Saturday Slam: With Kawhi Leonard likely done for the year, are the Spurs cooked?

Earlier this week, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com that he would be surprised if Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) returned this season. The weird part of this whole thing is that Leonard has been medically cleared to play, but is opting not to play presumably because of severe discomfort. During the 9 games that he played this season, Leonard averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in 23.3 minutes of action. While it was clear he wasn't yet back to full strength, he was still able to give the Spurs a legitimate boost.

As it stands, the Spurs are currently 4th in the Western Conference with a 35-25 record, 11 games back of the Rockets and Warriors. While they are expected to make the playoffs, it's no guarantee that they do as they are only two games up on the 8th seeded New Orleans Pelicans. This Spurs team isn't as deep as previous years, which makes the absence of Leonard such a crushing blow. Outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs really don't have anyone else who they can rely on. Rudy Gay, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker are solid role players, but they're past their prime at this point and no longer can be asked to carry the type of load that they have in years past.

At this point, the best the Spurs can do is solider on without Leonard and make sure they hang on to home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. There is the possibility that Leonard returns in the playoffs and if the Spurs can get home court advantage for the first round, they could look at possibly bringing him back for the conference semifinals. While it's unclear how much Leonard could help them if he were to come back at that point, they would still be better with him on the floor playing at 80% than having him on the sidelines in a suit.

                                          (Getty Images) 

The biggest concern for the Spurs is what this means for Leonard's long term future with the team. There are some who believe the real reason he is sitting out is because he's disgruntled and unhappy being in San Antonio. If this is true, then the Spurs have something far more serious to worry about than a quadriceps injury. Leonard has two more seasons left on his contract before he hits unrestricted free agency. As much as they don't want to think about it, if Leonard actually does want out of San Antonio, the Spurs should consider moving him and getting something back for him before he walks away in free agency.

The absence of Kawhi Leonard looms large for the Spurs both for this season and possibly beyond. He's been billed as their next franchise player following Tim Duncan and if he isn't interested in being the next great Spur, they have a lot of things to think about. Fortunately for the Spurs, they do have Leonard under contract for the next little while so they don't have to immediately think about moving him. Right now, their main focus needs to be on making the playoffs and putting themselves in a position to make some noise in the event that Leonard is able to return.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Kawhi Leonard has solid season debut for the San Antonio Spurs

                                          (Getty Images) 

On Tuesday, Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) made his long awaited season debut against the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 13 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 16 minutes of action. The Spurs lost the game 95-89, putting them at 3rd in the Western Conference with a 19-9 record. While the game didn't go the way the Spurs would have liked, they have to be pleased with how Leonard performed. His shot looked pretty fluid and he wasted no time getting into a groove, scoring 6 points within the first 5 minutes of the game.

While Leonard looked good, it was still clear that he wasn't 100%. He didn't make a lot of hard cuts to the basket and didn't throw down any dunks. He looked to be about 75-80% out there and it'll probably be at least a couple of weeks before he gets back to full strength.

What's most impressive in all of this is the fact that the Spurs went 18-9 without Leonard, who is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA. Many teams would have struggled to fill the void of their superstar, but the Spurs came together and found a way to make up for his absence through playing team basketball and buying into the system of their legendary coach Gregg Popovich.

LaMarcus Aldridge in particular really stepped up, averaging 22.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He did a really good job of being the go to option in Leonard's absence and really shouldering the scoring load. Rudy Gay and Kyle Anderson also deserve a lot of credit for the way they filled in at the small forward spot. Together, they combined for over 20 points per game and did a stellar job at giving the Spurs production out on the wing. Without Aldridge, Gay, and Anderson, the Spurs wouldn't have survived like they did.

While it will be no easy task for the Spurs to win the Western Conference crown, they have to like where they sit right now. They're 3.0 games back of the Golden State Warriors and 3.5 games back of the Houston Rockets. Provided Kawhi Leonard can stay healthy going forward, they're going to be really difficult to stop come May and possibly June.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: How long can the San Antonio Spurs survive without Kawhi Leonard?

