'Active' Spurs SF Dominick Barlow Making the Case for Minutes Increase
The San Antonio Spurs lost their seventh straight game, falling to the Brooklyn Nets 123-103. Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell posted solid scoring nights, combining for 57 points.
Zach Collins only played for six minutes, and after his performance, it would not be surprising if he rode the bench for the next few games. The backup center checked in, and then immediately turned the ball over. For good measure, he added two quick fouls, resulting in an additional turnover.
Nov 18, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Gregg Popovich yells at Spurs center Zach Collins (23) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Frost Bank Center.
© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
He finished with two points, missed all his field goals, turned the ball over twice, and only dished a single assist. He was benched with 18 seconds left in the first period and did not return to the game.
After Collins was pulled, Dominick Barlow got 12 minutes of play, and he made the most of it, posting a respectable seven points and nine boards.
"I think [Barlow] got seven or eight offensive rebounds," coach Gregg Popovich said after the game. "He was very active, and we like to reward things like that. He earned the minutes, he deserved them, so we gave them to him."
In reality, Barlow was credited with two offensive rebounds, but he was very active under the hoop all night.
Barlow missed the last three games due to injury, but in his last five appearances has averaged 7.4 points on 65.2 percent shooting. Paired with 3.8 rebounds, he's showcasing that he can be a serviceable backup center.
Barlow is a better defender and is much more athletic than Collins, but Collins has played more this season in large part due to his ability to spread the floor and knock down three-point shots. Unfortunately, Collins has not made a three since January 24 and is shooting only 27.8 percent from three, so that advantage is a non-factor.
While Collins struggles to find his shot, Popovich alluded to Barlow being rewarded with extended playing time. For fans, this means that the youth movement is in full swing, and Barlow, 20, could be a piece moving forward instead of just a placeholder.
