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Spurs Live Dogs in the Western Conference

The San Antonio Spurs are Underrated
Posted by Elijah Hamilton  |  

Spurs Live Dogs in the West

So far in the 2020-21 NBA Season, many crazy stories have shaken the league to its core. However, one story cruising under the radar this season is what makes the San Antonio Spurs live dogs in the west. 

The Spurs are, as I’m writing this, the sixth seed in the western conference. They earned it coming off of a stretch of significant wins against teams like the Warriors, Rockets, and Timberwolves. They have remained a competitive threat in the western conference thanks to a group of a mix of veteran leaders and outstanding up-and-comers.

The Spurs statistically are one of the better defensive teams in the league. Their defensive rating on the season is currently  110.4, which places them #9 of 30 in the NBA. Complementing their elite defense is their exceptional speed, averaging a pace of  100.6 which also ranks them in the top ten. 

Head coach Gregg Popovich is in his 23rd year of coaching the Spurs and has been able to keep them competitive, even without the talent that has brought them so much success in past years.

Spurs Personnel

Keldon Johnson

New faces lead the Spurs; one of their standout players this season is second-year forward Keldon Johnson. Johnson has been a pleasant surprise for the Spurs. He is averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game which is a considerable leap in production as a second year player.

Keldon Johnson has flashed All-Star potential in the first half of the season. His 29 points on the road against the Houston Rockets shows that he can dominate a game offensively. 

Dejonte Murray

Another young stand out is point guard Dejounte Murray. He has been a consistent rock for the Spurs at point guard. Murray’s stellar play has elevated this Spurs team night in and night out. He continues to be one of the better defensive point guards in the NBA; he has made an all- NBA defensive first team and is averaging a career-high in scoring. Rounding out their young core, the Spurs have received stellar play from other players like Lonnie Walker, Patty Mills, Devin Vessell, and Derrick White. 

The Veterans

Along with their young core, the Spurs have solid play from their veterans. Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has showcased massive growth since being traded from the Raptors to the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard trade and has proved that he still has a lot in the tank by averaging 20.1 points per game on perfect shooting splits. 

Though he has missed a couple of games this season, LaMarcus Aldrige is still reliable as an excellent low post scorer

These are not the same Spurs that ran over the west for the past twenty years, and it is evident that rebuilding around their young pieces may be the focus of the front office. However, the San Antonio Spurs right now are still holding on and kicking. They are an interesting team to watch. 

 

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