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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s biggest question

By Ben Ladner

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 16: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 16: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 26: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the United States works with DeMar DeRozan #35 during a practice session at the 2018 USA Basketball Men’s National Team minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on July 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 26: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the United States works with DeMar DeRozan #35 during a practice session at the 2018 USA Basketball Men’s National Team minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on July 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

San Antonio Spurs: How do DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge fit together?

Manu Ginóbili’s retirement crystalized what was already clear: San Antonio is now fully into its post-Duncan era. Last season was wholly uncharted territory for the famously smooth and buttoned-up franchise, and it left San Antonio in the unfamiliar position of being right on the playoff bubble in the West. The Spurs ranked seventh in mid-range jumpers last year and third two seasons ago with Kawhi Leonard at the helm. Now, with DeRozan and Aldridge leading the way, the Spurs might be a lock to hoist the most mid-rangers in the NBA.

Those two occupy many of the same spaces on the court, and their preferences for getting to the basket and popping from 18 feet creates some stylistic redundancy. Their reluctance to fire from 3-point range will confine San Antonio’s offense, making it that much more guardable. Therefore the challenge in running an effective offense through such archaic players will be in targeting the spots on the court where their games to do not intersect, leaving each to roam as freely as possible within his natural habitat. Shooters like Patty Mills and Davis Bertans will be instrumental in opening up the court from behind the arc as DeRozan and Aldridge operate within it.

Responsible though they are for many of the offensive innovations of the modern NBA, the Spurs’ offensive style has always simply reflected their best players’ strengths. One way or another, Gregg Popovich will find a way to get the most out of Aldridge and DeRozan, both individually and together.

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