Pop Culture, Vol. 18: Chemistry and Clutch Genes

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We’ve shied away from the traditional recaps you can find all over the interwebs, but we still have a few thoughts after each game. For more as they happen, be sure to follow 48MoH on Twitter. You’ll find our post-game grades in emoji form there. (For real.)

Trevor Zickgraf

You see this quote from any Spur and it’s not super surprising. The Spurs have become more reliant on Leonard and Aldridge for the scoring. And the Spurs are scoring in different ways. Less 3-point attempts, more mid-range scoring. That doesn’t mean the Spurs ball movement has gone away. In fact, the Spurs are averaging slightly more assists per game this year (24.9) than last year (24.4). Both years they’ve assisted on more baskets than their opponents. Monday night, the Spurs not only had five fewer assists than their season average, but they also let the Chicago Bulls dish out more assists.

So the offense stalled and we can mostly blame the bench for that. Five players scored 15 points total on four assists. Not great. Also not typical of the bench. Fact is three of the five Spurs starters played really well, the other two were good and the bench was bad. The Spurs can’t afford for the bench to have a bad night even with the presence of Leonard and Aldridge. Two encouraging takeaways though. One, the Spurs defense continues to be rock solid. In the last 10 days, San Antonio has a staggeringly good defensive rating of 90. Two, Aldridge was hitting his jumpers. He has not been very good from what is typically his sweet spot, but right now he’s shooting 34 percent between 10 and 19 feet. Last season he shot 41 percent from the same range. Those shots are going to start falling as he gets more comfortable. It’s going to happen, just maybe not as quickly as we’re hoping.

Matthew Tynan

When the Spurs flipped four players from their title-winning roster for fresh faces that would play prominent roles in the lineup, one of the primary concerns was how chemistry would be affected.The sledding hasn’t been too tough thus far, as San Antonio sits comfortably in second place in the Western Conference while boasting the second best net rating (9.1) in the league, behind only the lightning-bolt hurling Warriors — a nickname that’s starting to look tame relative to what they’re doing to the NBA. Might as well just be the Golden State Puppies. That, or petition the league to switch to the more applicable Golden State Death Rays of the Apocalypse.

The schedule has been fairly easy for the Spurs — something they’ve taken advantage of in the early going — and they haven’t fallen into the trap of playing down to their opponents, winning most of their games quite handily. But in close games, where chemistry is most important, the lack thereof is showing its ugly head.

San Antonio has spent just 27 minutes this season in clutch situations in the final five minutes of play (ahead or behind by five points or fewer), which is less time than the Warriors have spent in the same situation, believe it or not. In those 27 minutes, the Spurs are getting blown away by 15.7 points per 100 possessions. For perspective, in this same scenario, Golden State has a net rating of 50 points per 100 possessions. FIFTY.

And that’s not as bad as it gets. As the final buzzer approaches in tight games, San Antonio becomes more and more out of whack. Note the following NSFW statistics.

Final five minutes (ahead/behind by five points or fewer): -15.7 (net rating).

Final four minutes: -21.5

Final three minutes: -21.5

Final two minutes: -34.6

Final minute: -65.9

As awful as those numbers look, this was to be expected to some degree. A lack of chemistry manifests itself in the most pressurized of situations, and as the numbers indicate, the Spurs haven’t spent much time outside of their comfort bubble.

After years of continuity and very little roster turnover, incorporating someone like Aldridge into the system was always going to be difficult. And there will be plenty more tests as the NBA marathon drags on, but San Antonio has given itself a cushion built on the bones of lesser and struggling teams. For now, things are OK. Last night was but a small part of the process.

  • jon walters

    Interesting article. Aldridge had his first “oops” moment last night, the Spurs were trying to run their quick hitter that has Parker hit Duncan at the high post from the wing, and Ginobili back cuts from the low post position. He would have been open for a layup, except Aldridge was standing on the weak side low post and totally screwed up the spacing. The man guarding Aldridge (Noah?) easily took away the pass from Duncan to Manu. I think it was a tie game at that time with maybe 90 seconds to go. Final note, for maybe the first time all season the bench really stunk it up. Manu, West, Mills, all had bad games.

