In Pop They Trust: How the Spurs still hold a playoff spot in the West

By Jack Austin

As recently as a few days ago, the San Antonio Spurs were still unsure of the future status of superstar Kawhi Leonard, who continues to remain absent from the team while recovering from a quad injury suffered before the season began. According to reports, the team recently held a players’ only meeting to implore Leonard to return to action. While Leonard’s absence has been the obvious storyline of the Spurs’ season, other injuries have challenged the usually dominant franchise this year as well.

However, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, through spectacular attention to detail and coaching, has kept his team in the Western conference playoff race despite all challenges thrown at him so far this year. With another potentially damning injury to forward Lamarcus Aldridge occurring in the Spurs’ loss to Washington last night, San Antonio will need to lean on Popovich to take them to the postseason.

The Spurs have been on a rollercoaster of a season since the Leonard injury. That is, the original Leonard injury, which occured against Golden State in last year’s Western Conference Finals at the hands of Warriors’ center Zaza Pachulia. Leonard had 26 points in the third quarter when he rolled his ankle after landing on Pachulia’s foot. That was the last time the Spurs and indeed the NBA fanbase as a whole saw Leonard at full health and ability on the court.

With Leonard healthy throughout last season, the Spurs won 61 games. With seven games left this season, they have only won 43. However, despite obvious on-court struggles without Leonard, Popovich has continued to implore his team to put in the mental and physical effort required to win.

Out of necessity, Popovich has made a number of coaching decisions this year which have largely shaped the Spurs’ season. The longtime head coach has used this season, despite the fact it is by no means a lost cause, as a learning experience for everyone involved. He has made a point to give younger players more minutes this year for development. Dejounte Murray, Kyle Anderson and Davis Bertans, all 25 years or younger, have seen increases in minutes throughout the Spurs’ season this year compared to last. Murray has seen the most drastic surge in playing time, jumping from 8.5 minutes per game last season to 21 so far during this campaign.

However, while adding some youth to the lineup will help with the younger players’ development, it will also challenge the veterans on the team to find ways to stay active and involved. This has to have been an intentional effect foreseen by Popovich. Murray’s newfound role on the team came after the Spurs’ coach removed Tony Parker from the starting five. Popovich has not been afraid to make it known that no one on the Spurs’ roster is invincible during their down season this year.

While Popovich has been tasked with shifting his lineup around throughout the season more than he would probably have wanted, he has done so effectively. The Spurs currently hold the sixth seed in the Western conference. Veterans such as Parker, Manu Ginobili and Pau Gasol, while serving reduced roles, have still been crucial to San Antonio’s success. Experienced players can help to set the defensive tone and attitude for younger teammates, which is something the Spurs do better than almost everyone in the league. According to NBA Advanced Stats, for every 100 possessions this season, San Antonio is holding its opponents to 102.1 points. This defensive rating is the third-highest in the league, and certainly a factor in the Spurs being able to hang with teams that perhaps have had stronger overall lineups.

San Antonio will have to continue to rely on the system Popovich set in motion for the season many months ago when he revealed his intentions to give younger players increased involvement. While the Spurs’ veterans are still ever present, Popovich wants to shift the focus of the team to its youthful assets. Regardless, he will continue to demand energy and mental toughness from whoever is on the court.

The trademark Spurs effort and hustle will be a necessity in the remainder of San Antonio’s season if they are to make the playoffs. With seven games left this season, the Spurs are currently 43–32. However, the fifth through eighth seeds are all currently within a game or so of eachother. On top of that, out of their remaining seven opponents, the Spurs will face four current playoff teams in the West. In Pop they trust.