Writer thinks Spurs still have a chance
As many San Antonio Spurs fans cringe at the thought of having one of the smallest front-line in the 
NBA with a new season starting in a week, Jan Hubbard of Sheridan Hoops doesn't totally agree with their thought process.
In a piece that almost made me open my eyes, Hubbard gives several reasons why the Spurs still have a legitimate chance at winning the NBA championship one last time. Hubbard uses a variety of arguments such as Manu Ginobili's late season injury, the splash of youth, and a weaker Western Conference.
“We won 61 games, one game behind (the Bulls for best league record) in the regular season.” Ginobili said when Spurs training camp began. “We cannot become that much older in a year.”
”We’ve always had a decent number of young guys (who played),” said Popovich, who couldn’t resist a joke. “It’s just that everybody concentrates on Tim, Tony and Manu and thinks of those three guys. When Robert (Horry) played for us I think he was 44 or 45. He used to do all the hamburger commercials. But we’ve always had a few young guys.”
With veteran Antonio McDyess retiring, the Spurs are only left with Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair, and Matt Bonner. I know Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, and Darrell Arthur hurt the Spurs badly in the paint last season, but could a healthier Ginobili and a more productive front line the small forward position really have made a difference in a close six-game series?
I might also say "yes" as Hubbard did. What if that extra piece of Ginobili launched the Spurs into the second round, they probably could have beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder then moved onto the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. They may still try to go out and look for a big man this season, but it's going to be hard to find one who makes a difference with the minimal amount of cap room the team has right now.
If the team could finish with the best record with an aging group last season, it's unknown if they'll fall of the map in a 66-game schedule. The only choice for the team might be to just play out the season with the group they have and hope, they either win or lose in the end. But as long as they face that outcome healthy.
Ofcourse we have a chance, we will win the NBA championship. But it will happen only in 1 from about 300 scenarios.
The current Spurs team has a huge defect and until this defect it resolved, I just cant see the Spurs not being hammered come playoff time.
Last year was super-special, it was that crazy, that if actually had a big chance. but like always, injuries came at the worst timing and the rest is history.
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I am just tired of emphasising how much we need a shot blocking big man, I'll let other people say it!
Can we make the playoffs with this team? absolutetly. Can we win a playoff series? depends on the match up. Can we win it all? not a chance.
we all know that Talent wins championship! you cannot find me a NBA champion without legitimate Superstars playing at the highest level at the right time! Only and only if we get Super Manu we have a shot, he will have to average 30 + points a game in the playoffs, which sadly won't happen!
@Spursforever69 Wtf...? "Talent wins championships"??? ..and you call yourself a Spurs fan? If that statement were to be true, Miami should have won last year and so should have the Lakers team in 2004 that boasted 4 future hall of famers. As a matter of fact, they were destroyed by a "less talented" Pistons team in the finals. Talent wins championships? What a joke.
Wishful thinking! With a lineup so thin on big men, the spurs stands no chance to contend for the nba title. TD ast needs somebody to man the interiior. Splitter can't do it, Blair is too short and Bonner can't jump. Dalembert is available but could the spusrs afford hi? All the money is in the hands of TD, TP and Manu. It shows, the spurs has d-league players to man the interior. Players like Hassell, Lawal and Zeller are no match to the likes of Bynum and Gasol, Blake,Nowitski and the big men of Houton. All these years, the spurs drafted small men and neglected thr position of pf/c. They had the chance time to draft big but they have chosen joseph. Why?
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@rtesoro440 I hate your posts. Your opinion never makes sense. In regards to Joseph instead of a big man, must I remind you about Ian Mahinmi?
The truth hurts. Crumbs, that what thr spurs have. Young, raw untested
d-league players. And yes, where is mahinmi now? Why, he is with mavs enjoying his new team. The spurs must regret the day they waive mahinmi.
