Spurs Have 'Next-Play Mentality' in Struggling Season

The San Antonio Spurs are frustrated, but not deflated, amidst a 4-24 start to the season.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 24, 2023

Spurs Have 'Next-Play Mentality' in Struggling Season /

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San Antonio Spurs

Losing can take its toll on anyone, let alone the 4-24 San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs lost 18 consecutive games before winning against the Los Angeles Lakers a little over a week ago. However, the team has lost four straight since then, including Saturday night's 25-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

"We have a next-play mentality," forward Jeremy Sochan said after the game. "It's unfortunate, but we feel like we believe in each other. We just have to play through it. It is what it is at the end of the day, and we have to keep going."

Having that "next-play mentality" certainly helps with preventing the losses from dwelling. The great Ted Lasso once advised his players to have the "memory of a goldfish" when playing soccer, and the same rule applies here too. Don't get too high and don't get too low, especially when things have been extremely low for the Spurs this season.

That being said, more attention to the past can help figure out some of the troubles the team has had instead of just going through the motions and taking it one game at a time.

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There's certainly a happy medium that the team has to find, but given the fact the team has only won four games before Christmas is a sign that some change in the routine is needed.

The Spurs return after Christmas to play the Utah Jazz. Tipoff is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT.

Published Dec 24, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.