The Spurs ended the season with 15 straight victories, setting a new league record with 77 wins and only 5 losses, two of which came courtesy of the Phoenix Suns (41-41) who've made the playoffs after a last night knockout game against the Denver Nuggets, a follow-up crescendo to a huge overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in what has been a turnaround season for the young Suns.
Three Spurs players earned recognition in the award races this season, with Fred VanVleet having a tremendous first season with San Antonio. He improved his 3PT percentage from 37% to 44%, averaging 12.7 points-per-game compared to 9.4 in Toronto last season. His turnovers-per-game are also down from 1.5 to .9 and he averaged 4.8 assists-per-game, up from 3.9 a year ago. A definite candidate for Most Improved Player, it was still not as impressive as Brandon Ingram.
The Slender-Man in his third season with the Spurs averaged 22.7 points-per-game, up from 17.9, averaging .2 more rebounds per game, .3 more steals per game, .2 more blocks per game, but most impressively earned his membership into the hallowed "50/40/90" club. Ingram capped this season by making 50.7% of his field goals, remarkably shot 41.7% from the perimeter (a stark improvement from 32.6% last season) and made 91.5% of his free throws (up from 80% last season). Without question, Ingram showed the most improvement of any player in the league. Highlights this season included multiple 20-point performances, several 30-point games, some 40-point games, and best of all a career-high spectacle of 63 points.
The toughest decision yet came from having to choose between Ingram and newest Spur centerpiece, Andre Drummond. The Big Penguin joined only two other great players, Michael Jordan & Hakeem Olajuwon, in winning both Defensive Player of the Year honors and the coveted Most Valuable Player award. Without question, Drummond's impact on the defensive end of the court catapulted the Spurs to make league history with a 77-5 record. Drummond led the league in both rebounds per game, 16rpg, and blocks per game, 2.7bpg, edging out Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert & Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The most significant argument for Ingram to win the MVP award would've been Points-Per-Game, but Andre Drummond had the highest +/- rating of all players in the NBA this season, and when he went down in the first meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a sprained wrist, the entire Spurs defense crumbled with it. He may have only averaged 11.8ppg, but worked hard with shooting coach Chip England this season to improve drastically from the free throw line to hit 81% of his shots from the charity stripe, warding off opposing teams to hack-a-Drummond anymore. He even made some 3PT shots this season (27.8%), with his rebound-per-game rate tying his 17-18 season. The big man also was very shrewd with the basketball this season, averaging only .8 turnovers per game, way down from 2.1 the last few seasons and dishing 2.7 assists per game.
"That's exactly why we signed him this summer," Coach Popovich spoke highly of Drummond. "He's the best center we've had since The Admiral, and we've sorely needed his impact for years. He makes his teammates better. He plays the game with a fire that is just truly a joy to watch. That's why he's the MVP."
Drummond received the most votes by far for MVP this season, especially due to how he helped his teammates improve by covering the glass with his towering interior presence and stellar defensive pressure, allowing them to focus on their own individual improvements, notably Ingram & VanVleet. Let us not forget Dejounte Murray's improvement this season also, averaging .5 less turnovers and shooting 6% better from long range while dishing .6 more assists per game and shooting 3% better from the field. Kent Bazemore had a strong first season with the Spurs as well, and Drummond was definitely a catalyst for the Spurs having such a great season.
The Playoffs have arrived, and so have the hungry Phoenix Suns. "Part of us wants to play them again. They got us twice this season. Monty Williams has done a fantastic job coaching that team. We're excited for the challenge," Coach Pop said at practice before Game 1 tips off!
