Wednesday, October 27th, 2010...5:15 am
On achieving immortality through not dying
New season, new narrative. And with this season, there is that monster metanarrative creeping around the league: the Miami Heat. The Heat, as a story, are more imperial than meta. That story has one of those manifest destiny, send small pox to the Indians agendas going on. The Thing has a bloodlust, I tell you.
But there are all sorts of cool storylines with the Spurs, some more obvious than others.
I’m still trying to get my hands around the Spurs’ more nuanced narratives. Or, more precisely, I’m still reading, waiting for the subplots to take shape. But there is little subtle foreshadowing afoot, and I’m beginning to sense a counter intuitive plot twist on the horizon.
Woody Allen was once asked what it felt like to achieve immortality through his art. Allen’s response: “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.” His response could, with a slight shift in application, be echoed by any basketball player. In this way, there is little difference between great filmmakers and great players.
As a basketball player, Tim Duncan is dying. And while immortality is already his, so is death. He’s on the clock. And this puts the Spurs are on the clock, or so the thinking goes.
But the Spurs’ front office is already up to something new, building the story to a conclusion on one front and pushes it forward on another. Namely, the Spurs have a little youth movement going on. The team is simultaneously gearing up for a final push within the Duncan era and transitioning away from the built-around-Duncan Spurs. It’s a clever game.
George Hill, DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter are not superstars. But they’re young and wonderfully complimentary. There isn’t a team in the NBA who couldn’t use them. The question is whether any of the three can become a core player.
In the event of an NBA lockout next season, this season may be Tim Duncan’s last. He has an early termination option this summer, and his contract expires in July 2012. Manu Ginobili is locked up until 2012-13. Richard Jefferson’s contract is a problem child, but the Spurs long term cap is otherwise healthy.
From another angle, consider this: DeJuan Blair’s 2012-2013 deal is for a mere $1,054,000.
The Spurs are well-positioned to continue in the land of the living. And while no one expects them to compete for a championship every season for the rest of our lives, neither is their reason to believe they’ll drop off the map. Even after Tim Duncan retires, the Spurs can continue a playoff team.
At the start of yet another championship-or-bust San Antonio Spurs season, the storyline isn’t just about whether Tim Duncan’s supporting cast is strong enough to push the Spurs back into the Finals. There is the longer term question of whether the Spurs’ young core can reach their potential. Now is the time determine whether Blair, Hill, and Splitter have what it takes to shoulder the weight of transition. Obviously, the Spurs will have to add a substantial piece or two to that core. Blair, Hill and Splitter can’t do it alone. But can they become the sort of players to whom one passes a baton?
Note the suspense. Enjoy the intrigue. Embrace the tension.
The next chapter begins tonight.
11 Comments
October 27th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I am very excited about the upcoming season! The Spurs are always an afterthought to the NBA know it alls. Even when this team came off of seasons of winning the NBA title, there was always that level of disrespect, that ‘well this team wasn’t at full strength’ or ‘this team was not playing well’, never that the Spurs just kicked everyone’s ass to collect the crown. Keep dissing, downplaying, forgetting, etc. The Spurs like it like that and before you know it, they will be on a stage, having another River Parade, rubbing it in the face of the NBA haters. Here’s to the Spurs starting their fun for one on the thumb! GO SPURS GO, DRIVE FOR FIVE!!!!!
October 27th, 2010 at 9:17 am
We’re a little younger, a bit deeper, and a lot healthier this year. Pop wants to win early and often, too. I’m stoked!
Is anyone else as pissed off at Dish Network/FSN for letting their contract run out? I may have to pony up for NBA LeaguePass this year to catch extra games.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Nice piece of writing. Well, we’ve been waiting for this night for over 5 months and now it’s finally here. If the big 3 stay relatively healthy for the entire season and the younger guys step up, we could have an interesting ride. If the Big 3 can’t stay healthy this season after a good summer of healing, then the days of contending will officially be over. Here are my keys to this season’s campaign if we are to truly contend in the West:
1. Health
2. Blair and Hill prove to be very valuable pieces to slot around the Big 4
3. Splitter has to be good by April at the latest. I don’t mean Pau Gasol kind of good, but at least Marc Gasol good.
4. RJ has to be considerable better
5. Our one roster weakness is the backup SF. We need Simmons or Anderson (probably not the rookie, though) to step up and be a valuable player off the bench.
6. We need a much better perimeter defense. Duncan can’t cover others defensive mistakes like he did when he was 25 yrs old.
My preferred roster/starting lineup to start the season.
