Spurs have developed a new biggest weakness and it's holding them back

The San Antonio Spurs dropped their second straight game last night, falling to the Chicago Bulls 136-122. With the loss, the Spurs find themselves at an even 11-11 on the season. Missing Victor Wembanyama due to back soreness, the Spurs struggled to contain the Bulls' offense, giving up so many points in a game where Chicago essentially had their way on that end of the floor.

Defensive lapses were glaring in this one, but they aren’t the season-long issue plaguing this team. On most nights, the Silver and Black are a solid defensive unit (112.8), so we can chalk this up to an off night against an unfamiliar opponent.

The Spurs started the game with a disadvantage

Starting Jeremy Sochan at center against Nikola Vucevic, however, was an experiment gone wrong. When asked about his decision, acting head coach Mitch Johnson simply said, “I just wanted to see what it looked like.” Now that we’ve seen it, let’s hope it’s the last time. This is the second ill-advised Sochan experiment now—enough.

Still, lineup decisions aren’t the Spurs' biggest concern. The more pressing issue is the team's consistent slow starts. This isn’t a new problem—it’s been a theme throughout the season, and it’s starting to become an identity they need to shed. Against Phoenix on Tuesday, the Spurs were outscored 29-19 in the first quarter. Last night, it was a 36-22 hole after the opening period.

Early energy has been an issue for San Antonio

Through 22 games, the Spurs have the second-worst net rating in the league in the first quarter but boast the second-best net rating in the third. The stark contrast is both encouraging and maddening. While it’s impressive that this team can rally in the second half, relying on comebacks is not a sustainable path to success in the stacked Western Conference.

Coach Johnson described the early effort as "lethargic" after last night’s loss, but this has been the case far too often. For a young team that should be brimming with energy, the lack of urgency at the start of games is puzzling. You’d expect them to come out hungry, eager to erase years of losing, but instead, they’re routinely flat.

The effort needs to change, and soon. The Spurs have playoff aspirations, but in a conference this competitive, they can’t afford to dig themselves into early holes. This is where the coaching staff has to step up. Johnson has shown tremendous promise, but it’s on him to make sure his team is prepared from the opening tip.

Fortunately, the Spurs won’t have to wait long for a chance to course-correct. They’re on a back-to-back and will face the Sacramento Kings at home tonight. No matter who’s available to play, one thing is certain: the energy and focus need to be there from the jump.