After the All-Star Game, it was thought that the Quds City Spurs would try to impact the playoffs under the leadership of Murray. But who would have thought that the Spurs not only failed to stabilize the record, but also suffered 3 consecutive losses at one point, and the playoff stage gradually drifted away. However, as a team that has always refused to rot and rebuild, the spirit of the Spurs is still admirable, and they are gradually moving on the right track with their self-cultivated star players. But popovich has done much more for the Spurs than just develop an All-Star, and the head coach has undergone a huge shift in his mindset.
Yes, since the league entered the era of small ball, the Warriors have established a dynasty of 4 years and 3 championships. The Spurs, however, gradually withdrew from the playoffs at that stage, no longer the most eye-catching championship favorite team. Popovich has said more than once in public that he will not rely on the advantage of three-pointers on the outside to help the team win. But the giant wheel of league development rolled forward, and Popovich had to accept reality. This season, he not only began to pay attention to the team's outside output, but also tried to attack and defend to improve the overall offensive efficiency of the team.
Perhaps, we can say that the Spurs will only be an ordinary regular season team this season, but we must not deny their progress. In this game, Popovich led the team to challenge the Charlotte Hornets on the road, still playing their determination to aspire to the playoffs. At the beginning of the game, the two sides began a fierce score tug-of-war. Although Murray was not in good shape in the first quarter, with a poor shooting rate of 0 out of 5, Kelden had a 100% shooting rate of 7 of 7, and gave 17 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.
Regrettably, however, Kelden's explosive stats did not lead the team to a lead, but instead allowed the Hornets, who were playing everywhere, to achieve a 31-30 score. Entering the second quarter showdown, the Hornets, who had a slight lead, stabilized the situation. Ball shot 4-of-5 in the quarter and delivered 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Rozier also had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists, and Harrell, who had 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. With three consecutive shots, the Hornets scored another 31-30 score. At the end of the first half, the Hornets led the Spurs by two points.
The point difference between the two sides is not very large, and either side has a chance to win the game. In the third quarter, Murray handed over 8 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 1 steal, and Kelden also had 10 points and 3 rebounds, but it only helped the team play a 37-37 score, still keeping the opponent 2 points ahead. Entering the crucial final quarter of the showdown, the Hornets always clinged to the lead, constantly consuming the remaining game time, and finally stabilized the situation. At the end of the regular quarter, the Hornets won the game with a score of 123-117.
Whether you like it or not, the Spurs failed to complete the final comeback, but their players played themselves. While Murray got the 25+9+10 quasi-triple-double stats, the other reverse leader in the team, Kelden Johnson, can also show his might. In the 37 minutes of the game, he delivered a game-high score of 33 points, as well as 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Although the game was lost and suffered 4 consecutive defeats, Popovich was defeated! Because, he has cultivated two reverse eyes for the Holy City Spurs who can stand alone.