Texas Tumble: Three Elite NBA Teams Struggle Through First Weeks

If someone had told you one year ago that the pride of the NBA's Southwest Division would soon be the New Orleans Hornets, you would have had a thousand questions.  The Spurs, Mavericks, and Rockets are struggling to return to form so far in the 2008-09 season.  

Let's go team by team to break down the slow starts.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs haven't had a start this bad in the Tim Duncan era.  In fact, this feels eerily like the Rockets of the last few years.  Injuries plague an elite defensive team, leaving them looking desperately for an offensive weapon.  But that's not all.  

The bench depth has become suspect for the Spurs.  San Antonio once had a magnificent second unit of veterans who still had a quick step (Finley, Horry, Barry, Vaughn).  The young players on the team, Parker, Ginobili, and Oberto have the demeanor of long-time veterans.  That's the culture that has won them four titles.

This time around, the Spurs will surely rebound like always, especially when their two leading scorers return to the lineup.  However, even then, you wonder whether their depth can compete with that of the Lakers and Celtics—who now have the experience and energetic role players the Spurs once did.  

The Spurs started out with respectable losses to the Suns and Blazers.  But then, they needed two overtimes and 55 points from Parker to beat the Wolves.  They got burned at home by a more talented Heat team.  Jeff Van Gundy, who usually drools over San Antonio, said during the game that the Spurs just do not have the talent on the floor to match the Heat and other teams.  

One of the primary lineups the Spurs used in that game was Anthony Tolliver, George Hill, Ime Udoka, Roger Mason, and Desmond Farmer.  Read that again.  Where were Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas to thwart Wade and Beasley?  If the Spurs want to make it through the season, those players will need to be on the court more.  

These Spurs are still championship worthy.  A lineup of Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, Finley, Oberto, Bowen, and Thomas can win.  These guys are cohesive and tested.  They just need a spark.

The next month will definitely be ugly for the Spurs, but they will rebound, grab a spot in the playoffs, and compete like always.  But the slow start has unearthed some shortcomings in San Antonio's depth.  

Maybe these young players will come into their own, like for so many Spurs teams in the past. Maybe not.  Either way, the young legs of Ginobili and Parker are going to be carrying the offensive load for this team when they get back.

Dallas Mavericks

Many people predicted that this season that the Mavs were going to fall out of championship contention.  But right now, they're hurting badly.  They can't hold a lead on their home court.

The Clippers drubbed them to get their first win of the season.

Dallas' starting lineup looks solid on paper.  Their core has been intact for the last few years, but they've taken an obvious turn for the worse.  Is it Jason Kidd?  He's holding his own this year, distributing the ball well, running the floor, and giving the Mavs a semblance of energy they didn't have last season.  Is it age?  Those core players seem to be as quick as ever.  

The best explanations are depth and heart.  The bench consists of Brandon Bass, Jerry Stackhouse, and Dasagna Diop.  Stackhouse has been lifeless, and Diop is no scorer.  Bass is always solid, but beyond that, there is very little to be comforted by.

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