The San Antonio Spurs are 8-5 and currently 3rd place in the Western Conference. While this appears to be business as usual, the Spurs have had to make due without their superstar Kawhi Leonard, who is yet to play in a game this season due to a quadriceps injury. Even worse, he's expected to be out for a few more weeks, putting his return sometime in December at the earliest.

It's no secret that the Spurs are masters of making due with a shorthanded lineup. It is said that Gregg Popovich can grab any five guys off the street and get them to play team basketball. While this principle is certainly true, it would still be foolish to suggest that the Spurs can maintain long-term success without Leonard.

What makes Leonard such a valuable piece to this team is that he literally does everything. He defends both out on the perimeter and in the paint, he can score both inside and out, and he's absolutely lethal in transition due to his combination of size, speed, quickness, and athleticism. There are some who feel Leonard is the best player in the NBA and when you watch him do his thing on the court, it's hard to argue against that position. He is a jack-of-all-trades wing that continues to get better every season.

                                          (Getty Images) 

Fortunately for the Spurs, they have a really talented big man in LaMarcus Aldridge, who is averaging 21.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Aldridge is able to carry more of the scoring load in Leonard's absence and act as a legitimate number one option. In addition to Aldridge, the Spurs have a talented veteran wing in Rudy Gay, who has been averaging 13.0 points and 5.4 rebounds on 47.7% shooting from the field, 41.4% shooting from 3-point range, and 83.8% shooting from the foul line.

In addition to those guys, the Spurs have some quality role players in Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Patty Mills, and Pau Gasol. The Spurs are once again showing that they are a true team. When one guy goes down, even if it's their superstar, they know how to keep the ship afloat.

As for how long the Spurs can survive without Kawhi Leonard, I think the answer is that they can survive just fine so long as he does eventually come back. They can't win a title without him. That's pretty obvious. However, they can play above .500 basketball and keep themselves in the mix to get a top three or four seed in the Western Conference until he returns.

If you are the Spurs, the main thing you need to do is stay patient and make sure Leonard doesn't come back until he is 100% or very close to it. While it may seem tempting to rush him back a bit sooner, if you have been around the block as many times as the Spurs, you have the luxury to give Leonard all the time he needs. It looks like they are taking this approach and I expect it to pay off for them come April and May.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The San Antonio Spurs need Kawhi Leonard to stay healthy

Over the weekend, it was revealed that Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss the entire preseason as he continues to rehab from a right quadriceps injury. Last season, the San Antonio Spurs appeared to be on the verge of upsetting the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals until Leonard went down with a sprained ankle, keeping him out for the rest of the series.

While this is the preseason and not the playoffs, it is not good for the Spurs to start their season right where they left off, which is with an injured Kawhi Leonard. In order for them to come out of the Western Conference, they need to have Leonard playing his best basketball. If he isn't able to stay healthy, they have no chance at reaching the NBA Finals.

While this should be obvious to everyone who follows the NBA, it is still important to underscore this. With all the major moves that happened this offseason, it is easy to forget about the Spurs and just how dangerous they are. They were perhaps a healthy Kawhi Leonard away from winning the NBA Finals last season, which just goes to show how good Leonard is and how significant his health is to the fate of this NBA season.

Last season, Leonard averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on 48.5% shooting from the field, 38.0% shooting from three-point range, and 88.0% shooting from the foul line, establishing himself as one of the most multidimensional players in the league. He does so much for this Spurs team on both of the floor. With him, they can compete with any team in the league over the course of a seven game series. Without him, they're a playoff team that might win a first round series. His impact is that significant.

