The Big Question: Can San Antonio's Half-Court Offense Close…

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Wednesday, September 16

San Antonio's offense ranked third in scoring efficiency last season, yet The Athletic identified the half-court game as the roster's core weakness heading into a title chase. With Wembanyama, Fox and two rookies added to the mix, the answer to that question will shape how far this group goes this season.

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Was last season's offense actually a weakness?

No, not by the raw numbers. San Antonio finished with an offensive rating of 118.7, third-best in the league, inside a net rating of 8.4 that ranked second overall. But The Athletic pointed to the half-court sets specifically, the part of the game that speeds up in May, when transition chances dry up against elite defenses like New York's.

Where did the half-court game break down?

The clearest evidence sits in the results: New York beat San Antonio in five games after San Antonio had already eliminated Oklahoma City in a seven-game conference finals. Beyond the scoreline, no source has detailed specific late-clock breakdowns; the diagnosis stays at the level The Athletic framed it, a half-court weakness, not a single play or player.

Can De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama create enough on their own?

Both arrive as proven engines. Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season; Fox averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 assists. Devin Vassell added 13.9 points on 38.4 percent shooting from three, and Stephon Castle contributed 16.7 points and 7.4 assists. The individual scoring is there; the open question is whether these four generate offense together in the half-court, not just in early clock.

Do the rookies change anything right away?

Dylan Harper went second overall; Carter Bryant went 14th. Neither has played a game that counts, so there is no evidence yet either way. Air Alamo has already argued San Antonio's best lineup runs through Harper rather than Fox, a debate that will only resolve once preseason games begin next month.

So is this offense built to finish the job?

The pieces already look proven: third in scoring efficiency, second in net rating, a Finals trip already banked. What's unproven is whether the sets tighten in a seven-game series against a defense like New York's or Oklahoma City's. Until preseason games start, San Antonio's half-court offense is a top-three unit carrying one named flaw and no confirmed fix.

The verdictThe talent to fix this already sits on the roster: a top-three offense, a second-ranked net rating, and shot creators at every position. San Antonio's half-court game was good enough to reach a Finals; whether it's good enough to win one is the real number still unanswered this season.

What was the Spurs' offensive rating last season?

118.7, third in the NBA, part of a net rating of 8.4 that ranked second overall.

Why do some reports call San Antonio's half-court offense a weakness?

The Athletic pointed to the half-court game specifically as the area that needs to improve, distinct from the team's overall scoring efficiency ranking.