This article originally published at Realgm.com.
Dynastic? Maybe. Boring? To the casual fan, sure. Winners? Undoubtedly.
The firm of Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich has picked up four rings in the last nine years, winning the 2005 and 2007 Finals by being the most methodical, reliable, and versatile team in the NBA. They can win a war of attrition by scoring 80 a game (ask the Cavs) as quickly as they’ll win by dropping 100 (ask the Suns). That versatility, paired with three All-Star talents and a myriad of high character specialists, has made the Spurs the premier franchise in sports.
The Spurs don’t just beat you, they watch you beat yourself. The Spurs allowed a league low 90.2 points per a game last season. They are also one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league, scoring a very respectable 98.5 a contest despite being 27th in the league in pace factor (number of possessions per 48 minutes).
The Spurs aren’t getting any younger, but they were written off for that reason last year. The team is graying around the edges (literally); Michael Finley (34), Brent Barry (35), and Bruce Bowen (36) probably have two more years in them. Robert Horry (37) may be entering his final NBA season.
Despite their collective ages, the Spurs machine has shown no immediate signs of slowing. They make up for their lack of athleticism with defensive chemistry and savvy veteran play. The starting backcourt of Manu Ginobili and an ever-improving Tony Parker is the fastest in the league, and, in case anyone forgot, their power forward may be the best…not just in the league, but ever.
Unlike the other Western Conference powers, the Spurs face no real questions coming into the 2007-2008 season. Their core roster is intact, and they’ve added some subtle pieces, most notably Ime Udoka from Portland. Their biggest loss in the offseason comes in the form of P.J. Carlesimo (now coaching Kevin Durant in Seattle), but the Spurs have shown a pension for choosing the right personnel to elevate within the organization (Mike Budenholzer will take his play alongside coach Pop).
As has been the case for the past decade, the Spurs are primed for championship contention, and whether anyone outside of Texas wants to watch is incidental.
POINT GUARD
In case you hadn’t heard, the kid grew up fast. In fact, everything about Tony Parker is fast. An NBA point guard at 19, a champion in his second season, and a married All-Star by 25, Parker uses that same quickness to race by opposing guards with regularity.
While an All-Star, Parker didn’t become one of the best point guards in the game until he learned how to slow down a bit. In 2007, he saw the game better, limiting his turnovers (3.1 per 40 from 3.7 the previous season) and developing a keen sense of when to run and when to set up the half court offense.
Parker’s vastly improved jumper made him virtually unstoppable. He was judicious with his three point shooting, but when open, hit at a respectable 39.5% clip. He consistently hit from the 18-20 foot range and upped his free throw shooting to 78.7%, about 8% higher than his career average. Parker, while not a ballhawk, is an underrated defender who is able to stay in front of anyone, despite getting muscled out of the way by bigger guards like Baron Davis or Chauncey Billups.
The backup position is a little hazy. Jacque Vaughn (calf) is limited by injuries and a lack of talent. As I’m typing this, the Spurs have announced that they have traded Beno Udrih to Minnesota for a future second round pick. Darius Washington is a rookie, so the Spurs may have to rely on Brent Barry or Manu Ginobili to play some point unless the 32 year old Vaughn heals quickly.
SHOOTING GUARD
Few players, if any, are more competitive than Manu Ginobili. The veritable Renaissance man for the Spurs can do it all and is undoubtedly the heart of a team that is generally described as “robotic”.
Ginobili is an absolute star, but his numbers suggest otherwise. His averages of 16.5 points and 3.5 assists per a game seem modest until you look at his minutes played (27.5 a game). Few All-Star caliber players play under 30 minutes a game, but Ginobili’s hectic, physical style of play and age (30) led to a reduction in his regular season minutes.
Stretch his numbers over 40 minutes, and you have an absolute monster. Ginobili’s averages of 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals per 40 legitimize his status as an absolute stud. He is one of the best thieves and rebounders at his position, and has reconstructed his midrange game to avoid taking so many hits at the rim (his free throws per a game dipped from 5.5 to 5.0 a game). In addition, he’s a proven winner at every level, and a genuine “team first” guy that’s willing to come off the bench.
