The further we get into November, the more it becomes clear the San Antonio Spurs’ play in October may have saved their 2017-18 season.
The San Antonio Spurs are a quality team. This has been evident for more than 20 years where they have not had a losing season. However, the start of the 2017-18 season was always going to be a test. As October unfolded, the Spurs played without starting point guard Tony Parker and superstar Kawhi Leonard.
Without these two players, it was hard to not think of the 2014-15 Oklahoma City Thunder. This team had Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook out and went 4-12 in the first 16 games without their stars.
Where it gets truly interesting is looking at the first seven games. The Thunder went 2-5, even losing the the Brooklyn Nets. I am using the first seven games as a comparison because this season started a lot earlier in October than the 2014-15 season.
This season, without Parker and Leonard, the Spurs have been a lot better than the 2014-15 Thunder. They ended October 4-3, having beaten good teams such as the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves, who are a potential conference finals teams.
At the end of the season, Russell Westbrook led the Thunder to a 41-41 finish. It was not enough to displace the New Orleans Pelicans from the 8-seed in the West, meaning they missed the playoffs.
What happened in October
Anyone who has followed the Spurs knows LaMarcus Aldridge was not happy with his role within the system. He had a chat with coach Gregg Popovich over the summer and the result was a month of basketball where Aldridge carried the Spurs. Their good record is in large part thanks to him.
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October also allowed for the continued emergence of Dejounte Murray, who had a number of good games. He has slipped back to the bench, being replaced in the starting lineup by Patty Mills. However, he is playing with a confidence of knowing he can compete with most starting point guards in the NBA.
Rudy Gay, who was a question mark coming off that Achilles tear, has established himself as a potential Sixth Man Of The Year candidate with his level of play. He is going to be much more at home with the offense when Leonard comes back.
The month of October also exposed the issues the Spurs need to work on. The teams that have beaten them for the season so far are all extremely athletic. Having a two-time Defensive Player of the Year back in the lineup will help this.
Where they are going
Fortunately for the San Antonio Spurs, the start of November was kind to them. In the six games they have played, they are 4-2. The two games they have lost are to playoff-caliber teams in the Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The four wins are against the Phoenix Suns, the Charlotte Hornets, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls — all games they should have won.
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It is this winning mentality that is once again going to make the Spurs are playoffs this year. This is the difference between the Spurs and most of the NBA. Their ability to play and win with whoever is on the court is amazing.