Nobody runs faster than the Spurs, more than the Blazers
The San Antonio Spurs offense is predicated largely on movement, both in terms of players moving and the basketball moving.
It's hardly a surprise, then, that the player tracking data that the NBA has made available from their SportVu optical tracking system suggests that several Spurs players endure some of the league's heaviest cardiovascular tolls.
To wit, among qualified players, the Spurs have five of the league's top-20 in terms of distance traveled on the court per 48 minutes played. They also have four of the league's 10 "fastest" players by average speed, though speed here is a misnomer - rather, it's a measure of distance traveled per unit of time.
In any case, the Spurs guards move, and they move an awful lot. Again, it's not surprising, but it's something we're now able to show with data rather than assume based on visual analysis.
As proof, have a look at the league's leaders in distance and speed:
| Player | Miles per 48 minutes | Rank | Player | Average Speed (MPH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patty Mills (SAS) | 3.8 | 1 | Patty Mills (SAS) | 4.7 |
| Danny Green (SAS) | 3.6 | 2 | Cory Joseph (SAS) | 4.6 |
| Michael Carter-Williams (PHI) | 3.7 | 3 | Michael Carter-Williams (PHI) | 4.6 |
| Shelvin Mack (ATL) | 3.7 | 4 | Shelvin Mack (ATL) | 4.6 |
| Cory Joseph (SAS) | 3.7 | 5 | Danny Green (SAS) | 4.6 |
| Ben McLemore (SAC) | 3.6 | 6 | JJ Redick (LAC) | 4.5 |
| Shawne Williams (LAL) | 3.6 | 7 | Kyle Singler (DET) | 4.5 |
| John Lucas III (UTA) | 3.6 | 8 | Ben McLemore (SAC) | 4.5 |
| Cody Zeller (CHA) | 3.6 | 9 | Alonzo Gee (CLE) | 4.5 |
| Tony Parker (SAS) | 3.6 | 10 | Tony Parker (SAS) | 4.5 |
| - | - | T-18 | Kawhi Leonard (SAS) | 4.4 |
However, this high level of activity obviously takes it's toll, and as such, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is fairly conservative handing out minutes.
Patty Mills, with the league's heaviest travel schedule, plays just 18.3 minutes a night. Cory Joseph plays 15.2, Danny Green 24.5 and youngster Kawhi Leonard just 28.8. Tony Parker plays 31.1 but he also receives games off every so often and is currently being sat to alleviate general soreness.
As such, the top Spur - Tim Duncan - ranks 96th in the league in minutes played and the top player on this list - Parker - checks in at 110th.
These guys run a lot when they're out there, but Popovich manages his show-horses well.
Who are the league's true work-horses, then? Look no further than Portland, where the offense is similarly predicated on a great deal of movement.
The Trail Blazers have been blessed with little in the way of injuries, and coach Terry Stotts is far more liberal with workloads given the relative youth of his squad (25.6 years, on average, compared to 29 for the Spurs).
As such, Portland has four players in the league's top-20 for minutes played. Combine big minutes with a motion-heavy offense, and you get some impressive distances traveled. Nicolas Batum, for example, who has moved more than any other player in basketball this season, has run 5.7 marathons through 57 games.
| Rank | Player | Total Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Batum (POR) | 149.8 |
| 2 | Monta Ellis (DAL) | 146.7 |
| 3 | Klay Thompson (GSW) | 146.3 |
| 4 | Damian Lillard (POR) | 144.9 |
| 5 | Paul George (IND) | 142.8 |
| 6 | John Wall (WAS) | 142.5 |
| 7 | Brandon Jennings (DET) | 141.4 |
| 8 | Chandler Parsons (HOU) | 140.6 |
| 9 | Kevin Durant (OKC) | 140.5 |
| 10 | Stephen Curry (GSW) | 139.8 |
| 11 | Blake Griffin (LAC) | 139.6 |
| 12 | Wesley Matthews (POR) | 139.5 |
The top Spur in total distance run? That would be Parker, way down in 75th with "just" 109.7 miles on his odometer.