When scouring the stats for [what's working and what's not](https://airalamo.com/nba-latest-power-rankings-revealed-one-spurs-superpower-they-must-lean-on) for the Spurs, you may find yourself landing on their free-throw rates with a smile on your face. San Antonio's three highest usage players are doing exactly what you want them to do: attack. Their aggression has been rewarded with frequent trips to the charity stripe, and that's been an underrated weapon of Mitch Johnson's attack.
The Spurs usually zig when other teams zag
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Everyone wants the Spurs to focus on adding shooters to open up the floor as wide as possible for Victor Wembanyama to work, but that's just not a luxury afforded to this franchise right now. It's not as easy as fans make it seem to build a team full of guys who can shoot, dribble, pass, and defend.
Teams need those elements to win championships; otherwise, you just have a fun squad with specialties in concentrated areas, but they falter when they play the good teams. It's exactly why Mike D'Antoni never won a championship.
Being stubborn with a preferred style can lead to underperformance if you're not properly addressing the other facets of the game because they all matter. He thought offense without defense was his key to innovation. He thought wrong.
San Antonio has opted for balance in the [way of immense rim pressure](https://airalamo.com/solution-spurs-problems-frustratingly-simple) and suitable shooting. They haven't been snipers, but they've been respectable, and that's allowed Stephon Castle to attack the paint and rack up six free throws per game—just slightly under Vic's 6.7. Fox gets the same benefit, so he's getting to the line 4.1 times a night.
San Antonio's pressure compromises defenses
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Between those three, they're averaging as many total free throws as they're giving up to their opponents (16.8). San Antonio averages 25.6 as a team, getting contributions from Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper, and others. Hell, even Julian Champagnie is shooting nearly two a night from the line.
When they rack up that many fouls, especially early in the game, strategies have to change for their opponents. Now, key players are hesitant to defend as aggressively for fear of hearing that dreaded whistle. Coaches are forced to begin their substitution patterns sooner than they'd like, throwing off their planned rotations. Last but certainly not least, the Spurs get free points. That's always a win.
It would be great if the Silver and Black got their free-throw percentage up (79%), but getting there as often as they do is a tremendous tactic. We don't talk about it enough. The best part is that they do it the ethical way. It's just aggressive drives and smart plays. They're not throwing their heads back and flailing like a certain team in one state directly to the north of Texas. You know who I'm talking about.