OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark
29. . 18-14. Previous: 13th. San Antonio Spurs. 16. team
San Antonio Spurs:
Week 11: 1-2
Won vs: Knicks 119-93
Lost to: Nets 113-124 (OT), Thunder 102-107
Week 12 opponents: @Mavericks, Magic, @76ers
Offense: (109.8) 20th
Defense: (109.7) 9th
Net: (Plus +0.1) 15th
While the Grizzlies and Hornets are maximizing their roster depth the masters of team play are the Spurs. Eight different players average double-digit scoring ranging from 11.2 to 20.0 points per game. Seven average 4.2 or more rebounds and five dish between 2.2 and 7.2 assists.
Gregg Popovich continues to thrive in the culture the team created more than two decades ago as they shift toward a younger group and new era.
Like the Grizzlies the Spurs will need all those youngsters as the second team who’ll play 40 games and 11 back-to-back sets in the second half. The latter a concern given the Spurs were 1-4 in the second games of those sets in the front half of the calendar.
The biggest question for the Spurs is whether they will abandon their typical stand pat position at the trade deadline. No team has been more averse to this period than the Spurs who historically prefer to move forward with their existing roster.
Case in point, since 1998 (that’s 23 seasons for those counting) the Spurs have participated in four deals. Specifically, Malik Rose (2005), Theo Ratliff (2010), Stephen Jackson (2012), and Austin Daye (2014) were the four deals. Again, for those counting that’s six seasons since the Spurs made a deadline trade.
This year feels like it will be the exception given the veterans who San Antonio could trade to bolster their draft coffers. Five players including DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Rudy Gay, and Trey Lyles are all in their final contract year.
The question is whether RC Bufford and Pops will go against their typical pattern. That could be scary for their 29 counterparts because no team has proven more adept at pulling gems from late draft picks than San Antonio. Imagine them adding a handful of picks and what that could mean for the future!