The San Antonio Spurs have started playing just as well on offense as they have been on defense all season, and the Western Conference’s elite teams better begin paying attention. The Spurs have scored at least 120 points in three straight games for the first time as a franchise since 1993, and they managed to crack that mark on Wednesday night with two of their starters sitting.
The 123-98 victory over the Utah Jazz was indicative of a true team effort, and the bench stepped up along with the guys who started in place of Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge.
David West and Patty Mills were both brilliant, but any discussion about the Spurs begins and ends with Tim Duncan. What more can we say about that guy? He is clearly the best player of his generation, and Duncan will be missed once he retires at the age of 49 or 50. All joking aside, Duncan has been amazing this season, and he was no different against the Jazz. He recorded a team-high 18 points along with eight rebounds, six assists and a steal, and that is what you call a dynamic performance. Kawhi Leonard was definitively impressed by his team’s passing and patience.
“It’s just everybody coming in and stepping up,” Leonard said to ESPN. “That’s what we do: We move the ball, try to get the open shot and just try not to force anything out there.”
West, in particular, was brutally efficient against Utah with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and he added 13 rebounds, four assists and a steal. His decision to take a pay cut and join the Spurs was the most underreported story of the offseason, and his presence could prove crucial in a playoff series where one of San Antonio’s bigs get into foul trouble.
The Spurs are now 21-0 at home this season, and they will be a tough out in the postseason if they continue developing their offense to match an extraordinary defensive scheme. Head coach Gregg Popovich is never one to give praise too early, but even he seems pleased with his team’s effort so far this season. The Western Conference appears to be a two-horse race, and the Spurs are increasing their chances of winning it all with an inspiring stretch of play.
