This years 2019-2020 NBA season for the San Antonio Spurs will definitely be better than last seasons drama filled year because of one player Dejounte Murray. Tim Duncan is back, but as an assistant coach. Derrick White will look to become San Antonio’s next Manu Ginobili and hopefully win the 6th man of the year award.Then the last thing is that Demar DeRozan is playing in a contract year and last time he did that he went absolutely nuts and had a career year.
Last season the Spurs went 48-34. It easy for the second year in a row when the Spurs won less than 50 games. It was drama and injury filled especially with the Kawhi Leonard drama and Dejoute Murray injury, plus Manu Ginobili retiring and Tony Parker leaving to go play with the Charlotte Hornets. Then they were playing the entire season without a point guard in a system that revolves around that position. Having too many new players learning the ins and outs of a complex system. During the playoffs it was too many unnecessary shots, deep two’s and isolation. Although they did manage to take the number two seed Denver Nuggets to seven games it was definitely a series they should have won. But in game seven you also know that if Bryn Forbes is your best player in that game you’re most likely not gonna win.
This year’s Spurs team like mentioned before should be significantly better, not only are they more familiar with Greg Popovich’s system, more youthful with there three rookies, and a term that always seems to be used with the Spurs more experienced. Although they did lose Davis Bertans in the offseason due to some uncertainty of Marcus Morris coming to San Antonio or not. The most important thing is that the Spurs get their point guard back. After Dejounte Murray was sidelined last season with a torn ACL. In popovich’s system the point guard is the most important position because everything revolves around that position, it what keeps everything flowing, and I you watched the Spurs last season they played the entire season without a point guard and the system was not flowing like it should have. Demar DeRozan is more at home with Popovich’s system and in San Antonio. Last season he was still not over the Toronto Raptors trading him to San Antonio. He found himself in isolation a lot and disappeared in games as he seemed to just do what he did in Toronto, but Popovich seemed to be ok with it, almost as if Popovich understood what Derozan was doing. The Spurs have not had a homerun player like Derozan in there history and Demar is in a contract year, so I only expect him to go off this season. The 2nd member of the core three Derrick White made a name for himself last season as he had a phenomenal series against the Denver Nuggets and played on Team USA were he got some good experience and will only continue to progress and get more minutes as he will look to fill in the 6th man role. The fountain of youth has turned into the splash of youth into the riverwalk as the Spurs drafted two first round picks this past draft Keldon Johnson and Luka Samanic although they will be in the dog house until they learn Popovich’s system and will be up in down between Austin and San Antonio just like every Spurs rookie that came before them. Also keep an eye out for Lonnie Walker Jr who is the third member of the Spurs core three as his play will continue to force Popovich to play him as he is coming off a phenomenal preseason. My projection for the Spurs regular season record to be this season is 52- 30.
Matchups and how far well get- For the Spurs the playoff seed number does not matter whatsoever, what does matter though is the match up. The match up for the Spurs will dictate how far they go. The matchups that the Spurs should be licking their chops for are the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Yes the last two teams I mentioned are the Clippers and Rockets too teams that according to most experts will win the finals and are significantly better than the Spurs. Well let’s talk about the Rockets first, not only are they too reliable on the three point shot but Russell Westbrook will cost them to beat themselves and that is what I am banking on too happen. No disrespect to James Harden as the guy can absolutely ball and in the words of Tony Parker “no one wants to play James Harden he’s too good.” but he is going to need to need to take the ball away from his best friend Westbrook. Onto the Clippers no one knows Kawhi Leonard better than Popovich. He is the one who created the beast that some people call Thanos as he goes around and destroys dynasties. If the Spurs get a chance to play the Clippers this is exactly what is going to happen if everyone is healthy. Not only will Demar DeRozan have a chip on his shoulder against the Clippers are there is some sort of beef between him and Kawhi but Aldridge, Murray, DeRozan and get will chirp with Kawhi which will make him uncomfortable and will find Kawhi to give up the ball a lot as for his running mate Paul George well if you look at his previous games against the Spurs he has had some of his worst games against them ever, and in the playoffs in the Western Conference he is not the same player he is in the regular season. The Clippers will rely on players like Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverly to beat San Antonio and I this case should have the Spurs winning in 5-6 games. The Denver Nuggets are a perfect first round matchup as I guarantee they do not want the rematch as the barely escaped the last series. With Dejounte Murray back a player who can keep up with the other Murray, Jamal Murray who had a great series last season against the Spurs because the Spurs guard depth was so thin and the guards on the roster outside of Derrick White were a bad matchup. Also the Nuggets don’t want to play Derrick White in the playoffs again as he likes to tear down rims in Denver. Don’t believe me? Just ask Paul Millsap. As for the other teams mentioned there are all maybe they make the playoffs teams. I know I mentioned the Portland Trailblazers as well swept and “Dame Time” will turn into LaSharkus time.
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