Expensive Summer Affords Sage San Antonio Spurs Another Title Shot

Tony Parker crashed to the ground, his ankle wrecked after a missed floater in traffic caused an awkward landing. The San Antonio Spurs young star left the game in agony, and any chance of a winning season seemed to crumple with him.

With the Miami Heat's fast start in the eventual home loss forcing Tim Duncan to the bench, ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said the five Spurs on the floor might comprise the least talented group in the league. Instead of veteran playoff performer Robert Horry or even banger Kurt Thomas, Gregg Popovich was left with rookie Anthony Tolliver.

George Hill had not developed, Roger Mason Jr. was still learning the basics of the system, and Michael Finley and Matt Bonner had no All-Stars to give them open looks.

During a timeout in the 98-83 loss, Popovich had to ask the assortment of new Spurs, "Who are you guys?"

Duncan, ever the jokester, introduced himself to the coach. The five players struggling to keep up with Dwyane Wade's bunch, though scrappy, looked like lottery fodder, not a championship squad, and the coach needed to laugh to ease the pain.

Through the struggles, and a several-week period without Parker and Ginobili, the Spurs improbably won 54 games and secured the Southwest Division title in an overtime thriller.

The humiliation that came next was necessary, too. The Dallas Mavericks dispatched the former champions--reduced to rubble with a hobbled Duncan and the absence of Ginobili--in five games.

As many as eight new faces will greet Popovich when he begins training camp this week, the bolstered artillery coming thanks to the costliest summer overhaul in franchise history.

This time, however, Popovich won't have to question the talent of the newbies or ask why they're in San Antonio.

Those who worship the idea that things happen for a reason should delight in dissecting an offseason borne from desperation, a multi-million dollar hand forced by a ruthless dealer.

Some call it karma.

A small-market franchise known for its frugal tweaks decided to go all-in, mindful that future Hall of Famer Duncan cannot man the middle for eternity.

Duncan will someday hang up his basketball shoes as former teammate David Robinson did and join peers Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O' Neal, Kevin Garnett and Jason Kidd in a pantheon of all-time greats.

GM R.C. Buford, Popovich and Owner Peter Holt needed to realize that the Spurs of last season were too old and perimeter oriented to contend for a fifth title.

If the conference finals loss to the Lakers suggested it, the first-round flameout against the Mavericks made it the truth.

Supplied with the most talented roster in franchise history, the Spurs have the right stuff to challenge the vaunted Lakers.

Some of the George Gervin-led teams of the 80s—which featured Mike Mitchell, Artis Gilmore and Johnny Moore among others—come close in talent. None of those squads, however, pack the defensive and offensive versatility this one promises.

The Spurs of the 80s didn’t win when it counted in the playoffs, either.

The 2003 championship team merits mention if only because David Robinson and Tim Duncan still patrolled the paint together.

Manu Ginobili was an NBA rookie, and Tony Parker was maddeningly inconsistent.

Richard Jefferson will more than fill Stephen Jackson’s role without, as Popovich put it, “all the heavy drama.”

Here’s a look at the revamped roster, reloaded with care to give Duncan the title-worthy roster he craves.

Younger, faster and more athletic

The Spurs shed two years in average age this summer, no small feat for any team.

Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff become the team’s oldest players, at 35 and 37, respectively.

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