Season 50, Game 28
San Antonio 102, Houston 100
23-5, 2nd in the West

I love beating the Rockets. I particularly love beating the Rockets in Houston. And I especially love beating the Rockets in Houston by overcoming a 13-point deficit in the final 4:30 of game time.

My colleagues did a fine job digging into this game. I don’t have too much to add, and I’m not sure either team will take much away from this one. San Antonio was uncharacteristically sloppy, but showed great character in fighting to the end. Houston couldn’t hit a 3 to save their life, but was mostly dominant in every other facet of the game. It came down to a few bounces, and the last one went the Spurs way.

Here is what I’ll take away from the game: Kawhi Leonard played poorly and the Spurs still won. This is a very good thing.

In jumping out to this great early season success, the Spurs have often relied heavily on their All-NBA Small Forward. For the most part, Kawhi can take it. But for the team to truly compete in the post-season, it needs to be a team effort.

So it makes me happy when Kawhi has a ‘meh’ game, but the rest of the squad shows up to gut out the win. No other Spur was particularly great, either. It was just a bunch of players playing good to really good.

I’m particularly happy with the way LaMarcus Aldridge has played the last few games. He hasn’t been settling for easy jumpers, instead choosing to impose his will a bit in the post. And he’s been scrapping in the paint, getting tough rebounds and tough baskets. (Maybe most impressive in this game, however, was his 5 assists.)

Danny Green also had a really solid game, hitting some big 3s and also guarding James Harden really well. Did you know he is (quietly) Top 10 in the NBA in 3-point shooting? Me neither. Green might be the most maligned Spurs player by Spurs fans, but he is integral to the team’s success.

It’s still early in the season, but things are progressing nicely. The starters are beginning to build some real chemistry, and the bench continues to be a wrecking ball against other team’s bench units. Kawhi is still the star, but every player is finding their role and, more importantly, understanding how to fulfill it.

This team is really fun to watch.

The Spurs travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers tonight. My other favorite team to beat. Here’s hoping.

Go Spurs Go.