Spurs new frenemy bites them in disappointing display in Timberwolves loss

San Antonio has developed a toxic relationship with slow first quarter starts, and this time, they couldn't overcome it. This dynamic has been at the core of Spurs' losses over the last month. It's even appeared in quite a few of their wins. It's persistent, and as awful as it is, it just won't go away. But it takes two to Tango, and the Silver and Black have only themselves to blame.

Spurs must do a better job of getting their stars going

In the first Black Panther movie, the hero's sister tells him she's developed an update for one of his devices. He insists the tech worked perfectly, to which she replied, "Just because something works doesn't mean it cannot be improved."

This is the same mindset San Antonio needs to take with their starting lineup. Fans are all over the stats, suggesting the Spurs' starting lineup is fine as it is, but the slow starts suggest otherwise, and the bench unit needs to be shaken up. Injuries have something to do with these issues, but rotations can help alleviate some of them.

Devin Vassell is not Manu Ginobili. It's nice to think back to that time when having a player as dynamic as Manu coming off the bench was an advantage for SA, but that's not the case here. Vassell is a rhythm player, and it's clear that establishing that rhythm is more difficult for him when he comes off the bench.

The fourth-year guard went 2-11 from the field last night for four points. He doesn't enter the game until halfway through the first quarter and then he's barely put into actions that get him good looks. He only took two shots in the opening period, and that can't be the norm.

The Silver and Black need Dev's game clicking to reach the heights they're attempting to climb. You change him from a fringe all-star to Lou Williams with this game plan. Williams was a good role player off the bench, but that's not what's expected of Vassell, and that's not why they signed him to a five-year deal for 135 million dollars.

Vassell is a rhythm player

If he gets relegated to the bench, it must be treated as a front-office failure. The mid-range master was a lottery pick (11) in the 2020 NBA Draft. Desmond Bane went later the night and he would have been a fit for the Spurs. Tyrese Maxey also went in that draft, but San Antonio still had Dejounte Murray on the roster at that time, so that's just bad timing.

To be clear, I don't believe San Antonio made a mistake. Devin Vassell has shown massive potential as a closer and all-star player, but he needs to get a rhythm early in the game to do that. If he gets into an early rhythm, the Spurs' offense becomes much harder to defend.

He's not the only reason they lost that game, though. They win as a team, and they lose as a team. The whole squad shot poorly from three and turned the ball over too much. But they can improve a facet of the game that's easily fixed by putting Dev back in with the starters. Neither Stephon Castle nor Julian Champagnie are as important to SA's current goals based on their skill sets.

To simplify that last statement: the Spurs can reach a higher plateau with Devin Vassell playing at his highest level than they could if he doesn't, no matter what Castle and Champagnie are doing. They just don't have the ability to do as much as Vassell can. So, making sure he has what he needs to elevate to his peak should be a priority.