Spurs’ Devin Vassell snaps ugly losing streak

The San Antonio Spurs are in France for a couple of games abroad, as the NBA continually strives to expand basketball on a global level. But among the pomp and circumstance that comes with superstar Victor Wembanyama’s homecoming — which included court dedication of the Spurs superstar. The Spurs go to Paris in a three-game losing streak. That’s a reality not lost on the Silver and Black’s second best scorer Devin Vassell.

“It’s a business (travel),” Vasell said. “Obviously there’s a lot of things going on and a lot of new moving parts, but the reason we go there is to play basketball.”

“That’s the main thing, so we have to keep the main thing the main thing,” the fifth-year Spur continued.

That was far from the only harsh statement Vassell shared after the team’s last game, a 128-107 loss at the Miami Heat.

Devin Vassell adamant. Spurs are beating themselves

The loss in South Florida came after back-to-back double-digit scoring losses at home to the Memphis Grizzlies. Although it is Spurs led the first of those matches with the Grizzlies trailing in the fourth quarter and another contest slipping away late in the third quarter, San Antonio followed up a 14-point loss by 28 points two nights later.

“We were killing in transition. “We got killed by driving the straight line, which is why we helped, which is why they had open threes,” Vassell continued. “I think that’s it, between those two things the last few games, I felt like those were the main things.”

Although the Spurs have lost six of their last seven games, as of January 4, Vasell claims the team’s biggest problem during that stretch was the Spurs.

“I don’t think we’re losing and it’s like teams are better than us or anything like that.”

“I think what we can look forward to is that they can all be controlled,” added the Florida Seminole.

Continuing to discuss what ails his team, Vassell focused on one side of the ball. In each of their last six losses, the Spurs have allowed more than the 113 points per game their defense has averaged this season. The 128 points they allowed in Miami matched their last four losses in which they gave up more than 120 points.

“We have to control the dribbling, we have to be better in transition and those are two things that will help us. If you guard your yard, if you play one-on-one, you don’t have to help. If you don’t have to help, then you don’t have that three to throw out,” Vasell said.

It’s no surprise that Spurs have put an emphasis on defense. This time the request comes from one of their top scorers.

“We have to take more pride in guarding the ball one-on-one,” Vassell continued. “I think it will help us a lot.” We know playing Indiana, we know they like to get up and down, so we know we have to get back in transition.”

The Silver and Black face the Pacers in Paris on Thursday and then again on Saturday.