Dylan Harper could unlock the Spurs' most explosive offense yet

Just a 10 games into the San Antonio Spurs' 3-point guard starting lineup, Dylan Harper is already providing the team with some needed scoring punch. Harper is averaging 18.1 points per game while shooting a blistering 83.3% from within five feet of the basket.

That's a wild stat that proves Harper should have been starting all along. In fact, it's worth mentioning that he is currently second on the team in scoring, ahead of De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.

Even as Harper's 3-point shot remains a work in progress, connecting on more than 80% of his shots at the rim more than counterbalances his 3-point shooting. It also makes the Spurs a nightmare to gameplan against, with Harper's expanded role making an already elite offense potentially even better.

Dylan Harper is a nightmare for opponents to gameplan for

Depending on how teams prioritize San Antonio's best players, Harper may be viewed as the Spurs' fourth-best player. That's despite Harper being second on the team in scoring.

If Harper is lower on the scouting report than Victor Wembanyama, Fox, and Castle, then how do teams adequately game plan for someone like him? It's one thing to be aware of Harper's tendencies. It's another to have to stop three other players while also containing him.

We saw that during the NBA Finals, with Harper giving the New York Knicks problems despite them having multiple good perimeter defenders. His combination of size at 6-5, strength, and skill as a finisher means he can overpower man guards.

The more he asserts himself, the more damage he can do offensively, helping the Spurs reach a new level offensively.

Harper unlocks the path to the Spurs' best offense yet

The Spurs are still adjusting to their new starting lineup, and it's mostly been successful, despite the team's shooting struggles. Last season, they ranked fourth in the NBA with an 119.6 offensive rating.

This season, they rank sixth in the NBA with an 118.0 offensive rating, largely due to the Spurs connecting on just 34.4% of their threes. If and when their shots start falling, they could be far better offensively than before.

Harper is crucial to that, with the new three-point guard starting lineup having the best net rating in the NBA. As it turns out, having a wealth of ball handling, playmaking, and slashing surrounding an elite two-way player is a recipe for success.

Spacing is still a work in progress, but Wembanyama and Devin Vassell's shooting has yet to improve to the mean. Meanwhile, Harper's shot is beginning to fall more consistently with him up to 35.3% on 3.4 3-point attemps per game.

If his shooting continues to improve and his finishing remains elite, he could up his average to around 20 points per game. Not only that, but his rise as an offensive player could make Spurs even better than before.

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