Spurs’ new Dylan Harper starting lineup is worth the wait after De’Aaron Fox scratch

Mitch Johnson just informed reporters he would be rolling out a new starting lineup featuring Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama. Then came the update: Fox arrived at the arena sore after practice Thursday morning and won't play tonight. Julian Champagnie will start in his place.

That means last year's starting power forward heads to the bench once Fox is back. That's not quite what I expected, but if we're talking about fun factor, it's a thrilling development the entire NBA fan base should be excited to watch nightly.

The NBA is never boring, so there will be other teams worth dialing into. The new-look 76ers with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in uniform, the up-and-coming Utah squad, and the Timberwolves with LaMelo Ball at the helm all come to mind. But San Antonio is right with them, and for many, should and will be at the front of the line.

Spurs Nation finally gets its Dylan Harper wish

Fans and analysts have been begging the Silver and Black to unleash D. Harp, and it seems like everyone is getting their wish. The talented ex-Rutgers star gets to start games alongside Wembanyama and Castle now. Those three are the future of this organization, and the more time they spend on the floor together, the better set up they'll be for years to come.

Chemistry isn't just something you do in a classroom or a laboratory. You build it by playing together, forging experiences, and building collective calluses through defeat. But it's also about dominating as a unit and cheering one another on. This group is going to do a lot of that. The defense, scoring, and selflessness are already there.

This Spurs group is built to run teams off the floor

The two biggest things we should watch for are spacing and defense. If the shooting isn't there, defenses will constrict. It's likely what we'll see to start the season until the 3-headed monster can prove they'll make shots. Once they force teams to respect their range, the paint opens up, and that's when things get nutty.

There's a ridiculous amount of athleticism in this lineup. Everyone on the floor except De'Aaron Fox can create a poster on the fly like a street performer. That's not a slight to Swipa either. With a full offseason to train, we should expect his quick first step to be just as deadly as ever. At top speed, the 2x All-Star is still one of the best scorers in the game. Their transition offense should be electric.

As for that aforementioned defense, they'll need to dial up their explosiveness and aggression to create more run-out opportunities. More steals and more blocks should be on the menu. Spurs Nation will want to see this team play with physicality from the beginning, and they're all tall and long enough to be disruptive by picking pockets of ball handlers and getting into passing lanes.

If they stick with this group, they'll run into teams much bigger than they are, making gang-rebounding a high priority. This is a young lineup. Flying around on defense should be non-negotiable. It leads to easy buckets, and when they score, they get to set their defense. Mitch Johnson often encouraged his team to play faster. Well, we should see plenty of that now.

It should be a light show.

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