NBA Playoffs 2012: San Antonio Spurs Ready for Lengthy Postseason Run
The 2011 season ended much sooner than anyone wearing a San Antonio Spurs jersey would have anticipated, as the Spurs fell victim to the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies, becoming only the fourth No. 1 seed in history to lose their opening round series.
Judging by the performance of the veteran Spurs this season, lightning won't strike twice, as this San Antonio team is ready to make a lengthy postseason run.
Right now, no team in the NBA is playing as well as the Spurs, winners of 14 of their past 16 games.
As the playoffs near, the age of their Big Three and the freshness of their legs will always be in question, but even though Tim Duncan (35), Manu Ginobili (34) and Tony Parker (soon to be 30) are up their in age, if they've proven one thing this season it is that they have a lot left in the tank.
Head coach Gregg Popovich has done a wonderful job keeping all three as fresh as possible as the postseason nears, getting the maximum out of each guy throughout the season.
Duncan's having a solid season (15.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG) all while only playing 28.5 minutes per night. Ginobili has only played in 25 games this season due to injury and has found a homecoming off the bench, also only playing 23.7 minutes per game.
Popovich has done a great job monitoring the legs of both guys.
As for Parker,who has looked like an MVP candidate at times, Popovich has done a good job of leaning on him at times throughout the Spurs run this season. He's playing over 33 minutes per night, but he's proven that his legs can handle the strain and all of the back-to-back games.
Much of the credit to why the Spurs will make a long postseason run goes to Popovich, who proves on a nightly basis that he's still one of the best coaches in the game. With four championships and a career record of 837-398, he still commands respect.
It's not just the wins and losses that make Popovich great and the Spurs dangerous, it's the fact that he always gets the right players for his system.
While the veterans get much of the credit, it's been the performance of younger guys like Gary Neal, Thiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green that have made an impact at one time or another throughout the season.
San Antonio has got younger and more athletic in the process and their style of play reflects it.
No longer are the days where this team is just a defensive team, but they are averaging 102.0 PPG, good for third in the NBA, thanks to contributions from everyone on the roster.
Yet while they have become an explosive offense, they continue to do all the things well that have made them the title contenders they've been for years The Spurs rebound effectively (42.7 RPG, 10th in NBA) and play unselfish basketball (22.6 APG, sixth in NBA).
In addition, they are third in field goal percentage (.472), second in three-point percentage (.385) and second in fewest turnovers (13.4).
Under Popovich's leadership, this Spurs team puts on a clinic almost every night on how to play as a team.
That's especially true at home where the Spurs have a 23-4 record on the season and the opportunity still to gain home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
With that type of play, a great head coach, veteran leadership and a ton of talent sprinkled throughout the roster, there's really no doubting that San Antonio is primed for a lengthy playoff run.
