It’s that time of year: that time that used to be when the Spurs got past the January doldrums, went out on the road and put everything together on their way to a championship run. However, in recent years, it has been more of a detriment to any postseason hopes the Spurs had because they just weren’t that good away from the Frost Bank Center. That’s right we’re talking about the annual Rodeo Road Trip, and we have arrived at the 24th iteration with things looker brighter than they have in at least 7 years.
It all begins with a Lakers team that has remained above the fray and in the playoff picture but has not quite lived up to expectations that began with an in-shape Luka Doncic set to lead the team long with LeBron James and Austin Reeves. Between some bad habits returning for Doncic, Father Time (and dissatisfaction) catching up with LeBron, and Reeves dealing with injuries, it has been an up-and-down season for the Lakers. They tried to address some weaknesses by adding Luke Kennard at the trade deadline, but they still fell to a shorthanded Thunder team last night to fall four games behind the second seed Spurs.
For the Spurs, who have won four straight while finding an offensive rhythm that eluded them for much of January, this will be their third visit to the Staples Center this season thanks to the quirks of the NBA Cup Tournament, which sent them to LA for an extra game in the quarterfinals. While the Spurs split those two outings, losing the first match-up on the final shot way back in the second week of the season, they owned the next two, including the Cup quarterfinals and in San Antonio last month.
While Doncic has always been a thorn in the Spurs side — even Victor Wembanyama admitted he was hard to beat earlier in the season — the Spurs’ solution in previous games was to let him do his thing with his difficult shot selection while limiting everyone else’s offensive impact. Doncic is just as good of a creator as he is scorer, so if you can take away one aspect of his offense, you have him beat.
With all that being said, Doncic may be out tonight after missing last night’s game with a sore hamstring, and who knows with LeBron on back-to-backs. If that is the case, the Spurs will have to make a mental adjustment that they have sometimes struggled with but overcame twice last week, and that’s not getting complacent and playing down to injured or inferior opponents. If the Spurs stay focused and play their best version of ball, they may be able to make quick work of this game and save some legs for the next night against a similary shorthanded Warriors team.
San Antonio Spurs (36-16) at Los Angeles Lakers (32-20)
February 10, 2015 | 9:30 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports, NBATV | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs injuries: Lindy Waters III (out — knee)
Lakers injuries: not due until 1:00 PM CT