                                          (Getty Images) 

Hopefully, Leonard's absence in the preseason is just an indicator of the Spurs being extra cautious with him and nothing more than that. If he's ready to roll on opening night without any restrictions, it will be fair to wonder whether or not this blog post is an overreaction to what happened last season. At the same time, given what happened last season, it's hard to call this an overreaction after seeing what happened to the Spurs once Leonard went down.

It should be noted that the Spurs have other things to worry about in addition to Leonard's health. Tony Parker is recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon and it isn't yet clear when he'll be able to play. The Spurs can't afford to start the season with two of their best players unable to contribute. At the very least, they need to have Leonard ready to rock and hope that Parker is able to return sooner rather than later. As good as LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay are, they are a supplement to those two guys and aren't the pulse of this team. They'll play much better when they have those guys to lean on.

At this point, if you are the Spurs, you just have to hope that Leonard is able to go at the start of the regular season and that this quadriceps injury isn't anything too serious. The Spurs have the pieces to contend for a title this season, but they need to stay healthy and make sure they don't get themselves behind the eight ball early on. The Western Conference is simply too loaded for them to overcome a sluggish start to the season.

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Saturday Slam: Making sense of Kyrie Irving's request for a trade

                                                   (Akron Beacon Journal) 


The big story of the week is the report that Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland and is pushing for a trade. The New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat are said to be the teams that he is most interested in joining, though the Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately control his fate.

When I first heard the news I was surprised given the sheer magnitude of the story and what it could mean for the NBA, but upon further reflection, I'm not surprised at all. Irving has always wanted to be the number one option on a team and so long as he played alongside LeBron James, he wasn't going to get his wish. He's won a championship with the Cavaliers and has been to the NBA Finals three straight years. He rightfully feels like now is a good time for him to move on to a new city and forge his own path separate from LeBron.

Whether you feel like this is the right move for Irving or not, one cannot deny that the Cavaliers were never his team with LeBron around. While there's no shame in being second fiddle to a guy of LeBron's magnitude, one can certainly understand why Irving would ultimately want to spread his wings and fly away. He's proven himself as one of the top players in the NBA and as such is deserving of having a franchise built around him.

As far as where he might land, I don't see the Cavaliers trading him to another Eastern Conference team. It just wouldn't make sense for them to help out a team that competes in the same conference as them. Rather, it would make more sense for them to ship him out West and allow him to make the Western Conference even more of a logjam than it already is.

Out of all the teams in the West that he could go to, the Spurs seem to make the most sense. They could use another superstar to go alongside Kawhi Leonard and they also have an attractive trade chip in LaMarcus Aldridge who has been rumored to want out of his situation as well. A trade sending Aldridge to the Cavaliers and Irving to the Spurs would make sense for both sides. Aldridge would be a very nice number two option for LeBron to play with while Irving would be a nice upgrade over Aldridge, giving the Spurs more versatility in the backcourt.

During the coming weeks, it will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out. I expect Irving to be traded relatively soon since the Cavaliers won't want to have to deal with him as a distraction come training camp. At the same time, the Cavaliers shouldn't rush to make a move, either. Irving is a very valuable piece and if you are going to trade him, you better make sure you get back something really good.

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Western Conference Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tips off today (Sunday) at 3:30 PM EST on ABC in Oakland, CA with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs squaring off. The Warriors come into this series having swept the Utah Jazz 4-0 while the Spurs come in having taken out the Houston Rockets in six games.

The big question that is on everyone's minds as we enter this series is whether or not the Warriors have finally found their match in the Spurs or at least an opponent who they won't be able to sweep. So far, the Warriors have been on absolute cruise control, not dropping a single game through two rounds.

While the Warriors are and should be favored to win this series, I do not see this series being another sweep for Golden State. The Spurs are just too experienced and talented to go down without a fight. While the Warriors have perhaps the most dangerous two-way lineup the league has ever seen in Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, the Spurs have some pieces of their own in Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, and Danny Green.

