Spurs vs. Hawks: A Closer Look at Wednesday's Recap and Assessment, Plus a Preview for Tonight's Game Against the Hornets

Image via San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs (126) vs. Atlanta Hawks (125)

The Fox Era Begins: A Glimpse of the Spurs’ Bright Future

The Fox era has officially arrived in San Antonio, and it might be time to let those “Race for Seis” chants start creeping back into conversations. De’Aaron Fox made his highly anticipated debut with the Spurs, leading the team to a hard-fought win despite the second-half collapse we’ve unfortunately come to expect. But hey, a win’s a win!

Defensive Struggles but Room to Improve

Let’s be real—the addition of Fox means there will be some growing pains, especially on defense. As Fox gets accustomed to the Spurs’ schemes and rotations, the rest of the team will need to step up defensively.

In the first half, we held the Hawks to just 52 points, an impressive feat given their offensive firepower. However, the defense slipped dramatically once Wemby went off the floor. There was too much ball-watching and missed rotations, leading to easy buckets for Atlanta. Without a reliable backup big, we’ll need to improve communication and make strategic lineup adjustments when Wemby is on the bench.

Offensive Flow: Fox Opens the Floor

Offensively, Fox fit in seamlessly. His speed and playmaking created opportunities for everyone, and his presence on the court drew defenders away from Wemby, opening up more space. Fox set a Spurs debut record with 13 assists, proving he’s not just a scorer (24 points) but a true playmaker.

Notably, seven of the ten Spurs players who saw action scored in double digits, demonstrating the team’s balanced offense. The fast-break game was in full swing thanks to Fox’s ability to push the pace. This uptempo style will continue to create opportunities for players like Devin Vassell, who thrives when the game speeds up.

Speaking of Vassell, as he develops his ability to score at all three levels, the Spurs’ offense will become even more dangerous.

Lineup Thoughts and Next Steps

The current starting lineup with Fox, CP3, Vassell, Barnes, and Wemby is intriguing. However, I’d love to see Castle get more minutes with the starters. His ability to attack, defend, and bully opposing guards gives the Spurs an edge that Paul can’t quite provide at this stage of his career.

While lineup tweaks may come down the line, the immediate focus should be on improving defensive communication and meshing the play styles of Fox and Wemby when they’re on the court together.

Looking Ahead

This win was a solid start, and with an eye on the future (including those Hawks' future picks), Spurs fans have plenty to be excited about. With Fox leading the charge and young talents like Wemby, Vassell, and Castle alongside him, the Spurs are poised for a promising future. Fox’s debut was just a sneak peek into this new era of Spurs basketball—and it looks bright. Exciting times ahead!

Spurs vs. Hornets Preview Tonight (02/07/2025)

The Spurs are back on the road Friday night to face the Charlotte Hornets, a team that has just traded away key players Mark Williams and Cody Martin. With the Hornets losing their last six games and currently ranked 28th in offensive rating, the Spurs should have no problem securing a win on the road.

Keep an eye on the team’s defensive performance and how quickly they push the ball up the court. Watch for the amount of attention Fox draws and how much space his presence creates for his teammates on the offensive side.

The refreshed Spurs offense is ready to make waves. Let’s see them build on their momentum. GO SPURS GO!