Season 50, Game 16
San Antonio 109, Boston 103
13-3, 3rd in the West

Someday (soon, hopefully), the entirety of the Spurs roster will show up to play a game, and the results will be magnificent. We’re talking at least a double-digit victory.

Until then, I suppose we’ll content ourselves with these close victories that are in doubt until the very end. Instead of wondering why the team can never put a game away, we’ll say that they’re building up their close game reps and ‘learning’ how to win close games.

The Spurs have won 8 straight games by a margin of 6.25 points. Only one of those wins – the first in the streak, against Detroit – was by double digits. And that was a 10-point win. The Spurs are either lucky, clutch, or both.

Friday in Boston, the starters came out and (warning: obligatory post-Thanksgiving joke forthcoming) played as if they were still in the thrall of their turkey coma. In the blink of an eye, they were down 14 points.

Thankfully, the bench came to play. With the help of the second unit, it was a tight game midway through the second. Enough of the starters (Kawhi, Danny, and kind of LaMarcus) woke up in the second half to join the bench, and the Spurs were able to put away the tenacious Celtics.

Here were the starters/bench splits:

• the starters scored 53 points in a combined 140 minutes.
• the bench scored 56 points in a combined 100 minutes.
• the starters shot 18-for-46, 39%.
• the bench shot 20-for-35, 57%.

You don’t need any fancier numbers to see the disparity, do you?

Let’s examine a few of the bench players in more detail:

• David Lee had perhaps his best game as a Spur, posting a 15-12 double-double and also chipping in 3 assists. I don’t think anybody outside of the Lee family thought he could be this productive in San Antonio. But by limiting his deficiencies and accentuating his skills (a Pop special), he’s been a very effective second-unit player.

• Mills continues to shoot like he did during the 2014 Championship run. When he does, he is an exceedingly valuable bench player.

• Mills’ value is accentuated by playing with Ginobili, who is the de facto PG of the second unit. Much like Parker does for the starters, Manu organizes the second unit, and inspires and spurs on the beautiful ball movement and cutting, which then becomes infectious across the entirety of the bench. Even on a night when he shoots 0-for-6, he can still have an impact.

• Davis Bertans is playing like he’s figured some things out about the NBA and wants to continue playing there. In the last two games, he is shooting a torrid 10-for-12 for 26 points. No big deal, just 83% shooting and 2.17 pts/shot. His stroke finally looks more comfortable, and he is less hesitant to shoot it when he is open.

Most impressively, as I continue to say, is his defense. He is surprising quick and agile for his size (and knee injury history), and seems to understand the defensive principles better than some veterans. Seriously, just watch him on some of his defensive possessions. He is always spot on making the right rotations, hedging and recovering to help out teammates, closing out on shooters, and protecting the rim.

I’m excited to see what he continues to do with his minutes.

The Spurs close out their East Coast swing against Washington Saturday evening.

Go Spurs Go.