On Sunday, June 15, the San Antonio Spurs won their 5th NBA Finals in historically dominating fashion, with a 104-87 slaughtering of the Miami Heat. To the surprise of most, they did it with relative ease in a mere five games, winning all of their games by 15+ points. Old Man River Walk has solidified his position in history, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each have ring number 4. Alas, it is now time for us all to say goodbye to the dynasty that has had the highest winning percentage in pro sports for the past 15 years. Now, the Spurs will re-shape and rebuild their team as Timmy and Manu stroll off into the sunset as retired legends, never to return.
Think again.
This dynasty is not over- this is not the end for the most winning trio in NBA history, and this is not the end for the dominant dynasty that has won 5 Championships in the past 15 years. Here are 5 reasons why the Spurs will be title favorites for at LEAST one more season, and contenders for many seasons to come:
1. Manu, Tony…Tim?: Last summer, many speculated that Manu Ginobili would hang up his jersey and call it quits after a disappointing showing in the Spurs unforgettable Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat. He posted an abysmal 11.6 points and 4.3 assists per game in the 13’ Finals. However, this season was much different. Manu played with a chip on his shoulder all season, and posted playoff averages of 14.3 points and 4.1 assists per game. Ginobili said shortly after winning the championship that he wanted to honor the 2-year contract that he signed with San Antonio last summer. This gives us a probable 2014-15 swan song season from the invigorating Manu Ginobili.
Tony Parker is still a relatively young player at 32, and in the back end of his prime. The 2014-15 season is the final year left on his contract, but at this stage in his career and after everything he has been through with the Spurs organization, you get the feeling he will retire a life-long Spur. The Big Fundamental has a player option for next season, and is undecided on his future. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker believe that he will return next year, the final year of his contract. Duncan has said during press conferences that as long as he feels he can contribute to his team, he will continue to play. Timmy posted averages of 15.4 points and 10 rebounds per game on 57 percent shooting in the 14’ Finals demolishing of the Heat, and has continued to deny Father Time in his 17th NBA season.
With numbers like that at 38 years old, I think it’s safe to say that Duncan will not feel like he can’t contribute to his team. It is glaringly obvious that TD has worked tirelessly to adapt his game with his aging body, and the transition has been extremely smooth. Duncan is still fundamentally wreaking havoc in the post, and is still one of the most dominant forwards in the game even at his age. The Spurs’ Big 3 is essential to the team, and has been the backbone of the Spurs success since their first year together in 2002. Expect Timmy, Tony, and Manu to build on their NBA record 117 wins by a trio, and lead one final championship run together for the Spurs next season.
2. The Big Bad Bench: The Spurs would not have won their fifth championship without guys like Patty Mills, Boris Diaw, Cory Joseph, Marco Belinelli, and Matt Bonner coming off the bench. This is no ordinary NBA bench staff- these gentlemen are assassins, and could arguably be starters on a number of NBA teams.
This bench cast averaged a blistering 44.6 points per game this season, by far the highest mark in the league. Coach of the Year Gregg Popovich was able to keep Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili’s season minutes per game averages all under 30- a feat that no other team was able to emulate with their stars. How were the Spurs able to do this, while also getting the best record in the NBA at 60-22? This Spurs bench is a talented bunch, that’s why, and they gave Pop and the Big 3 breathing room and time for extra rest all season long with their incredible play.
This offseason, re-signing Boris Diaw and Patty Mills will be a top priority for the Spurs, as they are both unrestricted free agents. Mills, the speedy hot-shooting point guard from Australia, has received interest from the New York Knicks already, and is bound to get attention from other teams as well. Diaw had an excellent year, posting his best numbers since the 2008-09 season. He was a pivotal part of the Spurs playoff run, providing unbelievable playmaking skills and a dazzling passing display that many starting point guards probably couldn’t top. Both Diaw and Mills have expressed their love for the Spurs system, and are up for expanded roles and a larger paycheck if they re-sign next season. One thing is sure- the front office staff and R.C. Buford will do everything that they can to get these two pivotal players back in a silver and black uniform for the 2014-15 season and beyond.
