The Spurs' shocking surge skyrockets championship hopes

There's no question that the Spurs' two-way attack has been dynamic through the course of the season. Despite some offseason skepticism about their roster makeup, they've made things work, sitting in the top ten in both offensive and defensive rating.

Now, every season, there is concern about whether or not a team's style of play is translatable to the postseason. Some teams struggle to adjust to playoff conditions, but this should not be an issue for the Spurs. Their half-court efficiency on both ends has been tops in the league since the All-Star break.

The Spurs' offense is well-crafted for the playoffs

Obviously, regular-season and playoff offenses have their differences. The game slows down, and transition opportunities are cut short, leading to a smaller scoring output. For example, the OKC Thunder notched 120.5 regular-season points per game last season.

However, that number dipped to 114.7 through their title run in the playoffs. Some groups can adjust to that slower postseason pace, and others can't. The Spurs are one of those groups that can.

They have a surplus of smart ball handlers like De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, who can each break things down and orchestrate good half-court possessions with their decision-making. It's no surprise that San Antonio ranks fourth in turnovers.

Additionally, the referees tend to get stingier with their whistles come playoff time, which obviously can be a nightmare for teams that rely heavily on foul shots.

Luckily, the Spurs can adjust to physicality and find their offense without getting to the line. They're 13th in percentage of points that come from the line, and none of their top scorers sit in the top 10 in individual free-throw attempts.

The Spurs' defense built for the next level

As offensive questions arise once the playoffs roll around, the same goes for team defenses. I'm thinking of any squad with Rudy Gobert on the roster. Sure, we're confident that he can lead a group to an elite regular-season defensive rating.

But opposing offenses have historically found ways to break him down, which has been a huge reason why his teams have never gotten over the hump. Let me break it to you: you cannot do that with this Spurs group. There are not many weak links on their roster from a defensive standpoint.

Sure, some guys are better than others individually on that end, but this is a team that is in sync. This team can find matchups for elite opposing offenses, and they guard wisely by defending without fouling (second in opponents' free throw attempts).

Their defensive personnel is absolute hell to deal with in the halfcourt. Stephon Castle is one of the league's premier point of attack defenders, and Victor is obviously elite with his rim protection. The man has led the league in blocks for his whole career.

What separates Wemby from other top shot blockers who tend to get exploited in the playoffs is his mobility and ability to cover so much ground. Picking on him is not an option.

Mitch Johnson has crafted a two-way attack that not only optimizes the talent and versatility of this roster but also is translatable to the next level. For this Spurs group, that next level is making a statement through the postseason.