After starting the first 20 games of the season for the Spurs, center Zach Collins came off the bench for the first time this fall in Friday’s loss to Chicago. While many players would view it as a demotion to be removed from the starting lineup, Collins says he understands why head coach Gregg Popovich made the move and suggested he’s on board with it, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required).
“Having more firepower coming off the bench is always going to help us take some relief off the starters,” Collins said. “Hopefully this spacing-wise will work a little better.”
Popovich said after the game that he “absolutely” intends to stick with this lineup change at least in the short term, so Collins will have to get used to playing with the second unit. After a strong showing on Friday that saw him put up 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in 23 minutes of action, the big man told reporters that it’s just a matter of adjusting mentally to the new role.
“I always said when you come off the bench, you don’t have the luxury of starting the game and getting into it fast, getting your body going, getting your mind into the game,” he said. “So you have to stay locked in even though you’re not in the game.”
Here’s more on the Spurs:
- Victor Wembanyama had a monster night in his first start at center, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game (he had 21 and 20, respectively), according to Andrew Lopez of ESPN. Unfortunately for the Spurs, it wasn’t enough to prevent their 16th consecutive loss.
- Jeremy Sochan came off the bench for the first time this season on Wednesday before being reinserted into the starting lineup on Friday. Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News says Sochan’s confidence appeared to be shaken after Wednesday’s contest, with the 20-year-old deferring to the coaching staff when asked if he learned something from his time at point guard and whether he wants to keep playing there. Prior to Friday’s game, Popovich said there “is really no point guard” in San Antonio’s starting five, according to Lopez, who notes that Sochan shared ball-handling responsibilities during that game.
- Reserve center Sandro Mamukelashvili – who hasn’t played much for San Antonio this season, logging 55 total minutes across seven appearances – took advantage of an assignment to the G League this week, McDonald writes. In his NBAGL season debut with Austin on Friday, Mamukelashvili racked up 34 points, 22 rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots. Mamukelashvili and Charles Bassey are expected to be sent to the G League more frequently to make sure they’re getting regular minutes, per McDonald.
- Despite the Spurs’ frequent lineup changes (eight players have started at least one game), Tre Jones has been unable to crack the starting five this season after making 65 starts a year ago. That doesn’t mean the team is down on Jones though, according to McDonald (Twitter link), who says the Spurs “really, really like” the 23-year-old as a second-unit point guard for both the present and the future.
Spurs need time and another high pick or 2…
16 in a row ain’t bad when ya look at it like that…
Sochan is learning how to tank, nothing more. Specifically, in regard to his time with the letters “PG” after his name, he should know now, if he didn’t previously, that the easiest way to tank is to play without a PG. Continuing to tank AFTER procuring a multi-generational talent is another level, but sadly that’s where the league is.
Yeah that one guy….I think his name was Giannis Antetokounmpo or something he didn’t learn anything from his one season at PG, well nothing other than how to be a reliable secondary playmaker and occasionally run the offense in some matchups and change of pace lineups.
The world of tanking is full of fairytales. When winning is taken out of the a team’s mission, it’s easy to believe almost anything is good or bad.
So, to be clear, you are saying that SAS would have played JS at PG just as they did even if they traded away their own 2024 FRP unprotected-?
As a long-time Spurs fan, I agree in general. I would prefer Pop play Tre most of the time, as it would be a better learning experience for the other four starters, and play Sochan second team to get his PG training there. Why not give Tre more playing time for HIM to get even better?
It doesn’t make sense, other than to think that the Spurs are actually okay with all this losing to get Jeremy the majority of playing time for PG. I don’t like this, especially if it means that the Spurs really are trying to have such an awful record for some possible benefit for Jeremy. I don’t agree if so.
Trouble is Tre is not a starting NBA point guard anyway. He’s a decent reserve and a good team guy, but he’s a liability against any guard with size and he can’t score. So let’s not act like Pop is sitting Tony Parker for Sochan
Tuck i agree. Jones is a perfect secondary pg and i assume pop is having stay there since he will be basically running the second unit every year. Kinda like patty mills held that role after ginobili. Jeremy is a nice talent problem is he doesn’t have a position or any kind of role yet. He can be a lot of things. Seems the best idea is try and make him into a pg/pf. He can’t shoot or defend very well yet.
If we’re being honest wemby is a keeper. I think two things could benefit him. The spurs could use a veteran starter who is really good at defense that can help these young guys understand what to do in real time. A defensive captain as you will. They also need a starting pg, preferably someone who can really create for others. I think if they added these two things a lot would change for them. I like the lineup change to move him at center. Collins is a nice backup center and playing them together should only happen against bigger teams. Vassell is a keeper. Great shooting and wing defense. He needs to clean up all the minor injuries and really get games in this year. I love keldon but worry his lack of growth of defense has him numbered long term for this team. If you’re gonna be a below average defender at wing, then you better really be good at offense. If they had him off the bench unit that would be a nice role for him. Branaham has promise as a scorer. His lack of effort on defense along with no rebounding and doesn’t pass a whole lot is annoying. They just need to get more draft talent and start infusing better vets hopefully starting next season.
Spurs are playing Tre Jones off of the bench to tank and lose games. Same thing with starting Sochan at PG. Nothing more, nothing less…
Moving Wemby to center is the right move. Pops was trying to preserve him from the physicality vs. others at the position, but he’s holding his own.
Pops isn’t one for tanking – but certainly has a plan in mind. To get JS in an Anthony Mason type of role is not a bad idea. Spurs weren’t going to make the playoffs, so let it be a year of learning and gaining chemistry.
Wemby and Vassell are the future. Johnson and JS are nice fill-ins. A PG in next years draft would be ideal. Or, they could grab an IQ if they can offer up what the Knicks would want.