For the past nineteen seasons the San Antonio Spurs have been a playoff team with Championship aspirations. They have made themselves one of the greatest franchises in NBA history with their five NBA Championships (Fourth most Championships won by a team) and the majority of their success is thanks to Tim Duncan, the greatest power forward in NBA history. But Tim Duncan recently announced his retirement from the NBA after 19 seasons because it wasn’t “as fun anymore”.
Tim Duncan’s career was truly amazing, and utterly successful. He started his career along side David Robinson and was introduced to the life of an NBA star. He quickly became an outstanding player as he won two NBA MVP awards, won 5 NBA Championships, 3 Finals MVPs, and appeared in 15 All-Star games. He Finally ended his career along side Lamarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, and his long time “partners in crime” Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker who all three combine for the most successful trio in NBA postseason history. So with Tim Duncan leading the team for so many years, being their defensive anchor, and being one of the greatest teammates in NBA history how will the San Antonio Spurs fair next season without him.
The San Antonio Spurs signed free agent Pau Gasol who will attempt to play Duncan’s role. Pau Gasol, just like Tim Duncan, is an experienced player with Championship success. And with Gasol’s statistics from last season, comapred to Duncan’s, it is not hard to imagine Gasol playing as good or better than Duncan did last season.
Pau Gasol’s 2015-16 NBA Season Averages Tim Duncan’s 2015-16 NBA Season Averages
16.5 PPG 8.6 PPG
11.0 RPG 7.3 RPG
4.1 APG 2.7 APG
2.0 BPG 1.3 BPG
So with the loss of Tim Duncan and the addition of Pau Gasol the San Antonio Spurs predicted starting lineup will be Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Pau Gasol. The San Antonio Spurs will have one of the best front courts in the NBA next season and their starting five players will have amazing chemistry, as they always do, by time the playoffs begin. With the Spurs being a mature team, that will have fantastic defense lead by the 2x Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, they will be the favorite team in the Western Conference to defeat the new look Golden State Warriors.
