San Antonio Spurs Midseason Awards: Best Shooter

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Davis Bertans #42 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Nemanja Bjelica #88 of the Sacramento Kings during an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 4, 2019 in Sacramento, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Davis Bertans #42 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Nemanja Bjelica #88 of the Sacramento Kings during an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 4, 2019 in Sacramento, California. 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The San Antonio Spurs’ best shooter at the midway point of the season has provided a spark to a high-flying bench offense.

Most games from the San Antonio Spurs start one of two ways.

Either LaMarcus Aldridge or DeMar DeRozan are hot from midrange, or the starters struggle to generate points while missing some ugly, tough shots.

But then the Spurs’ bench checks in to the game, and it’s reminiscent of the pace-and-space days of San Antonio’s last title team that destroyed LeBron and the Heat in 2014.

A lynchpin of that pace-and-space bench offense has been the shooting ability of Davis Bertans.

More from Air Alamo

Bertans is shooting a league-leading 47.6% from three this season.

The Spurs have an offensive rating of 119.5 when Bertans is on the floor compared to 109.8 when he’s on the bench.

According to NBA.com, over 75% of Bertans’ shots come from behind the three-point line and 65% of his shots are catch-and-shoot threes. Davis is hitting nearly 50% of his catch-and-shoot three attempts this season.

San Antonio’s pace-and-space second unit has given Bertans a ton of quality looks from deep. NBA.com’s trackers determined that 64.3% of his three-point attempts were either deemed “open” or “wide open”.

When Bertans does see someone closing out hard on him, he’s able to give a pump fake and drive to the hoop to create a layup for himself or collapse the defense and find the open guy.

Want your voice heard? Join the Air Alamo team!

Write for us!

Next. Spurs Best All-Star Game Performances

Bertans’ lethal shooting ability opens up the entire offense for the second unit, which is why the league-leading three-point shooter claims our Best Shooter Award.

Check out who took home the rest of our Midseason Awards:

Most Valuable Player

Most Improved Player

Best Passer