The San Antonio Spurs are still hoping to make it a long series against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals and may have stumbled into the perfect lineup. During the last minutes of Game 3, coach Mitch Johnson experimented with playing De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, and superstar Victor Wembanyama together.
That lineup rarely played together for the Spurs during the regular season and in the playoffs. However, it could be San Antonio's lineup of death, at least against the Knicks. It's a combination of shooting, playmaking, and slashing makes it a major offensive plus.
Defensively, despite having only one player over 6-7, they have good positional size. Obviously there is Wembanyama, who is the ultimate rim protector, but they also have no weak links defensively with that group.
The Spurs may have stumbled into their death lineup against the Knicks
Fox is solid on that end of the floor, using his speed and quick hands to force turnovers. Castle is San Antonio's best perimeter defender and a pitbull who can latch on to the other team's best offensive player and clamp down on them.
Harper has been the most surprising player defensively for the Spurs. He is already a good defender as a rookie and spent a fair amount of time guarding Knicks star Jalen Brunson in Game 3.
Meanwhile, Vassell has made several huge defensive plays throughout the playoffs. That combination of offense and defense is precisely why San Antonio should close with those five players going forward against the Knicks.
The Spurs must continue using their new four-guard lineup
After fans criticized Johnson for not closing with Harper in Game 1, playing four guards and Wembanyama together helps address those concerns. It also makes San Antonio more unpredictable.
Fox, Castle, and Harper can each grab and go, snatching a rebound and bringing the ball up to the floor. That lessens the need for Wembanyama to grab a board and try to throw an outlet pass. In turn, San Antonio is able to get the ball up the floor quicker.
More transition opportunities are definitely a good thing. Not only that, but having three ball handlers on the floor to close means that the Knicks aren't able to pressure the ball as effectively as they have previously.
That resulted in San Antonio having just eight turnovers in Game 3, a big reason why they were able to hold on and still win. As a result, San Antonio should continue to close with Fox, Castle, Harper, Vassell, and Wembanyama in hopes that it can help swing the series back in the Spurs' favor.
