Patatoa

For fans and non-fans alike, countless thoughts raced through our heads the night of March 11, 2020 — the night the NBA shut down its season. A new reality shaped, and the shadow of much larger issues climbed. For the NBA fan, it was the latest event in a joyless season that refused to disassociate from the real-world-muck we sought to take a break from. (The top two teams all season were the Lakers and the Kawhi's, yeesh.) For the Spur fan though, there was a silver-and-black lining. "Will we get to keep the streak and the lottery pick?"

The season did resume, in the "Orlando bubble." And the streak did end, but not for lack of trying or drama. The Spurs were hairs away from year 23. To get that close, the Spurs played their best basketball all season. In spite of, and not because of, key absences the Spurs were able to play explosive and effective ball that energized our veterans and empowered our young guys.

The situation (LaMarcus and other injuries)

The Spurs arrived in Orlando slight. Trey Lyles enjoyed a break out year, but was sidelined and missed the trip. LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs true all star, opted for surgery when the season appeared over and stayed home too. Aldridge blossomed from behind the arc and this dynamic, not to mention rebounding, would have been appreciated in the bubble. But I stop short to say he was missed too sorely. While he would have been a big upgrade to Jakob Poetl in the small-ball set, would the team have relied on this deadly formation as much if he was active? The lack of Aldridge and the also injured Bryn Forbes begat scoring opportunities down the bench, starting with...

DeMar DeRozan

No Spur came out of Orlando looking as good as DeMar DeRozan. The Spurs' sole active star was assertive buzzer-to-buzzer and a force from any spot on offense. After the first two wins in the bubble, I began to feel the 8th seed vibrating at my fingertips. DeMar DeRozan was the best player on any of the contending teams. (Apart from Damian Lillard who, uncoincidentally, willed his team to that 8th seed.) DeRozan played his best in a Spurs uniform in Orlando. Apart from his scoring potency, DeMar the point-forward was a revelation. The Spurs operated best under this configuration. The threat of the DeMar drive or pull-up was enough to open up the floor and create opportunities. While DeMar may not be as mercurial as some of our other ball handlers, he was much less prone to gaffes at the half court line. DeRozan could have used his strong showing and opted out of his contract, but instead chose to stick around at least one more year. I'm happy to have him around.

The Young Guys

The Spurs started the youth movement with an emphatic win against the Dallas Mavericks on March 10th. Whoops! It continued as the throughline of those remaining eleven games. Keldon Johnson got his first burn of the season and was exhilarating to watch. He exhibited strength and his ability to finish — even as you saw him piece together the grown-up game in real time. Keldon should be the first guy off the bench, if not in the starting lineup, next year. Derrick White played his best basketball of the season in the bubble as well. He was clearly still hurt through much of the season, but the intermission did him the most good. Propelled into the starting lineup (finally), looked like Ginobili-light out there.

Experience also means taking lumps, and that was the case for most of the other main prospects. Dejounte Murray is the Spurs star-in-the-making, but his bubble-season left much to be desired. His scoring remains unreliable, he was often rattled initiating the offense, and his touted defence was 50-50 by my count. His defining play of the bubble was pulling a Sheed and blowing the in-bounds play, leaving Shake Milton open, which lost the Sixers game, and may have cost the Spurs the play-in game for the 8th seed. Not to be too hard on Dejounte, I made similar criticisms about the last young starting PG prospect until he was en route to the 2007 finals MVP.

Jakob Poetl had every opportunity. I felt the Spurs played better with him on the floor than their other big men options all season, but this phenomenon did not materialize in Orlando. He had some defensive moments, but an equal number of flubs. Most fans frothed at the mouth to see Lonnie Walker in extended action, but he was barely visible. While getting the reps in is priority number one for him, I still expected at least one quarter that sizzled. It didn't happen. Luka Samanic got some burn in the last game. While he didn't explode, he didn't look too out of place either. I hope to see more of him next year.

Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills

Patty Mills essentially didn't play, but he was there at the ready when the young guys got the yank. Luckily, that wasn't called for very often. Marco Belinelli did play. Thank you for your service.

In Conclusion

Pop saves his best coaching for the last leg of the season. This year was no exception. As bleak as this season felt as a Spurs fan, a NBA fan, and a human being in general, the time in the Orlando bubble showed the best hope for this team moving forward is investing on the talent that's already here. As is usually the case for the Spurs. DeRozan and White showed they are serious. Johnson is as exciting to watch as any player we've had since the Admiral (or, James White!) Murray, Walker, and Samanic have all the tools, and time, to get there as well. Plus our first lottery pick since I was in elementary school. The Spurs upward trajectory started in the bubble.