The Spurs have one of the deepest, most skilled rosters in the NBA headed into next season, giving them a breadth of options to close out games and execute in the clutch. But all teams have their signature late fourth-quarter lineups. A combination of De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant, and Victor Wembanyama would devastate opponents during winning time.
This group didn't play a single minute together last season, according to Databallr.
We already saw the combination of Fox, Harper, Castle, and Wembanyama at times last season, and they showed a ton of promise and upside. But with their growth and the addition of a veteran forward like Tobias Harris, the Spurs could be one of the toughest teams to outplay in the clutch.
The three-guard lineup can be extremely dangerous...but there's a catch
We already saw some promising moments from Spurs' three-guard combination, but they can be even more dangerous next season. Each of them can handle the ball and get to the paint, and trying to contain all three of them at the same time can be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
But for this combination to be at its best, each player must improve in making shots off the catch. Running three elite slashers on the floor together is even more dangerous if they all can function as reliable long-range threats. Off-ball defenders would have a tough time helping off the perimeter to contain drives, which could lead to more efficient looks at the rim.
Even if opponents are successful in containing drives and forcing kick-out passes, San Antonio's guards can use their quickness to attack closeouts and devastate scrambling, rotating defenders. Options are limited when trying to contain a collection of players who can each get to the rim when they want and consistently knock down threes.
This Spurs unit has a high defensive ceiling
Not only can this lineup be devastating on the scoring end, but there's also a lot to be excited about with their defensive upside. The reigning DPOY Victor Wembanyama is manning the interior, and hopefully next season he can be even better when switching out and guarding quicker players on the perimeter.
Tobias Harris isn't All-Defense level, but with his skill and experience, he's a solid team defender who can play his part in getting stops. At 6'8" with a 6'11" wingspan, he can hold his own by guarding across multiple positions.
I'm also very intrigued by what the Spurs' three guards can do together defensively. Stephon Castle is already elite at guarding primary scoring options, and Dylan Harper has shown some promise with his ability to get stops. De'Aaron Fox is also very serviceable on that end.
If each player does their job this offseason and commits to getting better at the things they need to, this lineup can devastate opponents in the clutch. That's exactly what they need, as their biggest problem in the NBA Finals was their inability to close games out.
