Spurs return to playoffs?

Welcome back to Arena No. 13.

Last season the Spurs ended with 34 wins and 48 losses, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

But Wenbanyama's performance before he was reimbursed due to blood clots has already had a booster effect - as long as he is here, everyone will believe that it is only a matter of time before the Spurs return to the top.

Last season, Bunyama had averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per game. Moreover, the shooting percentage reached 47.6%+35.2%+83.6%, and he averaged 3.1 three-pointers per game.

You must know that he is only 22 years old and has only played 46 games due to blood clot problems.

What's more important is his dominance on the defensive end: last season when he was on the court, the Spurs only conceded 112.4 points per 100 possessions, and without him, the number soared to 121.6 points.

What is the concept?

The Pistons, who ranked tenth in the league in defensive efficiency last season, gave up 112.5 points per 100 possessions; the Jazz, who ranked last in defensive efficiency, gave up 119.4 points per 100 possessions.

That is to say, when Wen Ban is on the court, the Spurs' defense can even rank among the top ten in the league; but as soon as he is gone, the Spurs collapse directly, which is even worse than the Jazz who are completely ruined.

This defensive influence laid the foundation for the Spurs' revival.

The unlimited possibilities displayed on the offensive end, as well as the ball-holding and three-point attributes that are extremely in line with the current trend, mean the hope of breaking through the ceiling - last season, Bunyama's shooting percentage in all areas was improved compared to his rookie year, and his finishing touch was quite soft.

If he continues to develop, he really has a chance to become a super scoring machine comparable to Durant; if he needs to add more muscle and further strengthen the confrontation in the penalty area, it can probably be described as unsolvable - there is no way, he is too tall and too long.

In addition to the absolute core of Wenban Yama, the Spurs signed a four-year 229 million extension with Fox during the offseason, which can be regarded as locking in the "long-term second boss" position.

Although he only played 17 games for the Spurs last season, he averaged only 19.7 points, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and his efficiency also declined. But he is still the only star defender in the Spurs team who can effectively share the offensive pressure for Wenban.

At least, until the new No. 2 pick Dylan Harper grows up, the other Spurs defenders cannot fill the hole of starting with the ball - Vassell lacks a breakthrough threat, Keldon Johnson has no organizational ability, and Castle is about to enter his second year. ...

If Fox can regain his form, the pick-and-roll between him and Wenbanyama can become a killer move for the Spurs: Wenbanyama can eat the cake along the way and shoot three-pointers from the outside, while Fox can suddenly pass - if the three-pointer is more stable, it will be perfect.

In addition, the Spurs also found two substitutes for Wenban during the offseason: Olynyk and Cornette.

Among them, Olynyk averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season, with a three-point shooting percentage of more than 40%. He is even expected to partner with Bunyama in the twin towers;

Cornet is 218cm tall, has good rebounds and frame protection, and can effectively fill the void in the penalty area after Bunyama comes off the court. After Bunyama left the court last season, the Spurs' interior was often attacked by opponents. With him, he can at least ensure that "the inside is not out of touch."

In terms of the draft, the new No. 2 pick Dylan Harper is a combo guard. He showed excellent scoring and organizational talents in college. He can be Fox's substitute and can also partner with him in the backcourt. With a height of 194cm and a wingspan of 209cm, his size is quite superior and he is expected to become an offensive and defensive star.

Carter Bryant, the 14th pick, is a 3D forward. He could defend from 1 to 4 in college, and he can also make up for the defensive shortcomings of the Spurs' forward.

In addition, the Spurs now have no shortage of shooters - Olynyk, Barnes, Champany, Vassell, McLaughlin... all have good three-point firepower. Driven by Fox and Harper, coupled with the growth of young players, the Spurs' offensive efficiency next season will theoretically be much better than in the past few years.

Of course, if they want to return to the playoffs, the Spurs must at least cross "two hurdles."

First of all, it must be health - Wenban missed 26 games last season, and Fox also missed games due to a hamstring injury.

There are too many strong teams in the Western Conference, and in the end the competition is often about "who can handle it better."

If Wen Ban gets injured again, or Fox recovers poorly, the Spurs are likely to have nothing to gain.

The second is the growth of young players-the Spurs' advantage is youth and vitality, but conversely, they also lack experience.

Veterans like Barnes have passed their prime. Fox declined last season. It remains to be seen whether he can rebound strongly.

So the growth of young players is crucial-can Harper integrate quickly? Can Carter Bryant control fouls? Whether Vassell can shoot three-pointers stably...

If these details are not done well, even if Wenbanyama exceeds the standard, it will be difficult to lead the Spurs to gain a foothold in the Western Conference - Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves, Clippers, Lakers, Warriors... It is difficult to imagine that these 7 teams will miss the playoffs.

That is to say, the Western Conference basically has the last playoff spot left, and in addition to the Spurs, the teams competing for this spot include the Grizzlies, Mavericks, Kings, and even the Trail Blazers and a healthy version of the Pelicans...

It is really difficult for the Spurs to stand out.

But no matter what, as long as Wenbanyama can stay healthy, everything is hopeful.