The San Antonio Spurs season is about to renew after a much-needed all-star break. The group entered the nine-day break with a 14-game dropping streak hanging over their heads, and so they may use that point to regroup. The Spurs have 23 remaining video games, and whereas they’re removed from playoff rivalry, they might look to string collectively some wins.
That may be detrimental to their lottery odds, however dropping can create unhealthy habits and demoralize a younger group, which the Spurs actually are. In an effort to get the group again heading in the right direction this season is one factor, however what about going ahead? With that in thoughts, listed below are three questions the Spurs should reply following the All-Star break.
Is Malaki Branham’s latest play the tip of the iceberg?
After a shaky begin to the season, Malaki Branham, one of many group’s three teenage first-round picks in 2022, has come on robust of late. In eight February video games, he’s averaging 18.1 factors whereas taking pictures 41.3 p.c on 5.8 three-pointers per sport. Benefiting from accidents and up to date trades, Branham has seen extra enjoying time and has performed more and more properly main as much as the All-Star break.
A few of that’s by design, with the Spurs giving him extra alternatives and letting him play with the ball extra. So far, he’s confirmed able to using ball screens to create for himself and flattening spot-up threes which are created by others. Moreover, he’s proven himself to be a talented cutter, racking up straightforward factors at any time when he’s guarded by ball-watchers.
That hints that he has a great really feel for the sport, and his offensive skillset is pretty spectacular for a 19-year-old. This latest improvement is clearly nice for the Spurs, who stunned many after they opted to maintain all three of their draft picks, however solely Jeremy Sochan was considered as a protected guess. If Branham works out, which it seems to be like he very properly may, then that technique can be an enormous success.
It could give the Spurs a wealth of choices on the perimeter, together with Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, with out even together with the upcoming draft. After all, this assumes that this stretch isn’t only a younger participant placing up large numbers late within the season on a horrible group, which occurs so much at this level yearly.
