Sochan addresses distressed Spurs fan and his message must be amplified

The Spurs have had one of the most disjointed starts to an NBA season of any previous iteration in recent memory. They were already coming off back-to-back 22-60 seasons, but then a little less than a month before the start of the season, the team announced Devin Vassell wouldn't be ready to go. It was confusing to many fans, but the wait wouldn't be long so that wasn't a huge deal.

However, San Antonio then loses Tre Jones after the first game of the year, Jeremy Sochan fractures a bone in his thumb after starting the season on a tear, and Coach Gregg Popovich is forced to miss several games due to undisclosed health reasons. To say this team has dealt with adversity to start their campaign would be a gross understatement, yet things aren't all grim.

The Spurs have given fans plenty of reason for optimism

Victor Wembanyama has picked up defensively where he left off, and the rest of the team has shown up to have his back. When Sochan was on the floor, they were a top-five defensive team, but in his absence, they're still holding strong in the top 10 with the ninth-highest defensive rating in the league. This organization is built off defense, and the guys have bought in on that end of the floor.

The shooting has been inconsistent, but because of Devin's absence, the numbers aren't representative of what the team's potential from three is. The current 3PT league average is 35.6%, and the Spurs are shooting 33.5%.

But Wembanyama has started the season on a sophomore shooting slump, and because Vassell and Jones have missed so much time, Blake Wesley and Stephon Castle have played more minutes. While both players bring a lot of toughness, grit, and defense when they check in, their shooting from deep has been lacking.

Even after his performance versus the Jazz, Castle is only shooting 19%, while Wesley is shooting 22%. Once San Antonio's full complement of players returns, shots from those guys plummet and are replaced by shooters with a better track record of making in that area.

The Spurs were 3-7 and five games into an 18-game losing streak after 10 games last season. There were no injuries to the main rotational players, and it was disheartening to watch at times. This year, the boys are 4-6 while dealing with an immense amount of adversity and showing encouraging signs that they are better than their record indicates

Let's not forget the jolt of life Sochan gives this team. He's been spectacular this season, and his presence is sorely missed. They'll be able to stay afloat once they work Vassell back into shape, get Tre Jones back, and figure out the chemistry, but until then, there is no reason to hit the panic button, and Sochan expresses as much on social media after an understandably frustrating loss to Utah.

Sochan is right on the money. The team feels close to breaking through and showing something special. If Wembanyama's truly risen out of his slump, everything is about to change now that Vassell is back, and it only stands to get better. Just keep your heads up high. This team is poised to make their fans proud.