D’Angelo Russell’s Evolving Role in Dallas and the Spurs’ Starting Lineup Tonight (Oct. 24)

Bassyonni

ago 6 hours

D’Angelo Russell

D’Angelo Russell opened the season in a flexible, game-by-game role for Dallas while the Spurs prepare for their own tip-off tonight with a youthful core and a clear defensive identity. Here’s what to expect from Russell’s minutes distribution in the short term—and how the Spurs starting lineup is likely to look when they face New Orleans this evening.

D’Angelo Russell: Bench ignition now, spot starts on the table

Russell arrived in Dallas on a two-year deal to stabilize the backcourt while the team waits for full health at point guard. In the opener, he came off the bench rather than grabbing the nominal starting job, a hint that Dallas prefers to leverage his strengths—secondary playmaking and pick-and-roll shot creation—against second units and in staggered minutes next to their star scorer.

Early takeaways:

Role fluidity: Coaches have avoided hard labels. Expect nights where Russell closes games even if he doesn’t start, especially when Dallas needs late-clock shooting off high ball screens.
Usage pockets: Look for 6–8 minute segments built around Russell-Gafford/Lively actions, where he can spam mid-range pull-ups and pocket passes without ceding touches to higher-usage initiators.
Defense and matchups: Opponents that hide weaker guards on him could push Dallas to start Russell for matchup reasons. Against bigger, switch-heavy wings, he’s more likely to anchor bench units and keep the offense organized when the lead creators sit.

Bottom line: D’Angelo Russell is functioning as a situational chess piece. The box score may swing night to night, but his real value will show in lineup combinations that protect the ball, keep spacing honest, and punish drop coverage.

Spurs starting lineup vs. Pelicans (expected)

San Antonio enters tonight leaning into continuity, length, and pace. Unless late injury updates force changes, the Spurs starting lineup projects as:

PG: Tre Jones — Primary table-setter, pushes tempo, keeps turnovers low.
SG: Devin Vassell — Three-level scoring growth continues; top perimeter option in half court.
SF: Keldon Johnson — Straight-line drives and strong cuts; secondary glass work on long rebounds.
PF: Jeremy Sochan — Defensive switchboard; initiates occasional half-court sets to vary pick-and-roll angles.
C: Victor Wembanyama — Rim protection, lob gravity, and a green light to trail for pick-and-pop 3s.

Key rotation notes: Malaki Branham’s downhill bursts and Julian Champagnie’s catch-and-shoot spacing are first-wave bench levers. Zach Collins provides physicality and screening if San Antonio wants double-big looks in brief stints.

Tip-off is 8:00 p.m. ET (US/Canada) / 1:00 a.m. BST (Sat.) (UK). As always, starting groups are subject to pregame confirmation.

Matchup levers for San Antonio tonight

Own the defensive glass. With Wembanyama contesting at the rim, weak-side boards from Johnson and Sochan will decide whether the Spurs can play in flow. One-and-done trips for the opponent unlock San Antonio’s transition threes for Vassell.

Win the middle eight. The four minutes on either side of halftime often tilt close games. Expect the Spurs to open Q3 with a Vassell–Wembanyama two-man game, using Jones as a pressure release to keep the ball hopping.

Sochan as pressure valve. When the defense top-locks Vassell off pin-downs, Sochan’s grab-and-go playmaking lets San Antonio flip into dribble-handoffs and create back-cuts for easy points.

How Russell’s minutes intersect with San Antonio down the road

When Dallas and San Antonio meet, Russell’s presence changes the geometry. Against the Spurs’ length—and Wembanyama’s deterrence—Dallas may prioritize Russell’s pull-up three and floater to bend the big out of the paint. If San Antonio switches more, expect Russell to hunt small-small screens to pry open catch-and-shoot looks for teammates. Conversely, the Spurs will test Russell defensively with Vassell’s off-ball movement and Johnson’s bully drives, forcing him to navigate screens and hold up at the nail.

What to watch next

Dallas: Does Russell start in specific matchups, or remain the first guard off the bench and closer in tight fourth quarters? Tracking his closing-lineup frequency will reveal the plan.
San Antonio: Does the Spurs starting lineup settle quickly, or do we see Collins sprinkled in to buy Wembanyama fresher legs late? Stability early would signal confidence in the core five’s spacing and defense.

Expect Russell’s role to remain intentionally malleable while Dallas tinkers, and expect the Spurs to lean on continuity and length to set their season’s tone tonight.