NBA Week 11 Rewind: The Spurs are the class of the NBA

Who’s Heating Up?

The Los Angeles Clippers are on a nine-game win streak, and eight wins have come without Blake Griffin. For the struggling-to-be-500 team that started this season, this would have been impossible. They haven’t looked convincing as contenders at all due to their continued second unit problems and the failed experiment with Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith, yet they’ve really started coming together lately.

After losing Griffin to a partially torn quadriceps tendon, they haven’t unraveled, hoisted up endless missed three-pointers or revealed that their bench is even worse than before. In fact, they’ve done the opposite, and haven’t lost a game since losing him. Their offense has been firing away, their bench has been more efficient, and taking Smith and Stephenson out of the rotation (while it’s another failed GM move by Doc Rivers) seems to be helping them find stability.

Pablo Prigioni has also been doing a solid job helping run the second unit, and his pick-and-roll game with Cole Aldrich has helped provide some interior structure for the bench’s offense. The latter also deserves a mention too, as his energy and defense as a typical center has been far better than Smith in a small-ball lineup.

Now, as the streak continues after the overtime thriller against the Pelicans, they have the 5th best record in the NBA and sit at 4th in the West at 25-13 — just one win behind the Thunder.

When seeing the following stat, though, does it discredit the Clippers’ win streak as being average at best? If they haven’t beaten a team above .500, what’s so impressive?

Well, considering they were struggling to stay above .500 for most of the early weeks of 2015-16 themselves, and only had a 16-13 record before the streak (not exactly a far above 500, dominant record, is it?), it’s safe to say the way they’ve stepped up is impressive. At least, they’re now well and truly on the right track behind Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, DeAndre Jordan, and an improved bench.

DeMar DeRozan has upped his scoring and efficiency significantly over the last month, and it’s needed more than ever now that the Toronto Raptors have lost DeMarre Carroll due to his knee surgery. Since December 9, DeRozan has averaged 25.1 points per game on 47.2 percent shooting, while recording at least 30 points in five of the 17 games in this span.

After losing Carroll, DeRozan went off for a new season-high of 35 points against the Washington Wizards on January 8. Then, in his last game against the hopeless Philadelphia 76ers, he lowered his field goal attempts to 17 and scored 19 points on an effective 52.9 percent shooting. That kind of efficiency is something we’ve seen more from DeRozan this season, as despite the occasional burst of long twos that he gets trigger-happy with, he’s generally been better. As well as reducing the percentage of his field goal attempts from 16 feet, he’s increased his efficiency from mid-range, making a solid 43.6 percent of his shots from 10-16 feet.

Partly thanks to DeRozan who’s rising to the occasion, the Raptors have now won their last three games and are 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a 24-15 record.

The San Antonio Spurs, as per usual, aren’t just “heating up”. Instead, they’ve been brilliant as always, displaying their usual selfless ball movement, clock-work offense, and stellar league-best defense. From Kawhi Leonard’s emergence to the fact that Tim Duncan is still forcing opponents to shoot a mere 45.9 percent at the rim, everything is going well for them.

The reason (and the real stat) why they are in this segment this week, though, is because over the last month or so, they’ve been better than the Warriors. Seriously, they have been better. The only thing that’s holding everyone back from appreciating that is Stephen Curry’s magic and a 33-2 record.

Their net rating over December and January has been remarkable. When looking at the Warriors, the Spurs have doubled the rating of the defending champs. “Double” isn’t said just for emphasis either, that’s actually the case — their net ratings are +18.3 to +8.9 since December 1 in favour of the Spurs (per NBA.com).

In all facets of the game, the Spurs are playing better than anyone right now. No, their offense may not explode for quite as many points and threes as the Warriors, but their defense is easily the best in the NBA and they are dictating the game better than anyone.

Andrew Wiggins may not be shooting too efficiently this season, yet as a second-year player, there’s no denying he’s on his way to NBA stardom. In fact, for his excited fans in Minnesota, he’s already there in their eyes. Last week was another statement of this, and a new career-high of 35 points against none other than LeBron James’ Cavaliers was the highlight.

He doesn’t usually hit three three-pointers as he did that night, but it’s an element of his game that needs to develop. Wiggins may have incredible athleticism and improved mid-range shot (up to 39 percent from 10-16 feet out), yet a three-point game would force opponents to play him closer outside. With that weapon, he could either choose to shoot, or take them off the dribble and explode to the rim to finish instead. To keep opponents guessing like that would make him even more dangerous.

Damian Lillard is looking more like his usual athletic, clutch self once again now. He’s back after missing seven games, and with a 40 point, 10 assist game against the Warriors and a 31 point, 9 assist performance on Sunday in a big 115-110 win over the Thunder, he ended the week in commanding fashion.

His Portland Trail Blazers still look depleted after losing so many vital players this summer and they rely too much on Lillard and C.J. McCollum’s scoring, but Dame looking this good is something for fans to hold onto. Clutch shots, athletic drives to the rim, and 14 threes in his last two games is what he’s all about.

Next: Who's Struggling?