Keldon Johnson's decision-making will drive his value in a critical year for the Spurs

Keldon Johnson needs a big bounce-back season after his recent playoff struggles. There are several areas in which he can grow and improve, but one of the most important is his decision-making. On that postseason stage, he didn't play up to standard, struggling to score and keep control of the ball. With the depth of the San Antonio Spurs' roster, he must fix this issue quickly.

We can talk about Johnson's offensive limitations all day. He's not an elite-level shot creator, playmaker, or lights-out shooter, but the Spurs don't necessarily need him to do those things to be effective this season.

He can make an impact by being smarter when the ball is in his hands. Getting better at reading defenses and understanding situations will help Johnson optimize his current skill set in big games, whether it's the regular season or the playoffs. It'll also help him remain a key part of this deep Spurs rotation, as Johnson enters the final year of his four-year, $80 million deal.

KJ's decision-making problems made for a rough playoff debut

Johnson made his fair share of head-shaking plays throughout the playoffs, especially with his ill-advised drives to the rim in half-court and transition. There were several possessions in which he recklessly barrelled into the paint with no care for how many defenders were waiting for him.

This resulted in low paint scoring and, even worse, a bevy of giveaways that created opportunities for opponents to turn defense into offense. He posted 24 turnovers to just 20 assists, but the advanced stats show it was even worse. KJ's per-36-minute turnovers increased from 1.4 in the regular season to 2.1 in the playoffs.

Luckily, this is a fixable issue, and it all comes down to better control and patience in crucial moments.

Johnson should improve in picking his spots. His getting a grasp of when to attack the basket versus when to pull the ball back out and slow things down will go a long way for the Spurs' offense.

Sometimes, an attempt at the rim isn't the best shot available. Playing at a better pace will allow him to examine other scoring options and avoid wasting valuable possessions.

He needs to fix this issue as soon as possible

The clock is ticking for Johnson to get a handle on his decision-making issues because this Spurs roster is deep. They have enough options to call on if he continues to make ill-advised plays in big games.

With this team's new additions and Carter Bryant's growth, Johnson's minutes will likely decrease from last season. For him to shine during the moments he is on the court, he must bring a more controlled, patient approach to his game.

Let's be clear: this doesn't mean he needs to abandon his aggressive drives to the rim and his ability to generate paint touches. But finding the right times to deploy those skills will help him be a more consistent performer in both the regular season and the playoffs.

Spurs fans will be paying close attention to how Johnson responds to the criticism thrown his way all offseason. His decision-making will help him regain the trust of this fanbase and continue to be a big part of what this team is building towards.

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