Significant playoff advantage will power Spurs deep playoff run

San Antonio's three-headed guard attack has powered their season alongside the supernatural abilities of one Victor Wembanyama. That will likely continue in the postseason, and knowing so many critics wanted this team to trade one of these guys makes that reality so much sweeter. The Spurs have a rotation built to cause headaches for 48 straight minutes every night. No breaks.

That's not hyperbole. Unless there was an injury among them, there wasn't a moment when Mitch Johnson didn't have one of his very capable floor generals on the hardwood. This layered attack is a significant reason why the Spurs thrived in the paint this year and will keep doing so.

Paint pressure is the Spurs' catalyst for everything on offense

According to NBA.com, Victor Wembanyama only takes 6.3 shots per game inside of five feet, but San Antonio takes 30.9 attempts as a team from the same range, finishing 65.8% of them. The other 25 shots are coming from nonstop pressure, usually starting from the perimeter. Guys like Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, and Keldon Johnson won't be denied access to that painted rectangle.

Employing the drive and kick method is nothing new to NBA basketball. It's usually one of the best ways to get defenses moving side to side, but there's a different niche to the Spurs' offense because of Wemby's presence. Defenses will often just allow the Silver and Black's bulldozers to take the rock from outside the three-point line right into the lane with little help defense.

They're too concerned about Vic getting an easy lob. Wembanyama has one of the most nuclear-capable offensive games in the league. Opponents know they're just one well-rested night away from a 35-point-in-25-minute barrage on any given evening.

Wembanyama's gravity pairs perfectly with these guards

Wemby's abnormal gravity simultaneously spaces the corners for open threes and clears the paint for easier layups. The Spurs have the eighth highest drive rate in the NBA (51.1%), and they convert on 52.7% of those plays—the third highest percentage in the league.

Those numbers have only gotten better during San Antonio's two and a half month run of dominance to end the season. They increased their drive percentage to 52.3% and converted 54.8%—while the first number was still ranked eighth, the ladder elevated them to first in finish rate.

This roster construction allows Victor Wembanyama the freedom to move around the corner without getting crowded because the defense is always being pushed and pulled in different directions. Eventually, opponents have to adjust, but most times if they cut off one option, another reveals itself.

The main thing the team is lacking right now going into the postseason is frontcourt size, but that's okay. Nobody has a roster tailor-made for every scenario. There are too many variables to account for. It's about playing the games to decide which style wins out and which players will rise to overcome the challenges playoff basketball presents.

After the season they've had, the Spurs have every right to be confident in their personnel. Styles make fights, and theirs will be tough to wrangle. There are too many ways they can put you in compromising positions, based on talent. When you factor in the Coach of the Year-worthy job Mitch Johnson has done, this team is bound to make a ton of noise when the playoffs begin.