Grading Every San Antonio Spurs Player Heading into 2015 NBA All-Star Break

The San Antonio Spurs compiled a 34-19 record heading into the 2015 All-Star break, holding a seventh-place standing in the Western Conference playoff picture with 29 games remaining.

Injuries to Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills derailed the opening portion of the campaign, and the collectively stout West certainly didn't make it any easier on the defending champions.

San Antonio trudged to a 19-14 mark in late December and was unable to employ its full complement of players until Feb. 4. Its offense sputtered for most of the campaign and still hasn't quite recovered.

Additionally, despite winning 13 of their last 17, the Spurs actually lost a half-game in the Western Conference standings during that stretch. Granted, Gregg Popovich's team has built a five-and-a-half-game advantage over the No. 8 seed, an important development in an otherwise streaky season.

Raw statistics and the eye test (you're welcome, Charles Barkley) are taken into account, as are various analytics (sorry, Sir Charles).

Note: Only players currently on the 15-man roster are included.

End of the Bench

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Reggie Williams

Per-Game Stats: 0.7 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.0 blocks, -8.3 PER

San Antonio has signed Reggie Williams to a pair of 10-day contracts, which is about as noteworthy as it gets for the 28-year-old journeyman. He's logged just 11 total minutes in three appearances and missed all five of his shots from the field.

Grade: Incomplete

Jeff Ayres

Per-Game Stats: 2.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 14.1 PER

The Spurs haven't relied on Jeff Ayres for much more than garbage-time minutes or when Tim Duncan rests. The 6'9" power forward is a useful deep-bench reserve, but his biggest contribution has been just that—depth.

Grade: D

Kyle Anderson

Per-Game Stats: 2.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks, 8.5 PER

When Leonard was sidelined, Kyle Anderson stepped into extra minutes. He was no better than average, however, particularly on defense. The rookie would often get caught looking at the ball and not his assignment. Anderson has been a stud in the D-League, though that doesn't affect his grade.

Grade: D+

Matt Bonner

Per-Game Stats: 4.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 10.0 PER

Although he's only connected on 34.9 percent of his threes, Matt Bonner was another important short-term substitute for Splitter. Bonner has already started 18 games, three more than he has in the last five seasons combined.

Grade: C

Patty Mills

Per-Game Stats: 8.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 13.8 PER

The energy-filled Australian missed the first 31 games of the year after shoulder surgery, but Mills immediately sparked a stagnant offense. He's recorded a team-high 96.3 offensive pace per Basketball-Reference.com and knocked down 37.1 percent from long distance. While Mills has struggled lately, his spacing on the offensive end is key for the playoff run.

Grade: B

Marco Belinelli

Per-Game Stats: 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 13.7 PER

Though Marco Belinelli missed 19 games due to a groin injury, that extended absence wasn't his biggest problem.

His defense, however, has been a serious issue. According to Basketball-Reference, San Antonio's opponent offensive rating tanks from 108.8 to 99.8 when Belinelli exits the court.

Now, those numbers weren't much better last year, but the sharpshooter nailed a career-best 43.0 percent of his triples last season. In 2014-15, Belinelli has connected on a modest 38.1 percent from downtown.

The Italian has been superb since returning, burying nine of his last 20 trifectas. Moving forward, the Spurs need Belinelli to maintain that efficient offensive presence in the second unit.

Grade: C-

Aron Baynes

Per-Game Stats: 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.3 blocks, 14.7 PER

After spending previous campaigns as little more than a fill-in or emergency forward, Aron Baynes has solidified his spot in the Spurs' rotation.

The 6'10", 260-pound center has trouble with consistent production but has remained physical in the post each night—something San Antonio has so desperately needed. While Baynes isn't yet a defensive stopper, the 28-year-old has continually improved that part of his game.

Baynes has also become increasingly comfortable in the pick-and-roll, especially following the screen.

Considering Baynes has started three of the last four games with Splitter healthy, Popovich seems to have a budding trust in the third-year pro.

Grade: B

Cory Joseph

D. Clarke Evans/Getty Images

Per-Game Stats: 8.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.3 blocks, 15.5 PER

Thanks to Mills' early-season absence, the Spurs knew Cory Joseph would have an increased role, at least temporarily. As it turns out, the backup point guard flat-out excelled on both sides of the floor.

In mid-January, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News said, "With Parker and Mills missing chunks of the season with injuries, Joseph has been something of a savior for the Spurs' backcourt."

Joseph was averaging a career-high 16.9 minutes per game, contributing 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and solid defense while filling in for Mills. Then Parker sustained an injury, and Joseph proceeded to rack up 32.3 minutes, 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in December.

His role has decreased since Parker, Mills and Belinelli re-entered the lineup, but Joseph is undoubtedly a critical reason why the Spurs remain in a terrific position to lock up a playoff spot.

Grade: A-

Boris Diaw

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Per-Game Stats: 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 12.1 PER

Regression in some form was a logical expectation for veteran Boris Diaw. Considering the $22 million deal he signed this offseason, San Antonio couldn't have anticipated this level of relapse, though.

Diaw's responsibilities haven't changed, but his efficiency has plummeted. The power forward's three-point shooting has crashed from 40.2 to 30.4 percent, his overall field-goal percentage from 52.1 to 44.7.

