Spurs Finding Old Form at Perfect Time
Better late than never.
The San Antonio Spurs haven't been themselves for much of the 2014-15 season, but their rhythm appears to have officially returned over the last several weeks. San Antonio has won seven consecutive games and 17 of its last 20 contests.
It's a noteworthy turn of events after San Antonio's 8-10 December and the 4-5 Rodeo Road Trip that followed in February. Injuries may have been partially to blame for the former, but there were fewer explanations for the latter run—a stretch during which this club has historically played exceptionally well.
The numbers and eye tests alike revealed a different team in March, one that more closely resembled last season's championship effort. So far, April has featured a similar script. And with the postseason just five games away, this resurgence really couldn't be happening at a better time.
About That Timing
Though San Antonio's records in April tend to be marred by starters' getting their due rest in advance of the playoffs, it isn't unusual for head coach Gregg Popovich's teams to thrive in March. This iteration managed a 12-3 record during the month, and—except for an uncharacteristic overtime loss to the New York Knicks—looked every bit deserving of that record.
| Season | March Record |
| 2014-15 | 12-3 |
| 2013-14 | 16-0 |
| 2012-13 | 10-4 |
| 2011-12 | 12-3 |
| 2010-11 | 8-8 |
| 2009-10 | 12-5 |
| 2008-09 | 9-8 |
| 2007-08 | 12-6 |
| 2006-07 | 13-2 |
| 2005-06 | 12-4 |
Those 12 victories included key meetings with the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies—quality wins that spoke volumes about how far this squad had come since December.
It's a scary thing for the rest of the league.
The Spurs went a perfect 16-0 in March a season ago, and we all know what happened next. It's what you'd expect from a veteran roster with championship pedigree—particularly one that's been lauded for maintaining its poise through the good and bad times alike. And it's what you'd expect from a team that's gearing up for what may be another deep playoff run.
Recent record aside, however, it's hard to forget about the No. 6 seed that San Antonio currently occupies. Should the seeding remain unchanged, the Spurs will have to do some of their winning on the road.
But if they keep playing like this, they should be able to do just that.
What the Data Shows
It's not just that the Spurs are winning again. It's how they're winning.
Their 13.4 point differential in March led the league and made San Antonio one of only two teams to best their opponents by a double-figure average (the other being Golden State). The Spurs also led the league last month with 113.3 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com.
| Category | Per 100 Poss. | NBA Rank |
| Points | 113.3 | 1 |
| FG% | 50.3 | 1 |
| 3P% | 38.9 | 4 |
| Assists | 25.6 | 4 |
| Steals | 9.8 | 1 |
| Opp. Points | 99.9 | 6 |
| +/- | 13.4 | 1 |
In December, that offense ranked 12th with just 105.2 points per 100 possessions.
Though San Antonio's defense has remained steady—and very good—throughout the season, its work on the other end of the floor has undergone something of a recent renaissance. Three-point shooting has been slightly better, and the ball is moving as well as it ever has. The league's premier case study in synergy is humming along at its collective best.
Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter both had their best months of the season in March, a good sign for San Antonio's inside-outside attack. When the supporting cast is contributing easy buckets, the Spurs' hydra-like offense is awfully difficult to stop.
And when the stars are playing like stars, it's virtually impossible.
An MVP Presence
Tony Parker and Tim Duncan have been good. Kawhi Leonard has been great.
He may have some way to go before he entertains any MVP consideration but has proven capable of playing like an MVP in the NBA Finals. As far as the Spurs are concerned, it's not about the accolades—it's about having a prime-time, two-way player who can rise to the occasion.
That's precisely what Leonard did during Sunday's 107-92 win against the league-leading Golden State Warriors, racking up 26 points and a career-high seven steals before sitting out the fourth quarter.
"Kawhi was magnificent at both ends of the court," Popovich told reporters after the game. "He is really playing confidently, but he hasn't forgotten to predicate his game on defense and on the boards. It kind of fuels him offensively."
Indeed, Leonard has become fairly accustomed to sparking breakaway dunks with steals on the defensive end. His ability to strip ball-handlers without fouling has become something of a signature move that makes him perhaps the most dominant perimeter defender in the league—a bigger, more multi-talented version of stopper extraordinaire Tony Allen.
Most importantly, Leonard doesn't shy away from the big stages—even if he's quite possibly the shyest guy in the NBA.
"Kawhi was phenomenal, he was the best player on the floor," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Sunday. "It was Kawhi's night."
After he averaged 19.3 points per contest in March (up from 13.5 points per game in February), his effort on Sunday night clearly wasn't an anomaly. This is, after all, the same guy who dismantled the Miami Heat through the last three games of the 2014 NBA Finals—a span over which he totaled 71 points, 28 rebounds, six steals and six blocks.
Despite being the current league leader in steals, Leonard's aggressive disposition on the offensive end has made San Antonio's offense so lethal these days. He isn't settling for spot-up jumpers and easy looks anymore. He's posting up, driving with regularity and creating his own shot off the dribble.
He's even looking for his own offense early into the shot clock, showing the kind of confidence you'd expect from a player who's long been anointed the next face of the franchise. In many respects he's playing the Tony Parker role, carrying the offensive load for a rotation that has plenty of help.
Is It Enough?
The bad news is that it may be too late for San Antonio to make significant headway in the standings.
Reaching the No. 5 seed isn't out of question, but San Antonio's remaining schedule could be a problem. It includes two games against the Houston Rockets, Tuesday night's meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder and two final contests against the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans—two clubs vying for that last playoff spot out West.
Impressive as this team has been lately, it may have to do something even more remarkable before all is said and done: spend the entire postseason without home-court advantage. That's a somewhat daunting task for a club that's just 20-18 on the road this season. Among the West's top seven teams, only the Portland Trail Blazers have a worse away record.
Granted, everything changes in the playoffs. San Antonio's almost patented brand of mental fortitude could go a long way toward making a seemingly unlikely repeat push.
It won't be easy, but then again, nothing comes easily for anyone in the Western Conference playoffs.
Especially for whichever team winds up facing these Spurs.
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