Center Jakob Poeltl has been one of the league’s best shot blockers since moving into the Spurs‘ starting lineup five games ago, writes Tom Orsborne of The San Antonio Express-News. Poeltl is averaging 2.8 blocks per game, third in the NBA during that stretch, while filling in for LaMarcus Aldridge, who is dealing with a hip flexor.
“He’s very solid,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He knows where to be on the court. He works really hard on the boards, protecting the rim, he runs the floor. He’s just done an excellent job, and mostly been very consistent.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
- Reserve guard Quinndary Weatherspoon has been placed in the league’s health and safety protocols, Orsborn adds in a separate story. It’s not clear if Weatherspoon has tested positive for COVID-19 or is merely inactive due to contact tracing, so his quarantine time is uncertain. Drew Eubanks is the only other Spurs player to have gone through the protocols, although assistant coach Becky Hammon and an unidentified staffer were required to quarantine last month.
- The Spurs’ backcourt of Derrick White and Dejounte Murray has become one of the best defensive pairings in the league, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express News. Popovich has experimented with the roles for his young guards and hasn’t always started them together. White was a starter in only 20 of 68 games last season and didn’t start alongside Murray until the season resumed in Orlando. “They are great on defense together,” Poeltl said. “I think we are very, very versatile when we have both those guys out there on defense. It’s really helping us.”
- First-round pick Devin Vassell has already played more minutes than any Spurs rookie since Kawhi Leonard nine years ago, McDonald notes in a separate story. Vassell is leading the team in steals at 1.1 per game and is shooting 40.3% from 3-point range. “One thing about him, he has instincts,” Rudy Gay said. “He showed that from Day 1. You can go out there in any situation, and he’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Vassell & Murray have been tearing it up. As usual a Spurs meeting in the first round of defense oriented playoffs could be trouble for anybody in the West.
I had no idea Poetl was averaging nearly 3 blks a game!
Aldridge has to go. They play better without him clogging up the lane.
He’s from Dallas, I think a homecoming could workout with those 2? Help Porzingis. He’s not defensive, but adds a Big & a shooter. Gotta be better than WCS.
I don’t see the Spurs waiving him unless he asks for it, or trading him without his approval.
I like the Spurs.
There isn’t that much about the Spurs in HR. If Popovich wasn’t so connected to Aldridge, they may have made more noise. Maybe he likes that LMA seems to get his shots off easily, at least when I’m watching.
Vassell has a plus 9 on/off at the 2&3, but a moderate PER, what I expected given his smarts, youth and skinniness.