The 96-116 loss to Indiana Pacers was quite tough for the team after inching out for a close win over LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers in overtime.
For a storied franchise like the Spurs, losing two of four games to start the season is average but when the absence of top players due to retirement, trade and injuries are factored in the conversation, Gregg Popovich is holding his team steady.
The team’s big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker is no longer around due to Duncan’s and Ginobili’s retirement and Parker’s exit to Charlotte Hornets. Two modern long serving members Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green were offloaded in a trade to Toronto Raptors for DeMar DeRozan this offseason. Worsening matters, building blocks of the future in DeJounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker will miss extended time this season to varied injuries with similar timelines. Murray is the worst off in the group as he is set to miss the entire season to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear.
San Antonio’s outlook wasn’t supposed to be this dire but it is and Forward LaMarcus Aldridge was expected to be constantly challenging for a title with the team after signing in 2015.
His decision to leave Portland Trailblazers after nine seasons since his entry into the league in 2006 was a shock considering the upside on Portland’s team. Though the Blazers moved to the semifinals of the Western Conference just once, it had a very impressive roster to be what Houston Rockets are to Golden State Warriors.
However, that did not happen and Aldridge was the catalyst in Portland’s brief collapse. By signing a four year, $80 million deal with Spurs, Blazers decided not to sign Wesley Matthews to a long term deal while he recovered from an Achilles injury. Do it all Forward Nicholas Batum was traded and Center Robin Lopez was allowed to sign for New York Knicks as a free agent. Only Point Guard Damian Lillard stayed put and with the help of CJ McCollum, forces the league to hold a spotlight on the team despite its limited chances of progressing deeper in the playoffs.
When Aldridge left Portland, he was to lead Spurs battle for its sixth title but San Antonio’s chances of doing so are worse than Portland. DeRozan is a multiple All Star who has an extensive history of faltering in the playoffs and was even benched in Game 3 of Toronto Raptors series loss to Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Pau Gasol’s immaculate basketball IQ can only do so much with his weary body and Bryn Forbes, Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills are good but not good enough to clinch a title.
Due to LeBron James move to Los Angeles and Denver Nuggets capture of Isaiah Thomas, the West has two more playoff contenders to accommodate meaning an extended run of so-so results would not be enough to even make the playoffs. Going back to his home state Texas was a big reason for Aldridge’s Portland exit but winning the NBA title remains paramount in a professional basketball player’s career which is the main reason behind his choice to sign for Spurs. Portland offered a five year max contract worth $100 million but he dropped that and signed for far less signaling his intent on winning the league title.
Several reports emerged of a tensed relationship between Aldridge and Lillard due to the latter’s emergence as the team’s go to guy. Lillard delivered the three point shot that eliminated Houston and moved Portland to the playoffs semifinals and constant deference to him as Trailblazers franchise player irked Aldridge. Conversely, that didn’t discourage him from signing for Spurs when Kawhi Leonard was the undisputed leader after winning his second Defensive Player of the Year Award. Leonard plays for Raptors but his replacement, DeRozan immediately fills the spot Leonard left behind putting Aldridge in the second fiddle spot once again.
Despite losing out on the hierarchy positions, money and a comfortable system designed with him in mind, Aldridge has had no issues in San Antonio bar the offensive scheme in his earlier days with Spurs. It is clear, the former University of Texas player moved to Spurs to improve his chances of winning the title but from recent happenings, it is clear San Antonio is way out of the title race which brings Aldridge back to square one; playing brilliantly on a middling team going nowhere.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