  • Justin

    When are we gonna talk about the major issue with this team…The Spurs are now a midrange jumper team. The most inefficient shot in basketball is now the shot most utilized by the Spurs. We used to make our bread and butter in the lane and 3 pointers, now we are squeezed into the mid-game, and it really shows in our FT attempts and 3pt att/makes.

    In my opinion, this is all a product of having all pick and pop bigs. We don’t have a single big that crashes to the front of the rim and it really makes the Spurs a much more Isolation offense. Isolation defense is the easier defense to play and Spurs killed other teams because they exposed team defense and defensive rotations. This is the biggest reason for our drop in 3 pointers and our noticeably larger drop in open 3 pointers.

    I wouldn’t take back the trade of Splitter or Baynes, but we really miss those uncontested easy layups.

    Oh, and the lack of any rim deterrent is really disgusting in the West/Diaw lineup. Teams just pick off Patty because they know there isn’t anyone in the paint

  • Tyler

    I think our spacing (and shot selection) is going to improve as the season goes on due to two main factors: better continuity and LMA shooting 3’s.

    LMA is more than capable of shooting at or above the league average behind the arc, and once that happens, the floor is going to be much less congested. As the season progresses, I think we’ll see more and more wrinkles added, specifically more sets that situate LMA behind the arc. On a basic coaching level, you can’t put everything in day 1. There really isn’t a substitute for time in that regard.

  • jon walters

    I’m not saying in anyway that Splitter is the better player, but he on paper was a better fit than Aldridge offensively for the Spurs. He was a legitimate low post threat, which in the end meant better spacing. He also was a top notch screener, which opened the floor more. I hope LMA can start making 3’s, because Justin is dead on about how we have become a midrange jumper team. HOWEVER, LMA has been surprisingly good defensively, and is another component as to why this team is better defensively overall. Speaking of which, Tim Duncan currently has the best defensive rating in the league, according to ESPN’s Real Plus/Minus. As I have said for years and years, Duncan is slightly overrated offensively but vastly underrated defensively. Finally, if spacing gets to be more and more of a problem, bring the Red Rocket back into the rotation!

  • Tyler

    If by legitimate low post threat you mean Splitter was a guy you would throw it to on the block and expect to get you a bucket, I would vehemently disagree. Splitter has never been a low post player - he’s always been a screen and dive guy, or a guy who hangs around on the basline in the “dunk” spot. In other words, he’s always been a guy who plays off others, not a guy who creates for others. That’s a huge huge difference.

    LMA on the other hand is a creator - he has the ability to create opportunities for others, specifically as a guy who can score 1v1, and/or demand a double team.

    While Splitter was a great fit for SA (he was underrated IMO), LMA’s talent gives this team a higher potential ceiling. And in the long run, I’d much rather take talent over fit. The risk there is obviously hoping the talent fits together. And in that regard, I think the risk hinges heavily on two main factors: coaching (check!) and time. This is faaaar from a finished product.

  • Justin

    I appreciate your optimism Tyler, but I hate seeing 7footers at the 3pt line. Its bad enough that I cringe anytime Timmy catches the ball at the top of the circle with 10 ft of space daring him to throw a line drive missle up there. It’s a bailout to the defense to have an already pick and pop LMA to now be shooting threes, we already have to take enough bad shots on offense if I were to see LMA crowding the perimeter with 3 other guys while Timmy stands past the elbow I’ll throw my remote through my tv.

    And like you say we sit 8th in offensive efficiency, against a very weak schedule. It’s games like the Bulls and every other .500+ team that really exposes the fatal flaws of this team. Poor shot selection and 2nd team defense points in the paint.

  • Justin

    Continuity isn’t gonna get us open shots, our guys are passing without a purpose now. Lack of player movement toward the rim is a major dysfunction of the current makeup of the team. We only have two guys who drive(TP, Manu) and all bigs who pick and pop. Do you see why opposing teams no longer have to stay honest and fulfill team defense and rotations?