Don't get me wrong, the Warriors' lineup is better on paper, but where the Spurs can make up the difference is the way they play together as a team and also the presence of Kawhi Leonard, who is arguably the best player in the NBA. For those that don't know, Leonard (ankle) will play in Game 1 of this series, which is obviously fantastic news for the Spurs. If the Spurs want any chance of winning this series, they need to have a big series from Leonard and also find ways to get Aldridge, Gasol, Ginobili, Mills, and Green rolling.

The Spurs have somewhat strayed away from their usual model of getting everyone involved through having Kawhi Leonard carry them perhaps too much. It's a tricky line to balance since on the one hand you want your best player making plays, but at the same time you don't want to stray away from the identity that has made you a championship contender since the late 1990s. If the Spurs can find that right balance, they could have what it takes to win this series.

As for the Warriors, if they want to win this series, they just have to keep doing what they are doing. As cliché as that sounds, it's really true. The Warriors have been the best team in basketball all season and it's up to the Spurs to make the necessary adjustments to make this series competitive. Kevin Durant has been brilliant so far in these playoffs and Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, and Green have proven themselves to be a fantastic supporting cast around him. The bottom line is the Warriors are just too loaded and it's really hard to see them not winning this series in five or six games.

Given that I really respect the Spurs and the ability that Gregg Popovich has to make adjustments, I have the Warriors winning this series in six games. The Spurs will find ways to make things tough, but in the end, they won't be able to take this series to a Game 7 in Oakland.

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies

In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the #2 seeded San Antonio Spurs (61-21) will take on the #7 seeded Memphis Grizzlies (43-39). The regular season series is split at 2-2. Game 1 will tip off on Saturday at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN.

Despite the huge gap in records, this series could be a lot more competitive than expected. While the Spurs are a true championship contender with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge at the helm, it isn't like the Grizzlies are chopped liver. They have plenty of playoff experience and have a very solid trio consisting of Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies are dangerous and certainly have the pieces to give the Spurs a good scare.

If you listen to the podcast that accompanies this preview, you would know that one of the things talked about is how the Grizzlies have been jinxed by injuries over the years. Shortly after recording the podcast, news broke that Tony Allen is out indefinitely due to a muscle strain in his right leg and isn't expected to play in the series. Without Tony Allen, the Grizzlies lose their best perimeter defender and the heart and soul of their defensive identity. His absence is huge and makes things a lot tougher for the Grizzlies to win this series.

The Spurs on the flip side are at full strength, which gives them a huge advantage in this series. Without Tony Allen in their grill, guys like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Tony Parker should have a much easier time scoring from the perimeter and attacking the rim off the dribble. Look for the Spurs to take full advantage of Allen's absence in this series.

While it is true that the absence of Tony Allen puts the Grizzlies behind the eight ball, it isn't like the Grizzlies can't win this series. They can. We've seen them win playoff games on the road before and thrive in the underdog role. If the Grizzlies want to win this series, they'll need to get stellar production from the Conley, Randolph, Gasol trio and really muck up the game with their grit and grind style. If they can slow the pace down and limit the amount of possessions on both sides, they'll give themselves a shot at winning this series.

As far as the Spurs are concerned, what they need to do is take advantage of the fact that they have the best player in this series in Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is averaging 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He's perhaps the best two-way player in the NBA and is a legitimate MVP candidate. If Leonard has a big series, the Grizzlies are toast. It's that simple. The Grizzlies have to do all they can to slow him down and force the Spurs to rely more on their other guys.

In addition to Leonard, the Spurs also have LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and other weapons. The Spurs are the much deeper team, so it isn't like slowing Leonard guarantees a win for the Grizzlies. The Spurs should be able to overwhelm the Grizzlies with their plethora of options to the point that if Leonard has an off night, they'll still win.

When it comes to making a prediction for this series, I said in the podcast that the Spurs will win the series in six games and even with Tony Allen out, I'll stand by that prediction. The Spurs do have more weapons, but the Grizzlies' trio of Conley, Randolph, and Gasol should be able to extend this series to a Game 6. The Spurs will come out on top because they have more weapons, but the Grizzlies won't make it easy.





