San Antonio Spurs: 3 things learned during injury-riddled stretch

3. Tim Duncan may have finally freed Keldon Johnson from Spurs’ bench

The front-page news for the Spurs centered around Gregg Popovich’s constraints opened the door for the head coaching debut of Tim Duncan — and controversially, not Becky Hammon — during a Mar. 3 game against Charlotte.

Somewhere under that top fold was what Duncan’s one-game promotion meant for San Antonio’s young talent, and in particular, No. 29 overall selection Keldon Johnson.

Last Tuesday’s game against the Mavericks had particular significance for Johnson. Before that game, his numbers told the entire story. In 40 minutes played, 31 came with the score margin at 11+ points. This week, fortunes flipped. The former Kentucky Wildcat has now played a third of his 92 minutes in single-digit, competitive games.

Along the way, we’ve got a chance to see some of the traits and tendencies only the Austin Spurs know all too well.  The in-your-jersey defense, the body control on sorties to the rim; the translation of using defense to create offense.

Doncic worked his offense to the tune of 38 points because that’s what generational talents do. But with Johnson on him, he would’ve had a hard time picking an open shot out of a police lineup.

The Spurs are four games into the troubleshooting, and Johnson has been a revelation of the smallest sample size, posting a +21 net rating over the time frame.

Historically, we’ve seen rookies struggle to find their efficiency right out of the gates. Through 92 minutes, Johnson has cleared that hurdle, hitting on 51.6 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from distance, and 70.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Even the veterans stepped up and lauded what Johnson and the rest of his rookie class bring to the table. Here’s DeMar DeRozan in particular, per Tom Orsborn of MySanAntonio.

"“They’re very much a vibrant group, on and off the court. When they get on the court you can tell their excitement. They just want to be out there playing, and Keldon brought that energy. He doesn’t care if it’s 30 seconds or 12, 13 minutes a night, he is going to go out there and give it his all.”"

Perhaps even more impressive is Johnson’s ability to draw contact. Of every ten shot attempts, he’s getting to the line on about three of them, which, over a full season, would give him a 32.3 free throw rate.

The early returns on defense have been spectacular too. Among Spurs players to have at least one field goal taken on them per game, Johnson ranks No. 1 on the team at 44.4 percent opponent shooting.

That isn’t indicative of how that number could look full time, nothing would over 92 minutes. But the Spurs are a +11.5 per 100 with Johnson on the floor, a number no longer diluted by just playing reserves.

For a 27-36 team, though, almost every positive has to be taken into consideration at this point. Teams aren’t able to practice and are encouraged to stay home. But if I’m Johnson, studying film and understanding where I can pick my spots when the season returns takes precedence above most else.