Why Having 5 Guards in a 9-Man Rotation Isn't a Problem: Lessons from the 2013 Spurs

The Guard-Heavy Lineup That Defied Convention
When people complain about modern NBA teams playing too many guards, I always point them to the 2013 Spurs. That team rolled out FIVE guards in their playoff rotation: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Patty Mills, and Marco Belinelli. Combined height? Nobody over 6’6”. Collective defense? Let’s just say three of them were what we politely call “turnstiles.”
Breaking Down the Numbers
• Shooting: Outside of Parker (who shot 35% from three that year), all four other guards shot above 37% from deep • Minutes distribution: Their guard unit averaged about 20 minutes each in playoffs - enough to stay fresh but not overtaxed • Net rating: +8.3 when at least three of these guards shared the court (per NBA Advanced Stats)
The Popovich Masterstroke
Gregg Popovich didn’t care about conventional wisdom. He saw that:
- Floor spacing created driving lanes for Parker/Ginobili
- Quick ball movement negated size disadvantages
- Their collective basketball IQ covered defensive shortcomings
Sure, they got torched by LeBron in the Finals (who doesn’t?), but this approach got them there while winning 58 games.
Modern Applications
Teams like today’s Warriors prove you can win with guard-heavy lineups if:
- They can shoot
- The system maximizes their strengths
- You have at least one plus-defender (Green for Spurs, Wiggins for Warriors)
Next time someone says “too many guards,” remind them of the 2013 Spurs - proof that execution matters more than templates.
LALegend24
Hot comment (16)

Kleine Jungs, großes Tennis!
Wer sagt denn, dass Basketball ein Riesen-Sport ist? Die Spurs von 2013 haben mit ihrer Armada an ‘Wächtern’ (lies: etwas klein geratenen Shootern) bewiesen: Taktik schlägt Zentimeter! Parker & Co. waren zwar defensiv etwa so stabil wie ein Schweizer Käse – aber wer braucht schon Defense, wenn der Gegner nicht mal ansatzweise mithalten kann?
Die Mathematik des Wahnsinns
• 5 Guards = 10 flinke Beine • 37% Dreierquote = Schlaflose Nächte für Gegner • Netto-Rating +8.3 = Popovichs genialer Wahnsinn
Und falls jemand meckert: Fragt LeBron, wie einfach das Finals-Spiel DAMALS war… oh wait.
#TaktikÜberAlles #GrößeIstRelativ

Магия маленьких парней
Кто сказал, что в баскетболе размер решает всё? Spurs 2013 доказали, что 5 защитников в ротации – это не баг, а фича! Паркер, Джинобили и компания (ростом не выше 1.98м) расстреляли соперников с трёхочковых.
Где Попович – там порядок
Гений тренерской мысли превратил “слабаков” в оружие: скорость, IQ и 37% с трёх! Да, Леброн их потом порвал (но кого он не рвал?), но до этого они выиграли 58 матчей.
P.S. Теперь каждый раз, когда кто-то говорит “маловато центровых”, покажите им статистику Spurs. Кто ещё сомневается в силе данных?

Магия маленьких парней
Когда все кричат “слишком много защитников”, покажите им статистику Spurs 2013! Пять гвардейцев ростом с лавочку (+8.3 в плей-офф) — это вам не шутки.
Гении атаки
• 37% с трехочковых — это как водка без закуски: эффективно, но опасно • Попович превратил их в шахматные фигуры — Леброн всё равно выиграл, но красиво!
Кто еще верит, что размер имеет значение? Пишите в комментариях — устроим спор как в старые добрые кухонные дебаты!

5 ‘tấm vé’ vào chung kết
Ai bảo đội hình toàn hậu vệ là thảm họa? Spurs 2013 dùng 5 chú “lùn” dưới 1m98 mà vẫn lên đến Finals! Parker, Ginobili và đồng bọn như bộ tứ “còi xanh” bắn ba điểm rẹt rẹt - tổng cộng trên 37% accuracy. Popovich biến họ thành cỗ máy kiến đốt cháy rừng!
Phòng thủ? Cứ để trời lo!
Đội hình này phòng ngự dở như… cửa xoay siêu thị (3⁄5 là “turnstiles” theo cách nói của NBA). Nhưng hệ thống thông minh + tốc độ điên cuồng khiến đối thủ to xác chỉ biết ngáp gió. Net rating +8.3 khi 3 guard cùng sân - số liệu nói lên tất cả!
Bài học cho VBA: Muốn thắng bằng đội hình nhỏ con? Cần:
- Bắn như súng máy
- Di chuyển như drone
- Có ít nhất 1 thằng phòng ngự (như Danny Green)
P/S: Dĩ nhiên họ vẫn bị LeBron nghiền nát - nhưng ai mà chả thế? Comment bên dưới kể đội hình “lùn mà chất” bạn từng thấy!

