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With DeMar DeRozan in Tow, the Spurs' Offense Could Become a Traffic Jam

Think of an NBA offense in terms of concentric arcs. The court is already drawn that way with the restricted area, the top of the key, and the three-point line. Between them are other, implied arcs, along which screeners move and shooters curl, whether they're fully cognizant of it or not. The balance between those arcs dictates the health of an offense. Where players take their shots matters a great deal, but not quite as much as where they live; functionally speaking, there may be no factor more important than the spaces where a player can operate comfortably.

A brilliant coaching staff could scheme a perfectly spaced offense only to see it buckle under the weight of a single wing who can't quite shoot.