) in the No. 1 spot on the most recent update.
Pelicans.com: San Antonio surprised pretty much everyone with a 5-2 start, but since then the Spurs have struggled mightily, going 1-10. What’s changed that led to the drastic difference in results?
Wright: Aside from some injuries and illnesses here and there, nothing changed, really. But you had to know that San Antonio’s 5-2 start was fool’s gold. The truth is when you’re playing with such a young, inexperienced roster, inconsistency is just a part of life. Playing five games in seven nights the way they did in this most recent 0-5 road trip certainly doesn’t help, as San Antonio suffered some brutal losses, four of them coming by 18 points or more. This current Spurs team is the youngest in the Gregg Popovich era with an average age of 23.4. We’re talking about a squad that features 13 players younger than 26 on the roster. So, on most nights, the Spurs will be overmatched in terms of talent and experience. It’s important to note, however, that San Antonio didn’t come into 2022-23 expecting to make a push for the playoffs. This season is all about development and forming winning habits.
Pelicans.com: Based on the Spurs’ past two-plus decades, they’ve rarely drafted high in the lottery, but they selected Jeremy Sochan with the No. 9 overall pick in June, one slot after Dyson Daniels. How is the rookie from Baylor progressing so far?
Wright: Earlier this month, Popovich called the rookie “Dennis Rodman light,” saying the 19-year-old “doesn’t have any fear” and is “not impressed with the NBA or anything like that.” So, that’s pretty high praise from a coach that rarely trusts rookies to play significant minutes. Plus, consider the fact that Sochan started just one game in college at Baylor. He’s already been in San Antonio’s starting lineup for 17 games in his first NBA season. Throughout that time, we’ve seen the typical ups and downs you’d expect from a rookie. But Sochan has also flashed confidence, competitiveness, and the versatility to solidly guard multiple positions. When the Spurs first embarked on their most recent trip out West, Popovich surprisingly decided to start Sochan at point guard due to an illness to Tre Jones. Interestingly, Sochan acquitted himself well against Stephen Curry in the blowout, limiting him to 16 points in 27 minutes. So, Sochan is probably progressing faster than the Spurs expected.
Pelicans.com: Speaking of young players, it appears part of the Spurs’ foundation will be built around Keldon Johnson, 23, and Devin Vassell, 22, both averaging over 20 points per game. How much have those two players improved early in 2022-23?
Wright: In the wake of Dejounte Murray’s departure, both players stepped up as leaders and playmakers. Scoring, assists, and pick-and-roll usage are up from last year for both Johnson and Vassell, as they’ve sort of gradually developed into go-to leaders on this young squad that aren’t afraid to take clutch shots. When the game is on the line, you can expect Popovich to draw up a play for either Johnson or Vassell to take that last shot. In 13 appearances so far this season, Vassell has dropped 20 points or more while Johnson has accomplished that feat in 10 of his 17 showings. So, you’re correct in saying that Johnson and Vassell will sort of serve as the foundation for San Antonio’s current rebuild. The brass is extremely high on the duo’s potential, rapid growth, and relentless worth ethic. Those two “want it” is what you most often hear from inside the organization. Johnson has struggled as a shooter recently, though, hitting just 2 of 15 from deep in his last two games. Vassell, meanwhile, has connected on 11 of 21 from 3-point range in his last three outings. Win or lose, this matchup with the Pelicans is big for Johnson and Vassell as leaders because you’re starting to see negative body language from the team throughout this losing streak. Johnson and Vassell need to take responsibility in helping the Spurs to snap out of this funk.
Pelicans.com: Who are some of the lesser-known Spurs we might see play a big role Wednesday in the AT&T Center?
Wright: Check out Spurs big Charles Bassey because he could see a little more time with Jakob Poeltl working his way through some right knee soreness. Bassey received more minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, as Poeltl sat out of that second game of a back-to-back set. In 21 minutes of action, Bassey hit 4 of 5 for eight points, and led the Spurs in rebounds (8) and assists (5). Interestingly, Bassey played part of his high school career in San Antonio, and was a second-round pick in 2021 of the Philadelphia 76ers, who probably gave up too soon on the 22-year-old. Signed to a two-way contract in late October, Bassey turned heads by racking up 33 points and 15 rebounds in his G League debut. Then on Nov. 11 against Milwaukee (coincidentally, the Spurs’ last victory), Bassey became the second player in NBA history to tally 14 rebounds, four blocks and four assists in fewer than 20 minutes, and he’s the first player to post that stat line in that number of minutes off the bench. Bassey is a high-motor player that flashes plenty of physicality, and he’s sneaky athletic on the glass.
Previous Game Starting Lineups
NEW ORLEANS (10-7)
Monday win vs. Golden State
CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Notes: This group is 6-4, one element of the Pelicans leading the Southwest Division by a slim margin over Dallas (9-7) and Memphis (10-8). New Orleans is 1-0 vs. Dallas (next meeting is Jan. 7 in Texas) and 1-0 vs. Memphis (next meeting is Friday in Tennessee). … The Pelicans have used four different starting lineups. … Trey Murphy (foot) is listed as doubtful to play in Wednesday’s game. … A win Wednesday could push New Orleans as high as second place in the West (from fifth), pending outcomes of other games involving Utah (home vs. Detroit), Sacramento (at Atlanta) and the Clippers (at Golden State). First-place Phoenix (11-6) is idle and does not play until Friday (vs. Detroit).
SAN ANTONIO (6-12)
Sunday loss at LA Lakers
Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Gorgui Dieng
Notes: This group is 0-1, the ninth different starting lineup used by San Antonio already this season. Ten different Spurs players have started at least once, with Dieng becoming the latest on that list three days ago with his first starting nod. … Wednesday is the first matchup between New Orleans and San Antonio this season, but the second comes quickly (next Friday, Dec. 2, also in the Alamo City). … Zach Collins (leg) is probable to play Wednesday; Jakob Poeltl (knee) is questionable; Josh Richardson (ankle) is doubtful.
FanDuel Keys to the Game (Turkey Day edition)
THANKSGIVING (EVE) DISHES
There’s been a lot of ball movement and dishing lately by the New Orleans offense, with the Pelicans reaching their goal of 30-plus assists three times over the last four games. Ten different players handed out at least one assist in Wednesday’s 45-point rout over Golden State, topped by seven from reserve Naji Marshall, a season high for the forward.
EVERYBODY EATS
Not only has everyone been in the holiday spirit in terms of setting up teammates, but the scoring has also been evenly distributed. All 13 Pelicans players who saw game action Wednesday against the Warriors tallied a bucket, the seventh time New Orleans has registered 120-plus points in a game this season. If the Pelicans can reach that level of production Wednesday, that might make it difficult for the Spurs, who are 1-9 this season when scoring 110 points or fewer, but 5-3 otherwise.
STUFFING (THE PAINT) IN SAN ANTONE
New Orleans enters many games with an advantage on the backboards, but the Pelicans need to capitalize on it in particular against the Spurs, who are just 25th in overall rebounding percentage (48.4). New Orleans ranks fourth in that statistic, at 52.0, behind only Milwaukee, Memphis and Cleveland.