This Is Not The Same San Antonio Spurs…

This Is Not The Same San Antonio Spurs…

more concerned with the Stephen Castle being out, the Dylan Harpers being out. So, this is a good opportunity for these young guys to to build up some character and build some depth for this group. The San Antonio Spurs were supposed to collapse. No WMBBI, no Castle, and for a stretch of games, no Dylan Harper either. But instead of fading, they’re rising, beating playoff teams. Crowd, loud. Fox responds to Fox right on time. And locking down on defense. This is not the same Spurs team. San Antonio came into the season with a heavy dose of cautious optimism. They finally had a rare mix of reliable vets and exciting young talent. And at the center of it all, Victor Wanyama, the generational talent, the true unicorn, a 75 alien who blocks everything in his area on one end and handles the ball like a guard on the other. A one-man defensive system from the moment he entered the league. now paired with a rapidly growing offensive bag that could legitimately make him the best player in the NBA if, of course, he stays healthy. And the only reason that preseason optimism was cautious is because WMB’s second year was limited to just 46 games after he diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. A scary situation for anyone, let alone a professional athlete. But Victor came out the other side stronger, better, and with a new appreciation for basketball. And for a short while, the Spurs looked terrifying. Scratch that. They looked historic. For all their years of sustained excellence and championships, San Antonio had never started a season 5-0 until 2526. Riding WBY’s 30 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and nearly five blocks per game in that stretch, the Spurs blasted through the first week of the regular season. And the crazy part, they did it without De’Aran Fox, their prized acquisition from last year and the highest paid player on the team. WBY took on that extra load and looked even more like a true offensive hub. Number two pick Dylan Harour filled in seamlessly and sophomore Stephen Castle used his 25 rookie of the year campaign as a springboard to elevate his play on both ends and bump his numbers up across the board. But as hot as the Spurs started, the injury bug hit just as hard. WBY hasn’t played since November 14, sidelined with a left calf strain. Given the recent history of calf injuries turning into Achilles issues, no one can blame the Spurs for being cautious and making sure the most important player in franchise history is 110% before he suits up again. And then in the very next game, San Antonio lost Castle 2, forcing them to survive the last couple of weeks without their two young stars. No stars, no shot. That was the assumption. So, how did they manage? A strong stretch, including resume building wins over tough Atlanta squad and a Western Conference title contender in Denver. Let’s break down how the Spurs turned a potential disaster into a statement season. Now, let’s be clear. You don’t just replace Victor Wanyama. There is no plug-andplay solution for a 75 cheat code who is putting himself on every awards ballot by week 2. WBY opened the 2526 season looking like a fusion of a rim protecting demigod fierce and women sends it away from the rookie and a fully operational offensive hub. He’s leading the league in blocks by a mile. And with his scoring jump, he’s on pace to become just the third player since blocks were recorded to average 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, joining Kareem Abdul Jabbar and David Robinson. And here’s the wild part. He’s scoring more efficiently than both Hall of Famers did. So yeah, you don’t casually fill that hole. But as San Antonio waits for both Wemi and Castle to return, the Spurs have stumbled into a surprisingly powerful formula. Not just to stay afloat, but to rack up wins. They’ve gone five and two, not by overwhelming teams with talent, but by dominating one of the least glamorous yet most decisive parts of basketball, possessions. It sounds basic, almost too simple. If you create more possessions than your opponent, your chance of winning skyrockets. And that’s exactly what the Spurs have leaned into. Take their win over the Blazers. They didn’t shoot well, nothing pretty, nothing explosive, but they took 14 more shots than Portland. That alone flipped the game script. When you’re missing your 25point franchise player, that kind of possession advantage becomes your lifeline. A huge part of that shift traces back to Dearon Fox taking full control of the offense. With Fox steering the ship, San Antonio’s turnover numbers have dropped significantly. They’ve had 10 or fewer turnovers in five of the seven games without Wemby and Castle. And it makes sense. Those two were first and second on the team in turnovers. And with them sideline, the Spurs are playing a cleaner, calmer, more structured brand of basketball. Fox’s steady hand has become the organizing force they desperately needed in the half court. Another huge reason the Spurs are surviving the stretch, they’re bullying teams on the offensive glass. San Antonio’s offensive rebounding has jumped noticeably from last season. And it’s not by accident. Jeremy Sohan is flying in from the corners. Luke Cornet is using every inch of his size. And Kell Johnson is crashing like he’s trying to fight his way into a UFC card. Those extra boards are converting empty possessions into second chances and second chances into wins. And on defense, the Spurs are doing what smart thin