The San Antonio Spurs came into the season unsure of what direction the team would be going on. They had a mass exodus of veterans in the offseason and selected the youngest prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft in Joshua Primo.
Given how things unfolded, and without a bonafide star on the roster, many expected the Spurs to enter a rebuilding stage. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White were both reportedly available for the right price in the offseason, with Ben Simmons reportedly being a target.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the organization, they have remained a competitive team throughout the season. Recently, they have stepped up their performance and look like a team that will be pushing not only for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament but possibly a fifth or sixth seed, which would keep them out of the play-in.
The Spurs are on a three-game winning streak, which is tied for the current longest in the league with five other teams. That has pushed their record to 14-18 on the season, putting them in 10th place and the final play-in spot. But, they are only 2.5 games behind the fifth-place LA Clippers.
LATEST NBA NEWS: San Antonio Spurs Have Game For The Ages Against LA Clippers
San Antonio is 6-4 in their last 10 games and a big reason for the team’s success has been their efficiency offensively. In recent seasons, the Spurs have been heavily reliant on mid-range shooting, which fit the skill sets of DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, their go-to scorers. This season, especially recently, they have adjusted their game plan.
In the last 10 games, San Antonio is connecting on 38.9 percent of their 3-point attempts, a number in which only the Miami Heat are outperforming. How impressive is this stretch from them? The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets are tied for first in the NBA, making 37.7 percent of their 3-point attempts this season. The Spurs have surged to 9th in the NBA, making 36.1 percent of their 3-pointers on the season.
LATEST NBA NEWS: San Antonio Spurs Have Game For The Ages Against LA Clippers
San Antonio is also moving the ball freely, averaging a league-high 30.8 assists per game over the 10-game span. That has led to an NBA-best offensive rating of 120.5 for the Spurs in the last 10 games. They have the sixth-best net rating at 6.7 over that span, as their offense is more than making up for below-average defensive production.
Gregg Popovich is getting the most out of a young, talented team that has a high ceiling. In addition to Murray and White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jakob Poeltl and Lonnie Walker IV have all had great performances.
While the Spurs may not have an All-NBA performer on the roster, their younger players are taking that next step in their development, making them a dangerous team that is improving with each passing game.