5 ‘Lùn’ Đánh Bại Cả Thế Giới
Ai bảo đội nhiều hậu vệ là thua? Spurs 2013 đã dùng 5 ‘chú lùn’ (cao nhất 1m98) để đạt Net Rating +8.3! Parker, Ginobili và đồng bọn như bộ máy ghi điểm bằng… ném 3 điểm (trên 37% cả đội).
Popovich - Phù Thủy Toán Học
Huấn luyện viên này chẳng care chiều cao - ông dùng trí tuệ để biến hậu vệ thành ‘cỗ máy di động’. Kết quả? 58 trận thắng và vào Finals!
P/S: LeBron năm đó cao 2m03 vẫn thua - các bạn hậu vệ còn chờ gì nữa? 😏

키 작은 가드들의 대역전
2013년 스퍼스는 포인트 가드 5명으로 플레이오프를 돌파했어요. 파커, 지노빌리, 그린, 밀스, 벨리넬리… 키는 6’6”도 안 됐지만, 3점슛은 미쳤죠! (진짜로 37% 이상이었음)
포포비치의 천재적인 전략
“키가 작으면 어떠냐? 머리가 좋으면 되지!“라는 마인드로:
- 빠른 볼 이동으로 거리 불리 극복
- 슈팅으로 상대 수비 흔들기
- 농구 IQ로 수비 약점 커버
결국 58승 + 파이널 진출 성공! 레브론에게 당한 건… 뭐 다 그랬잖아요? 🤣
여러분도 주변에서 “키 작은 건 못 믿겠다”는 사람 있으면 이 영상 보여주세요. [농구IQ > 신장] 인생 교훈 드립니다!

छोटे कद, बड़ा धमाल!
2013 के स्पर्स ने साबित कर दिया कि बास्केटबॉल में हाइट नहीं, दिमाग चलाना जरूरी है! पांच गार्ड्स (सब 6’6” से छोटे) के साथ खेलकर उन्होंने NBA को झटका दिया।
‘टर्नस्टाइल’ डिफेंस?
हां, तीन गार्ड्स तो ऐसे डिफेंड करते थे जैसे मेट्रो में टिकट चेकर सो गया हो! पर पॉपोविच का जादू चला - 37%+ थ्री-पॉइंटर और +8.3 नेट रेटिंग ने सबका मुंह बंद कर दिया।
आज के वॉरियर्स देख लो - यही फॉर्मूला है! क्या आपको लगता है आजकल के टीम्स भी यही ट्राई कर सकते हैं? कमेंट में बताओ!

Kleine Jungs, große Wirkung
Die 2013er Spurs bewiesen: Fünf Wächter (keiner über 1,98m!) können genauso effektiv sein wie ein klassisches Lineup. Popovichs Geheimwaffe? Basketball-IQ statt Körpermasse!
Dreier-Alarm
35% Dreierquote bei Parker? Lächerlich! Die anderen vier schossen alle über 37%. Vielleicht sollten wir die “Turnstile”-Defense einfach als “Kreative Raumverteidigung” umetikettieren?
Moderne Lektion
Heutige Teams wie die Warriors zeigen: Es geht nicht um Größe, sondern um System. Hauptsache einer kann verteidigen - der Rest schießt einfach alles rein.
Was sagt ihr? Genius oder glücklicher Zufall? Diskutiert gerne unten!

ছোটদের দল বড়দের হারালো!
২০১৩ সালের স্পার্স দেখিয়েছে উচ্চতা নয়, ব্রেইনের জোর! পাঁচ গার্ডের দল (সবাই ৬’৬” এর নিচে) নিয়ে কিভাবে ফাইনালে পৌঁছানো যায় - টনি পার্কার আর মানু জিনোবিলির নেতৃত্বে সেই ম্যাজিক!
ডেটা বলছে কী?
• থ্রি-পয়েন্টারে ৩৭%+ একুরেসি • প্রতি গার্ড ২০ মিনিট খেলে ফ্রেশ থাকতেন • +৮.৩ নেট রেটিং যখন তিন গার্ড একসাথে!
পপোভিচ প্রমাণ করেছেন টেমপ্লেট নয়, এক্সিকিউশনই সব। আজকের ওয়ারিয়র্সও এই লেসন ফলো করছে!
কী মনে হয়? আমাদের ক্রিকেটেও কি এমন ‘ছোটদের কৌশল’ কাজ করবে? 😄