3. Kawhi Leonard: Sugar K Leonard, welcome to the show. The NBA Finals MVP showed the Heat just how far he has come these first few years in the league, and has more than proved that he is ready for a higher mantle of responsibility for the Spurs. Easily the most athletic player on the roster, Leonard is an elite defender and has improved his offensive game tremendously. His relentless defensive pressure and aggression gave Lebron James fits for the entire series, especially in Games 3-5.
Gregg Popovich has proclaimed Kawhi as the “future face of the franchise”, and it appears that he is ready to take that next inevitable step. Chip Engelland, the Spurs revered shooting coach, has polished Leonard’s shot over the past three years, as he watched his MVP product shoot 52 percent from the field this season while averaging 13 points and 6 rebounds per game in the regular season, his best marks yet. Whether Tim Duncan chooses to retire before this season or not, Leonard is poised for a much heavier workload this season as the Big 3 continues to age. Kawhi is due for an extension this summer, an option that the Spurs front office will surely cash in on. Expect to see his dynamic defense and superb slashing ability rejuvenate this Spurs team, especially in the 2014-15 playoffs.
4. Hidden Talent Abroad: Most NBA fans are unaware of the fact that the Spurs are experts at stashing their late-round draft picks overseas, giving them a chance to develop. An excellent example of this strategy is Tiago Splitter, the Spurs 6-foot-11 center from Brazil. Splitter played overseas for three seasons after being drafted by the Spurs in the 2007 NBA Draft, and has benefited from the development in Europe. The Brazilian Big was vital to his team this season, especially in taking the pressure off of Tim Duncan, with imposing physical play.
The Spurs currently have a plethora of players stashed overseas, with two potential gems in the bunch. The Spurs drafted Livio Jean-Charles, a 20-year-old 6-foot-9 forward, with the 28th pick in last year’s draft. He dazzled with his play in the Vegas Summer League, and is loaded with potential after averaging 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on 60 percent shooting in his first season in the Euro league. He has the physical tools to succeed in the NBA and is the Spurs top prospect abroad.
Another potential player to get some minutes with the silver and black soon is DeShaun Thomas, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Ohio State. At 22 years old, Thomas was known as an elite scorer in college, but lacks the defensive skills to defend the small forward position in the pros. After working hard on his defense this past season, I would say a call-up from Thomas or Jean-Charles within the next year or two is a strong possibility. The Spurs are one of the best developmental teams in the league, helping players such as Danny Green, Boris Diaw, and Marco Belinelli revitalize their careers and become integral to the Spurs success. Expect to see the Spurs cash in on an overseas prospect, likely Jean-Charles, to help guide this team into the post Big 3 era.
5. The Spurs Way: As we saw from this season’s playoffs and Finals, no team in the NBA shares the rock quite like the San Antonio Spurs. Their ball movement and selflessness have taken the word “teamwork” to a whole new level. The Spurs were the first team ever to win the championship without a 20 point per game scorer, an extremely impressive feat. They have developed a system of pride, effort, class, and a blue-collar work ethic that eliminates any possible ego problems from the locker room. Whoever has an open shot for this team, there is always a man that is more open; that is how this team operates.
The financial aspect of the Spurs way is also a huge part of their success. Tim Duncan is set to make $10 million next season, where an elite player of his caliber could easily make $15-22 million per season in a larger market. Manu Ginobili is set to make a gentleman’s $7 million. The players in San Antonio care about each other, and care about winning championships. That is what the beautiful game is all about, winning championships. With this system strong in place, San Antonio is always in the best position possible to ensure the best possible on court chemistry and leadership- things that any team in the league needs in order to bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Buckle your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen, because these Spurs aren’t going anywhere in this Wild Wild West. Their veterans are too experienced, their roster and front office too dedicated, and their will to win astronomically difficult to match. What should we expect from the Spurs next season? I would say a sixth championship could most definitely be on the menu. At the very least, another deep run is to be expected as we watch one of the great professional franchises in sports continue to excel.
All stats from NBA.com
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