Grades: San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers – Game #10
The San Antonio Spurs won their eighth straight game to improve their record to 8-2 by downing the Portland Trail Blazers by a final score of 125-103. The Spurs were especially dominant in the middle two periods, outscoring the Blazers 87-56 during those 24 minutes. By the fourth quarter, garbage time had commenced.
Stats: Spurs at Trail Blazers
Spurs at Trail Blazers – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama played only half the game but he was dominant once again. He scored 29 points on only 13 field goal attempts, thanks to his 8-for-9 shooting from the line and 3-for-6 shooting from three-point range. Wembanyama was aggressive yet smart on offense and he was a monster on defense. The Frenchman has been a supreme game-changer during this winning streak — and Saturday night was no different.
Grade: A-
Dylan Harper
Harper was just 1-for-5 on three-pointers but he was very good in all other aspects of the game. He was 5-for-8 on two-pointers, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists and turned it over just once. I liked his defense, even though he picked up five fouls in 28 minutes. Harper is settling in nicely as a starter.
Grade: B+
Stephon Castle
Castle made a lot of good things happen. He was extremely physical on both ends and his physicality set the tone for San Antonio’s blowout victory. In 24 minutes, Castle finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He didn’t shoot it especially straight and he’s still struggling to get to the free throw line but this is the type of powerful performance that has made him so successful so early in his career.
Grade: A-
De’Aaron Fox
Fox barely had to break a sweat as the Spurs waltzed to victory. He was 1-for-2 on threes and 0-for-1 on twos in 22 minutes. He wasn’t completely silent on offense, however. Fox was 5-for-6 at the line and posted a team-high six assists to just one turnover. His competitiveness on defense also stood out as a positive.
Grade: B
Devin Vassell
Vassell had 15 efficient points in 21 minutes. He hit half of his eight field goal attempts, including 2-of-4 three-pointers. He also hit all five of his free throw attempts. It’s good to see Vassell bounce back from that poor shooting game against the Mavericks a couple games back. Against the Blazers, I’d also rate his defense as above average.
Grade: B+
Keldon Johnson
KJ’s passing continues to be better than ever. He led the bench unit with four assists in Portland. Last year, he was the Sixth Man of the Year. This season, Johnson is actually playing an important role in making sure garbage time remains garbage time. He remains aggressive and locked in even when the Spurs hold a big advantage.
Grade: B
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie is the team’s primary hired gun — and he’s playing very well in the role. On the season, he’s shooting 44.4% on three-point tries. That’s a career high mark even though he’s shooting more threes on a per-possession basis than he was last season. Against the Blazers, Champagnie was 4-for-7 on three-pointers on his way to a bench-high 14 points in 21 minutes.
Grade: B+
Harrison Barnes
Barnes is currently in the rotation but he didn’t do much to help that claim against the Blazers. He was 2-for-8 from the field, including 1-for-5 on three-pointers. His defense was below average and he looks painfully unathletic most of the time.
Grade: C-
Carter Bryant
Bryant was back in the rotation for a night and there were positives and negatives. The good: Bryant hit his first two three-point attempts to help power the good guys in the second quarter. He played inspired defense and was good on the boards. In fact, he had more rebounds on this night (four) than he had all season previously (two). The bad: Bryant missed his final four shots from the field. He also picked up an unsustainable five fouls in only 17 minutes.
Grade: B-
Luke Kornet
Kornet has had some lows this season already but the game in Portland might have been a high-water mark. He was much more active than normal on his way to six points, four rebounds, two assists and a block in 15 minutes. Kornet was actually able to hold the fort while Wembanyama rested, which has become a rare feat this season. Let’s hope he can continue to look alive.
Grade: B
Jordan McLaughlin
McLaughlin quarterbacked the garbage time minutes. He hit a three-pointer but didn’t do much else.
Grade: Inc.
Tarris Reed Jr.
Reed played the game’s final nine minutes. It’d be difficult to classify it as a positive outing for the rookie. He made a shot but missed two other attempts while picking up four fouls and a pair of turnovers.
Grade: Inc.
Mitch Johnson
These back-to-back games played out really well for Coach Mitch. The Spurs were clearly the more rested team and were able to easily dispatch the Blazers without adding much wear and tear. The rotation was fine and I liked that Bryant was given a chance.
Grade: B
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