The Spurs are now tenatively running Fred VanVleet as the backup point guard, with Trey Burke's score-first prowess coming in behind Buddy Hield. Otto Porter, fresh off winning the 3-PT Shootout, is excelling as a scorer for the Spurs, jumping into the starting lineup every couple of games. Brandon Ingram has started at the 3, but mainly at the 4, with Paul Millsap's earnest defense fittingly earning him some shine at the starting 4 spot. Brandon Clarke has mostly made up for the absence of Chriss, slotting in after Drummond & Love.
In his Spurs debut, Trey Burke had 19 points & 7 assists, showing his talent as a secondary playmaker. Paul Millsap had 22 points, 8 rebounds & 6 assists in his first performance as a starter. Burke has a 6'3" wingspan on defense, making up for his 6'0" stature, a wingspan superior to VanVleet's, and it doesn't hurt that Burke has always given a scrappy effort on 'D' as well.
"We're not sure yet," Coach Pop said when asked about what the rotation would look like for the imminent Playoffs, where the Spurs look to win yet another championship. "We want about 8 or 9 guys that we go to every game, and stick with it, build that rhythm. We're keeping the rest ready and training hard, so they're able to fill in if need be. Because of course we are. But we really want to iron out a rotation that puts us in the best position to win, both defensively and from a scoring perspective, every night."
The defending champions most recently topped the Jazz and finished the season series against the Thunder, winning 3-1. Up next, they face the Phoenix Suns as they continue to fine-tune the roster. Rumor has it ex-Spur Allen Crabbe is back on the comeback trail down in the G-League, and the Spurs also plan to be a player on the waiver/buyout market. The NBA trade deadline is also near.
