Overexaggerated Spurs concern has been solved during final stretch

All year long, one of the biggest worries for the championship-contending Spurs was the team's ability to close out games. The majority of San Antonio's losses this season have come in crunch time, showing that Mitch Johnson's squad may be lacking the ice-cold gene.

Despite that, the numbers prove that this ideology is nothing but a hoax. Since February 1st, the Spurs have been 7-2 in clutch games. Clearly, they have a formula that leads to winning when it matters most.

They had "struggled" in these moments to begin the season, winning 17 of 27 clutch games prior to February 1st. If there was any concern that San Antonio couldn't win in crunch time, it could be dismissed.

The Spurs have won clutch games with great defense

Typically, the best clutch teams have a great closer. While De'Aaron Fox often plays that role, he hasn't been the most efficient in doing so. The Swipa is shooting only 42.2% in crunch time, a far cry from his previous Clutch Player of the Year victory.

Victor Wembanyama hasn't been much better either, finishing just 44.2% of his shots in clutch situations. Further, Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie have shot less than 42%.

So, if the Spurs haven't been piling it on offensively in crunch time, how have they been winning games? Well, it comes down to the defense.

This highly motivated and driven team knows how to lock in when the time comes. As games come down to the wire, the squad is ready to sit in the chair and stop whoever is ahead of them. When the offense isn't making a play, the defense is making up for it on the other side.

The pressure will be on Spurs' clutch performances in playoffs

The Spurs' success in crunch time will become all the more important as they roll into the postseason. Since February 1st, San Antonio hasn't had too many opportunities to practice their closing strategies. So many of their games have been blowouts and over before they even got close.

However, in the playoffs, those blowouts aren't likely to happen. Especially once the Spurs take on the best of the West, the vast majority of their games will come down to the final basket. Because of this, the squad must be prepared. Their ability to strengthen their defense and hit key shots could make or break their playoff run.

While the shooting numbers of the Spurs' main closers aren't great, I have no worries about the team getting it done in the playoffs. This team is full of clutch players who have been extremely hot shooting the ball.

They have proved countless times that they know how to win, showing it in a variety of ways. It doesn't matter how they do it, only that they are doing it.