Jake's 2008-2009 NBA Preview: San Antonio Spurs

Will the Trend Continue?

The Preview

Last season, the San Antonio Spurs finished the Western Conference going 56-26, tied with the New Orleans Hornets. They had a chance to clinch the #1 spot in the West but had to settle for the #3 spot. The Spurs easily defeated their nemesis, the Phoenix Suns, in 5 games and then winning a hard-fought battle against the younger New Orleans Hornets in 7 games. With the lack of rest, they easily got dispatched by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in 5 games.

The Spurs, the NBA's oldest team, are a year older again. This time, they will be starting the season without their leading scorer, Manu Ginobili, due to an injury he sustained in the Olympics. He will miss the first 15-20 games and the projected comeback will be around in December. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker will lead the squad offensively until Ginobili gets back. But being known as a defensive team, coach Greg Popovich will surely have to pull something off his sleeve so they can still continue winning.

The predicted starting lineup without Manu Ginobili will be composed of:
C - Fabricio Oberto
PF - Tim Duncan
SF - Bruce Bowen
SG - Michael Finley
PG - Tony Parker

The bench rotation will be composed of: Jacque Vaughn, Roger Mason, Kurt Thomas, Ime Udoka.

Key Losses: Damon Stoudamire
Key Acquisitions: Salim Stoudamire, Roger Mason

The San Antonio Spurs have won championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 - that is 4 championships in the last 5 odd-numbered years. With time running out, can they still win a championship and continue the trend? The answer will depend if they can get enough rest when the playoffs begin. Their chemistry as a team is good and they have a great system as well. Only the aging legs of the team will prevent them from getting another shot at a title.