NBA: Biggest X-factor for all 30 teams in the 2019-20 season

San Antonio Spurs: Derrick White

Derrick White‘s final numbers in a short-lived 2019 playoff run were impressive for the little-known sophomore guard out of the University of Colorado.

It’s upon splitting up that seven-game series for the San Antonio Spurs where we get a shocking drop in production, but also some encouraging signs for the coming season.

White was instrumental in helping San Antonio take a 2-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the opening round.

He’d averaged 23.0 points on an eye-popping 69.0 percent shooting from the field, playing with unbridled confidence that had him carving up a top-10 defense from the regular season.

In Games 4-7, Denver’s schemes defensively made White more of a priority, and it led to the once breakout star putting up just 9.3 points per game on 36.4 percent shooting as the Spurs found themselves eliminated.

Some may call White’s early play no more than a flash in the pan, but others are more optimistic about an impending breakout. In reality, the truth lies somewhere in between the two extremes.

Not every player can stream together multiple 20-point playoff outings, but there’s an adjustment to be made against defenses that will pay him more attention.

More than any other team, the Spurs continue to unearth diamonds in places no one else is looking.

White’s newfound swagger will serve him well and might help to keep San Antonio in the playoff hunt, but only if its met with the proper amount of tactical adjustments to help him deal with a new wave of expectations.