Spurs give Bulls the boot behind an all out team effort
After a lackluster effort against the Milwaukee Bucks in their previous game, the San Antonio Spurs came out firing on all cylinders to put away the Chicago Bulls 133-94. Pau Gasol hadn’t made much of an impact coming into the night’s matchup, but came away as the game’s leading scorer.
The former All-Star and two time NBA champion scored 21 points on a perfect three for three shooting beyond the arc. His performance was impressive, but his teammates refused to let the skilled Spaniard have all the fun. Gasol was joined in double digits by Kyle Anderson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bryn Forbes, Dejounte Murray, Rudy Gay, Brandon Paul and Davis Bertans as the Spurs gave Chicago an absolute clinic in ball movement and long range shooting.
San Antonio’s offense started the year slow, but behind a collective rediscovery off the three ball and a more disciplined management of the rock, their scoring totals and long distance shooting have steadily improved. The Spurs miss Kawhi Leonard and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. With that said, they’re moving in the right direction and the experience that their young players are gaining is sure to prove monumental in their inevitable march towards a deep playoff run.
If we’re being completely transparent, the Spurs really shouldn’t scare anyone right now, they’re more than beatable on any given night. However, once Leonard returns to the starting five, all bets are off. As incredible as their ball movement may be without their superstar, it’s frightening to imagine the open looks that their shooters will receive as a result of The Claw reentering lineup.
Sleep on them now, but the Spurs aren’t going anywhere. The last time San Antonio missed the playoffs, it was 1997 and gas was $1.22 a gallon. Gas prices aren’t heading back in that direction anytime soon, and you’d be a fool to pick 2018 as the year the Spurs fall out of title contention.
