The Breakdown: Understanding San Antonio's "Machine-Like" Efficiency

We break down the six important plays of the San Antonio Spurs.

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Image via Complex Original
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To call the San Antonio Spurs boring has become cliché. Fast break alley-oops for LeBron James, observers note, are at one end of the basketball-excitement spectrum; Tim Duncan bank shots the other. It has become almost equally cliché to counter by pointing to San Antonio’s “machine-like” efficiency.

I dare not dispute either point. The Spurs are remarkably efficient—their effective field-goal percentage of 53.7 percent was No. 2 in the league this season—and as for watching TD bank shots, I, too, care very little.

But I do worry that the San Antonio Spurs are going the way of football’s extra point. Extra points have become so automatic in the NFL (99.6 percent were converted in 2013) that fans glaze over them and commissioner Roger Goodell has discussed their elimination.

The Spurs don’t have to worry about being banished from the league, but they are underappreciated—not in the sense that we fail to recognize their greatness, but in the sense that we do not care to understand it.

Just as we expect seven points to go on the scoreboard each time the ball crosses the goal line, we expect to see the Spurs atop the Western Conference at season’s end.

Let’s pause, then, on this edition of “The Breakdown” to take a look at how they do it. And remember, for more coverage of the NBA playoffs, check out Complex’s new hoops site TriangleOffense.com.

Tim Duncan Bank Shot

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Tim Duncan Bank Shot

Obviously we had to start here. Chances are you will never do anything in your life quite as well as Tim Duncan knocks down bank shots. For instant offense, all the Spurs need to do is hit Duncan with an entry pass and give him space to work. Usually all it takes is a few seconds for Duncan to spin or muscle his way to a spot where he can loft a shot off the backboard and into the hoop.

Tim Duncan-Tony Parker Screen and Roll

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Tim Duncan-Tony Parker Screen and Roll

The Spurs have been running this since San Antonio drafted Parker with the 28th pick back in 2001. Duncan sets a high ball screen, and Parker heads straight for the basket. If the defense doubles, Parker kicks it back to Duncan for a wide-open jumper.

Perimeter Ball Movement

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Perimeter Ball Movement

The Spurs’ ball movement is ridiculous. In this 10-second clip, the following happens: 1. Five passes are made. 2. Every Spur touches the ball 3. The ball moves from the top of the key to the left corner to the right wing to the left wing. To reiterate, all this happens in 10 seconds. Tony Parker had an open look off the pass from Boris Diaw, but by opting to move the ball again he ended up with an even better look.

Low-Post Passing

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Low-Post Passing

Sure, the Spurs have one of the game’s best point guards in Tony Parker, but he’s not the only one diming. Bigs Diaw, Duncan, and Tiago Splitter posted regular season assist-to-turnover ratios of 1.8, 1.4, and 1.2, respectively. This means the Spurs’ slick ball movement is not confined to the perimeter. The bigs can kick it out or, in this case, find each other for easy layups.

Tony Parker in Transition

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Tony Parker in Transition

Sometimes, though, the Spurs’ offense is quite simple: get the board and give it to Tony Parker. He can take care of the rest.

Manu Being Manu

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Manu Being Manu

There are players who are more athletic than Manu Ginobili. There are players who are more talented than Manu Ginobili. Few, though, are craftier. Whether he’s Euro-stepping to the basket or perfectly using an off-ball screen, Manu just finds ways to get buckets.

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