Pop’s Jeremy Sochan Point Guard Experiment is Crushing the Spurs

Obtuse isn’t just a word I found out about in Shawshank Redemption.

It also perfectly describes Gregg Popovich’s continuation of the already failed Jeremy Sochan-point guard experiment.

Per Merriam-Webster, obtuse suggests a refusal to see something apparent to others, or a willful ignorance or insensitivity to the real facts of a situation.

Any other head coach would absolutely be getting annihilated for such a stupid experiment but because it’s Pop, commentators and analysts only quietly talk around the move.

But let’s not be quiet about this: Jeremy Sochan cannot play point guard in the NBA.

There’s no need for stats.

It’s obvious if you watch the Spurs play; Jeremy can’t handle the ball and has very limited court vision.

Here’s a lowlight clip of various horrible plays:

(note that despite the extensive footage, the Spurs hadn’t even played 9 games when this video was made)

But guess what?

It’s not Jeremy’s fault because he’s a power forward and power forwards aren’t usually converted into point guards. Actually, they never are.

Quote Sochan, “It’s the first time I’ve ever played point guard in my life.”

All things considered, he’s actually doing fairly well because, well, he’s a power forward.

But Gregg Popovich either didn’t want him to come of the bench (or had some other grand idea) so he made Jeremy the team’s point guard for Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season.

The results are predictably bad and the already failed Jeremy Sochan point guard experiment is “the head of the snake” for where the Spurs array of problems start.

Problems with Jeremy Sochan Playing Point

• Turnovers
• Turnoves that lead directly to opponent layups
• Spurs’ offense gets started late in the clock
• Spurs’ offense is disjointed
• Victor Wembanyama doesn’t get ball in position to score
• Easy buckets for teammates are missed
• Teammates get antsy because they don’t get involved
• Spurs offense turns into isolations
• Spurs frequently find themselves in huge holes and quickly lose leads
• More fast break opportunities for other teams

This, of course, is all horrible because it is majorly denting the Spurs morale.

Victor Wembanyama came into this season excited and enthusiastic and now, 13 games into his career, he’s already been on the wrong end of three 36+ point blowout losses.

I talk more about the continual losing and Sochan experiment in my fire Pop article.

Young But Capable

Being a young team is the handy excuse that everyone is using to sweep the Spurs ineptitude under the rug.

But there’s no reason any team should be losing this bad this often, especially team with a game-changing talent like Victor.

And also remember this about the young excuse:

The Spurs very much have the ability to win games against good teams.

They beat the Suns twice in Phoenix.

They beat the Rockets who are now 6–3.

And they came close against the Mavs and the Raptors. In fact, they had a 20 point lead against Toronto.

Speaking of blowing leads, we‘re up to 6 games where the Spurs have led by double figures and lost.

The Spurs have talent and nice pieces and when they’re in sync, they can quickly overwhelm opponents.

• Devin Vassell is a legitimate number 2 option and has shades of Jamal Murray with more athleticism.
• Keldon Johnson is a super role player who can, at times, turn into a star and take over the game.
• Jeremy Sochan is a fearless raw talent who can flex into defending multiple positions.
• Cedi Osman and Doug McDermott both have their own styles of slasher-marksman.
• Tre Jones is a rock solid backup point guard.

I make all of these bullet points to say that the Spurs can and should win many games.

But consistent winning can only start when Gregg Popovich finally starts to pour a real structure for the team.

And this team is never winning with Jeremy Sochan playing point.