Spurs enter 2015 happy to have Hell Month behind them
Overall, 2014 was a pretty great year for the Spurs, with them winning that NBA title and all. However, the last month couldn’t have gone much worse. It wasn’t just the losing record, it was everything that made up the 8-10 December. Tony Parker in and out of the lineup. Kawhi Leonard mostly out of the lineup once he suffered the weirdest hand injury known to man. And the overtime games, holy crap the overtime games. Five games went past regulation, including two triple overtimes and it wasn’t until New Year’s Eve that they won one of those games. That’s just dumb, terrible luck that it took nine overtime periods for the Spurs to actually get a win.
The Wednesday night win was actually pretty inspiring not for any other reason then San Antonio, on the second night of a back to back, could’ve just said “F it” after Anthony Davis put the Pelicans ahead with .7 seconds left in regulation, cashed out and rested up for their Saturday night match up with the Washington Wizards. Instead, Tim Duncan and Omer Asik tag teamed the game tying tip dunk and to overtime we go. The Spurs found themselves in an early hole and fought back (thanks in part to some questionable decision making by Tyreke Evans), to pick up what they said felt like a pretty big win.
That’s a funny thought, to think that a game that really just meant the difference between 8-10 and 7-11 would matter, but there was probably a shadow of doubt creeping into the Spurs locker room about what direction the team was going. It’s like when good golfers see a putt go in or a pitcher throws a strike after going through a rough patch. You get that monkey off your back and where, when and who it happened against matters a lot less than it actually happened. Same thing for the Spurs here, they needed to see a break was going to go their way, that one of these ridiculous games was going to end with a win. The fact that it came against a team chasing them a for a playoff spot that they hadn’t beat this season helps, but this was much more about the Spurs proving something to themselves, not their opponents.
So we move on to January. Four less games and from a record stand point a much easier schedule as only half of the teams they play would be in the playoffs if the season started today. It’s not an easy schedule per se, it’s just normal. They have three sets of back-to-backs including at Chicago then home vs. the Lakers. I only bring this up because thankfully the Spurs are playing L.A. on a Friday night and it’s not on ESPN (though I guess it’s not too late to rule that out).
One other note: Tim Duncan is an All-Star. He’s currently fourth in front court voting, but there’s a pretty big gap between him and Marc Gasol for that final starting spot. He might not make it as a reserve because the West is so loaded, but he deserves to be there. He’s one of a handful of players averaging a double-double. He’s top ten in rebounds and blocks and his assist numbers are the highest they’ve been in five seasons. Using ESPN’s defensive real-plus minus, Duncan is the most impactful defender in the league, which basically backs up what our eyes tell us, that Duncan is basically the only reason the Spurs have stayed afloat defensively with Kawhi Leonard out with that hand injury, which for all we know is Eddie Brock’s Venom Symbiote taking control of him body part by body part (for the record, Kawhi would make a way better Venom than Topher Grace). That is all besides the point. Duncan has been brilliant. During the death march that was the month of December, Duncan only got better, averaging 17.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 blocks in 14 of 18 games played. And he did it playing 34.5 minutes per game, so we can’t even use the “doesn’t play enough minutes” argument. He’s an All-Star (the one problem: so are about 20 other guys in the West). He also may be a Terminator, because 38 year olds aren’t supposed to do what he’s doing.
2015 for the Spurs kicks off Saturday night when they take on the Washington Wizards at the AT&T Center. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. Happy New Year, Spurs fans.