The only problem with Ginobili is that he consistently puts himself at risk of injury with his style of play. For the Spurs, that means that 34 year old Michael Finley will continue to see over 20 minutes a game. Finley has become a jump shooter instead of a slasher from the wing, but he’ll continue to get open looks from Parker and Duncan.
As if the Spurs weren’t already stacked at the position, rumor around camp is that Brent Barry (coming off his best year as a Spur) is shooting lights out. Bones Barry shot a ridiculous 44.6% from three in 2007, up almost 5% from his respectable career average. Like Finley, his age dictates that he’ll be utilized as little more than a spot up shooter.
SMALL FORWARD
Bruce Bowen can only do two things: defend and shoot corner threes. The thing is, he does them really, really well. His 38.4% from three in 2006-2007 was down from his 42.4% the previous season, but Bowen, an underrated clutch shooter, hit 44.6% in the playoffs.
His greatest value is on the defensive end, where he consistently makes life difficult on the likes of Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Bowen isn’t a shutdown defender by any stretch of the imagination (there is no such thing in the NBA anymore), but he definitely makes life hard on the opposition. He may be losing a step at 36, but his endurance and preparation is still top notch.
Ime Udoka was signed from Portland over the summer to be the Spurs’ baby-Bruce. A tough, but not overly athletic, wing player, Ime has also shown a pension for hitting the corner shot (over 40% last season). Unlike Bowen, he has limited ball handling abilities, adding even more versatility to the roster.
POWER FORWARD
Tim Duncan doesn’t have the touch of Dirk Nowitzki or the attitude of Kevin Garnett. He can’t jump 40 inches like Amare and can’t race around defenders like Chris Bosh. But he’s still better than them all.
One of the last consistent low post threats in the game, Duncan remains the fulcrum of the Spurs’ system on both ends of the floor. The mere threat of Duncan’s post up game makes everyone on the court better. It opens up lanes for Parker and Ginobili, it makes shots for Bowen and Finley, and it creates easy cuts for Fabricio Oberto. Along with Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, Duncan is the pinnacle for making his teammates better.
At 31, Duncan is in the second phase of his career. He’s seldom relied upon to put up 30 points a game, instead deferring to his teammates. Duncan took fewer shots a game (14.1) than his entire career but upped his assists per a game (4.0 per 40) to match his career high. Suspiciously, Duncan’s turnovers were his highest since 1999-2000, which is either the sign of a loss of quickness or making more risky passes, if not both.
If teams dare to single cover him, he’ll burn them, as shown by his 26.8 points a game against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Semis. When teams double, he distributes, like he did by dishing out 5.4 dimes a game against the Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs. The only team that did put the clamps on Duncan was Cleveland, and they did so by letting Tony Parker get open paths to the bucket at will.
Duncan is also arguably the best positional defending big man in the league. He is a legitimate shot blocker and manages to stay out of foul trouble on most occasions. When he does pick up fouls, it helps to have Robert Horry coming off the bench. Known for his clutch shooting, his leadership and defense are also integral to the Spurs.
CENTER
The center position has been in flux since the departure of David Robinson, but 2007-2008 shows a little stability. Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson will compete for time, with Elson probably getting more time early to prove himself.
Elson is the more athletic of the two centers. While a decent rebounder (10.1 per 40), he’s easily muscled out of the lane. He’s more of a shotblocking force than Oberto, but also finds himself out of position more often. Oberto has an incredibly high basketball IQ and plays with guts, but is limited athletically. Ian Mahinmi, the nimble 20 year old from France, shouldn’t be seeing the court much this year.
As in the case with the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs ask that their centers play great defense, set screens, and make smart cuts on offense…anything else is gravy.
2007-2008 Projected Record: 59-23
Playoffs: NBA Finals (champs until someone proves otherwise)
Elliot Cole maintains a San Antonio Spurs blog at www.thesilverandblack.blogspot.com and can be reached at elliot.cole@yahoo.com.
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