    If I am an opposing team I let Kawhi and LMA shoot midrange jumpers till they die, bc it’s the most inefficient shot in basketball and you only have to overplay Green and pack the paint. Much easier conceptually on defense.

  • Tyler

    “Continuity isn’t gonna get us open shots”

    So your thesis is continuity doesn’t matter?? Continuity, familiarity, corporate knowledge or whatever you want to call it has to count at some point. How do you think Pop would react if that assumption was presented to him?

    “I hate seeing 7footers at the 3pt line”

    Assuming LMA can shoot 35% beyond the arc (which he did last year), you definitely want to see him out there. Ideally, he turns 2-3 mid-range jumpers per game into 3’s. Doing so will increase his efficiency and provide better spacing for everyone else. I think we’ll see a gradual transition in this direction as the season progresses.

    No doubt the offense isn’t lighting the NBA on fire right now, but to say this group and it’s personnel is inherently flawed strikes me as a extremely premature. I’d put my money on Pop gradually guiding this team to a more efficient shot selection.

  • Justin

    Continuity will not get them better shots in their current makeup. Chemistry I believe is what you’re talking about, and I agree that chemistry will definitely help.

    If LMA is at the 3pt line, that just puts one more guy out on the perimeter with TD standing at 10-14 feet. So now you’ve completely flooded the perimeter with everyone except Duncan. How does that provide more spacing and spread the defense out by making them honor defensive rotations?

  • Tyler

    Continuity, chemistry, corporate knowledge, etc. - all kinda the same thing in my book.

    As far as spacing, TD will hang around in the dunk spot on the baseline (which he already does). When you run a PnR with LMA, TD is going to be below the FT line. Having LMA spaced out another 3-4 feet provides TD with more room to duck in a pin his man in his back. It also gives Kawhi more room and potential opportunity to do the same, as well as provide more opportunity for TP to create.

    More space between players is better. If anything, our spacing this year should be better by swapping LMA for Splitter. The goal is to force defenders to have to cover a ton of ground when they help. TP, Kawhi, and LMA (even Green off of one rotation) can all create. The problem right now is the guy who catches the pass off the initial breakdown from TP, Kawhi, or LMA is running into a mass of bodies. More bodies inside the 3pt line (as you say) isn’t going help. SA needs more space and better floor balance.

  • the drwolff

    Green is having the “POST CONTRACT” horrible year from 3 while Mills is not yet back to “OMG you can’t leave him open. the bigger issue…..The kobe/Duncan question is officially dead and buried.

    I have never seen a more blatant use of the emperors clothes then those adorning Kobe Bryant. I NEED to make these points….

    1. Before the charlotte game Kobe was OFFICIALLY the WORST shooter in the NBA as per scoring efficiency….oops…my bad…he’s 353rd out of 356, except the 3 players below him avg less then 10 min a game. Read that again….he’s 353rd in the league in scoring efficiency and he’s making 25 million. Anyone want to tell Yurgen Klinsmen he’s an idiot now?

    2. Kobe bryant has not been a relevent NBA player since his 34 yr old season…he’s now 37. That’s 3 years of LA media ramming the ghost of Kobe down everyone’s throat. Sorry guys, no matter how far from the real world you try to make the story…this is the age of analytics and the tent will fall soon when the guy in the crowd actually shouts “UMM, excuse me but he aint wearin no clothes”.

    3. Do you really think ANY player on the lakers gives 2 rats azzez about trying??? imagine you are ANY player on that team. One of the guys you play with is taking 20 shots a game and missing…at a record pace. 5 feet behind the arc? Contested turn around fadaways that draw air? WIDE OPEN 3’s that over and over again clank off the front iron…you look to your coach and he shrugs and says “keep shooting lil bro”. Every single member of that team, every member of the front office and all non Kobe fans are quietly whispering “and don’t let the door hit you in the AZZ on the way out.

    4. TNT posted a stat tonight during a robin roberts interview…kobe is avging 16p/gm while Duncan is avg 10 and VCarter is avg. 5….they did…I’m not lying. I think Zach Lowe threw up on his flat screen.

