The development of big man Tiago Splitter has made the Spurs a more conventional halfcourt team that uses its superior quality size to its advantage. In 2011-2012, the Spurs led the NBA in offensive efficiency. They slipped to seventh this season, but what has made a bigger difference is their defense.
A year ago, San Antonio’s defense ranked 11th in overall efficiency. This season, the Spurs were third, primarily due to less small ball lineups, Splitter’s development and chemistry with Duncan and the ongoing education and progression of standout young wing defenders Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
The Spurs are actually playing this season at a slightly faster pace, but they are playing lineups with more size that are more conducive to getting halfcourt stops.
Philosophically, this season’s profile is a better formula for playoff success. In the conference finals last season, the Spurs had difficulty slowing down Oklahoma City’s running game but stood a chance if they were able to get stops in the halfcourt – where their defense was nowhere close to good enough.
The Thunder ate them alive, using the same Russell Westbrook downscreen to free Kevin Durant at the right elbow until the final game, when the Spurs finally started overplaying Durant and banging him coming through the screen. That wasn’t a lack of coaching. The repeated difficulty was a lack of execution.
This season’s team trusts the guys behind them more. And it’s not just Splitter. Part of Duncan’s Fountain of Youth renaissance has been a defensive resurgence that saw him turn back into the rim protector he once was. Defending the pick-and-roll remained a weakness, but that probably is Splitter’s biggest strength, hence the good chemistry.
But it is more than a defensive profile that is different about these Spurs. It is their sense of urgency.
Duncan and Ginobili’s advancing age has put increased pressure on Parker, the one player on the Spurs who has stretches when he is truly unguardable. He is the engine that motors the drive-and-kick aspects of their offense. With Parker on the floor, San Antonio’s shot selection is always better. And although he has his moments where he is a defensive liability, Parker is scrappy enough to hold his own on that end.
Yes, the Spurs have reloaded with good young players – Leonard, Green, and, to a lesser extent, Splitter. But make no mistake. Their window as a title contender remains open because of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. As we have seen so far in these playoffs, each one has enough left in the tank to keep that window open this season.
I will contend that this team is not as good as Spurs’ teams of years past. But the fire burns in their belly 
more than ever. The championship window will close soon, which is giving me a unique appreciation of this squad.
That appreciation is rooted in the fact that no one realizes we are at the tail end of this era more than the Spurs themselves. The writing is on the wall, and Popovich, Duncan, Ginobili, Parker and the rest of the Spurs see it clearer than anyone. One last shot at winning the whole thing lies in front of them. They may or may not win a title this season, but the beauty of this team is that they will die trying.
Bill Parcells had an old saying about football games. He said, “The most desperate team normally wins.” The Spurs only know greatness, which has bred this desperation. The end is near, but these Spurs are determined to make it glorious.
Brian Geltzeiler is the executive producer and co-host of SheridanHoops Radio and the editor of hoopcritic.com. His father, Burt, was an elite college basketball player for Newark Rutgers in the late 1940s and was drafted by the Tri-City Hawks (now Atlanta) in 1950 by GM Red Auerbach. You can follow Brian, who lives in Livingston, N.J. with his wife and 4 children, on Twitter.