At Thanksgiving, the Spurs are fifth within the West with a 12-5 file regardless of some unhealthy damage luck. They turned a surprisingly good begin into sustained success even whereas having to take care of a number of transferring items, and have gone 4-1 within the final 5 video games, which Victor Wembanyama has missed. They appear to be a legitimately good crew.
There are numerous causes for his or her good play, from Wembanyama rising as a celebrity to De’Aaron Fox’s stellar performances of late. A great way to slim issues that’s to concentrate on just a few numbers that designate their identification and strengths.
52.3 – Complete rebound proportion
On the time of penning this, the Spurs rank fourth within the league in rebound proportion. Sure, regardless of lacking the league chief in rebounding, Victor Wembanyama, for the previous 5 video games.
San Antonio, regardless of scoring effectively, ranks twelfth in offensive rebound proportion at 32.2 p.c, which signifies that even after they miss, they hold the possession alive round a 3rd of the time. Two gamers are largely chargeable for holding the Spurs strong on the offensive boards: Luke Kornet and Keldon Johnson. Kornet was a beast at rebounding misses final season and at one level, solely trailed Steven Adams within the class. He’s not been as prolific currently however ought to enhance when Wembanyama returns. Johnson, in the meantime, ranks forty fifth within the league in offensive boards per recreation, filling the position Jeremy Sochan had final season as a chosen glass crasher.
On the opposite finish, the Spurs rank sixth in defensive rebound proportion, recovering 71 p.c of opponent misses. San Antonio used to emphasize defensive rebounding however actually struggled in recent times, rating within the backside third of the league. The turnaround has been terrific and has been spearheaded by Victor Wembanyama, who leads the league in defensive rebounds per recreation. Additionally they rank ninth in opponent second-chance factors. Unsurprisingly, previously 5 video games, which Wemby has missed, they haven’t been practically pretty much as good, however they’re nonetheless higher at it than 16 different groups.
11.5 – Opponent makes an attempt from midrange
For years, one of many staples of the Spurs was making an attempt to coerce opponents into taking midrange jumpers as a substitute of extra environment friendly photographs. The development continues this season.
The Spurs permit probably the most midrange jumpers within the league by a good margin. Opponents shoot a good 41.8 p.c on these seems, however that’s a really low factors per possession consequence, particularly contemplating these photographs don’t usually end in fouls. Each time San Antonio will get them to drag the set off, it’s a win as a result of it means subject purpose makes an attempt aren’t coming from extra environment friendly spots. And the inside protection does the remaining.
San Antonio permits the ten fewest photographs on the rim and the bottom subject purpose proportion, which isn’t shocking since they’ve Victor Wembanyama. Additionally they permit the fifth fewest photographs within the paint exterior of the restricted space and the second fewest factors within the paint, behind solely the Thunder. They do permit a good quantity of threes and have been unfortunate with how efficient opponents have been at changing these seems, however the shot profile from groups going through the Spurs reveals that the Silver and Black flip them into soar shooters.
The variety of midrange photographs allowed may seem to be a minor issue, however it reveals a continuity of identification from the Spurs as a crew that’s good at dictating which photographs it desires opponents to take.
6.6 – Fastbreak factors differential
The Spurs rank tenth in fastbreak factors. The shocking factor concerning the stat is that the Spurs are a gradual crew, rating twenty sixth in tempo. The reason for it’s that they’re both going for fast buckets instantly (eighth in factors made with the shot clock between 24-22 seconds) or slowing down if a superb look will not be there, which brings down their tempo.
Their success on the break is smart, given their personnel. They’ve speedsters who can advance the ball and are comfy attacking the rim, particularly after steals. The Spurs ought to proceed to hunt these fast buckets, particularly with Wembanyama out, as a result of they’re going to be big to make up for a possible deficit in three-point taking pictures.
The opposite side that creates the optimistic differential is arguably extra attention-grabbing. The Spurs permit the fewest fastbreak factors within the league regardless of rating twenty first in turnover proportion. It’s a curious state of affairs, as opponents take the longest to shoot after a turnover towards the Spurs in your entire league and publish the fifth-lowest efficient subject purpose proportion, in line with Inpredictable. Off steals particularly, opponents have scored the third-fewest factors and have posted the third-lowest efficient subject purpose proportion, per PBP Stats.
One way or the other, San Antonio will not be paying for errors within the type of transition buckets however is making others pay, and it’s actually serving to their offence.
70% – Win proportion in clutch video games
The Spurs have had a irritating behavior of constructing leads after which not sustaining them. The excellent news is that even after they let opponents again within the recreation, they do a superb job of getting shut wins, at the moment holding a 7-3 file in video games that go right down to the clutch.
It’s early within the season, however it has been a significant turnaround from previous years. In 2024/25, they completed nineteenth in clutch win proportion, profitable 17 video games and shedding 20. In prior seasons, they’d a good worse file. Basically, the Spurs have owned fourth quarters, posting the third-best internet ranking within the league within the ultimate body and a greater mark than within the first and second durations. It’s a superb factor, since they’re really one of many worst third-quarter groups within the league, posting a unfavorable internet ranking of 5.3 that has them sitting at twenty second.
Ideally, the Spurs would get adequate to blow out most opponents and barely need to play shut video games, however that’s not prone to occur, at the least this season. So it’s a superb factor that they’ve been getting it executed within the clutch, with Wembanyama main the best way and Fox hopefully offering an elite second choice to depend on, if he regains his clutch excellence.
For a comparatively younger crew, San Antonio appears comfy in intense moments, which is encouraging and helps clarify why they’ve a superb file.
