Spurs have found the ultimate pairing to decimate opponents

Despite the San Antonio Spurs playing their best basketball in years, fans still held one major wish heading into the upcoming year. Star Victor Wembanyama has come off the bench for the last five games and has been largely limited to playing just 20 minutes a night.

Fortunately, he is now starting again, but he still seems to be on a minute restriction. Until he is back playing at least 30 minutes a game, we won't yet know how good this team can be. That's a scary thought considering that they just beat the Oklahoma City Thunder three times in a week.

However, there may be more to the fact that San Antonio slow-played Wembanyama returning to the starting lineup. One reason is that Luke Kornet is playing at a starting-caliber level and is actually better at certain things than Wembanyama is.

Specifically, Kornet excels at crashing the offensive glass, setting screens, and rolling to the basket. It's not always highlight-worthy, but he has the highest offensive rating of any NBA player who's started at least 15 games this season.

Still, the main reason Wembanyama came off the bench was to pair him with Dylan Harper. That might seem like a happy coincidence, but perhaps not.

Spurs have found the ultimate pairing to decimate opponents

San Antonio has thrived with those on the floor together. After all, the starting lineup minus Wembanyama is more than capable of beating most teams. But having an above-average point guard and a top-five NBA player in their second unit was just unfair.

Interestingly enough, compared to Wembanyama being with De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, he and Harper have the highest two-man offensive rating and net rating. It's true that they have played fewer minutes together. Still, it's hard to argue with a 122 offensive rating, an 81.8 defensive rating, and a shocking +40.2 net rating.

When those two have been on the floor together, the Spurs score at a rate that would lead the league while also practically choking teams out on the defensive end. My theory is that Harper is the best playmaker of the team's point guard trio.

Wembanyama and Dylan Harper are the Spurs' future

We are just now getting a chance to see him play with a big man who can space the floor. Remember, he has primarily spent time playing with Luke Kornet. When you consider the spaced floor, Harper's ability to attack the basket, and Wembanyama playing with a traditional point guard, the Spurs are blowing the doors off their opponents.

Of course, now that he is back in the starting lineup, Wembanyama will shift back to playing with Fox and Castle. But based on how well he and Harper have played together, having Wembanyama get an early rest in each half would allow him to go back to playing with Harper some in the second unit.

That is something that absolutely needs to happen, with them proving to be a devastating one-two punch.