Spurs benefit from Green’s expanded offensive game, defense

Take note, NBA: Danny Green’s offensive game is no longer limited to spot-up 3-point shooting.

Playing in his ninth season and determined to help bolster an offense weakened by Kawhi Leonard’s absence, Green seems to have finally become adept at creating his own shot off the dribble.

“It’s only taken me like eight or nine years to get it down,” he joked.

All kidding aside, Green’s play on both ends of the court is a big reason why the Spurs are 3-0 heading into tonight’s game with the Heat (2-1), a contest that marks the beginning of a four-game East road trip.

Green is averaging a career-best 14.3 points after scoring 17 points in the opener and again in Monday’s intense 101-97 win over Toronto.

“I’m getting some decent looks and trying to stay aggressive while we have some guys out,” said Green, who averaged 7.3 points last season with a season-high of 18 points.

He buried three 3-pointers on eight attempts against the Raptors, including a step-back shot with 5:20 left that gave the Spurs an 88-85 lead that put them ahead for good.

Nailing clutch long-range shots is nothing new for Green. But the AT&T Center crowd, including Green himself, was stunned by his left-handed reverse layup for a traditional 3-point play in the first quarter.

“Pure luck,” he said of his nifty layup. “I blacked out and the ball was in the bucket.”

He added a 5-foot turnaround hook to give the Spurs a 92-85 advantage with 3:36 remaining.

Green’s teammates are grateful for his impressive start, especially with Leonard sidelined with right quadriceps tendinopathy.

“I always joke with him that he got better this summer,” forward LaMarcus Aldridge said of Green, 30. “He’s putting the ball on the floor and he isn’t turning it over. He’s making plays off the dribble.”

And, as usual, Green is coming up big defensively. He tied his career high against Toronto with five blocks, joining Alvin Robertson as the only guards in franchise history with multiple five-block efforts.

Monday night also marked the second time in Green’s career he has recorded five or more blocks and three or more 3-pointers in a game. He’s the only Spur to have accomplished that feat.

Led by Green, the Spurs finished the game with 12 blocks, a big reason why they held their third straight opponent to under 100 points.

Afterward, Green joked that he tried to give some of the big men a few pointers on the fine art of swatting.

“I’ve been trying to tell LaMarcus he’s got to get his timing right,” said Green, while icing his right elbow, which took a blow when he fell while attempting to block a shot. “I mess with him sometimes. He’s a great shot-blocker, but we go back and forth trying to get blocks. We challenge each other. It’s a good thing.”

What’s also good is Green’s impeccable timing, which helped him earn a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team last season.

“It’s not like I jump very high,” he said. “I just try to catch guys before they get off the ground, or the low point. It’s just activity and hustling.”

Green also has a knack for catching jump shooters off guard.

“Guys take their time thinking they have an open look, and I’ll sneak in and get a finger on the ball or something,” he said.

With Tony Parker still recovering from surgery to repair the torn left quadriceps tendon he suffered in the playoffs, Green is pairing with second-year point guard Dejounte Murray to give the Spurs a formidable defensive backcourt.

“Long, athletic, he’s got those arms,” Green said, referring to Murray’s 7-foot wingspan. “Defensively, he’s very active, deflecting passes, altering shots, chasing guys down and making him feel them. We’re going to need him to do that.”

Same goes for Green and his new offensive wrinkle.