Popovich finally confirms unexpected Spurs starting lineup for season

One of the reasons the San Antonio Spurs have the best fanbase in the NBA is because said fans have such extensive basketball intelligence. You could argue that brilliance spawned from the symbiotic nature of their relationship with an organization that has long prioritized brainpower on and off the court. Fans have soaked up that knowledge over the years, and their understanding of why Manu Ginobili came off the bench helps them understand unorthodox approaches.

Air Alamo wants to give flowers to those who correctly predicted the Silver and Black would start Jeremy Sochan at point guard this season. There were several of you, and you each deserve to take a bow. Head Coach Gregg Popovich confirmed the starting lineup to reporters last night after a 117-103 victory over the Houston Rockets. When the news broke, it is probable that numerous fans were impersonating the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme after their clairvoyance rang true.

Starting Sochan could causes matchup nightmares for NBA teams

The game has shifted. The league regularly has players like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as lead ballhandlers. Some of the best facilitators in the association are menacingly tall and lightning-quick compared to the average point guard. Popovich unleashing Victor Wembanyama and rolling out Sochan at the one is the equivalent of draw-four revenge in a testy game of Uno. San Antonio's length will force opposing offenses to pick their spots carefully or get locked up like that old Akon song.

The Spurs breezed past the Miami Heat in their second preseason game, but their new-look starting lineup looked clunky on the offensive end as Keldon Johnson sat out that contest. Sochan will undoubtedly experience growing pains in his first go-round in a new role. Despite those ebbs, the offense flowed like the Rio Grand River on Wednesday night, allowing the Spurs to skyrocket to a massive early lead over their I-10 rivals.

Fans know Coach Pop is not afraid to think outside of the box. He brought one of the best two guards in NBA history off the bench. He embraced an edgy Stephen Jackson. He hired former WNBA All-Star Becky Hammon as his assistant coach. This move is just another ho-hum decision in the life of the finest basketball mind to grace the sport. Expectations can weigh players down, but opponents must carry the burden of figuring out how to counter a 6-foot-8 point guard or risk getting crushed. Good luck with that.