A closer look at the NBA's best second unit - the San Antonio Spurs bench

The San Antonio Spurs might not be the most storied franchise in the history of the league and in the future they might neither be the most expensive, nor the most popular team in the league. Butover the past 16 years under Coach Gregg Popovichs tenure they have been a role model for consistency, finishing with 50+ wins in each of the 16 seasons.Their success mantra has been very simple and fundamentally sound, much like their franchise player and future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. The team searches for international high basketball IQ players whether its in the draft like Tony Parker, or courtesy trades like Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills, to fit into a system that will benefit each others game and the teams performance as a whole.What that has done is make them an all-round team who are very tough to defeat because they have very few weaknesses. Also,looking for players internationally or when they are young gives the franchise a key advantage of a deep bench.This season the teams reserves have beenthe leagues best by a long margin and deserve much more recognition thanthey receive. Heres a profile on the Spurs second unit:

#4 Marco Bellinelli

A key off-season addition, Marco Belinelli was signed by the Spurs to replace Gary Neal but he has played a role much bigger than that for the team this season. There has been more than one game where he has got hot from long range, scoring 20 points or more and carrying the Spurs with his momentum.

A high percentage three point shooter, Belinelli arrived in San Antonio after not being re-signed by the Chicago Bulls and he has made an already strong Spurs bench even stronger. Adding a veteran touch to the team, he is a player who can be a lethal threat as a spot up shooter, as well as put the ball on the floor and make a play when needed.

The 2014 All-Star Three-point Shooting Champions has had a career year, with the Spurs recording career highs in every single category related to shooting – Field Goal Percentage (48.5), Three-point Field Goal Percetage (43) and Free Throw Percentage (84.7).

#3 Patty Mills

A back-up point guard to Tony Parker, Australia’s Patty Mills has grown and matured as a player and person this season with the Spurs.

Not playing a lot of minutes in last season’s Finals, with Cory Joseph playing Parker’s place in the second unit, Mills came to training camp leaner, quicker and with an improved jump shot from either side of the three point line.

Coming from Down Under it was a tough off-season for Mills, as he had to sacrifice strawberry milk and vegemite sandwiches for better physical conditioning during the season.

With a season average of 10.2 points in 19 games, Mills’ contribution off the bench is very handy to the Spurs – they end up as the victorious side after the final horn in 89% of the games that he scores 10 points or more, which proves his importance to the team.

He can make plays as a point guard but at the same time can play the role of spot-up shooter when Ginobili directs traffic with the team’s second unit. Mills has quick hands and can often times be a menace to opposing point guards.

#2 Boris Diaw

Boris Diaw was signed by the Spurs as a free agent when he was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats. He has come a long way since then, and now plays a huge role for the Spurs in their quest for a championship.

A veteran French national, Diaw fits incredibly well into the Spurs system and has thrived since joining with the franchise. He has the knack to be the biggest contributor on the team without any statistical evidence; Diaw is a player who is a regular high scorer in the +/- category.

With versatility being Diaw’s biggest asset, Coach Popovich is not afraid to insert him into the game in the key moments or the closing minutes. At 6 feet 8 inches he is the characteristic European big man who possess the ability to knock down shots from long range, as well as impose his game in the post with hook shots and floaters in the paint.

#1 Manu Ginobili

Drafted 57th in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili only signed with the team in 2002 after playing basketball in Italy and Argentina for a total of seven years combined. He was a key contributor to the team’s three championships in the 2000’s.

The NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2008, Ginobili had a stellar season this year and was making a fair arguement for his name to be announced again in this category. But alas, midway through the season injuries got the better of him and his points average degraded to 12.3 a game, which led to him being voted third in line for the award.

He along with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker as the Spurs’ Big 3 hold the record for most career Playoff wins for a trio with 114 after Game 2 of the ongoing NBA Finals.

For his age, Ginobili is impressively very agile and puts that to good use on both ends of the floor with his good pick and roll play on offense, and his pick-pocketing skills on defense. An under-rated perimeter shooter, Ginobili is very good at finishing at the rim with his left hand through contact.