The Spurs' transition efficiency has been suppressed! Harper may be the key to breaking the deadlock: leading the playoffs with 96 fast-break points

On June 8, Beijing time, NBA official data expert John Schuhmann wrote about the changes in the Spurs' fast-break scoring during the Finals, as follows—

In this Finals series, both teams' offenses have stalled, making fast breaks a precious scoring opportunity—easy layups or open three-pointers before the defense sets.

According to Synergy Sports, in the first two games of the Finals, the Spurs completed a total of 57 transition offensive possessions, averaging 28.5 per game. This figure is higher than their average of 24.9 possessions per game in the previous three playoff rounds and far exceeds the Knicks' 39 possessions (19.5 per game).

Harper leads the playoff fast-break scoring list with 96 points, and all five Spurs starters also rank in the top eight in this category (each with at least 66 points).

However, compared to their performance against Western Conference opponents, the Spurs failed to fully capitalize on these transition opportunities.In the first two Finals games, the Spurs scored only 0.84 points per transition possession, while in the previous three playoff rounds, that figure was 1.14 points. Across the entire regular season, scoring 0.84 points per possession would rank last in the league, a stark difference.

The Knicks' defense deserves credit. In this series, they have executed numerous impressive transition defensive plays. Bridges, Anunoby, and Hart all possess the ability to recover quickly on defense, using their length and athleticism to disrupt the Spurs' transition offense.

"They are a team that thrives in transition," Bridges said today. "We have to get back on defense and build a wall with our bodies." Staying true to the team's competitive attitude, Bridges believes their transition defense can still improve. "I think we can do even better... We haven't played to our full potential in transition defense yet."

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said the team currently cannot identify a clear reason for their low transition offensive efficiency.

"We've had some transition turnovers that we haven't seen during the regular season. Other than poor decision-making in offense and failing to convert scoring opportunities as we usually do, there's no other common issue."

The team has suffered frequent turnovers on the court: Wembanyama made a costly mistake in the final moments of Game 2; in many possessions, players settled for average shots instead of seeking better opportunities; there have also been forced shots and rushed offense.

The most demoralizing moments come when the team fails to score and then allows the opponent to quickly counter-attack.

"Just when we think we're about to score, the opponent turns it into a fast-break basket. In the high-stakes environment of the Finals, every little shift in momentum can decide the outcome," Johnson said.

The Knicks' transition efficiency has also dropped sharply: in the previous three playoff rounds, they averaged 1.32 points per transition possession, ranking first in the league, but that has fallen to 0.85 in the Finals. However, this hasn't affected them much because their half-court offense has been on fire. In the first two games, the Spurs made only 7 field goals with 7 seconds or less on the shot clock, while the Knicks had 18 such baskets.

Castle struggled in Game 2, scoring just 2 points on 6 transition possessions. He missed a layup driving against Brunson, had a shot blocked by Hart, committed a turnover, and then missed both free throws after a transition foul.

Harper remains the Spurs' primary scoring threat in transition, scoring 13 points on 9 transition possessions in the series. Early in the fourth quarter of Game 2, he accelerated past four Knicks defenders for a transition layup. Later, after the Knicks scored, Harper caught a long pass from Fox and drew a foul, sparking the Spurs' 14-0 run in that quarter.

On June 9 at 8:30 a.m. Beijing time, the two teams will meet for Game 3. For the Spurs to win this game, end the Knicks' 13-game winning streak, and seize the initiative in the series, they need other players to step up as well. Whether in transition or half-court offense, every possession counts. "When we're at our best, transition offense is a key part of our success," Johnson said.

The Spurs have yet to show their full potential, and in Game 3, they have a new opportunity.