Finally, the 700th time we counted the Spurs out was proving to be the charm. The Spurs weren't bad, but they were 21-15 in early January and just 34-23 at the end of February. The Rodeo trip that usually kicks them into gear didn't do the trick. They looked old and slow, as if the many deep playoff runs had finally worn them down.
San Antonio Spurs playoff preview: The defending champions won’t be an easy out
The Spurs wobbled at times this season, but closed the year winning 11 of their last 12 games to re-establish their normal form. They’re as dangerous a No. 6 seed as the NBA has ever seen.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Turns out they were just biding their time to cheat aging again. Led by emerging star Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs took off down the stretch, winning 11 of their last 12 games. The closing stretch included double-digit wins over Golden State, Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Houston. The Warriors and Hawks victories were especially scary because the Spurs completely dominated the two best teams in the league when they were at full strength.
So much for counting the Spurs out. With Leonard ruining opponents' fun, Tim Duncan playing as well as ever just before his 39th birthday and a supporting cast that's finally healthy, San Antonio is a legitimate threat to make yet another Finals run, even though a season-ending loss to the Pelicans caused them to slip to the No. 6 seed and face the equally-hot Clippers.
Depending on who you ask, the Spurs may even be the favorite, even with Golden State’s superlative regular season. The Spurs did beat the Warriors twice when Golden State was at full strength, after all.
We just can’t get rid of them.
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How they beat you
The same way they always beat you: with dizzying ball and player movement, relentless pace and an intelligent defensive plan that forces teams to take shots they don’t want to take. The only reason the Spurs weren’t crushing teams like they did in years past was that shots weren’t falling as much as usual, and that’s changed in the last six weeks.
The one slight difference is that Leonard is taking a larger share of the offensive load. In past years, he feasted mostly off spot-up threes, cuts and in transition. He’s finished far more possessions this year, whether in the mid post or in pick-and-roll situations. It’s hard to say the Spurs are “running” more plays for Leonard because that suggests a rigidness their offense doesn’t have, but they are certainly empowering Leonard to make the decisive reads once reserved exclusively for Parker, Duncan or Ginobili. When the Spurs struggle offensively, it’s usually because Leonard is still new to his bigger role.
It's the Spurs' defense that has risen to yet another level, though. Rim protection was previously the Spurs' bedrock, but their strength has shifted more to the wing with Duncan growing older and Tiago Splitter battling injuries. In Leonard and Danny Green, the Spurs have two ballhawks they can use to shut down wings and quick point guards. They have the length to make life miserable for all sorts of perimeter threats and don't need to stray too far from the Spurs' default game plan to do it. They are why the Spurs came close to ranking in the top half in the league in turnover percentage for just the second time in the last 10 years.
How you beat them
This is far from the best shooting team the Spurs have employed. Green is a sniper, but Leonard lagged below the 33 percent mark until a late hot streak and Parker can only fire away from the corners. The bench doesn't quite have as much perimeter shooting either: Ginobili is only at 34 percent from three, Patty Mills has battled injuries, Cory Joseph is better from mid-range and Marco Belinelli often doesn't play because of his poor defense.
San Antonio is still a very good three-point shooting team relative to the league average, of course, but opponents are becoming a little more daring with how far they sink help defenders into the lane. Leonard hasn’t made this shot consistently all year and will need to do so for the Spurs’ offense to hit peak capacity.
Most important player
I’m not saying Tim Duncan deserves the Defensive Player of the Year, but if voters felt the need to bestow a lifetime achievement award on him, they’ll be picking a good year to do it. Duncan has been as good as ever protecting the basket, particularly when he doesn’t have a top post scorer to worry about. Teams shot under 47 percent when Duncan is protecting the rim, one of the better marks in the league. That doesn’t measure the countless attempts Duncan prevents with good positioning.
It’s a testament to Duncan that San Antonio was still a top unit despite Splitter’s injuries and Boris Diaw’s indifference for two-thirds of the year. Reminder: Duncan will turn 39 next week. He’s on track to become the first NBA player to defeat Father Time.
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Who gets Pop’d next?
It sure seems like Gregg Popovich has mellowed this year. There were still some crotchety moments -- the "gimmie a break" against the Lakers, the angry rant after a loss to the Knicks -- but the legendary Spurs coach seems to be less disdainful of the media. He's been far more open about his coaching philosophies and effusive in his praise for his many disciples succeeding around the league. He's even cracking jokes in huddles!
There are all sorts of theories for the change. Some might say getting older and experiencing more success tames a person. Maybe he had a Eureka moment after he was asked to compare himself to Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. Or maybe those who have covered Pop extensively for years were always right and he’s actually much nicer than his reputation suggests.
But Popovich also has a way of saving his best material for the postseason, when more reporters and cameras enter the picture. Chances are we’ll get at least one more clip to add to the interview highlight reel.
SB Nation presents: Anthony Davis’ most awesome highlights
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