Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images The Spurs look to defy expectations against a Finals contender in The Mavericks “The only thing that matters is the ending.”, a Stephen King character once declared. I think about that a lot, especially during basketball season. It’s a quote that I thinks speak to a deeper conflicted part of inner humanity. Deep down, humans beings want to believe that every moment matters. Deep down, they know that every moment can’t. It’s a conflict that lies at the very heart of existence, and so, we find the echo of it in the varied parts and actions of our daily lives. Art imitates life, and basketball is most certainly art. And I suppose that’s how we have a way of ending so wound up about the state of things by season’s end. There’s no escaping it. Even apathy is an expression. The reality is, of course, that every fan-base except for one will suffer disappointment regarding final outcomes. We can know this and still find ourselves surprised by our chagrin. I’ve loved this sport for decades, and yet still I’m irked by basketball’s inherent and inanimate inability to exist in a state of perpetual fidelity regarding my team of choice. Ah, but here comes the fresh slate of another season. Hope springs eternal. How can one resist the siren song of a conceptual change in fortunes? How does one maintain an air of cynicism when met with a fresh-faced basketball wonder? I have to imagine it can only imagine that that sort of disappointment traces its way back to conundrum laid before us all. How many of these moments actually matter? Is it only victory in the final game of the final portion of the season? Does that defeat the purpose of playing more games? Does that assign the greatest value to a championship victory in basketball’s final season? (Here’s hoping I don’t live long enough to see that) Ah well, it’s a silly statement anyhow. At the very least, the ending never comes without beginning. Tonight we’ll get to see another one, as two of the NBA’s most dynamic forces kick off the start of another chalkboard story. The ascending superstar in Victor Wembanyama versus an impossibly gifted Finals loser on the warpath in Luka Doncic, facing each other in match-up we didn’t get to see during this Summer’s Olympics. The frequently injured yet frequently lethal point guards in Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul, as stylistic opposites. Game One of another season of the storied I-35 rivalry. There’s no telling how the game will go at this precise moment. No stats to inform us. No season-long progression, no ebbs and flows. Each season as a separate living entity. The ending no more enduring than that of any other game in a sprawl of infinitude. Maybe it’s not the ending or the beginning. Maybe the story is the only thing that really matters. Time for the next chapter. Read up! San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks October 24th, 2024 | 6:30 CT Watch: TNT (RIP) |Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Spurs Injuries: Devin Vassell - Out (Foot) Mavericks Injuries: Dante Exum - Out (Wrist) What to watch for: The Wemby + CP3 Dunk-o-matic Light Show Ok, so it won’t be an actual light show per se, but I think we can all agree that there should be some kind of external firework display going off whenever these two connect for a big time yam. (I can think of multiple sports teams that get to fire a cannon, that’s all I’m saying) Either way, that’s definitely what’s going to be going on inside my head, and no one take that away from me. In all seriousness though, it’s less the high flying antics and more the extremely competent work in the half-court that I’m looking forward to. The Spurs haven’t had someone who could do that in quite some time, and there was no Victor to lob the ball to at that time anyway. Mostly I’m just looking forward to not having to avert my eyes anytime players are open on the fast-break, or the Spurs have to start a standstill possession. If reliability is sexy, then I am absolutely salivating right now. The New Kid On The Block (Or Rather, Beyond The Arc) It was a pretty compelling summer and preseason showing for Stephon Castle. In spite of limited showings/play time, Castle has already showcased an on-court awareness beyond his years, and his shooting appears to have progressed positively. Granted, it wasn’t the regular season, so everything should be taken with a grain of salt, but initial signs are encouraging, and historically, being praised for work ethic has been a good sign for Spurs rookies in the past, not to mention unqualified praise from Chris Paul regarding “grit” and willpower. Most of Castle’s flashes early will likely come on the defensive end, with his already sharp sense of defensive rotation and positioning will serve him well, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see even more out of the Spurs’ 2nd highest draft pick since the 90’s. Paul’s praise in particular rings loudly, as he doesn’t have a longstanding history of praising other guards, rookie players, or really anyone for that matter. It’s a quietly compelling start to Castle’s career, and he has a chance to make one heck of an impression if/when he finds himself opposite a talent like Luka Doncic. For the Mavericks’ fans’ perspective, visit Mavs Moneyball. PtR’s Game thread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed.