It felt like everything was going down the drain when Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle went down with injuries earlier in November. Without two of the team's prime stars, many believed the Spurs would quickly fall out of the top of the conference standings and struggle to perform against greater teams. Well, that has not been the case.
With Wemby and Castle out of the lineup, the Spurs have been staying afloat in a way that no one had expected. The team has stayed red-hot, fueled by all-around efforts. The immense depth of this squad has never been more apparent, and it is clear that this new era of Spurs basketball is going to be a successful one.
However, one stat in particular has been the most staggering from the Spurs' run without Area 51. The starting lineup that has been most commonly used without two of the teams' stars, featuring Fox, Vassell, Champagnie, Barnes, and Kornet, is turning the ball over at a shocking 9.5% rate. This insane stat ranks in the 95th percentile among all NBA lineup combinations.
Protecting the ball has been key to the Spurs' success
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In a league where turnovers and extra possessions are increasingly ruling, the Spurs' ball security is a major reason they have been able to survive. When you look at teams like the Thunder, Rockets, and Pistons, they thrive on transition buckets off turnovers and rack up easy points that lead them to wins.
When the Spurs limit turnovers, they are erasing a significant chunk of the opposing team's offense. Without the easy looks in transition, teams will be much more reliant on scoring in the half-court, which is a much taller task.
The Spurs deserve a major round of applause
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There are several Spurs to thank for this utter dominance in ball security. It starts at the top with De'Aaron Fox. Without Victor and Stephon, De'Aaron is solely in charge of controlling the offense. The point guard is setting the table with incredible efficiency, dishing out passes without making any major mistakes.
Outside of Fox, the rest of the cast has been incredibly sound with the basketball. Devin Vassell has taken the opportunity with grace, amounting to [a career night in Denver](https://airalamo.com/devin-vassell-charged-spurs-win-makes-one-thing-crystal-clear). With extra on-ball chances, the Florida State alum has made sure not to cause any errors.
While I can't thank everyone for their excellent safety on the ball, the whole team deserves credit for what they have done during this tumultuous period. Hopefully, this element becomes a trend as the Spurs progress through the season and face some uniquely aggressive teams. If they can keep up their efficient ways, there's no reason they can't [take down the giants in the West](https://airalamo.com/nba-scout-inadvertently-nails-why-spurs-are-true-contender-this-season).