To the surprise of some (not us here at Air Alamo), the Spurs are off to an excellent start. The team has steamrolled into a 5-0 record, and the vibes are at an all-time high. Seeing success across the board from their superstar Victor Wembanyama to their rookie Dylan Harper, the Silver and Black group has it going.
While the offense has been efficient, the most significant source of San Antonio’s success has been the defense. Following Thursday night’s match against the Miami Heat, the Spurs rank as the second-best in the NBA on that side of the floor. It has been an impressive showing by the squad, but it was never going to be a worry.
During media day, Victor Wembanyama stated that playing defense was “nonnegotiable” for everyone, no matter what their status is. So far, it appears that Wemby has lived up to his word and his team has listened.
The Spurs defense is benefiting from contributions all over
It’s no shock that a Victor Wembanyama-led defense is succeeding, but it takes more than just one man to get to the defensive heights that have been achieved this season. Still, giving the Frenchman his credit, he has, of course, been a monster. His league-leading 24 blocks and undeniable impact around the rim have been outstanding as per usual.
With Wembanyama creating an impassable wall in front of the basket, the pressure has been placed upon the men on the outside. With statements to be made, they have shown up. Most impressively, Stephon Castle has proven to be not only one of the Spurs’ best defenders but also one of the top defensive players in the NBA. His quickness and savviness on the ball have been superb.
Outside of the Spurs’ two pristine defenders, no one else has created a sore spot. From the top to the bottom of the rotation, each Spur is making their presence felt. Whether attacking closeouts, reaching in for a deflection, or fearlessly getting into the ball handler’s face, they are getting the job done.
Mitch Johnson has elevated the defense from weak to great
This Spurs defense is a far cry from what we had seen in previous years, even with Victor Wembanyama. Before, the Spurs were often teetering towards the bottom of the defensive leaderboard and, at best, made their way to the middle of the pack.
Head coach Mitch Johnson deserves a lot of credit for his emphasis on aggressiveness and his ability to get this team into game mode. Many similar faces have stepped up this year in terms of defense, and it is in large part due to Johnson.
As the Spurs quest into the rest of the NBA season and hopefully into the playoffs, the defense must continue to play at a high level. If they can maintain this level of success, there is no telling what this squad can accomplish.
