Marilyn Dubinski: I’d say the change in mentality from last season to this, namely this team’s unwillingness to fold when the opponent makes a run, responding quickly when they get down, and not getting as complacent when they face an equal/lesser opponent or build a lead. There’s no telling what made all of these things issues last season, and there hasn’t been enough roster change to blame it on the players who are gone, but this team just has a tougher mentality. Maybe it’s addition of someone like head-strong Keldon Johnson into the rotation, or they just told themselves they aren’t going to have those problems again this season and have willed it away.
Why the Spurs are better than expected
