SAN ANTONIO — It's been a tough season for the San Antonio Spurs.
The team is 5-30 on the season, on a five-game losing skid, and is coming off a tough loss against the Cavaliers on the road, 117-115.
But guard Malaki Branham believes the team will ultimately turn the corner on the season and start racking up wins.
And it starts with team chemistry.
“We haven't been winning games, but I feel like that's going to change as long as we just stick together," he said to the Akron Beacon Journal. "We have a young core, so I feel like the best thing we can have is just chemistry, where people like the ball at, and once we figure that out I think we're going to be pretty good.”
There have been some signs the team is heading in the right direction and familiarity is setting in.
For most of the season, the third period usually spelled doom and gloom for the team. However, in their recent games versus the Bucks and Cavaliers, they've managed to win the period.
In addition, the Spurs are showing they have gotten better at playing competitive basketball for four periods taking both the Cavs and Bucks to the final seconds of the game.
As for team chemistry, it also helps that the team had fun bonding moments ahead of the season. Branham says the Spurs bonded off by riding go-karts and playing arcade games.
ADJUSTING TO THE POINT GUARD SPOT
The point guard spot has been a big storyline this season.
The team opted to have Jeremy Sochan as the starting point guard to start the season over Tre Jones who found himself benched.
Once Sochan was relieved of point guard duties, the Spurs turned to Branham as the point guard and he is embracing the challenge.
He sees the move as a sign that coach Gregg Popovich believes in his abilities.
“It's a little adjustment because I wasn't thinking about playing point guard at the beginning of the season, but with Pop believing in me, I'm all ears,” Branham said. “Him believing in me to put me at the point guard position full time is very good.
Branham is doing the best he can playing out of his position and coming off a recent ankle injury he suffered versus Memphis on Jan. 2 which held him out of two games.
This season, he has played point guard in 11 games (including two starts) and is averaging 8.6 points per game, 1.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 turnovers, and 42% shooting.
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