The fading Spurs must solve the problem with Gregg Popovich's replacement

The San Antonio Spurs have been without their head coach, Greg Popovich, for all but 10 games of the 2024-25 season, and they have missed their coach in more ways than one. Without Popovich, they have been led by Mitch Johnson, who is having to learn on the fly as he tries to steer the Spurs to the playoffs for the first time in 5 years.

Filling a Hall of Famer's shoes is a tough task to be sure, but Johnson's coaching has come under fire from Spurs fans recently with him making several baffling decisions. For one, he has continued to start Chris Paul after the Spurs acquired De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings.

Fox's addition to the Spurs has lessened their need for Paul, while backup guard and 2024 fourth-overall pick Stephon Castle has rapidly improved over their last 15 games. Starting Fox and Castle together would be a no-brainer with Castle providing them with a relentless slasher who has dramatically improved as a 3-point shooter and can effectively defend on the other end of the floor.

Interim coach Mitch Johnson has struggled to maximize the San Antonio Spurs

Nevertheless, Castle is stuck coming off the bench and thus essentially capping his minutes. Other issues have included him cycling through backup centers. However, Johnson often settled on Zach Collins, who was one of the worst backup big men in the NBA this season. Johnson also failed to challenge crucial plays, and his random player rotations defy logic.

Then there is Johnson's inability to get Wembanyama easier baskets. As pointed out, the Spurs offense tends to stagnate, and Wembanyama often struggles to get good shots in the paint. After all, when he's able to get deep position in the post, teams simply swarm him, and he's forced to pass out of the double team.

When he is able to actually work one-on-one, he is often forced to take a contested jumper further away from the basket. Instead, the Spurs could run him around screens a la Klay Thompson or Steph Curry to free him up for open threes. Or, allow him to get positioning in the paint and score quickly before the defense can react.

The Spurs desperately miss what Gregg Popovich provides.

San Antonio did some of that last season, allowing him to get easier baskets, but that has largely been absent this year with Johnson at the helm. As a result, Wendy has often spotted up from outside and is attempting a staggering 9.4 threes per game.

To his credit, he is shooting 35.5% on high volume, but he would be a far better offensive player if he had a coach who could put him in better positions to score inside the paint. Johnson hasn't done that so far, and that has limited San Antonio's offense, with them being only slightly above league average despite having a unique scoring threat.

Going forward, the Spurs could have a big problem on their hands if it's determined that Popovich can't continue on as head coach due to health reasons. Having Johnson as the Spurs coach long-term could limit the team's ceiling with him struggling to manage the rotation and maximize his team's strength.

That makes this summer a crucial one for the Spurs, and more so with Popovich's health being a big factor in them contending going forward.