Julian Champagnie's new role hasn't lessened his impact on Spurs' offense

The San Antonio Spurs haven't quite looked like a championship-level team in their first three games, but there have been some bright spots, one being Julian Champagnie. Despite losing his spot in the starting lineup, this team's offense has been at its best with him on the floor.

So far, Champagnie is averaging 8.7 points per game, and he's picking up right where he left off last season as one of the NBA's best three-point shooters. He's knocked down seven out of his eighteen long-distance attempts in the Spurs' first set of games.

The fourth-year guard has been important for this group early on, and that will continue to be the case as they try to gain some momentum after losing their first two contests.

Champagnie's three-point shooting has been vital for the Spurs

As a whole, the Spurs have struggled from long range at the start of the season. They've had no problem finding perimeter shots- tied for the 11th spot in three-point attempts- but they're not going down at an efficient rate. This team is only 31.9% from distance, which is well within the bottom half of the league.

That's why Champagnie's been so valuable. During his minutes, he's been their most reliable scorer from beyond the arc, consistently knocking down his looks while playing off of his teammates. He's one of the few players on this roster who's keeping their long-distance attack alive.

That couldn't have been more apparent than on Saturday night. The Dallas Mavericks stayed within striking distance throughout the game, but Champagnie connected on a pair of threes that helped the Spurs hold onto their lead and close things out in the fourth quarter. Even as a sixth man, he's still proving how vital he is for the Spurs in pivotal moments.

Champagnie can also be effective when he's not taking shots

Champagnie is a dangerous weapon for the Spurs' offense even when he's not firing up shots from downtown. As one of the league's top three-point snipers, his presence alone forces defenders to stay close to him on the perimeter, which opens up driving lanes for teammates.

So far this season, Harper, Castle, Keldon Johnson, and others have benefited from Champagnie's floor spacing. With him just coasting along the three-point line, they've had so many angles to attack the basket and generate paint points.

The Spurs will continue to lean on his floor-spacing to open up their offense throughout the season. Even with him taking on a new role, he's still one of the most important parts of their scoring attack, and we'll continue to see that as this team tries to establish some momentum over these next few weeks.

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