rosters have to do. Play sharp, not cute. Without two of their best defenders, they can’t overwhelm teams with individual talent. So instead, they’re controlling the shot diet. For years, the Spurs defensive identity has been the same. Lure opponents into the least efficient looks on the floor, the mid-range. That philosophy hasn’t changed one bit. San Antonio currently allows more mid-range jumpers than any team in the league by a comfortable margin. Opponents knock them down at about 41.8%, 8% which sounds solid until you realize that’s terrible points per possession outcome. Plus, mid-range shots rarely draw fouls, so there’s almost no added value. Every time the Spurs get you to settle for one of those, they treat it like a defensive win. It may seem like a small thing, but it reflects something much bigger. This team still knows exactly what shot it wants you to take. And when Webinyama comes back, the league’s top rim protector and its defensive rebounding leader, San Antonio’s entire blueprint gets supercharged. They’ll have the perfect blend of ending possessions and extending their own. Grit has become the identity of this short-handed Spurs squad. Ever since they lost Web and Castle, somehow someway, they keep finding answers. They scrap on the glass. They force a turnover when they absolutely need one. They finish tough plays through contact. They just refuse to fold. And at the center of it all is Dearan Fox, who looks completely revitalized. After a messy end to his King’s run and then going down with an injury early in his first Spurs season, even his biggest supporters or people around San Antonio might have quietly wondered if this was the beginning of Fox’s decline. The answer, a resounding no. In the games without WBY this season, Fox is putting up 26 points, three rebounds, and seven assists. Still flashing that ridiculous end-to-end speed. Still slicing to the rim against anybody in front of him. Still using his vet field to create for teammates. The rim pressure is as real as ever. At 6’3, Fox has always been one of the league’s most effective slashers with an almost weird ability to finish around the basket. That hasn’t changed. He’s converting 81% of his shots within 3 ft. And those looks make up over 18% of his offense. That level of rim pressure forces defenses into uncomfortable choices. Drop back to protect the basket and risk giving him space or step up higher on the floor to try cut off the drive. Normally, this is where Fox’s mid-range pull-up would punish teams, but this year he’s hitting just 30% of his shots from 10 ft out to the three-point line. So, Fox adjusted, and the adjustment starts from deep. Perimeter shooting has always been the biggest question mark for him. But in the stretch without Wemby, he’s taking 6.4 threes per game and knocking them down at 38%. A mark that would be a careerhigh if it holds. It’s working. The Spurs have won eight of the 12 games Fox has played in during this span. And the team absolutely knows how much he’s doing. Head coach Mitch Johnson said, “He’s got a lot we’re asking from him right now.” Longest tenur spur Kelvin Johnson added, “Obviously Darren’s been great. He’s really carried us. Once We Wi and Stefon Castle return, it’s going to be fascinating to see how Fox blends his new scoring approach with two more players who demand major defensive attention. Dylan Harper, San Antonio’s prized rookie, has recently returned from an injury as well. He’s being eased back into the rotation, but on paper, he should be an ideal fit next to Fox because of his ability to operate as a secondary playmaker. Fox could absolutely use another threat who draws defensive attention and can set him up, especially when he’s working off the ball. Harper has the tools to become exactly that. Even after missing 10 games, Harour has stepped right back in and reminded everyone what was already clear during his pre-injjury stretch. He does not look like a typical rookie. He’s quickly become a key bench piece for Mitch Johnson thanks to his dynamic scoring and defensive upside. He flashes that endto-end burst in the open floor, but what really stands out is his composure. He rarely looks sped up, playing more like someone who’s been in the league for a few seasons. He’s also consistently getting into the paint and creating for others, which is huge for the Spurs second unit. When Fox sits and the playmaking reigns need to shift, Harper gives San Antonio a steady, confident option who can keep the offense afloat. While Fox is the flashiest name on the roster right now, and Harper is still carrying the buzz of being the number two pick, the Surge isn’t just about the newcomers. The guys who’ve worn the silver and black for years are stepping up in a massive way without Wemby. And no game captured that better than their statement win over the Nuggets. It looked bleak early. Denver punched first and went on a 23-8 run in the second quarter. San Antonio went into halftime 74 to 59. And on paper, the excuses were readyade. Missing the two best defenders facing the league’s top offense led by Nicola Joic, the best player on the planet, and Jamal Murray, an elite co-star. Logic said this was a mismatch. But the Spurs didn’t fold. A pair of four-point plays flipped the momentum, cutting into an 18-point deficit, and you could feel it. San Antonio treated this like a must-win, not just to clinch their first NBA Cup quarterfinals appearance, but to send a message. We can compete right now with or without Wii. With composure and an insane level of effort, the Spurs took their