Two Games In: A Teamwide Assessment Of The Spurs

Tim Duncan. Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili. Bruce Bowen. Fabricio Oberto.

Those are five names that you can trust—at least, if you've been observing the Spurs for a few years now.

Let's just look at the first three. We're talking about a superstar and two All-Stars, guys you can depend on to put up 20 points any given night. In Duncan, you've got an aging but still-amazing power forward who you could still mention as a top-five player in this league.

Tony Parker is a nearly-unguardable, penetrating point guard whose outside game has only grown as time has gone on.

What about Manu Ginobili? We're only talking about a guy who helped defeat the United States in the 2004 Olympics, is an international all-star, and has been one of the most respected shooting guards with his ability to penetrate, score, and finish a game in the fourth quarter.

Beyond them, you have Bruce Bowen, who is also aging but a still-dependable defender, and Fabricio Oberto, a player who isn't flashy but can be depended on to defend, rebound, and compliment Duncan in the post. This starting unit has won together and is hoping to make a push for yet another championship.

So what's going on beyond these five guys? Well, there's Matt Bonner, also known as the "Red Rocket." With Oberto sitting due to heart complications, the pressure is on Bonner, who has been with the Spurs for a few years, to step up and finally show he was worth investing in.

Then there's Michael Finley, who once was a thorn in the Spurs' side from farther up Interstate 35. He's been with the Spurs for a few years now, and efficiently makes three-pointers for the black-and-silver. Not to mention, Finley became a starter for the Spurs, which let Gregg Popovich move Ginobili to a backup-guard slot in order to bring more offense off the bench. Finley also fits the category of Spurs who are aging but still can contribute.

Behind Tony Parker is Jacque Vaughn, who's in the same group as Finley—aging, but still performing. At age 33, Vaughn isn't the fastest point guard, the best shooter, or a guy who can really get to the rim. But he brings veteran experience and decent ball-handling skills, although not much else.

Behind Bruce Bowen is Ime Udoka, a decent defender who can be counted on to hit the three-pointer now and then. Finally, the other big man who has been active so far is Kurt Thomas, the man Phoenix hoped would stop Tim Duncan two years ago. Again, at age 36, Thomas is an aging player with veteran experience who can contribute.

We know enough of what the starting unit will bring, because they've been consistent in doing so. As far as the current season goes, Duncan and Parker have been relentless in trying to keep their team alive, pouring in points in the hope of producing wins.

The second unit should concern Spurs fans. Right off the bat, Finley is still contributing points, scoring about eight per game and providing a few assists as well. Typically thought of as a bench player, him starting is really more about letting Ginobili bring scoring capability off the bench. Still, for his salary and his reputation as a second-rate player, Finley's doing his job.

The rest of this unit needs attention.

Bonner, who for years now was being groomed as an outside-shooting big man, can also bring some interior hustle. This is a guy with a severe lack of verticality, and a guy who, with the role he's had so far, has only contributed about six points and short of five rebounds per game.

That's not much better than Oberto's stats for the 2007-08 campaign, but Bonner's five years younger than Oberto, and is supposed to have youth on his side. Bonner is also a guy who's supposed to be making three-pointers. So you'd hope to see at least a little increase in production.

When playing alongside a guy like Duncan, your stats are going to drop a bit. But still, it's not just the offensive production. His ability to defend in the paint has been questioned for a while now, and there hasn't been a lot he's shown to say he's learned his lesson.

Jacque Vaughn is in the same boat. Two or three points per game might be as much as you are going to be able to hope for from him.

Ime Udoka? His five rebounds per game is the only stat that stands out because he is otherwise only averaging two points and one assist per game. To Spurs fans, this has been excusable to the degree that he was supposed to be Bowen's replacement, and Bowen has been infamous for his offensive deficiencies (which, in fairness, have been reduced over the years).

But even Udoka's ability to defend has come into question because his ability to get in the face of his opponents is lacking. He has little lateral movement ability to assist him in his defensive efforts and lacks the length to bother athletic guards who can shoot over him. Udoka creates space between him and his man because he can't move side-to-side the way he needs to in order to stay in front of the man he's guarding.

Kurt Thomas brings exactly what you'd expect—rebounding and defense. He pulls down seven rebounds, to be exact, which compliments his Spartan two points per game and complete lack of assists.

Bet your friends how long it takes for Thomas to get called for a foul because his aggressive nature hurts his ability to stay on the floor. Still, I can't say too much about Thomas as I always expected him to be third in the rotation anyway.

So how would you rate this second line?

We're talking about a group that, as a unit, has not scored more than 12 points together. The burden to win right now is on Duncan, Parker, and Finley. That right there is the scoring bunch for the Spurs, and while that will be relieved with Ginobili's return, it still puts a heavy burden on them to contribute almost all the team's points.

But wait! There's hope.

Anybody who watched the Spurs versus the Trail Blazers had to have noticed at least one new player on the team who was bringing some fire. His name is Roger Mason.

Twelve points per game, four rebounds, and three assists. This guy is already better than everyone on the second unit that we just discussed. And for Spurs fans, he means something to be excited about.

And more hope? That depends. Do you recognize these names? Ian Mahinmi. George Hill. Desmon Farmer. Anthony Tolliver.

Youth? On a Spurs team? Mason is the oldest of this bunch at age 28. And so far, each has shown some promise.

For a while now, people hoped Mahinmi would become an athletic, productive big man for the Spurs, which the Spurs lack because no post player can leap more than two inches off the ground. It was an unfortunate injury that derailed his chance to play early—but keep hoping, Spurs nation.

Tolliver was sidelined due to family issues, but people hope he will take a place in the rotation soon. George Hill is a point guard who will hopefully move Vaughn to the third line. Though he's still sharpening his skills as a passer, there's reason to have hope in him.

Meanwhile, Farmer's place on the team still seems questionable if you've seen his performance to date—though he was never expected to play behind Parker anyway.

Each of these players in this new group of five will hopefully prove their worth and be the second line, not the third. Mason has already shown his mettle, and Mahinmi, Tolliver, and Hill will get their chances soon. Farmer will find a comfortable place in the rotation and hopefully demonstrate that nerves have plagued him early in the season.

At the end of the day, this young group will determine the the Spurs' fortunes. You know what Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili are going to do. It's numbers four through fifteen that have to prove this Spurs team is more than three strong.