If you’ve been watching the San Antonio Spurs this postseason, you’ve seen two versions of De’Aaron Fox. There’s the “Swipa” who slices through defenses like a surgeon, and then there’s the version that has analysts like Dean Oliver scratching their heads.
Oliver recently released a chart highlighting the most inconsistent players in the playoffs, and Fox—alongside Donovan Mitchell—is leading the pack in volatility. In plain terms: he’s either a superstar or a non-factor, with almost no middle ground.
But here is the “scary truth” that should have Spurs fans dancing in the streets: The Spurs are winning by historic margins even when Fox is struggling.
Pummeling the Competition
The league has a massive problem. San Antonio has won 7 of their 10 postseason games with a staggering 19.9-point average margin of victory.
While the media discusses the Minnesota Timberwolves as a physical, defensive juggernaut, the Spurs have treated them like a scrimmage squad, posting a 24.7 average margin of victory in the second round. San Antonio has led for 63% of the series and held a double-digit lead for over a third of the total game time.
The terrifying part? They’ve done this while Fox is shooting a dismal 38% from the field and 23% from deep against Minnesota.
The “Open Shot” Metric
Analysts aren’t worried about Fox because the looks are there. According to NBA.com, Fox has been classified as “open” or “wide-open” on 59.1% of his attempts this series.
During the regular season, he was a 49% shooter. In the first round against Portland, he was a 50% shooter. The current slump against the Timberwolves appears to be a statistical anomaly rather than a decline in skill. The “switch” is still there; it just hasn’t been flipped yet.
Waiting for OKC
The Spurs have proven they can put the Timberwolves away without Fox’s A-game. But the Oklahoma City Thunder are looming in the Western Conference Finals, and they won’t be as forgiving.
However, if Fox stabilizes and returns to his regular-season efficiency:
- The Spacing: Teams won’t be able to sag off him to double-team the interior.
- The Transition: A high-efficiency Fox makes the Spurs’ break the fastest in the league.
- The Closing: He remains one of the most elite “clutch” scorers in basketball.
The Verdict
Opponents should be terrified because the Spurs are currently the most dominant team in the playoffs while their All-Star point guard is playing his worst basketball of the year. If Swipa finds his touch in time for the next round, the Western Conference Finals might be much shorter than anyone expects.