    5. I have a conspiracy theory in play. ESPN fired Simmons and halted grantland simply to avoid the major roasting of Kobe. Can you imagine Simmons, a die hard Boston fan laying into Kobe. I think I actually had a moment of sympathy…nope, just indigestion.

    6. Now any sane human with a shred of respect for the game would’ve packed it up by the 10th game…not Kobe…he realized he had the franchise by the balls when he demanded the 2 yr 25 million and got it. He realizes that this is all money driven and his stats don’t mean @#$&. 2-15 along with being the worst player in the league….so what, I just drove up ticket prices and made you guys bank by announcing my retirement party. I easily generated the 25 million in away game revenue/media coverage so FU. I’m firing away, and by the way I think I deserve a spot on the olympic team as a send off for putting so much cash in your pockets. HE SAID WHAT? I honestly and openly question his sanity.

    7. If anyone had any doubt about Kobe being a winner…this year, this fiasco has capped it. It has never been about winning with Kobe…it has always been just about Kobe winning…it’s all that has ever mattered to Bryant and unfortunately for everyone connected with him today who actually cares about winning basketball it’s seems to be all that matters to the Lakers franchise and the coach of their team. This…is where we separate Duncan and Kobe fans.

    Kobe…is somewhere between 9 and 12 on the all time great list, but I’ll be damned if you aren’t the all time most self centered. 30 year old Kobe Bryant would’ve already rode your 37 year old skill set out of LA demanding title contention and get this loser off my team. Kobe has always thrown anything in his way under the bus: players, coaches, the Lakers franchise. Maybe the injuries and this seasons incredible sucking, as well as the realization that he’s not getting the scoring title, are sufficient Karmic vengeance. Nahhh…that will come when Pop blows a gasket because Colangelo and kzewzhcghjgkhgf….ski announce they are giving Kobe a spot….in place of Kawhi…on the olympic team. Remember…Kobe said he doesn’t want it gifted…he wants to EARN it. Holy PR nightmares. Who is going to finally put the mirror of reality in front of this guys face? Are they going to do it before he gets embarrassed by being cut ahead of….everyone? I can’t wait for the mysterious illness/injury/coaching spot they appease him with.

    Little help here please…Zach Lowe/Ghost of Bill Simmons, I’m begging.

  • jon walters

    But Dr. Wolff, how do you really feel about Kobe? I agree completely that kobe is not a top ten player of all time, but he is a top ten “star” of all time. His Black Mamba persona has been bought hook, line, and sinker by his fans and the media. I will only say as a positive that in his prime he gave the Lakers their confidence, which should not be understated,
    but for the last few years he’s given them only big headaches. He’s morphed from the Black Mamba into the White Elephant.

  • brunostrange

    Wow, guys. The Spurs are off to their best home start in franchise history, and one of their best starts ever - not to mention that SA’s offense is rated in the top 4 in the league, to go with their top rated defense - and it’s crickets on this site. Way to stay on top of things.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    PtR has a lot of good stuff there, I just go there most of the time, and stop back by here every couple weeks or so. These guys have moved on to other things, so we should as well.

  • brunostrange

    I generally go to PtR too, and I understand that these guys don’t owe us anything, but it’s odd that the site is presumably still live and there’s no activity - especially given the team’s unexpectedly strong start to the season.

  • Dapimp Ofdayear

    It looks to me that the site has lost its identity and passion, hence the lack of a theme or pattern of content. They’re probably trying to figure out who they want to be in the next iteration of 48MoH, or whether they even want to continue. They seem to be placing enormous journalistic standards on themselves like a paid writer would (they’re not), and don’t want to expend the energy and effort for free anymore. Like most of us said, we’d be fine with the Margin and El Conclusion most of the time.

  • Phoolish

    Yup. They kept insisting that there was some grand new identity when nobody wanted anything new. We just wanted consistency in the awesome content that used to be here. El Conclusion and What’s the Story brought me to this site after EVERY single Spurs game whether I had watched it or not. I just came and checked the site for the first time in a couple weeks and see I have not missed anything. So sad.