Grades: San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks – Game #3
The San Antonio Spurs got their first victory of the season in Dallas when they defeated the Mavericks by a final score of 122-106. The Mavs were short-handed so this wasn’t exactly an impressive win — but the Spurs definitely needed a W to start feeling good about themselves.
Stats: Spurs at Mavericks
Spurs at Mavericks – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
Better. After a forgettable first game of the season, Wembanyama is slowly but surely defrosting. This game against the Mavs was another step in the right direction. He had 23 points on efficient shooting and the Spurs dominated the proceedings when he was on the court. His rim protection was good, he took care of the ball and he competed well. Wembanyama’s rebounding could have been better and he’s still not finishing as well as he can — but he’s getting there.
Grade: B-
Devin Vassell
Vassell played a solid brand of basketball. I liked his shot-selection — and his decision-making paid dividends in the form of six assists and 5-for-10 shooting from the field. He also finished without a turnover and played above average defense. Vassell doesn’t seem to be totally in rhythm but he’s still giving it his all.
Grade: B
Dylan Harper
Harper had 22 points and he was 3-for-8 from three-point land and 6-for-10 from two-point territory. While the raw stats look fine, Harper lacked some efficiency. Getting to the line more and making better passing decisions would make him a more impactful player out there. Harper’s defense was good enough but he’s another player who isn’t hitting on all cylinders yet.
Grade: B-
Stephon Castle
The biggest mystery of the season might be how Castle has only shot two free throws in the first three games of the regular season. He has to get to the line to be at his best — and that’s simply not happening right now. Against Dallas, he scored 19 points on 18 shots … a ratio that’s nothing to write home about. The good news is he tallied eight assists and played quality defense. The bad news, beyond the lack of free throws, is teams aren’t guarding him and he’s not consistently making them pay.
Grade: C+
De’Aaron Fox
Fox has quietly had a strong start to the season. In the third game of the campaign, he had 19 points and a team-high nine assists in 28 minutes. He also shot well from the field, got to the free throw line for seven attempts and limited his miscues. I also like that his activity level on defense has been consistently commendable.
Grade: B+
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie played his best game of the season. He hit 3-of-7 from three-point land and also had a thunderous dunk. Even more impressive was his defense. He had three blocks, five rebounds and he was making his presence felt. When Champagnie plays like this, he’s an invaluable cog in the wheel.
Grade: B+
Keldon Johnson
I thought Johnson played fine. He was 3-for-5 from the field while pulling down six rebounds and handing out three assists. He also didn’t turn the ball over and didn’t try to do too much. Johnson isn’t having a huge impact early in the season — it’ll be interesting to see how that changes as the season goes along.
Grade: B-
Luke Kornet
It’s just not looking good for Kornet right now. He looks quite a bit slower and not as potent on offense. Add it all together and I don’t know how much longer he can stay in the rotation if he doesn’t pick it up. As it stands, teams start salivating the moment they see Kornet stand up.
Grade: D
Carter Bryant
Bryant missed a pair of three-pointers but he had a couple strong finishes in the paint. He didn’t make a massive difference on the defensive end but there were some positive glimpses here and there.
Grade: C+
Tarris Reed Jr.
Hmm. Could Kornet’s days already be numbered? It’s quite possible. Reed played some real minutes and it was like a breath of fresh air. He’s clearly a great rebounder who can set a mean screen. Defensively, he had better wherewithal than I expected. If Kornet can’t rediscover a higher level of play, the door might be opened for Reed sooner than later.
Grade: B+
Mitch Johnson
That was gutsy to give Reed minutes over Kornet late in the game — but it looked like a brilliant move in retrospect. Considering this was a back-to-back, I thought Coach Mitch did a good job of keeping everyone’s minutes in check.
Grade: B
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