Epilogue: After toughest title defense yet, Spurs must have a plan.
The Spurs won a historic 10th consecutive NBA Championship, but suffered through two seven-game wars against the Utah Jazz & Los Angeles Lakers, with the latter definitely slated to be a continuous playoffs foe in that regard.
R.C. Buford & Coach Popovich will once again have their hands full, minds cramming over possibilities for roster moves, and reasonably in retrospect questioning those made in the past.
This season marked the exit of Patty Mills, beloved Australian sniper, as Dejounte Murray officially took the point guard mantle left by Tony Parker. Brandon Ingram had another great season, and at least the Spurs have their two best players well-defined in those roles moving forward, despite the sprained elbow injury scare for Ingram that forced him to miss all but the last game of the Clippers series. Also gone however is the prospect project that was Skal Labissiere and hopeful acquisition of T.J. Warren, which paid off last season with a championship victory, but it is fair to say diminishing returns came in the form of Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen. Allen showed promise on defense, but is clearly challenged on the scoring end of the floor; not helping matters was Timofey Mozgov showcasing a clutch jumper in the playoffs. Worse is the reality of both Prince and Allen being up for restricted free agency, in which other teams could make large offers for their services, never mind the lack of desire by San Antonio to invest big money in both talents just yet.
Building for the future is always a value for the Spurs, but has taken a backseat since the amazing growth of Skal Labissiere, now part of the Houston Rockets. Luka Samanic showed flashes, but clearly the Spurs need a wider focus on the draft this summer. The lack of a strong starting five, being exposed by lack of a dominant PF in the paint, or a reliable center and the absence of a consistent scoring threat at the SG position add to the heap of contemplation this summer.
Naturally, things will only toughen next season as both Kevin Durant & Klay Thompson will return for their respective teams, eager to end the Spurs reign.
R.C. Buford & Coach Popovich will once again have their hands full, minds cramming over possibilities for roster moves, and reasonably in retrospect questioning those made in the past.
This season marked the exit of Patty Mills, beloved Australian sniper, as Dejounte Murray officially took the point guard mantle left by Tony Parker. Brandon Ingram had another great season, and at least the Spurs have their two best players well-defined in those roles moving forward, despite the sprained elbow injury scare for Ingram that forced him to miss all but the last game of the Clippers series. Also gone however is the prospect project that was Skal Labissiere and hopeful acquisition of T.J. Warren, which paid off last season with a championship victory, but it is fair to say diminishing returns came in the form of Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen. Allen showed promise on defense, but is clearly challenged on the scoring end of the floor; not helping matters was Timofey Mozgov showcasing a clutch jumper in the playoffs. Worse is the reality of both Prince and Allen being up for restricted free agency, in which other teams could make large offers for their services, never mind the lack of desire by San Antonio to invest big money in both talents just yet.
Building for the future is always a value for the Spurs, but has taken a backseat since the amazing growth of Skal Labissiere, now part of the Houston Rockets. Luka Samanic showed flashes, but clearly the Spurs need a wider focus on the draft this summer. The lack of a strong starting five, being exposed by lack of a dominant PF in the paint, or a reliable center and the absence of a consistent scoring threat at the SG position add to the heap of contemplation this summer.
Naturally, things will only toughen next season as both Kevin Durant & Klay Thompson will return for their respective teams, eager to end the Spurs reign.