No Kawhi Leonard. No Tony Parker. No Manu Ginobili.
The changes to the Spurs’ roster this summer have been startling. Leonard’s unhappiness with the organization convinced San Antonio’s front office to trade him before he could become a free agent next summer. Parker surprisingly left the only NBA franchise he had played for since 2001 and signed with the Hornets. Then last week Ginobili, after much deliberation, announced his retirement.
Here’s something more jarring than all the personnel changes. Could the Spurs’ streak of 21 consecutive postseason appearances, the longest active playoff streak in any major North American sports league, be coming to an end?
For the first time in many years, San Antonio is no lock to make the postseason. The Spurs squeaked into the playoffs last year with a 47-35 record, tying them with the Timberwolves for seventh place. The Nuggets were just one game back and now the Lakers, with the addition of LeBron James, should be back in playoff contention.
San Antonio should have a good 1-2 punch in power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, the major piece it received in the Leonard trade with Toronto. The Spurs will also count on major improvement from young point guard Dejounte Murray. If rookie forward Lonnie Walker can make an immediate impact, that would also boost their postseason prospects as well.
Pau Gasol and Rudy Gay, both of whom have a lot of mileage on their legs, are the other projected starters. Gasol is 38 and needs to have his minutes monitored. Gay, 32, has appeared in just 87 games over the past two seasons.
There’s an obvious lack of youth, athleticism and 3-point shooting on the roster. Even Ginobili admits Gregg Popovich will have do one of the best coaching jobs of his career to coax a playoff appearance out of the current roster.
”I think it’s going to be a great challenge for him having a different kind of team, maybe less corporate knowledge,” Ginobili said. ”I think it’s going to be a fun challenge. I think he’s going to do good.”
That brings us to our question of the day: Will the Spurs extend their streak of 21 consecutive playoff appearances or will it come to an end this season?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in this topic. We look forward to your feedback.
50%
100 percent. They did it last year with no K.L, they added derozen. Tony/Manu are great but they were not going to be better than a prime DeMar.
Also I want to say they don’t make it but you never bet against pop.
They will definitely make the playoffs. I’m not expecting they win many playoff games, though.
YES … 100% sure :) :) :)
People have said for years, starting whenever the big 3 were exiting their prime, that they will not make the playoffs, or at least will under perform. But every year they do better than expected. Even last year in a deep west they make the playoffs with lamarcus and a bunch of role players. Don’t underestimate pop, he’ll make the playoffs. I’m not saying they’re gonna go far in the playoffs, but they will definitely be there.
The starting bigs and backup smalls all hit from 3.
I’m wondering if DeRozan should be the one to take over the SF spot. He’s the tallest of the guards, rebpunds okay, and does not favor deep shooting. Make room for Derrick White! Or Forbes or Bellinelli.
People have said the spurs are too old for some time and it never holds.
kawhi quit his team, coach, fans, and the game of basketball – spurs shud sue him and his advisors
Spurs have a great chance to make the playoffs. The west is tough, but the team is still deep. They are not as old or unathletic as before. Aging players like Parker and Manu are gone. DeJounte Murray, Derrick White, Lonnie Walker are athletic young guards.
Sorry guys to have to break it to you but there is no way San Antonio makes it to the playoffs this year. Maybe in the EC they would, in the WC no chance.
GSW, Lakers, Houston, OKC, Denver, NOLA & Portland are ahead, also Minny just now with the team they have & without issues is ahead too, depending how it get fixed could open up a space in the plaoffs to go between Utah & San Antonio, otherwise they will not make it.
Lol “no way”
Playoff team adds All NBAer (and still has one of the GOAT coaches) and is gonna surely be beaten by Denvers atrocious defense, Lakers mismatch of meme players, the Timberbulls instability, and NOLA and Portlands overachieving, unstable play.
Slow your roll and take a step back before you downvote this comment like you did all the others.
Also lol @ “maybe” in the EC.
Clueless.
They made it minus Leonard and just added DeRozen as well as Walker to an already playoff calibar/proven team. They won’t be at the top, but they’re in.
For cesc, the worse the call, the more dramatic the prose!
They’ll make the playoffs, somewhere between 5-8. As others alluded to above, they won 47 last year with Leonard. Whether you like DeRozan or not, he’s a multi time all-star that will improve the Spurs.
Losing Ginobili and Parker’s leadership is a blow, but both were inefficient players last season. Green wasn’t very good either. I think the biggest loss from last year’s team (keeping in mind the Claw really didn’t play) was Slow-Mo, who is solid, but unspectacular.
Poeltl will be an improvement over Lauvergne, while Marco adds much needed three point shooting. I think White’s ready to be a breakout rotation player, and Murray will continue to get more comfortable with leading this team. All in all, I see 49-52 wins for the Spurs in 2018.
I think you meant won 47 ‘without’ Leonard.