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Saturday Slam: The Golden State Warriors rested their stars against the San Antonio Spurs. Why?

For the first time all season, the Golden State Warriors do not appear to be a lock to have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. As a matter of fact, they only have have a .5 game lead on the San Antonio Spurs after getting drubbed in San Antonio on Saturday by a final score of 107-85. The Spurs were without Tony Parker (back), LaMarcus Aldridge (heart arrhythmia), and Kawhi Leonard (concussion) and still found a way to pummel the Warriors, who were without Kevin Durant (knee), Stephen Curry (rest), Klay Thompson (rest), Draymond Green (rest), and Andre Iguodala (rest). 

Yes, you read that correctly. The Golden State Warriors rested their stars against a San Antonio Spurs team that was banged up and only 1.5 games back of them. The question that I have after seeing this box score is why? 

The following is an explanation of the Warriors' logic courtesy of The Associated Press. 

Already without Kevin Durant due to a knee injury, Golden State opted to rest Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.

“It’s more about May and June than March,” said Matt Barnes, who the Warriors signed after Durant’s injury. “I understand the frustration from people, but we’re working for something bigger right now. So, we’ve got to do what’s best for our players. We apologize. You’ll definitely see our stars when it counts.”

Earning the top seed is important, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr said keeping his team healthy is a greater priority. Golden State concluded a stretch of eight games in 13 days, including the second night of a back-to-back that saw the Warriors arrive in San Antonio at 3 a.m. Saturday.

“We had to get through this night. That was the main thing,” Kerr said. “We had to get through this trip and they allowed us to do that. Obviously, we wanted to win, but we didn’t do that but we made it through to this point. Now we can go home, recharge our batteries and get rolling again."

The nuts and bolts of it is that the Warriors are looking ahead to the playoffs and want to do all they can to rest their players for the playoffs. They aren't worried about basketball in March. They are worried about May and June. Hence, if taking a night off in March helps them stay healthy for the playoffs, then that's what they'll have to do. 

The problem I have with the explanation put forth by Kerr and Barnes is that what they are really saying is that home court advantage doesn't really matter and that just seems silly. Home court advantage absolutely matters. History tells us this. As a matter of fact, in a Game 7 in the NBA Playoffs, the home team goes on to win over 80% of the time. You can think that home court advantage isn't worth playing for, but the numbers tell us otherwise. 

Whether the Warriors want to admit it or not, if they find themselves in a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals at San Antonio, they may look back at this game in March and think to themselves, "You know what, we had a golden opportunity to steal one in San Antonio and we didn't take advantage." 

It would be different if the Spurs were at full strength and the Warriors really didn't think the could win. But, with Tony Parker, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kawhi Leonard out, the Warriors should have played Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and Draymond Green. I understand the NBA is a grind and that this was the second half of a back-to-back, but playing basketball is their job and in a game against the one team in the West with a real shot at knocking them off, they have to be on the floor. It's that simple. 

If Steve Kerr is so concerned about resting his guys, that's fine, but he shouldn't do it in such an important game with so much on the line. Typically, he's right  that the NBA regular season doesn't matter much, but a game against the Spurs in San Antonio is as close to being a playoff game as any regular season game can get. To treat this game like the Brooklyn Nets are coming to town is just absurd and ridiculous. 

I think Steve Kerr is a great coach and I don't want to come off as thinking I know more about what's best for his team than him. I don't. But, if I can be real, I don't understand this one. The Spurs were legitimately banged up and probably wouldn't have won if the Warriors had played their stars. By losing this game, the Warriors are now just .5 games up on the Spurs whereas had they won, they would be 2.5 games up on the for the #1 seed in the Western Conference. Giving up that kind of cushion just to rest your guys in March seems like a stupid trade off to make. The stakes are just too high and the Warriors ultimately didn't say enough in the post game to convince me otherwise. 

