The Spurs are headed up I-10 for the first of back-to-back preseason matchups with the Houston Rockets.
The Spurs looked mostly disjointed in their first preseason game, which is not entirely surprising considering they are trying to put together a new offensive style while missing key pieces like White and Johnson. This led to Pop trotting out a dinosaur lineup of vets that looked all too similar to last season, and the results were predictable.
Unfortunately, DW and KJ are still expected to be sidelined tonight as well as Weatherspoon and Bates-Diop, so I don't expect any wholesale lineup changes. Part of the reason the Spurs were successful in the bubble was because Pop went mad scientist with the youngsters, but due to injuries, he couldn't do that right now even if he wanted to.
Houston, on the other hand, is just trying to recover from the disarray that is James Harden. After going on a Tour De Strippers, the Beard has returned to Houston and has somehow managed to pass 6 straight COVID tests to be cleared to participate. He has now begun attending team workouts, but it remains unclear whether he will play in his first preseason game tonight (let alone be a Rocket by the end of the season). Otherwise, they are hoping on a revival of the corpses of John Wall and Boogie Cousins to contend.
We'll see if the Spurs can build upon this new system, and if Pop is willing to throw out any new wrinkles tonight.