Devin Vassell’s fourth-quarter problems have followed him into the playoffs, and the Spurs are still waiting for him to find his usual touch when the game tightens. Through four playoff games against the Timberwolves, Vassell has shot 37.5% from the floor in the final period, a step below the 38% he posted in fourth quarters during the regular season.
That gap may not sound large, but it is the kind of margin that can decide whether San Antonio steals a close game or lets one slip away. One evaluation of his late-game role put it plainly: if Vassell got his fourth-quarter shooting up to 43%, it would make a world of difference.
The Spurs trust him as their sixth-year shooter, the kind of player they want to lean on when possessions get tight and defenses start loading up. That is part of the frustration. Vassell is not some fringe piece being asked to do too much. He is one of the players the team expects to pass the ball to in the closing minutes.
San Antonio has had more success in the fourth quarter as a team all season, which makes Vassell’s dip stand out even more. The Spurs have generally been a strong late-game group, but his numbers have lagged behind the standard the rest of the roster has set.
There is also the defensive load. Vassell often takes on the opponent’s best perimeter players after Stephon Castle, and at times he is asked to guard athletes larger than himself because of his strength. That kind of responsibility can wear on a player’s legs, especially late in games, and it helps explain why his offense can flatten out when the pressure rises.
The question now is not whether the Spurs believe in him. They do. The question is whether Vassell can turn those fourth quarters from a recurring problem into the part of his game that closes wins instead of complicating them.
