Why the Spurs Are Deeper Than You Think
The San Antonio Spurs have started the season strongly, standing as one of only three undefeated teams and boasting a franchise-best five-game winning streak. Despite missing key rotation players like All-Star De’Aaron Fox and backup big men Kelly Olynyk and Luke Kornet, the Spurs continue to impress.
They are currently winning by an average margin of 14.4 points, the highest in the NBA, although two of these wins were against struggling teams—the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans, both yet to record a victory. Their toughest opponent so far has been the Miami Heat, who have a 3-2 record.
Interestingly, the Spurs play at the fourth-slowest pace in the league but lead in fastbreak points. This suggests they pick their moments carefully in transition, excelling at exploiting defensive weaknesses rather than pushing early offense.
The Heat rank first and second in pace and fastbreak points, yet the Spurs narrowly defeated them by six points on Thursday, outperforming them in both categories.
“With Fox, they’d likely be playing quicker because of his dynamic abilities in space, but the team has operated at such a high level, showing they can get by without him.”
There is a trade-off in Fox’s absence: Keldon Johnson (referred to as "Castle") is a stronger defender, and his aggressive perimeter defense greatly contributes to the Spurs holding the league’s second-best defensive rating.
Author’s Summary
The Spurs demonstrate impressive depth and adaptability, maintaining elite performance despite key absences and maximizing their strategic style of play.