The San Antonio Spurs came out of their first preseason game with a loss, but there was still enough in that opener to keep the temperature down. A 23-point lead and a heavy dose of young-player minutes made the defeat to the Atlanta Hawks easier to stomach.
Saturday was a different story.
The Spurs fell to the Phoenix Suns, 102-98, and the performance left Mitch Johnson wanting more. San Antonio is now 0-2 in the preseason, and the issue was not the result itself so much as how the team looked getting there.
The offense never found a real groove, with the Spurs shooting just 42.5 percent from the field. The defense was shaky as well, and Luke Kennard put up 20 points while Jalen Green added 18, both in fewer than 30 minutes.
Johnson’s postgame message was direct.
"Tonight would not be up to the standard that we want, and we just have to make sure we take advantage of the opportunities in front of us," Johnson said. "We play opening night in 10 days, and tonight would not feel like we would be ready to go."
Even with 32 of San Antonio’s 37 made baskets coming off assists, the Spurs never looked fully connected. Johnson said the group has to sharpen up the way it plays.
"We need to play to the identity and style of play into the fundamentals that we are fully aware of that we're supposed to," Johnson added.
Before the preseason began, the Spurs talked openly about "fuel" and "motivation" after their Finals loss. Stephon Castle said Saturday’s game reinforced the need to keep building the right way.
"The motivation is, I think, just not skipping steps," explained Stephon Castle. "I think just having that understanding of what it takes to get back to where we were. And last year, I don't think we skipped any steps from preseason, the start of the season, whatever it was."
San Antonio continues the preseason Monday in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz, who have the number two overall pick, Darryn Peterson.
In Other News...
Julian Champagnie Has Earned A Spurs Role Fans Can't Ignore
Julian Champagnie keeps showing up in ways the Spurs can use. In the preseason opener, he slid into the starting lineup and handled the extra responsibility well, finishing with 10 points in 18 minutes while continuing the steady, low-drama production that has made him one of the more dependable names on the roster. Coach Mitch Johnson has taken notice, and Dylan Harper has, too, which matters on a team still sorting out where all the pieces fit.
For a player whose path to San Antonio has been built on persistence and year-to-year growth, moments like this only strengthen the case that his role is no accident. Champagnie has already turned opportunity into multi-year security with the Spurs, and he is making it harder for anyone to view him as just a depth piece. The bigger question now is how far his standing can rise once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Face A Tough Keldon Johnson Decision That Could Keep Him Home
Keldon Johnsons future in San Antonio is still open-ended, and for the Spurs, that makes the next move more complicated than it looks. Johnson has not received a contract extension yet, but the team does have salary cap room and at least one recent example of how it could handle a veteran return, which keeps the possibility alive that he remains part of the roster without a long-term commitment.
A short-term arrangement would give both sides some flexibility, and Johnson might be willing to consider it if the money and situation make sense. For the Spurs, the question is whether they want to keep a familiar piece in place while preserving future options, or keep the door open to a different direction as negotiations continue. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Have A New Wing Depth Concern To Watch
The Spurs got an unwelcome scare in their second preseason game when Carter Bryant had to leave early after an apparent right ankle injury in the second quarter. Bryant stepped on a teammates foot on the play, interrupting what had been another chance for San Antonio to take a closer look at its wing rotation and how the rookie fits into that mix.
Coach Mitch Johnson confirmed the contact that led to the injury but offered no clarity beyond that, leaving the next few days to determine how serious it might be. For a team already sorting out its depth on the wing, Bryants availability for the rest of the preseason now hangs in the balance, and the Spurs will have to wait for a better read before they know how much this setback could matter. [Read more 🡒]