5 Spurs Storylines to Watch Post-Trade Deadline
The San Antonio Spurs were quiet at the trade deadline, but their outlook for the remainder of the regular season includes several intriguing topics.
Fighting for the playoffs is not one. Thanks to a 43-13 record at the All-Star break, the Spurs have almost officially locked up a playoff berth. They'll be headed to the postseason for the 20th consecutive year.
But there's an enormous difference between being a playoff team and a championship contender. Although the roster has title-winning potential, it's always smart to keep looking for an upgrade. And sometimes, that comes in the form of talents already on the roster. The Spurs need consistency from certain players to chase down the league's premier team and steal home-court advantage.
The following five storylines (and how they ultimately play out) will help determine whether this group should be considered a true contender when the regular season comes to a close.
Will They Touch the Buyout Market?
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San Antonio should be looking for a wing to bolster its perimeter depth and a rim protector as insurance for Dewayne Dedmon.
Yes, the trade deadline has passed, and the Spurs remained entirely intact. However, the buyout market is about to open.
"Why would anyone want another team's unwanted reserve?" you may ask. Let's travel back to 2011-12 when the Charlotte Bobcats were in the midst of the worst season in NBA history. They waived a seemingly declining veteran in Boris Diaw.
He turned out to be an invaluable piece of San Antonio's championship team.
The Spurs, consequent to signing Joel Anthony for the rest of the season, currently don't have a roster spot available. Plus, it's typically not their style to sign-and-release. Bryn Forbes is theoretically expendable given his minimal playing time, although that means sacrificing a wing player who is adjusting to the system.
But if someone like, say, Andrew Bogut was available and willing to sign a minimum contract, San Antonio must consider him.
The Return of Pau Gasol
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Pau Gasol has been sidelined since mid-January because of a broken hand, but his absence may end shortly.
"It's going as well as expected," Gasol said of his recovery, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. "Hopefully, I will be back right after the All-Star break."
The Spurs also announced that the big man is "probable" for the team's first game back from the All-Star break Friday night.
Gasol started to look comfortable in his new situation before the freak injury occurred. From the beginning of December until then, he averaged 12.5 points on 53.1 percent shooting, adding 8.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
Although the Spurs will be at their best with Gasol as an option, his availability is only part of the story...
And His Effect on the Frontcourt Rotation
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Barring a setback, Gasol will rejoin the starting lineup. Both Dedmon and David Lee will receive less playing time, but the bigger question is: What happens to Davis Bertans?
The Latvian has since appeared in 14 games and recorded 6.1 more minutes per night than San Antonio's previous 41 outings. Gasol is clearly the better rebounder and defender at this point of their careers, but Bertans has already earned Popovich's respect. B/R's Mike Monroe notes the longtime head coach said he is impressed with Bertans' confidence but admitted the rookie lacks sufficient experience to consistently execute on defense.
The best way to acquire that knowledge is with in-game minutes.
As a result, the Spurs are caught in a tricky position: Gasol needs to continue building chemistry before the playoffs, but San Antonio must continue developing Bertans. Still, scattered minutes might be all that's available for the youngster.
Tony Parker's Offensive Value
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Box-score stats are useful. If Tony Parker is missing shots, that's clearly not ideal for anyone involved with the Spurs. However, that doesn't always tell the entire story.
Parker's defensive struggles are well documented, but stats don't calculate his value in calling the right plays, controlling the tempo and maintaining the offense's flow.
Of course, other things can be quantified: Parker is shooting 53.4 percent as the pick-and-roll ball-handler, per NBA.com. That's the highest mark on the team among players with at least 25 attempts, and it's not close. (Kawhi Leonard ranks second at 45.9 percent, and Manu Ginobili is third at 40.6.)
The ability to quickly create offense with a screen is invaluable in the playoffs. Clutch situations happen far more often, and San Antonio is most dangerous when Parker can complement Leonard as the emergency option.
San Antonio is still in excellent shape as long as Parker is a net-positive on the scoring end; His consistency is essential.
Can They Chase Down the Warriors?
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It's fair to say home-court advantage isn't a top priority while simultaneously understanding it's also the preference.
Despite the major difference in attention paid to the Spurs and Golden State Warriors—not breaking news, and also completely understandable—San Antonio isn't far behind the two-time defending Western Conference champions in the standings.
Golden State holds a four-game lead with 26 contests remaining. But according to PlayoffStatus.com, San Antonio faces the NBA's toughest schedule from now until the end of the season.
The Dubs and Spurs will also meet twice in San Antonio down the stretch.
Though building chemistry and staying healthy are each more important, home-court advantage is attainable—yet not at the expense of wasting unnecessary energy.
Stats as of Feb. 23 and from NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report NBA Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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