Grades: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets – Game #2
After the San Antonio Spurs started their season with a loss, the good guys bounced back with a 109-106 victory over the Houston Rockets. Playing in front of their home fans, the Spurs executed down the stretch to get the W.
The Spurs played very well in the first half and eventually built a 22-point lead. Eventually, though, the Rockets came roaring back. San Antonio’s offense sputtered after halftime and their defense was getting exploited in the fourth quarter.
Last season, this is the type of game the Spurs would have lost. But on Saturday night, San Antonio made enough plays in money time to hold on.
Stats: Spurs at Rockets
Spurs at Rockets — Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
After a poor showing in the season opener, Wembanyama bounced back in fine fashion. There’s still more rust he can knock off but he did a whole lot of good against the Rockets. He led the Spurs with 29 points while knocking down a pair of three-pointers and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. His pick-and-roll defense was lacking at times but otherwise he was really, really good on that end. Offensively, he was powerful with the ball and remained aggressive. His passing could have been a bit sharper but, as it was, Houston had a lot of trouble slowing him down.
Grade: A-
Chris Paul
The bad: Paul only scored three points in 27 minutes. While it’s not time to sound an alarm, it’s looking like the 39-year-old may have lost a couple steps in the scoring department. He just can’t get much separation inside of the arc. The good: Paul had nine assists, including a few highlight passes to Wembanyama. While he turned it over four times, a few of his mistakes were trying to force the ball to San Antonio’s superstar sophomore. I’m okay with that. Paul’s passing remains a breath of fresh air after a few seasons in which the Spurs struggled to make the right reads.
Grade: B
Jeremy Sochan
It wasn’t the cleanest showing by Sochan but he did well. First of all, I loved his rebounding. He was grabbing contested boards left and right. He also helped push the pace and was able to create mismatches. Sochan’s finishing in the paint was a plus and he had a few high-quality passes. Defensively, he fell asleep against three-point shooters a couple times but otherwise he was moving his feet well on the perimeter and being a bully in the paint.
Grade: B+
Harrison Barnes
Barnes wasn’t heavily involved on Saturday night but he helped the cause by scoring 11 points on efficient shooting. He was the only starter without a turnover or a foul. At this point in his career, Barnes isn’t going to be a dynamic player but he’s knocking down open shots and playing passable defense — and that’s good enough.
Grade: B
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie continues to produce. He scored 12 points while shooting the ball well once again. It’s early but it also looks like his defense has improved since last season. In his first two games of the season, Champagnie has 13 rebounds while also closing out to shooters in a hurry. Good stuff so far.
Grade: B+
Keldon Johnson
The good: Johnson’s powerful drives to the basket paid immediate dividends. He finished well and also found his way to the free throw line. Johnson’s effort rebounding-wise was also a major positive. The bad: Johnson really needs to mix in a few more passes. His drives would be even more impactful if the defense also had to worry about him dropping off assists. Defensively, Johnson had a couple blatant mistakes. He has to cut down on those big blunders if he wants to ensure a spot in the closing five.
Grade: B
Stephon Castle
Wow. In his second ever NBA game, Castle played a vital role. On defense, he was the player the coaching staff wanted on the ball when it mattered most. On offense, he was asked to run the show at times — even near the end of the game. Castle’s stats aren’t overly impressive but I thought he did really well. He had great moments on defense and it’s almost time to anoint him as the team’s best one-on-one defender. Offensively, I’m really impressed by how he can read a defense and diagnose the right pass. Castle’s sturdy drives have translated very well in the NBA level. All in all, the rookie just looks damn solid.
Grade: A-
Zach Collins
I was impressed by Collins for the second straight contest. His rebounding was fantastic. He had to battle and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Offensively, Collins’ ability to pass the ball from the high post was a difference-making attribute.
Grade: A-
Malaki Branham
I was pleased with how Branham performed. He did a good job of not forcing the issue too much. His passing was better than usual and he wasn’t a liability on defense. Branham made a few mistakes but this was definitely a step in the right direction.
Grade: B+
Blake Wesley
With Tre Jones out with a sprained ankle, Wesley got the first crack at the backup point guard gig. I thought he was fine. His open court speed was useful and he gave good effort on defense. Eventually, Pop turned to Castle as the backup point guard — but Wesley did an adequate job during his stint.
Grade: B-
Pop
I loved how Pop coached this game. He was holding his players accountable, particularly when it came to the defense. His anger could be heard throughout the arena when his team left a shooter open. I also thought Pop’s usage of Castle was awesome. The rookie was playing his first ever home game in the NBA and Pop threw him right into the fire. Pop already trusts the rookie on both ends of the court. That’s great to see and hopefully we continue to witness that trust grow and evolve as the season progresses.
Grade: A+