San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the first half in Game 1 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 30, 2016, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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By Mark Travis

If it was possible for there to be a slight blemish on the Spurs' best season in franchise history, it would be that they didn't always showcase the breathtaking offensive basketball that defined them as recently as two seasons ago.

There were still moments of offensive brilliance during the Spurs' 67-win campaign. The two-man game with Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard's devastating transition jams, Manu Ginobili's wizardry, and a number classic Tim Duncan moves on the block.

But, for the most part, San Antonio borrowed elements from the version of itself that dominated the NBA a decade ago — the suffocating defense, aggressive post play and glacial tempo of the Duncan-David Robinson era — and applied them with its new superstars.

You can't argue with the logic, or the results. Aldridge's game is suited for a post-heavy offense, and Leonard's burgeoning triple-threat abilities in the midpost might make him the best postup wing in the league. And, of course, they won 67 games and posted the third best offensive efficiency in the league. There were no actual problems with the Spurs' philosophical shift; the gripes were purely aesthetical.

As good as the Spurs were this season, the NBA doesn't feel quite right unless they are tormenting opposing defenses with extra passes, well-timed cuts and lights out shooting. The Spurs' second unit, with pass-addicts such as Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw, kept a shred of that old identity alive, but San Antonio's most-used lineups had a different style. Coming into the postseason, it seemed like that iteration of the Spurs was gone.

Only it wasn't.

On Saturday night, the Spurs rediscovered the riveting and ruthless tiki-taka style that made them one of the most enjoyable teams in the history of basketball during their most recent trips to the Finals, dominating the Thunder 124-92 in their Game 1 victory. They punished Oklahoma City's inattentiveness and conservative scheme by running countless pick-and-rolls and swinging the ball from side to side, always in pursuit of the best possible shot.

Often that shot was a midrange jumper for LaMarcus Aldridge, who spent enough time at the elbows to claim squatter's rights on his preferred territory.

Aldridge was 10-of-11 from the midrange in Game 1, and almost all of his looks were uncontested. Most San Antonio possessions began with a high pick-and-roll between he and Parker, which the Spurs used as a vehicle to kick start their ball movement and force OKC into rotation. Time after time, the Thunder would leave Aldridge free, and the Spurs spoon-fed him jumpers all game. Aldridge finished with 38 points on 18-of-23 shooting overall and didn't have to play a minute in the fourth quarter.

Despite his big numbers, Aldridge wasn't the most important Spur in Game 1. It wasn't Kawhi Leonard, who had 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, either. The player who deserves the most credit for unlocking the Spurs pass-happy offense was Danny Green, who scored 18 points and drilled five 3-pointers.

Five 3-pointers used to be a fairly common output for Green, but he only did it twice this season. Green's season-long shooting slump - he finished at 33 percent from beyond the arc — was offset by his development into an All-NBA defender, but without his shooting, the Spurs' offense would not be capable of what they did in Game 1. Even during their two Finals runs, it was Green's success that determined their potency.

Green played fantastic defense on Durant and Westbrook, and he outscored them both, too. When the Spurs get that kind of production from Green, they can't be beat, and when he spaces the floor like he did on Saturday, you can't stop watching them.

San Antonio's selfless style was magnified by an opponent that prefers the ball to stick with their superstars. The Spurs finished with 39 assists on 51 field goals, the most assists in a playoff game since 1994. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City had 20 possessions where they didn't make a pass.

That is the way the Thunder want to play, though. Earlier this season, Durant told the Oklahoman that Oklahoma City isn't trying to be like the Spurs.

"Look, we're not the San Antonio Spurs," Durant said. "We're not going to make 30 passes in a possession. We're not that. Of course people want us to be that. That's great basketball, don't get me wrong, but we're not that. We've got guys that can score. We've got two guys on this team that can get a bucket. There's going to be times we gotta ISO."

After Game 1, Durant might want to reconsider his stance.

Mark Travis is a Sports Media major at Oklahoma State University and a graduate of Flour Bluff High School. He covers the NBA for Caller.com. You can reach him on Twitter @Mark_Travis and check out his other NBA musings at butthegameison.com.