NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Lakers woes and other first impressions

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

6 of 31

Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poetl, San Antonio Spurs. Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images /

team. 29. . 1-2. Previous: 26th. San Antonio Spurs. 26

Last Week: (W) over Orlando; (L) to Denver; (L) to Milwaukee

The San Antonio Spurs have been frisky to start the season, winning easily over the Orlando Magic and hanging tough against the Milwaukee Bucks. This is a team well-coached for regular-season success, but the problem is that they don’t have any high-end talent to lead them through. That will be a problem against the league’s best teams, but it could equip them to get some “system wins” over the year against lesser squads.

One thing the Spurs are doing very well is forcing turnovers. Dejounte Murray is one of the league’s premier swipe-artists, but Derrick White has matched him with seven steals total in three games. Their 9.7 steals per game ranks eighth in the league and has sparked their offense into some easy transition baskets, a must given their lack of on-ball creation in the half-court.

First Impression: Thaddeus Young is not playing. One of the league’s better two-way big men last year and a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year, Young was a part of the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade. He can play the 4 or the 5, defends exceptionally well and has grown as an offensive player. Yet the Spurs have played him nine minutes total in just one of their first three games.

For the Spurs, it might be about getting their young core minutes, but they already know what they have in Drew Eubanks and they could be getting much more of an impact with Young. Playing him also helps to keep him visible for potential trades to a contender. The fact that he’s been a healthy scratch twice is surprising.