Tre Jones came off the bench the first two-and-a-half months of the season, but he has returned to the Spurs lineup as the starting point guard. Jones has started the past six games and racked up a season-high 12 assists in a 10-point loss to Atlanta on Monday. Jones is averaging 6.3 assists per game in those starts.
“Tre’s a guy who is going to get everyone organized,” forward Doug McDermott told Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “It’s been a big thing for our offense, playing a little faster right out of the gate.”
We have more on the Spurs:
- Victor Wembanyama likes being coached hard, which makes him an ideal fit for the Spurs. Wembanyama feels his growth is tied to coach Gregg Popovich holding him accountable, McDonald writes in a separate story. Wembanyama bounced back after a scoreless first half against the Hawks by scoring 26 points. “I like to be coached,” Wembanyama said. “I like to be threatened to be sent to the G League if I don’t play the right way. I like when there are consequences to my mistakes.”
- Blake Wesley has received rotation minutes lately, with 12 appearances in the past 13 games heading into Wednesday’s contest at Boston, according to McDonald. Wesley has cut into the playing time of Malaki Branham. “He’s in a kind of difficult position with the roster that we have right now and not knowing how much he’ll play or if he’ll even play,” Jones said. “I’m just trying to tell him to stay ready and be patient. He’s doing a great job. He’s a professional.”
- Reserve center Zach Collins is getting close to returning from the right ankle sprain that has sidelined him for the past eight games. He could return as early as this weekend, as McDonald writes. “It’s feeling better,” Collins said. “I maybe just need a couple more games.”
Actually one has to wonder if Pop still has it in him. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, but since Kawhi left, the Spurs seem to lack direction. Now they drafted a generational talent and they are just as bad. Even if they add another high pick this year, it’s not clear this team has the foundations to do anything meaningful in the next few years.
It really doesn’t matter who coaches the Spurs, tbh. They have four players who are above replacement level on the entire roster. Even with the 03-04 Cavs, they had Ilgauskas, Boozer, Rickey Davis, and Jeff McInnis around the newly-drafted LeBron, all of whom were decent or better players, with further veterans and shooters on the roster. The Spurs, outside of Wemby, Johnson, and Vassell (and Bassey, who is out for the year), nobody has been above replacement-level the entire season for the Spurs. The roster construction just sucks to high heaven, on purpose.