Last season ended prematurely for the Spurs, who lost in
the conference semifinals to the Mavericks, did that close the window on the
Spurs championship opportunities?
It seems a strange question to ask following a franchise-best
63-win season, especially when the Spurs were ever-so-close to upending the
eventual NBA champs in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
But one has to wonder how long the Spurs
can continue their success. Tim Duncan's numbers have dropped off the last few
seasons (his 18.6 ppg in 2005-06 were a career low), defensive stopper Bruce
Bowen is 35, and one wonders if the constant flow of playoffs and international
play will wear on San Antonio's multinational roster, in particular guards Tony
Parker and Manu Ginobili.
The Spurs had a quiet off-season,
replacing C Nazr Mohammed (Detroit) with
reserves Jackie Butler and Francisco
Elson, giving head coach Gregg Popovich
a three-man, eighteen-foul rotation at
center (counting incumbent Fabricio
Oberto). That doesn't even account for
Duncan who moves to center at crunch
time.
A nine-time All-Star, Tim Duncan will again be asked to carry the Spurs on
his back. Is he fresh and fit enough to carry them to their customary heights
Season Opener:
Nov. 2 @ DAL (8 p.m. ET)
Get
Spurs Tickets Home Opener:
Nov. 3 vs. CLE (8 p.m. ET)
