The San Antonio Spurs will try to extend the longest active playoff streak in major sports in North America without LaMarcus Aldridge and with a decent mathematical opportunity to sneak into the last postseason spot in the Western Conference.
The 22-season career is on guard Patty Mills’ mind, along with coach Gregg Popovich’s view that the Spurs will be more concerned with the future than if they avoid missing the playoffs for the first time in a couple of months before recruiting. Tim Duncan in 1997.
“It’s important,” Mills said of trying to extend the streak. “It’s an element of the overall picture of the San Antonio Spurs’ organization and how well the team has fared over the course of a couple of decades.
“But at the same time, you have to look at the big picture, you have to look at the future and where we are at the organization level by trying to bridge the gap between the success the Spurs have had and where that sees us. In the future . “
Aldridge underwent shoulder surgery in April, about six weeks after the pandemic closed sports, and the Spurs announced last month that he would not play when the season resumed.
The absence of the seven-time All-Star puts most of the burden on top scorer DeMar DeRozan if the Spurs are to challenge Memphis in eighth place, which would only happen if they can get out of the five-team group that completes the Conference. West in the restart of 22 teams.
The Spurs can force a play-in series by staying within four games of the Grizzlies, and they’ll probably have a pretty good idea right away of their chances. The first two games are against Memphis and Sacramento, which is half a game ahead of San Antonio.
“We are not here for no reason,” said DeRozan. “Definitely develop and compete at the same time. Once you maintain that mindset of going out and winning, anything can happen. Despite the odds, the percentages may be, you can’t feed that. “
With Aldridge gone, the focus also shifts to young point guards Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, who have struggled under high expectations. Due to the shorter year, the Spurs are already guaranteed their first losing season since they came 20-62 in 1996-97 and took the No. 1 pick that led to Duncan.
“Every team has a goal here,” said Popovich. “Some teams are confident that they are one step away from winning an NBA championship. Other teams just want to be in the playoffs. Some teams are primarily concerned with development. If we played well enough to make the playoffs, it would be great. But my goal is development right now. “
DEPTH UPDATE
Aldridge is joined by winger Trey Lyles, a starter who averaged 20 minutes per game. Lyles will not play after undergoing an appendectomy. Center Jakob Poeltl missed the last five games before closing with a sprained right knee, but is active for the restart.
WHERE WERE WE
The Spurs had one of their best pre-pandemic victories by beating Dallas the night before closing. The problem was, that happened two nights after one of his worst losses, to humble Cleveland in overtime. It was the second consecutive game in which a franchise that always prided itself on defense yielded more than 130 points to an East also ran.
THE FUTURE OF DEROZAN
The four-time All-Star will always be known as the centerpiece of the exchange that sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. The Raptors went on to their first championship in Leonard’s only season there, while the Spurs lost in the first round for the second consecutive year.
Now the question is what follows with the five-year, $ 139 million contract that DeRozan signed with Toronto about to expire. The eleventh-year player and playoff qualifier six times will be an unrestricted free agent. DeRozan turns 31 next month.
“With everything that’s happening, it’s hard to know what tomorrow will bring, honestly,” he said. “So you have to worry about the moment you are in.”
PLAYOFF STREAK STORY
If the playoff streak ends, the Spurs will not make it to the team they replaced at the top. Detroit made the NHL playoffs 25 consecutive seasons before his current four-year career without qualifying for the postseason.
