They started defending, they started moving the ball, their star players started having star performances.
"This is the time to make a push and also to get better with each game, step by step," forward Danny Green said. The defending champs are now on a six-game win streak. As they prepare for the next stretch of games that includes the Cavs, Atlanta, Dallas and Oklahoma City, the Spurs say they are ready to get back to business. "That's the best way to prepare us for the playoffs, to see where we stand, how we do against the tougher teams," Green said.
"It's going to be a race, going to be tough for everybody. Everybody is fighting for spots and it's so close." With the playoffs lingering, San Antonio's goal is to take the team's play up a notch. "This is the perfect time," forward Matt Bonner said. "Once playoffs start, everybody starts clean slate, 0-0. And you want to be playing your best basketball once playoffs start. Any struggles we have had in the past will be forgotten and we will keep building off the momentum we have had these last 5-6 games, keep improving stay healthy and make another run." After all, of all the teams stacking the Western Conference standings right now, the Spurs are the one that knows how to consistently make a playoff run.
They have played deep into June the last two seasons. Right now, guard Patty Mills said, the Spurs aren't where they need to be to make that run. But he thinks they can get there. "We wish we could come back and play the same way this year that we did last year but it's not that way," Mills said. "We have to get back to that and like I said, it all starts with defense." "Defensively, we have been communicating more, more active, getting more steals, and offensively moving the ball better," Green said.
"Defensively, Kawhi is putting an imprint on the game and starting to set the tempo and the pace with his activity and Tony is getting back to his normal self offensively little by little. When those two guys are doing what they do best on both sides of the floor, it helps us a lot." The current win streak has heads turning in the basketball world. After all but counting out the Spurs, they made headlines over the past few days as a team that is once again on the rise. And they see no reason they shouldn't be in the conversation.
"We all have experience going deep in the playoffs and we understand what it takes to even give yourself a chance to win a championship," Bonner said.
"It's really difficult. It's really hard. There is a reason, at least with the Spurs, that we have never repeated because it's difficult. You come out, you are the champion. You have a target on your back, you are getting everybody's best shot.
We've managed to keep everyone together and now its about overcoming all the various adversities that come with winning a championship, mentally, physically, having to play three years in a row until June to give yourself a chance at a championship."
That being said, with confidence high and steady improvement on the court, the Spurs think they can once again be the Spurs that caused havoc in the playoffs last season.
"Anything is reachable but it's tough," Green said. "It won't be easy but we know what it takes."