Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — All the limelight may be focused on the Golden State Warriors, but there is another team terrifying the opposition from the West as well.
The San Antonio Spurs may not have been grabbing all the headlines in the National Basketball Association (NBA), but they have been getting it done.
Currently sitting in second place with a 34-6 win-loss record in the wild Western Conference are Gregg Popovich’s Spurs.
If the Warriors are earning their accolades by shooting the lights out, the Spurs are getting theirs by slamming the door on their opponents.
After 40 games the Spurs have the best defensive rating in the league with only 93.5 points allowed per 100 possessions by a team, almost five points better than the second placed team, the Indiana Pacers.
Coupled with their impressive offensive rating of 108.5 points per 100 possessions, then you have the team with the highest net rating in the league at 14.9.
Second to the Spurs in terms of net rating are the Golden State Warriors, with a rating of 13.8.
Read: Warriors still team to beat despite Spurs’ signings, says Green
Out of the spotlight
The Spurs are competing at a terrifyingly efficient level.
In stats compiled since the 1996-97 season, San Antonio’s current net rating is five points better than their second best effort in 2000-01.
Despite the Spurs’ high level of play, the first placed Warriors and their lethal offense are still the toast of the league.
But that is something that veteran guard Tony Parker prefers anyway.
“We like being under the radar,” said Parker. “The Warriors deserve the credit, they’ve been playing unbelievably.”
“We’re just trying to do what we do and play good basketball.”
Parker’s countryman and teammate Boris Diaw shared his sentiments.
“I don’t pay attention to that,” said Diaw on whether or not the Spurs got enough attention for their play. “We’re so far from the playoffs right now that we just focus on what we’re doing.”
This year the Spurs have six new additions to their roster, headlined by sought-after free agent Lamarcus Aldrige and veteran David West.
According to Parker, even with the new additions in the team, there are still things they need to iron out as a unit. But to do that while being at second place near the midway point of the season isn’t so bad.
“Having a lot of new players and changing nearly half of the team, we have a lot of stuff to get better at,” said Parker. “We’re fine with our position.”
Read: Klay Thompson says Warriors can beat Bulls’ 72-win record