fifth win without their star, outlasting Denver 139 to 136. Leading the charge were the two longest tenur Spurs, Devin Vel and Kell Johnson. Vel was on another level. He dropped 35 points on 12 of 17 shooting, drilling seven of his nine threes. And every time the offense stalled late in the fourth, he was the one who delivered the dagger shots to hold off Denver. For someone labeled by some as the most disappointing player early in the season, this had to feel like a breakthrough. He’s settling into his role as a deadly offball shot maker. And the Denver game might have been the best performance of his career. Kell Johnson, meanwhile, has become the heartbeat of the team. He and Julian Champany were the emotional engine behind that third quarter surge that drag San Antonio back into the game. Keller nearly posted another double double with 14 points and eight rebounds. He’s far from perfect defensively, but the energy, the toughness, the buying, it’s contagious. And Champagne himself keeps rising. He’s become a real piece for this team, spacing the floor with confident long-range shooting and giving them dependable defense. There’s a little bit of Harrison Barnes vibes to his game right now. And then there’s Harrison Barnes, Mr. 100%. The veteran floor spacer has become an essential piece of this team’s chemistry, bringing exactly what a young roster needs, steady leadership, reliable shooting, and the kind of composure that comes from over a decade in the league. At 33 years old, Barnes isn’t trying to be a star. He’s content being a weapon. His role is straightforward. Space the floor and let the playmakers work. He’s shooting 42% from deep this season. And that gravity matters. Defenses can’t sag off him, which opens driving lanes for Fox and creates more room for everyone else to operate. It’s the kind of thankless work that doesn’t show up in highlight reels, but it’s absolutely critical to how this offense functions. But Barnes can still put on a show when needed. His 31point explosion against Memphis, where he went 7 for12 from three, was a reminder that beneath the vet’s steady exterior, lies a legit scorer. It’s that unpredictability combined with his consistency that makes him such a valuable piece for San Antonio. With Harper back in the mix, the Spurs lineups have stayed fluid and connected. Even without WBY and Castle, who apparently skipped the memo about the sophomore slump, San Antonio still ranks top 10 in scoring, offensive rating, and net rating over this stretch. This team isn’t just hanging on, it’s evolving in real time. Players are stepping into responsibilities we weren’t sure they ready for and delivering. During the tanking years, the big fear was bad habits would become part of the culture. But their battle against the Nuggets showed the complete opposite. This team has winning habits. They compete. They run real offense. They take punches and answer back. They close. And they did all of that without their franchise player against one of the best teams in the NBA. Right now, a bigger picture question is, how do Wemi and Castle plug back into the formula the Spurs have discovered? When both return, this possession first identity should only get stronger. Castle, who led the NBA in turnovers earlier this season, won’t be asked to carry the same on ball load. Instead, he’ll slide naturally into a secondary handler role, sharing the floor with either Fox or Dylan Harper at all times. That alone should trim his turnover numbers and let him play to his strengths. And WBY with Fox running the show and Harper emerging, he won’t have to initiate nearly as much from the perimeter. That should clean up his turnovers, too, especially if he and Fox can build a consistent two-man game. A more streamlined, efficient WBY is a scary thought. Defensively, San Antonio could level up immediately once the back court is whole again. Fox is one of the league’s best thieves at the point of attack. Castle has already shown real lockdown potential. Add in Deon Vel, who’s having one of his best defensive seasons. And suddenly the Spurs have the blueprint for one of the NBA’s most disruptive perimeter groups. More steals, more chaos, more possessions, which feeds directly into the system that’s powering this early season surge. And with Webby lurking behind them, scaring the you know what out of every opposing player who even thinks about driving into the paint, that’s elite defensive potential across the board. And here’s the wild part. Even with injuries, cold shooting nights, and turnover problems early on, the Spurs still ranked seventh in offensive rating after Thanksgiving. If they finally get healthy and continue generating more shot attempts than their opponents, this offense could become one of the league’s most unexpectedly dangerous attacks. It’s not flashy. It’s not built on superstar hero ball, but this possession first mindset is working. And once We Wi and Castle are back, the ceiling might explode. Let me know in the comments. Are the Spurs legit contenders when healthy, or is this just a hot stretch? Either way, one thing’s clear. This isn’t the same San Antonio Spurs. If you enjoy videos like this, hit the like button and check out one of these on your screen now.

The San Antonio Spurs are no longer the rebuilding team everyone thought they were — and this is not the same Spurs the NBA was used to. In today’s video, we break down why San Antonio is suddenly becoming one of the most dangerous and exciting young teams in the league.

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