La Révolution des Minis
Quand les Spurs de 2013 ont aligné cinq gardes dans leur rotation, tout le monde a cru à une blague. Résultat ? 58 victoires et une finale NBA ! Preuve que la taille ne fait pas tout, surtout quand on a des snipers comme Ginobili et Belinelli.
Le Génie de Popovich
Popovich, le sorcier de San Antonio, a transformé ces ‘petits’ en arme fatale : passes rapides, tirs à trois points et une intelligence collective à toute épreuve. Même si LeBron les a grillés en finale (comme tout le monde à l’époque).
Et Aujourd’hui ?
Les Warriors ont repris le flambeau avec Curry et compagnie. Moralité : oubliez les gabarits, privilégiez le talent et le système. Alors, toujours sceptiques sur les petites équipes ? 😏

กองหลังตัวจิ๋วแต่ใจใหญ่
ใครว่าเล่นบอลต้องสูง? สเปอร์สปี 2013 พิสูจน์แล้วว่าการมีกองหลัง 5 คนในทีม 9 คนไม่ใช่ปัญหา ถ้าพวกเขายิงสามแต้มได้แบบ Parker-Ginobili-Green!
สถิติที่ไม่ธรรมดา
• ยิงสามแต้มเฉลี่ย 37% ↑ • ผลต่างคะแนน +8.3 เมื่อลงพร้อมกัน 3 คน • ความสูงรวมกันยังสู้ Lebron ไม่ได้อยู่ดี (ฮา)
ป๊อปโควิชสอนเราว่า: “ระบบสำคัญกว่าตัวแบบ” แค่ปรับเกมให้เหมาะกับจุดแข็งของทีม กองหลังตัวเล็กก็กลายเป็นยักษ์ได้! แล้วคุณล่ะ คิดว่าแนวคิดนี้ใช้กับยุคปัจจุบันได้ไหม? คอมเม้นต์บอกกันหน่อย!

When Size Doesn’t Matter
People panic about small ball like it’s the zombie apocalypse - until you remember the 2013 Spurs basically played playoff games with a backcourt that looked like they raided a junior high team! Five guards? More like five reasons opponents needed therapy after chasing those pesky shooters around screens all night.
The Math Checks Out
+8.3 net rating when three guards shared the floor? That’s not a lineup - that’s a cheat code! Sure, their ‘defense’ was basically waving at LeBron as he dunked…but who cares when you’re raining threes like it’s Splash Brothers Beta Testing?
Next time someone says your rec league team is too guard-heavy, just whisper two words: Popovich approves 😉

Pequenos mas Mortais!
Lembram quando diziam que time com muitos armadores não vinga? Os Spurs de 2013 chegaram com Parker, Manu e companhia - um bando de ‘anões’ que metiam 37% de três e faziam a bola dançar!
Defesa? Que defesa? Era só ataque mesmo! Popovich sabia: quando você não pode ser alto, seja esperto. E como esses caras eram inteligentes…
Quer prova melhor que o Warriors copiou essa receita? Só faltou avisar que precisa ter um Draymond Green para segurar as pontas!
Times atuais, tomem nota: tamanho é documento, mas criatividade vale ouro. Concordam?

چھوٹے قد والوں کا بڑا کمال!
2013 کی سپرز ٹیم نے ثابت کیا کہ بیس بال میں قد سب کچھ نہیں ہوتا! پانچ گارڈز (جن میں سے کوئی بھی 6 فٹ 6 انچ سے اونچا نہیں تھا) کے ساتھ بھی وہ فائنل تک پہنچے۔ ہاں، لیبرون جیمز کے سامنے تو سب ہی بے بس ہو جاتے ہیں 😅
‘ٹرنسٹائل’ ڈیفنس؟ کوئی بات نہیں!
پاپووچ نے ثابت کیا کہ اگر شوٹنگ اچھی ہو اور بال کی حرکت تیز ہو تو چھوٹے قد کا نقصان کم ہو جاتا ہے۔ ان کے گارڈز نے تین پوائنٹرز میں 37% سے زیادہ کامیابی حاصل کی - اتنی اچھی شوٹنگ دیکھ کر مخالف ٹیموں کے کوچوں کے بال سفید ہو گئے ہوں گے!
آج کل واریرز جیسی ٹیمیں یہی فارمولا استعمال کر رہی ہیں۔ تو اگلی بار جب کوئی کہے کہ ‘گارڈز زیادہ ہیں’، انہیں 2013 کی سپرز ٹیم کی مثال دے دیجئے!
کیا آپ کو لگتا ہے آج کل کی کوئی ٹیم اس طرح کامیاب ہو سکتی ہے؟ نیچے تبصرہ کر کے بتائیں!
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