Note: Both Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge are out indefinitely at this time. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Don't sleep on the San Antonio Spurs

     Like always, the San Antonio Spurs continue to make really good moves while not getting enough attention. While the departure of Tim Duncan created a lot of headlines, the additions of Pau Gasol and David Lee have not gotten enough attention. Pau Gasol averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game last season with the Bulls, which is a significant upgrade over Tim Duncan's 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. As for David Lee, his 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game were nothing to write home about, but they essentially replace Tim Duncan's production. If Lee is able to play better than he did last season, he too could be a significant addition to the squad.

     The Spurs won 67 games last season and essentially are bringing back the same squad they had last season plus Pau Gasol. If that isn't reason to take the Spurs seriously, I don't know what is. They still have Tony Parker running the point with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge continuing to gel as the franchise players for the present and future.

     While the Golden State Warriors have understandably grabbed all the headlines by landing Kevin Durant, they are no slam-dunk to win the NBA championship next season. One of the main reasons is the San Antonio Spurs and all the good moves that they are making on their end. While I do agree that the Golden State Warriors are the favorites to come out of the Western Conference in 2017, the San Antonio Spurs will be right there putting the pressure on them. I guarantee it.

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

     At 8:30 PM EST on TNT, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will begin their seven-game series. The winner of the series will advance to the Western Conference Finals to face either the Golden State Warriors or Portland Trail Blazers.  The Spurs completed their sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies last Sunday while the Thunder finished off the Mavericks in five games on Monday. Both the Spurs and Thunder have had plenty of time to rest and it is time for both of them to step back into the ring against a much more serious opponent. 

     For both the Spurs and Thunder, this series will be their first test of the playoffs. The Spurs beat up on the Grizzlies to the point that their head coach Dave Joerger was weeping at the conclusion of the series. That series was a joke from the opening tip off. As for the Thunder's series against the Mavericks, that series provided a little more drama, but even in that case, it was all one-way traffic in favor of the Thunder. 

     As far as the Spurs are concerned, their main focus in this series against the Thunder needs to be taking advantage of their balanced scoring attack and not letting Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook go bananas. If Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge both score around 20 points each and they get good production from Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, odds are good the Spurs win this series provided Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook don't go off. In addition, the Spurs need to keep Enes Kanter at bay and not let anybody else come up big.

     In regards to the Thunder, they need to do what they can to get guys like Enes Kanter and Serge Ibaka rolling while also getting stellar production from their two superstars. The Thunder cannot win this series with only Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant carrying the load. The Spurs are too deep and the Thunder have to match that depth as best they can. 

     The battle on the boards and in the paint will also be key to this series. LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan, and David West of the Spurs will duke it out inside against Enes Kanter, Serge Ibaka, and Steven Adams of the Thunder. Whichever front court controls the glass better and gets more points in the paint will give their team a decisive advantage. Even though the Spurs have more depth and more total weapons, the Thunder have a chance to make up for things by winning the battle in the paint. If they do, this series could end up going in their favor. 

     At the end of the day, I'm going to pick the San Antonio Spurs to win this series in six games. The Spurs have home court advantage and they have been the second best team in basketball all season. The Oklahoma City Thunder definitely have the pieces and tools to win this series, but it'll be no easy task for them. The Spurs have a ton of weapons, experience, home court advantage, and the better head coach in Gregg Popovich. If the Thunder end up winning this series, I'll be surprised.   

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies

                                   (2) San Antonio Spurs (67-15) vs. (7) Memphis Grizzlies (42-40)

     Normally, the Memphis Grizzlies would be viewed as dangerous matchup for the San Antonio Spurs, but this time around this is not the case. The Spurs are on cruise control with only the Golden State Warriors giving them problems. As for the Grizzlies, they are beyond banged up. They are without Mike Conley, Brandan Wright, Marc Gasol, and Jordan Adams for the season due to an assortment of injuries.

