Dylan Harper can erase the scoring droughts that used to doom the Spurs all by himself

Dylan Harper went on a 14-point run in San Antonio's final preseason game against Sacramento. You could say that it was only an exhibition game, but it wasn't the first time we've seen that kind of individual run from him. He did something similar to the Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs a few months back when Victor Wembanyama was out due to concussion protocol.

Portland already saw what Dylan Harper could do

The Spurs won a postseason game that Portland controlled because the Silver and Black said "no" in the second half. Harper led the effort with 27 points and 10 straight came to start the fourth quarter. His ability as a microwave scorer is notable because of everything else he's capable of at such a young age.

Going on a scoring run by yourself is a unique trait. Teams have traditionally brought in guys who can't play a lick of defense because of their knack for lighting up the scoreboard at a moment's notice—Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford come to mind. A lack of consistency and their shortcomings as playmakers and defenders kept them from being true superstars, but No. 2 for the Silver and Black doesn't have that problem.

The former Rutgers guard was one of the best finishers in the league in his first year. But you have to get to the rim to show off that skill, and any good defense's biggest priority is keeping players out of the paint. He's a natural with the ball in his hands, so that's nearly impossible. Harper walked into the league with a secure handle.

Microwave scorers usually come with a tax

Stephon Castle takes the job of guarding the opponent's best player, but D. Harp takes on tough matchups on that end, too. It's a significant reason why the 3-point-guard lineup can work. Julian Champagnie may be taller, but the sophomore star can move his feet and flip his hips to better defend dynamic offensive specialists when caught on switches.

There's virtually no weakness outside of his three-point shooting—especially not one that would force you to take him off the floor—and even that could be seeing a significant improvement. Harper told local reporters he's put a ton of work into his jump shot, so he's very comfortable with it. His 57.1% three-point shooting in the preseason makes me believe him.

He won't maintain such a ridiculous level of efficiency, but he doesn't need to be that damn good. Still, if he's already turned himself into a real threat from outside, think about how dangerous that makes him in his second season.

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of the now, but the Spurs' struggle to sustain offense wasn't that long ago. They often fell into droughts that doomed their chances to win games. Now they're flush with scoring talent, and one of their youngest players, just scratching the surface of his talent, can generate 10-point-plus runs all on his own.

What a tremendous weapon to have.

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