The Spurs lead the league in fast-break points while playing one of its slowest paces

The Spurs lead the NBA in fast-break points, and they're doing it while playing slower than most of the league. Through 11 games, San Antonio is averaging 18.9 fast-break points a night, first in the league, per the NBA. Its pace is 99.38, though. That ranks 21st.

Those two numbers shouldn't go together, but they do. That says a lot about how Mitch Johnson's crew plays basketball.

The Spurs run without playing too fast

Pace counts possessions. It doesn't care how the points get scored. The Spurs aren't a team that sprints on every single trip and hopes for chaos. When the break is there, they take it. When it isn't, they set up in the half court and don't force it. But even then,they may push just enough to create a mismatch worth attacking.

That matches the eye test. There's a concerted effort to get out and run early; they just don't pretend every possession is a fast one. San Antonio manipulates games based on what's available, as it's important to have counter-punches in the NBA.

The Spurs own the paint and protect the ball

Start with the turnovers. The Silver and Black are averaging 13 a game, tied with Philly for the fewest. Opponents are scoring just 13.8 points a night off those turnovers, the lowest in the league, and San Antonio's assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.09 ranks second. Teams can't run on you when you aren't handing them the ball.

Now the Spurs get to set up their half court defense fir most of the game, forcing offenses to solve their biggest strength possession after possession.

Then there's the paint. SA scores 53.8 points a night in the lane, second in the NBA, and 17.9 second-chance points, which is third. That's a team stat powered by Victor Wembanyama's inside dominance, and it helps explain why their scoring margin is so large.

Again, these numbers are through 11 games, so they'll move. It's early. Who knows how they'll adjust as the season progresses and the competition stiffens, but right now, San Antonio's approach is working. It's too nuanced not to (and the top-notch talent helps). That's what happens when you play to the strength of the players on your roster.

The Spurs have several elite downhill guards, so they're second in drives per game. They have a 7'4" monster, so they control the paint. They ask their shooters to shoot. They push the pace when it makes sense, which is often, because of their suffocating defense creates transition opportunities via live-ball turnovers and controlled blocks.

But the running isn't a switch that never turns off. That's the key.

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