Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images In a week that was all about offense against an easy schedule, the Spurs only won when the defense (sorta) showed up. Welcome to the Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the w eek ahead, and more. Enjoy! Week 20: After getting their first win in front of their home crowd in over month (thanks to the Rodeo Road Trip) against the Nets, the Spurs were right back out in the road against two teams — the Kings and Timberwolves — that had too much firepower outside and size down low for the shorthanded Spurs to contend with, leading to a predictable 1-2 week. Week 21: 2-2 (28-38, 13th in West) 129-133 loss vs. Dallas Mavericks Recap: Despite getting 20+ points from Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson, poor defense and free throw shooting let the Spurs down against a skeleton crew Mavericks squad that makes them look perfectly healthy by comparison in one of their more embarrassing losses of the season. What we learned 126-116 win vs. Dallas Mavericks Recap: After a bad first quarter made it look like the Spurs could be in for more embarrassment against a Mavs team that might be headed towards forfeiting games due to injuries and two-way players running out of games, the Spurs finally upped their defensive effort while riding De’Aaron Fox’s near-triple-double to victory in what was his last game of the season ahead of finger surgery. What we learned 134-145 loss vs. Charlotte Hornets Recap: In their first official “tank” game of the season with Fox out, the Spurs defense played its part while the Hornets hit a franchise-record 26 threes. Some of that can just be chalked to the other team being extremely hot, but it was the second time in a week the Spurs gave up over 140 points in regulation, and eventually you have to start looking at the defense over bad luck, and they have been by far the worst in the league without Victor Wembanyama. What we learned 119-115 win vs. New Orleans Pelicans Recap: The Spurs got a chance to bounce back the very next night to finish off a FIGASENI, and they did just enough against the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans. The starters weren’t great, but the defense was better (plus the Pelicans weren’t hot from three), and the bench unit helped will the Spurs to victory and a 2-2 week (which normally would sound great at this point, but the easy schedule and how they got there made it feel pretty “meh”). What we learned Power Rankings John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 23 (last week: 21) OffRtg: 113.7 (16) DefRtg: 116.1 (25) NetRtg: -2.4 (20) Pace: 100.1 (13) With a chance to make things interesting regarding the last SoFi Play-In Tournament spot in the West, the Spurs split two games with the 10th-place Mavs last week. Then they shut down De’Aaron Fox for the season. Two takeaways 1. The Spurs now rank last defensively since the All-Star break (when Victor Wembanyama was shut down). The super-shorthanded Mavs had their second most-efficient offensive game of the season (133 points on 98 possessions) last Monday, and four nights later, the Hornets (who rank 29th offensively) had the third-most-efficient game for any team this season (145 on 99). The Spurs have allowed more than 130 per 100 in five of their nine March games, having done so four times prior. 2. The Spurs were 2-3 with both Fox and Wembanyama in the lineup and were just 4-8 with Fox otherwise. Over the five weeks that he was available, they were 12.6 points per 100 possessions better with him off the floor (plus-5.3) than they were with him on the floor (minus-7.3). The Spurs have a one-game trip to make up a game against the Lakers on Monday. They’ll then play six straight games against the Eastern Conference. Brett Siegel, Clutch Points — 21 (last week: 22) The San Antonio Spurs are now tied with the Blazers and are still hunting for a small run to rise into the play-in region of the West standings. Their young tandem of Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle have led the Spurs’ offense as of late, with Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox done for the season. San Antonio still has enough athletes and talent to pull off some upsets and play the role of spoilers late in the year. Coming up: Mon. 3/17 at Los Angeles Lakers (make-up game); Wed. 3/19 vs. New York Knicks; Fri. 3/21 vs. Philadelphia 76ers; Sun. 3/23 at Toronto Raptors Prediction: 1-3 — When I believe (like last week), I get burned. While this looks like another 2-2 week on paper, I’m going with 1-3 to attempt the reverse-jinx. This will be the first time the Spurs face the Lakers with Luka Doncic, but LeBron James will be out. At home against the Knicks is the closest thing to a scheduled loss this week (although we can always dream of last season’s late matchup), but Philly sans Joel Embiid (and possibly many others) is certainly beatable, as is Toronto. As always, the question will be if the Spurs can stop their opponents more than they stop themselves. ...read more read less