Open Thread: The Spurs at the midway point of the 2019-2020 season

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Is it too late for the good guys to shake the patterns and turn it around?

The Spurs stepped onto the court in Phoenix, Arizona Monday night sporting an 18-23 record. That’s good enough for the 9th spot in the Western Conference, just half a game above the Suns.

Despite the win (and the Grizzlies loss to New Orleans), the Silver & Black are still outside of the playoff picture by half a game. Now is the time to reflect on where they are, where they have been, and what they have left to go with the remaining half season.

Just to add timeline perspective, the Rodeo Road trip starts in thirteen days, the trade deadline hits in sixteen days, and the All-Star break is just three weeks away.

On the plus side, DeMar DeRozan just surpassed a Michael Jordan record by scoring 20+ points on 50+% shooting in 13 consecutive games. The streak ended, but that does not mean DeRozan’s great performances will.

LaMarcus Aldridge has added an elite three point shot to his game, spreading the floor and giving the Spurs more options.

At the same time, not enough can be said about the year Patty Mills is carving out for himself, Jakob Poeltl has turned the block into an art form, and Derrick White continues to improve his game at both ends of the court.

There have also been great additions to the Spurs arsenal – Trey Lyles and Lonnie Walker IV come to mind.

But for every yin there is yang.

For all of Lyles and Walker IV’s value, it has come at the expense of DeMarre Carroll and Marco Belinelli, two veteran players who seem to have been busts so far this season.

For every three that Bryn Forbes hits, he gives up points on the defensive end — and that’s assuming he’s having one of the games he’s actually hitting shots.

And then there are those who do well, but could be doing better. Rudy Gay is still crushing it in moments, but those moments haven’t been consistent.

Dejounte Murray has developed a great midrange shot but continues to turn the ball over at least twice per game, and his decision making continues to be limited at best and poor at worst.

And is seeing Dejounte and Derrick White together something that’s being left for the second set of 41 games?

Will these guys be paired in hotel rooms, buses, and airplanes for nearly three weeks in February and finally build the relationship Spurs fans are hoping would cultivate this season?

What are you looking for as the winter transitions to the spring? What, if anything needs to happen before the trade deadline?

Will the Spurs stop this “win a game, lose a game” pattern before the 2020 postseason is out of reach?

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Open Thread: The Spurs at the midway point of the 2019-2020 season
Open Thread: The Spurs at the midway point of the 2019-2020 season