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

2. Spurs still in need of clutch-time scoring down the stretch

Over 63 games, San Antonio has offered much to the pessimist. But one thing we can’t take away is how they’ve hung in tough against teams of superior record, and for the first 92 percent of that game, give themselves quite the puncher’s chance. Unfortunately, organized games in the Association are 48 minutes.

This last stretch of games has told a story we’ve read all too many times. The Spurs dig themselves into a hole, go on one of those classic San Antonio runs, and take a cushioned lead with half a quarter remaining only to allow a series of defensive befuddles to leave them searching for answers.

The longer a game goes, the more the pressure amps and the worse off the Spurs have been. Aberrations have been welcome, but NBA.com’s clutch stats paint a picture for us.

The Spurs have played 39 games this season in which the point differential has been at five points or less, and five minutes or less in the game. In those games, they are just 15-24. Only seven teams have a worse record.

Of the Spurs’ last six games, five fit the criteria. And even as the underdog, they let two games slip away against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers that could hang over them should they miss out on the Playoffs.

Here’s how the numbers have looked, in situations in which: a) four minutes remain, and b) the game is within 1 to 5 points.

• DeMar DeRozan — 5-of-20 (25 percent) on go-ahead attempts
• LaMarcus Aldridge — 8-of-12 (67 percent) on go-ahead attempts
• Patty Mills — 6-of-12 (50 percent) on go-ahead attempts

No other Spur has taken double-digit attempts. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White (a combined 7-of-14) have shown potential. But of that aforementioned six, how many are guaranteed to be on the floor of a Popovich-coached team during the nut-cutting time?

Popovich prefers Forbes, who is 1-of-9. Aldridge could be a viable option — he’s a sizzling 55.2 percent on 58 such attempts since 2017-18 — but the give of a slow-developing post-game also has a take. Teams can blitz double teams, force the ball out, and then it’s back to square one.

DeRozan has always had his moments. He’s by and large the Spurs’ premier shot creator. That explains why he’s taken 57 shots over the last two seasons but has hit on only 21 of them.

Say we toggle the numbers to strictly what is defined as “hero shots” (less than 30 seconds of a one-possession game). He’s hit on 2-of-10, which, in theory, is just one shot off the league’s average of 29.8 percent. Aldridge is 2-of-2.

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Whether or not DeRozan is the only one with the mentality needed to take these shots is a different debate for a different day. But he’s certainly the one with the requisite skill to do so. Can that be counted on consistently to win big games? Do the Spurs even have a true backup plan? These are the questions worth asking for now.