The Spurs’ new three-guard starting lineup experienced ups and downs during the season opener on Tuesday, but the biggest issue is the effect it has on the rest of the rotation, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Second-year guard Dylan Harper replaced Julian Champagnie as a starter, providing the look that many observers wanted to see during San Antonio’s playoff run last spring. The starting five struggled in the first half of the loss to Oklahoma City, but looked better after intermission.
Weiss points out that the change means that coach Mitch Johnson no longer has the luxury of changing the flow of the game by inserting Harper and the energy he brings off the bench. De’Aaron Fox was the first guard removed from the game, with Johnson bringing him back later to run the offense with the second unit. However, Fox wasn’t able to mesh with Champagnie or Keldon Johnson as secondary creators, which led to turnovers and other unproductive possessions.
In the second half, the three guards remained on the floor while Champagnie replaced Devin Vassell, who picked up his fourth foul, so it’s not clear if that marked a change in the team’s substitution pattern. It may take several games for the new arrangement to get worked out.
“The biggest thing is just, for me at least, communication,” Harper said. “Just making sure we’re all on the same page. Just being able to go out there and play for each other while also knowing that we have each other’s back. I feel like we did a good job at that, but we still have a ways to go in all areas of the game.”
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