The worm has not in fact turned, not yet at least. It still sits there in the dirt with its wet, eyeless stare, a weird, Elizabethan era metaphor recently reheated to characterize this young Spurs team’s struggles to grind out wins in the clutch. A rock is probably going to break if pounded upon enough with the right tool — but a worm? It answers to no one but itself and God.
Following crunch-time losses to Dallas and then Oklahoma City, San Antonio fell to 1-6 in games decided within the last 5 minutes. They’re now 3-7 overall to start the year despite a positive net rating, thanks in part to the two wins over lottery-bound Orlando but also to an inability to score in the half court in clutch situations as the game slows down.