San Antonio Spurs' System Prolongs Championship Window

Last night's Spurs-Nuggets matchup was supposed to pit the Team on the Way Out against the Team on the Rise. 

Too bad San Antonio had no intent of following the script, running over the Nuggets in Denver to the tune of a 108-91 blowout.

Every year pundits think and other teams hope, "This is the year the Spurs' age catches up with them.  This is they year they'll lose too many steps to make up."

Every year, the Spurs respond in the same way they answer an opposing team's run—by executing that hope to shreds.

Coach Greg Popovich is the architect and enforcer of his team's disciplined and ageless approach.  Case in point: Popovich ripped into rookie guard George Hill in the fourth quarter for not recognizing the shot clock was running out, resulting in a Spurs' 24-second violation.

This was despite the fact that: a) Hill (11 points, five rebounds and two assists) had played an excellent game off the bench, and b) the game was already well out of reach for Denver.

Things like that illustrate that Popovich will never shrug off or allow mental mistakes by his players.  He gets on them immediately, and expects them to apply the correction immediately after the fact.

On the court, Tim Duncan is the big cog of the Spurs' intricate system.  His position between the block and the high post, along with his fundamental defense, allow him to contribute in all aspects of the game, as exhibited last night; Duncan amassed 21 points 12 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks.

The assist numbers (San Antonio had 27 as a team despite not one player having double-digit assists) lead into probably the most dangerous aspect of the Spurs as a team: they are completely bought into the system. 

It's essential for older players such as Duncan, because it means he doesn't have to depend on his talent to carry his team.  He can do his part, conserve himself, and still get his All-Star numbers.

San Antonio never forces anything (on the rare occasion that they do, Popovich immediately calls them out).  They always hit the open man, never mind who's hot or who has the rock.  Only the Celtics can challenge the Spurs in terms of on-court selflessness.

No, it's not visually appealing, but it keeps them relevant year after year after year.

As for the age factor, general manager R.C. Buford manages to post-pone that effect through economically friendly  and quality acquisitions that allow him to keep his core intact.  Relative unknowns Hill, Matt Bonner (14 points, eight rebounds), and Roger Mason (11 points) are role players that have maturely accepted their roles despite their youth.

So go on and say the Spurs are on their way out.  Until they're unable to run their offense because of injuries or selfishness, I'm not going to.

Other notes:

• San Antonio is a lot like an international team.  They've played together forever, they have ESP on the floor, and they're great floppers. Their flopping isn't outrageously overdone, but it's always enough to get the referees' attention (and usually, their whistle as well).
• Chauncey Billups' calm-down effect was not evident last night.  Denver renewed old bad habits by running too many isos, leading to stagnant offensive possessions with no ball movement and bad shots.
• J.R. Smith shot 15 field-goal attempts last night to Carmelo Anthony's 16 despite a) coming off the bench and b) playing 14 fewer minutes.  Either they need to recognize Anthony more down the stretch (which they didn't) or put a safety on Smith's trigger finger (they also failed to do that).
• The Spurs' starting frontline of Duncan, Bonner and Finley combined for 23 rebounds.  Denver's frontline, which would seem to have the rebounding advantage on paper, of Nené, Anthony and Kenyon Martin countered with just 15 between them.
• The Mavs blew out the Suns 112-97 last night.  Dirk Nowitzki continued a trend of high individual-scoring nights against Phoenix, going off for 39 points. 
• Amare "I Want to Be the Man" Stoudemire had 28 points and five rebounds.  In comparison, Mavs players Erick Dampier (14), Shawne Williams (12) and Dirk Nowitzki (9) all outworked Stoudemire on the glass.  Teammate Matt Barnes (6) also accomplished the seemingly easy feat of outrebounding the 6'10" forward.  Grant Hill and Raja Bell had five each to match him.
• You never thought it would happen, but a team actually outdid Phoenix in small-ball.  A Suns lineup of Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, Matt Barnes and Grant Hill pulled Phoenix within 10.  Dallas responded by trotting out Jason Kidd, José Barea, Jason Terry, Williams and Nowitzki.  That lineup reeled of a 6-0 run and effectively put the game out of reach.
• Barea carved up the Suns' defense for 18 points and four assists.  His quickness to the rim stymied Phoenix just as former Maverick Devin Harris did on Sunday.  Barea will hopefully develop into a consistent enough player to offset the advancing age of Kidd.