What Trend Bothers Devin Vassell?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Dec 6, 2024 10:14 AM ET

The San Antonio Spurs are an impressive 5-3 over their last eight games, sitting at 11-11 on the season, which is a massive success, given their 22-win season just a year prior. In those five wins, they have marquee victories over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, both of which were won after thrilling comebacks.

On Thursday, the Spurs fell to the Chicago Bulls, 139-121. Once again, the Spurs found themselves down big and tried to mount a comeback, but the effort was too little, too late, and the Spurs dropped their second straight game.

The Spurs were outscored in the first quarter, 36-22. The Spurs are the second-worst first-quarter team in the NBA, averaging only 25.5 points. In the third quarter, they usually come alive, averaging 31.1 points, good for fourth in the NBA. Against Chicago, they won the third quarter by five points, but Devin Vassell thinks the Spurs started flat and that play isn't sustainable.

"I think we always feel like we have a chance to come back and compete and win a game," said Vassell. "But we don't need to keep putting ourselves in that position. It's tough, we keep trying to climb back in the first half...it's tough, it's tiring, we just can't keep doing that."

Vassell scored 17 points off the bench and posted a team-high plus/minus of +7, the only Spur to finish with a positive number.

Granted, the Spurs were without Victor Wembanyama in the matchup, but the Spurs were 2.5-point favorites over the Bulls and should have been able to hold home court, even without their best player.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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