     Plus, Tony Allen, who is the heart and soul of their team, is questionable for Game 1 due to a hamstring injury, which has been an issue for him in previous playoff series'. The Grizzlies have a lot to overcome and then when you put them up against a team like the Spurs, they virtually have no shot at getting out of the first round.

      What makes the Spurs so dangerous is that they have two emerging superstars in LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard to go along with a veteran supporting cast composed of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and David West. The Spurs have all the pieces necessary to win the 2016 NBA championship. They have the talent, the experience, the youth, and the depth. They have it all.

      The Grizzlies on the other hand at best are a team capable of giving elite teams like the Spurs and Warriors trouble, but nothing more than that. Their philosophy of winning basketball games by defense alone is admirable but not realistic. They are the anti-Nellyball, which is refreshing considering that most teams are looking for ways to score as many points as possible. The Grizzlies pride themselves on how many games they can win without cracking 90 points, which sounds weird, but it's the truth. They want to freeze the tempo and force teams to survive their brutal and physical play.

     If the Grizzlies were at full strength, I would give them a puncher's chance of making this series interesting since I have tremendous respect for Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Mike Conley as a trio. Plus, I used to cover the Memphis Grizzlies for FanSided, so I have a soft spot for them in my heart. But with Zach Randolph being the only guy in that trio that is actually playing in this series, I give the Grizzlies no chance at wining this series. They might get a game in the Memphis, but that's the best-case scenario that I see for the Grizzlies.

     Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, who both are averaging 18+ points per game, will step up big and ensure that their older players get the rest they need. The Spurs will win this series in four games and the Grizzlies will be sent home packing with another season filled with "what ifs" and "what could have beens" had they not exploded due to injuries. It'll be a long offseason in Memphis and the Spurs will make it come as quickly as possible.


     Note: Game 1 of this series is Sunday at 8:00 PM EST on TNT

Saturday Slam: Don't sleep on the Spurs, even though they would probably prefer that you do

    

     The Golden State Warriors have rightfully been the team in the NBA with the most attention: They are 31-2 and on pace to eclipse the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' 72-10 record. Every second of attention they get is well deserved because they have been nothing short of phenomenal. However, did you know that there is another team in the NBA that is just 3 games off their incredible pace? If you did not, let me introduce you to the San Antonio Spurs, who are 29-6 and currently riding a 4 game winning streak, having won 9 of their last 10 games. 

     

     The Spurs may not have started the season on a league-record winning streak like the Warriors, but they too are playing as good of basketball as any team in the NBA, including the Warriors. Today's game against the Rockets was a perfect example. The Spurs won handily by a final score of 121-103 with five guys scoring in double figures, four of which scored at least 18 points. LaMarcus Aldridge has found a perfect home as their new low-post threat for the future and Kawhi Leonard is very quietly leading the NBA in three-point field goal percentage. 

     

     The Spurs are just as team centered as the Warriors, which is why they are hot on their coattails. They move the ball with ease, find the open man for the easy shot, and turn the ball over just 13.5 times per game. They lead the league in field goal percentage, are second in three-point percentage (behind the Warriors), and are second in assists per game (also behind the Warriors). 

     

     The Spurs are playing just as good of basketball as they have ever been playing and if it wasn't for the Warriors playing out of this world basketball, the Spurs would be the #1 seeded team in the Western Conference. While it's great that the Golden State Warriors have brought a ton of excitement to the NBA at a time when most people are focused on the NFL or college football, it's somewhat of a shame to see the San Antonio Spurs' sensational play go unnoticed to the casual sports fan. The Spurs are a team that everybody knows is really good while also not getting much attention. It's a weird world that they live in. 

