Here’s why I love watching the San Antonio Spurs: they combine the two essential elements of unselfishness.

On the one hand, they have many different playmakers on the roster. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Boris Diaw and Tim Duncan can also find cutters whenever they want.

On the other hand, they have guys who move without the ball. The playmaking ability of all five of those guys would be wasted if guys weren’t getting open. Nobody on the Spurs stands around when they don’t have the ball. They look for open space, make a cut to help their teammates and keep every single defender occupied at all times.

Without both of those elements, they wouldn’t be the Spurs. Players need to be good passers, but they also need guys to get open. The two go hand-in-hand, like quarterbacks and wide receivers. Analysts will attribute the Spurs’ success to “ball movement” and “unselfishness,” but really, it’s the marriage of great passing and great cutting that makes it possible.