Diagnosing San Antonio Spurs' Remaining Roster Flaws
The San Antonio Spurs ripped off a 4-0 start to the 2016-17 NBA season, but injuries and a slowly growing sample size have exposed a few concerns for this roster. Wednesday night's 101-99 loss to the Houston Rockets was the team's second in a row.
Fortunately, these are "issues" to fix rather than full-blown "problems"; Barring an unforeseen complete letdown, San Antonio is still a playoff team.
Yet, while nobody is scrambling for the panic button—nor should anyone be—the Spurs must address a few holes. Some issues were expected because of departures and signings this offseason, and they could become non-factors simply with time.
A rotational adjustment or a transaction may help, but it's also fair to say, simply, the Spurs' best option is to rely on the system and hope they can figure it out.
Lack of a Go-to Distributor
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The roster is full of willing passers. But there's a difference between playing unselfishly and being a creator.
As Tony Parker continues to take on a smaller role, San Antonio's assist total is dropping. The great dilemma is Parker's declining involvement may actually be good for the team—and we'll get to that later.
Yet the Spurs are confronting a new void.
In each of the last four years, San Antonio posted an assist rate at 61.1 percent or higher, per NBA.com. That number has dipped to 57.6 so far this year.
Kawhi Leonard's superstar rise is a legitimate factor. During the 2013-14 championship season, 59.3 percent of his field goals were assisted compared to just 39.7 so far. Yes, Leonard is passing more, but that gain is offset by drops from Parker and Manu Ginobili. Plus, LaMarcus Aldridge isolates at a higher rate than Tim Duncan.
Whenever Leonard and Aldridge are struggling, the offense doesn't have a great fallback option. But for good reason, the Spurs are committed to Leonard as the centerpiece. He's the present and future, and they need to make it work.
Three-Point Shooters in the Rotation
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The good news? Without a healthy Danny Green, San Antonio was the NBA's most efficient three-point shooting team at 40.3 percent. However, before his return, the Spurs attempted just 21.3 per game—the league's fifth-lowest mark.
Once again, the roster is full of capable players. Even Aldridge and Pau Gasol are stepping behind the arc to complement regular shooters like Leonard, Green, Patty Mills and Ginobili.
But the highest-volume shooters—Green and Mills—are also tremendously streaky. When one is struggling (or sidelined), San Antonio must rely on several guys to provide a small, yet significant impact. There isn't another rotational piece with the same strength.
Nevertheless, the Spurs don't have a quick fix. The free-agent market isn't loaded with legitimate every-night sharpshooters for a simple reason: They're rare, so they're already signed.
San Antonio has two intriguing options in forward Davis Bertans and guard Bryn Forbes, though the latter is trapped on the depth chart. Unless the Spurs are willing to part with a draft pick or engineer an unexpected blockbuster trade, they'll need to improve from within.
Tony Parker's Role
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It's really early. Still, the Spurs have posted a negative-11.3 rating with Parker on the floor but a plus-19.2 clip with Mills, per NBA.com.
Though the differences won't remain so drastic, there's a compelling argument that Parker doesn't fit the starting group.
The 34-year-old's value as the offensive catalyst has diminished because Leonard has become that player. So, Parker is a small point guard with limited range who defenses can essentially ignore as a shooter. His three-point percentage has surged recently (shooting 50 percent from deep this season), but Parker hasn't averaged more than 1.3 long-range attempts since 2004-05.
In sum, he no longer handles large offensive volume, doesn't space the floor and is a below-average defender. That's a problem.
According to Basketball Insiders, Parker has two years and $30 million remaining on his contract. He's not going anywhere. And as if that isn't a conversation-ender anyway, head coach Gregg Popovich shut down suggestions that Mills will replace Parker.
Expecting a major change anytime soon would be unwise. But as the playoffs approach, Popovich and Co. must start to consider the possibility that a three-point shooter and active defender like Mills deserves more minutes than Parker.
Consistency in the Backcourt
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The Parker conversation is worthwhile, but his steady decline is merely one facet of an important backcourt question.
According to HoopsStats.com, the backcourt ranks 28th in efficiency on offense and 24th on defense. Prior to 2015-16, San Antonio hadn't finished worse than 10th offensively since 2003.
And the defense is riding a 13-year streak in the top six.
While Green's return will boost the group, the days of a dominant Spurs backcourt on offense are quite clearly in the past. Parker and Ginobili aren't carrying the team. Mills and Jonathan Simmons are energetic yet inconsistent. Kyle Anderson is solid yet unspectacular. Nicolas Laprovittola won't have a major role when Parker is healthy.
San Antonio is built on the success of its frontcourt, but the backcourt must avoid being a weakness.
Aldridge-Gasol Defensive Combination
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In theory, Aldridge and Gasol mesh on the offensive side. Both players can space the floor, and Gasol's passing ability even allows for a two-man game between the veterans.
Defensively, though, they're going to need time.
So far, per NBA.com, the Spurs have a 106.3 offensive rating and 111.9 defensive mark with Aldridge and Gasol together. With Aldridge and no Gasol, the numbers improve to 111.6 and 93.9, respectively, while Gasol is at 107.3 and 101.6 sans Aldridge.
Rushing to a final conclusion would be foolish, but it's worth pointing out the struggles many expected after Gasol signed are indeed happening to start the season.
The question is if that assumed improvement follows.
San Antonio will allow time to provide the answer but not an infinite amount.
Stats are as of Nov. 10 and from NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report NBA Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