What's more, though he's taking the same amount of shots per outing (7.3), Diaw is hoisting a career-high 29.9 percent of all attempts from long range.

It seems apparent the 32-year-old won't return to his 2013-14 form, but the Spurs would be hard-pressed to engineer a deep playoff run with the mediocre Diaw who's shown up so far.

Grade: C-

Tiago Splitter

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Per-Game Stats: 7.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.7 blocks, 17.5 PER

His player efficiency rating says one thing, but Tiago Splitter's in-game contributions suggest another.

Last season, opponents managed a porous 96.8 offensive rating with the Brazilian center on the floor but a 105.1 clip when he was on the bench. Through 28 appearances this season, however, those numbers have become 102.0 and 102.7, respectively, according to Basketball-Reference.

Plus, Splitter's allowed a 51.4 percent mark at the rim, per NBA.com, a 6.7 percent increase from his 2013-14 defense.

San Antonio has again utilized the 7-footer's pick-and-roll ability as both a screen-setter and passer, which has been Splitter's saving grace to this point.

Grade: C-

Manu Ginobili

Per-Game Stats: 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks, 16.6 PER

Mercurial. Volatile. Erratic. Pick any synonym, and it has always described Manu Ginobili.

The sixth man has committed at least four turnovers in 12 outings, which is the highest number by any player who's started fewer than 50 percent of his team's games, per Basketball-Reference.

But San Antonio has needed that aggressiveness from Ginobili, especially when Parker was on the shelf. While Joseph was a decent ball-handler, he's not a shot-creator like the Argentine, whether attempting to score himself or dishing to a teammate.

When Ginobili is on the floor, he's responsible for a 108.7 team offensive rating—the highest clip on the roster—and a respectable 100.7 defensive clip—third-best—according to Basketball-Reference.

Grade: B+

Danny Green

Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

Per-Game Stats: 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.2 blocks, 15.9 PER

Danny Green has long been considered a three-and-D performer, but the shooting guard stepped up beyond that title this year. When Leonard was sidelined for 15 games, Green tallied 14.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest.

The long-range shooter has knocked down 39.0 percent of his triples, a decent mark considering his career-high volume of 6.1 per game. While his inconsistency isn't a surprise, it still must be frustrating for San Antonio.

In mid-December, for example, Green drilled 18-of-27 threes. Before his 5-of-10 performance on Feb. 11, Green had netted just nine of his last 36 attempts.

He's nicknamed "Icy Hot" for a reason, yet the Spurs will continue living with Green's inconsistency as long as his multi-tool arsenal remains.

Grade: B+

Tony Parker

Per-Game Stats: 14.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 14.9 PER

Through November, Parker was phenomenal. But following a partial hamstring tear, the 14th-year point guard hasn't quite returned to his elite playmaking ways due to a tentative nature.

"I think it's almost a mind thing," Parker said, per McDonald. "There's not really pain. It's just weird. I'm trying to stay positive and not think about it. I'm joking with the coaches, like, 'Stop asking me about it.'"

Parker hasn't been nearly as aggressive at the rim, launching jumpers from 10 feet or farther at the highest rate (55.3 percent) of his career, according to Basketball-Reference. Plus, when considering Parker accumulated a combined 44.2 percent mark last season, that increase is staggering.

His defense has slowly deteriorated, but in the past Parker atoned for the deficiency with stellar offense. While that hasn't happened this season, the All-Star break might be the rest period Parker needs to get comfortable post-injury.

Grade: C+

Tim Duncan

USA TODAY Sports

Per-Game Stats: 14.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.9 blocks, 21.9 PER

Without Duncan, the Spurs would assuredly be lost in the Western Conference shuffle. But that doesn't mean he's been perfect.

The 18-year veteran has largely abandoned his jump shot, which has caused the Duncan-Splitter frontcourt duo to become a redundant combination.

In 2013-14, Duncan attempted 26.5 percent of his two-pointers from 16 feet or farther out, but it's dropped to 11.3 percent this year, per Basketball-Reference. Since Splitter has minimal jump-shooting ability, the spacing simply doesn't work.

However, without Duncan, the Spurs would barely be alive in the West. He ranks No. 3 in the NBA with a 4.73 defensive real plus-minus, according to ESPN.com.

Consequent to the various team injuries, Pop relied on Duncan for more minutes. Yet the 38-year-old has responded at an elite level, posting a 96 defensive rating that's top-3 in the league among starters.

Duncan isn't the complete player he once was but has still carried San Antonio into the All-Star break.

Grade: A-

Kawhi Leonard

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Per-Game Stats: 15.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.7 blocks, 19.8 PER

There's no debate to be had: Leonard is the most important component of the Spurs defense.

However, a hand injury cost the small forward 18 games, and his absence was a predominant reason San Antonio dropped eight of 15 outings from Dec. 17 to Jan. 14. Since his return, the Spurs have won 10 of their last 13.

He's averaging career-high numbers in points, rebounds, assists and steals, though his increased scoring total is a product of more attempts. His shooting percentages have dipped from every distance, excluding a negligible 0.2 percent rise from three feet in.

Nevertheless, his defense is what counts the most. Leonard has assembled a 99.1 on-court defensive rating and limited opponents to a stellar 46.9 effective field-goal percentage, per Basketball-Reference.

Leonard has made yet another step toward superstardom.

Grade: B+

Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and are accurate as of Feb. 11.

Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.