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Andrew LopezESPN
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked before Tuesday afternoon’s game what he would tell anyone if they told him a month ago that his team could go 6-2 in the new NBA rematch and possibly make the playoffs.
“I would have tested them for drugs,” Popovich deadpanned.
San Antonio dropped three starters after injury to Orlando – LaMarcus Aldridge, Trey Lyles and Bryn Forbes – and planned to reduce Patty Mills’ minutes to focus on development.
But after Tuesday’s 123-105 victory over the Houston Rockets, San Antonio won five of seven games in the bubble and was able to make it to the playoffs in the Western Conference with some help from other teams – what Popovich said before the game would say “cherry on the cake.”
“You have to be realistic. I don’t think our chances of winning a championship were great at the beginning of this yet they are now,” Popovich said before the match. “If that’s a fact, then you should do everything you can to develop and be prepared for next season.
“With the three starters out, Patty has made perfect sense. The development has been off the charts. We love it. It’s a win-win, anyway … … But we’ve already done it. what we thought we were capable of accomplishing. That’s what matters. “
Without Aldridge or Lyles, San Antonio chose to go with a starting lineup of four with Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker and DeMar DeRozan alongside Jakob Poeltl.
Walker, who had 12 points and seven rebounds against Houston, said he felt the team came together in Orlando.
“Getting into the bubble and playing together, not just on the court, but practicing, our intensity in practice has been tremendous,” Walker said. “Since I’ve been here, it’s never been as sensitive as going up and down and being aggressive and having that intensity consistently. It’s been great to have good vibes and everything is actually transition to court.”
Popovich said development would be key – and that has shown itself with rookie guard Keldon Johnson, who spent most of the season in the G-League and only played nine games with San Antonio prior to the hiatus.
In those nine games, Johnson averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. In seven games in Orlando, Johnson averages 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 63.0% from the field, while going 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the deep.
Johnson had a high career with 24 points and 11 rebounds against Houston.
“He’s a young energy who is very physical,” Popovich said of Johnson. “He’s very competitive, very coachable. He’s just a winner.”
DeRozan, who leads the team in points per game (21.7) and assists per game (5.7), said he felt San Antonio could position itself for a playoff spot as soon as the NBA announced 22 teams came to the bubble.
“Just we have a chance to be here; that’s all we needed,” DeRozan said. “For me, as soon as I saw our name and we had the chance, regardless of the percentages of us who make it or whatever, I still believed we would be here exactly where we are.”
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