San Antonio is 0-2 and 13th in the West, half a game behind tenth. The numbers below show what that record says and what it leaves out.
How worried should Spurs fans be about 0-2?
Not very, yet. The Spurs sit 13th in the West, half a game behind tenth, with 80 games left. Last season they went 62-20 with a plus-8.4 net rating. A 12-point loss to Oklahoma City and a four-point loss to Houston do not erase that. They do not prove it carries over, either.
Is the bench the problem?
Partly. Starters scored 89 of the 110 points against Houston and the bench 21. Keldon Johnson gave 8 in 19 minutes and Luke Kornet 7 in 16, and both were in the red. One night shows thin output from the second unit. It does not show why, because both played modest minutes.
Where did the turnovers come from?
De'Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell had five each. Fox also had nine assists, and the Spurs were outscored by 14 with him on the floor. Dylan Harper played 36 minutes, the same as Vassell, had no turnovers and was plus-4. Ten giveaways from two players is a lot to lose in one night. One game cannot say whether it is a habit.
Does Dallas make this an easy game?
The numbers lean San Antonio's way, with caution. Dallas went 26-56 last season with a minus-5.2 net rating, against the Spurs' plus-8.4. Cooper Flagg, Santi Aldama and Dereck Lively II are listed out tonight. But the Mavericks are 1-1, and Kyrie Irving is day-to-day. Last season's ratings are history, not a forecast.
What does the payroll say about patience?
Payroll is $196.1M, over the cap and $4.3M under the $200.4M tax line. Fox's $49.8M is the largest number on the books. That leaves thin room to add salary, which argues for working with this group as built. Tobias Harris is listed out, with a return date of October 27, so the rotation should get fuller soon.
What is the Spurs' record this season?
San Antonio is 0-2, with losses to Oklahoma City and Houston, and sits 13th in the West. They play at Dallas on October 24.
How good were the Spurs last season?
They went 62-20 with a plus-8.4 net rating, scoring 118.7 and allowing 110.4 per 100 possessions.