PG: Parker, Temple, Neal
SG: Hill, Manu, Anderson
SF: Jefferson, Simmons, Gee
PF: Blair, McDyess, Bonner
C: Duncan, Splitter
Unlike teams in the past, there are many unknowns on this team. Afterall, we have 6 guys 25 and under who will play significant time. We really don’t know what production we’ll get from many of them. All in all, I am more excited about this year’s squad than last years version. I think we are a considerably better team. With Splitter, Simmons (hopefully) and an improved Blair, it appears we finally have a bench we can lean on.
Anyway, the big show starts tonight. Go Spurs!!
October 27th, 2010 at 9:45 am
I have been waiting for soo long for this day to come! and @ThatBigGuy, sites like atdhe.net and channelsurfing.net stream all basketball games live everyday for the whole season, so you dont have to waste money on nba league pass… you’re welcome. They are also streaming tonights game there as well.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I used to not think about the day Duncan because I was worried what would happen to the Spurs. Now after watching Pop and R.C. operate the past 12 plus years I don’t worry so much. I can see the Spurs becoming the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NBA. Choose a coach who will be around for a while combined with a FO that sticks to a Philosophy about the type of players they bring in. I think the Spurs have shown that if you come into SA play hard, play d, play smart, and play for others you will always be welcomed in SA. And I know players around the league and the world for that matter know this. So I’m sure the Spurs will always be able to find players that fit the mold.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:52 am
From the main post:
“Obviously, the Spurs will have to add a substantial piece or two to that core. Blair, Hill and Splitter can’t do it alone. But can they become the sort of players to whom one passes a baton?”
Yes, that’s a key question, and it partially hinges on Tony Parker’s future with the club, because in my view Hill can probably only be a championship level point guard in sort of the Derek Fisher-type fashion (though Hill has a bit more talent); as in, being paired with a multi-talented SG. But in my view Parker could have a good five prime to slightly under prime years left in him. So if Parker stays, our biggest concern is whether Blair & Splitter can develop into a strong enough front court tandem to contend again, particularly post-TD. I have my doubts. I think at some point we’re going to need a tall, post-defender that can block shots, and has a knock-down 18 footer with a solid post-up game in the paint. A go-to guy in the low post, even among the opponent’s “trees”. But besides the “big” issue, we’re going to need to find a SG with clear star potential to take the starting job from Manu at some point in the next 2-3 years. We hope that could be James Anderson, but that’s a BIG if at this point. All of this thinking ultimately leaves one with the very real prospect of making a “big” trade at some point, because I don’t see how we “truly” contend again merely via organic development and “tinker-type” acquisitions.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I like the intrigue.
I’ve always thought the Spurs are rebuilding for the future by concentrating on building a formidable supporting cast for that future.
I don’t think Blair, Hill and/or Splitter will ever become a “superstar” type of player in this league. But what a great supporting cast to have in place in hopes of attracting such a player when Duncan does retire. And the most beautiful attribute regarding this situation is the fact the Spurs will be fiscally competitive to land one if not two all-star type of players when that time comes.
This could be via draft/free agency, draft/draft, or FA/FA. Of course the outcome regarding the upcoming cba negotiations will have much to do in how teams will be able to distribute finances. But the Spurs look to be in a great position no matter which way that outcome may play out.
And if somebody out of the youth fruitions them self into all-star status after the departure of Duncan…icing on the cake…and the ability of the team to reward that status with a lucrative contract.
Question:
How do the Spurs handle Parker’s up and coming free agency if any combination of Hill, Blair and Splitter prove this year to be players the Spurs want to keep long term when their contracts expire?
@Hobson13
I like your starting lineup suggestion as well.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
zainn
October 27th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Thanks for the links.
Good luck Spurs tonight. Don’t take the Pacers lightly. They picked up Collison in the off-season, Hibbert is improving, and of course they’ve got the prolific scorer, Danny Granger. And remember, our first game against them last year we won by ONE point. Play smart & aggressive, and let’s take care of business.
My preferred opening game line-up/roster is as follows:
TP/Hill/Temple
Manu/Anderson/Neal
RJ/Simmons/Gee
Blair/McDyess/Bonner
TD/Splitter
October 27th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
rob
October 27th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
“How do the Spurs handle Parker’s up and coming free agency if any combination of Hill, Blair and Splitter prove this year to be players the Spurs want to keep long term when their contracts expire?”
I think we keep Parker IF the price is acceptable, and/or we can’t get enough back for him in a trade. But I would at least look very carefully at what my trade options are.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Zainn, cool of you to share the web sites. They seem to work good. Thanks man.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
“How do the Spurs handle Parker’s up and coming free agency if any combination of Hill, Blair and Splitter prove this year to be players the Spurs want to keep long term when their contracts expire?”
I don’t think that will affect the upcoming decision about Tony. The biq question that the Spurs will face is how/with who will the offense run through? Do the Spurs feel confident that they can run an offense without him? At this point, I’d actually say no. The Spurs need Tony or Manu on the court almost all the time.
Leave a Reply