Under the careful guidance of hoops genius Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs organization has historically valued defensive effort more-so than the competition. Based in the core values of the game, Pop’s style requires the team’s personnel to commit full effort to closing out on shooters and keeping in front of opponents.
Without legendary power forward Tim Duncan to anchor the defense, San Antonio has struggled on defense in recent years with their troubles coming to a head in the 2018-19 season. Losing 2018 All-Defensive Second Team selection Dejounte Murray to an ACL-tear in the preseason certainly didn’t help, but that’s not a plausible excuse for San Antonio’s 20th-place finish in defensive rating at 110.