FULL NBA Review From March 10, 2021

While the NFL was busy with some major releases a week before free agency, the NBA’s second half finally began on Wednesday as the All-Star break has officially concluded. Only two games took place with a Texas matchup and Point Guard battle being featured in the first day of the season’s second half.

Luka Doncic drained the dagger to give Dallas the win in the Lone Star state as the Spurs and their most accomplished player publicly decided to part ways earlier in the day with LaMarcus Aldridge on the cusp of joining a new team. His impending release has made it clear that Greg Popovich’s squad is in the midst of a full-rebuild, even if their record doesn’t exactly show it (right now).

In Tennessee, the Grizzlies kept themselves in the Western Conference playoff race with a victory over Washington as Ja Morant out-dueled Russell Westbrook with some dynamic dimes. Jonas Valanciunas was personally feeling himself against Mo Wagner as he went off for a historic 25-PT/20-REB/4-BLK performance, the first time that’s ever happened for a Grizzlies player. Neither of these games came down to the wire, but the NBA is back and it’s looking like an exciting stretch of basketball is ahead.

Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 10th, 2021:

FINAL RESULTS

GAME OF THE DAY

Spurs (104) vs. Mavericks (115)

[Highlights] @MAVERICKS (-174; $9.45) d. SPURS (+155; $12.78) 115-104 [DAL -4 | u226]

[Highlights] @GRIZZLIES (-155; $11.45) d. WIZARDS (+135; $9.88) 127-112 [MEM -3.5 | o237]

NBA Game Odds via Vigit App

NBA Stock Prices via FANDEX1

INTERESTING FACTS

Jonas Valanciunas is the 1st player with 25+ PTS/20+ REB/4+ BLK during a game in Grizzlies history
Only Zach Randolph (10) has more GP with 20+ PTS & 20+ REB in Grizzlies franchise history than Jonas Valanciunas (4)
Ja Morant became the 1st player to record 90+ PTS & 25+ AST over a 3-game span in Grizzlies history
NBA’s on pace for the lowest home win% (.535) in history, previously held in 2020 (.551) due to the Bubble, and 1947-48 (.557)

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Luka hit the dagger on Dejounte

An every angle look at @luka7doncic sealing the @dallasmavs 4th consecutive W! pic.twitter.com/Oc9AVhVtcp
— NBA (@NBA) March 11, 2021

Lonnie somehow made this

How did Lonnie Walker get this to fall? 😮#CenterCourt pic.twitter.com/Ze4n5SAjE8
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 11, 2021

Ja was dropping dimes on DC

This dish from Ja 👀 pic.twitter.com/xMqGwgaNHn
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 11, 2021

DIME HIM. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/sVjfexB4uK
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 11, 2021

Valanciunas bodied Wagner

Valanciunas was fired up after the oop from Ja 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AXywLL7LFg
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 11, 2021

TOP PERFORMERS

[Highlights] C Jonas Valanciunas, MEM (W v.WAS): 29 PTS (12-21 FG | 0-2 3PT), 3 AST, 20 REB, 4 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

[Highlights] G Luka Doncic, DAL (W v.SAS): 22 PTS (9-20 FG | 2-10 3PT), 12 AST, 12 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 6 TO

[Highlights] PF Kristaps Porzingis, DAL (W v.SAS): 28 PTS (11-17 FG | 2-5 3PT), 1 AST, 14 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] F DeMar DeRozan, SA (L @DAL): 30 PTS (12-19 FG | 1-1 3PT), 11 AST, 0 REB, 0 BLK, 4 STL, 1 TO

[Highlights] PG Ja Morant, MEM (W v.WAS): 21 PTS (7-14 FG | 0-2 3PT), 10 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO

NBA TOP PERFORMERS

MAIN TAKEAWAY

SAN ANTONIO SPURS’ REBUILDING PROCESS IS IN FULL EFFECT

For 22 straight seasons under Gregg Popovich, the Spurs made the postseason. That ended after the shortened 2019-20 season and their old dynasty is now a distant memory. Tim Duncan has been elected to the Hall of Fame, Manu Ginobili will likely soon join him as the greatest 6th man of all-time, and Tony Parker went to Charlotte before calling it a career himself. Not to mention, Kawhi Leonard was traded to Toronto.

While the greatest coach of all-time is still in Texas, none of the pieces that were a part of their championship run are still there. Patty Mills is the only player on the roster with championship experience as he was a quality backup PG during what might end up being Pop’s final championship season in 2014.

The Spurs added veteran All-Stars such as LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, and Rudy Gay since then to keep their contending ways alive, while also focusing on what they’ve always focused on: homegrown talent. Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, and Kawhi were all part of Popovich’s Spurs since the day they were drafted. Now that they’re gone, it’s time to draft and develop new players.

For the 2020-21 Spurs, those players are Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, Derrick White, and 2020 1st Rd Pick Devin Vassell. On Wednesday, the team announced it will be parting ways with LaMarcus Aldridge. DeRozan and Gay are likely next as the Spurs rebuilding process goes into full effect and the NBA’s longest-tenured HC now faces the biggest challenge of his coaching career since fully taking over the role in 1997.

COLORS KEY | FULL SPURS OUTLOOK