In a league where 3 and D reign, it’s poetic that the countercultural Spurs have scraped by without either early on.
Their first five games have been characterized by jarring defensive struggles and an eschewing of the three ball, as they cope with the void left behind from trading away Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, saying goodbye to Kyle Anderson in free agency and losing Dejounte Murray to injury. Gregg Popovich’s group is adjusting by slowing contests down to a slog and pummeling opponents with 15-footers, modern basketball’s version of the nun-chuck.