     

     However, I think the San Antonio Spurs are probably ok with everybody sleeping on them. They like to do things surgically and quietly. That's the Spurs way. They don't look all that intimidating when they walk onto the basketball court, but when they start to play, they slice up opponents like they are fruit and their opponents leave the game not knowing what happened to them.

    

     While the Spurs would prefer to fly under the radar, you being aware of their incredible play is good for your overall knowledge of the NBA. Don't be an uneducated fan who isn't aware of the damage being done by the San Antonio Spurs. Be one of those fans who knows the Spurs are just as much in the mix for the NBA championship as the Warriors. 

     

     To be clear, I think the Golden State Warriors are the best team in the NBA and they are currently my pick to win the 2016 NBA championship. But, if there is one team out there who I would have to pick to dethrone them, it would be the San Antonio Spurs. As a matter of fact, they are the only team who I think has a legitimate shot at doing so. 

Daily Dunks: 6/29-7/5

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

Here is my Daily Dunks page for June 29, 2015 through July 5, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks

#1. The Bulls have extended a max qualifying offer to Jimmy Butler, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets waived guard Darius Morris (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls shooting guard Kirk Hinrich exercised his option to remain with the team (Click here for details).

#4. The Magic waived guard Ben Gordon (Click here for details).

#5. Draymond Green will meet with the Warriors first in free agency (Click here for details).

#6. Marc Gasol is only meeting with the Grizzlies in free agency (Click here for details).

#7. Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver will undergo an elbow procedure on Tuesday. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#8. LaMarcus Aldridge will meet with several teams (Click here for details).

#9. Pero Antic won't return to the Hawks. He is signing with Fenerbahce in Turkey (Click here for details).

#10. Grizzlies rookie power forward Jarell Martin has a stress fracture in his foot, which will cause him to miss summer league (Click here for details).

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Anthony Davis and the Pelicans have agreed on a 5 year, $140M extension (Click here for details).

#2. Luke Ridnour got traded again. This time to the Raptors (Click here for details).

#3. The Spurs and small forward Kawhi Leonard agreed on a 5 year, $90M extension (Click here for details).

#4. The Trail Blazers and small forward Al-Farouq Aminu agreed on a 4 year, $30M deal (Click here for details).

#5. Odds look good Jimmy Butler stays with the Bulls (Click here for details).

#6. Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzinigs (hip tightness) is questionable for summer league (Click here for details).

#7. Thaddeus Young is finalizing a 4 year, $50M deal to stay with the Nets (Click here for details).

#8. Brook Lopez has agreed to a 3 year, $60M deal to stay with the Nets. Third year includes a player option (Click here for details).

#9. Power forward Nikola Jokic is finalizing a 3 year deal to come over to join the Nuggets (Click here for details).

#10. The Bucks waived Shawne Williams and Caron Butler (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA results: 

Fever 92 Sun 84. Liberty 89 Sky 81. Mercury 85 Stars 78. Storm 74 Shock 69.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks:

Note: There were a TON of free agency happenings today. So what I'll do is highlight the key happenings and then provided links to some other feeds that are tracking like everything that's going on.   Also, check my twitter feeds, Facebook page, and my Google Plus page.

#1. Draymond Green is staying with the Warriors on a 5 year, $85M deal (Click here for details).

#2. Iman Shumpert is staying with the Cavaliers for a 4 year, $40M deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Grizzlies agreed to a 3 year, $18M deal with power forward Brandon Wright (Click here for details).

#4. Tyson Chandler signed a 4 year, $52M deal with the Suns (Click here for details).

#5. Paul Pierce agreed to a three-year, $10M deal with the Clippers (Click here for details).

#6. Jimmy Butler and the Bulls have agreed on a 5 year, $90M deal (Click here for details).

#7. Kevin Love is staying with the Cavaliers on a 5 year, $110M deal (Click here for details).

#8. Paul Millsap is staying with the Hawks on a 3 year, $58M deal (Click here for details).

#9. The Cavaliers re-signed Tristan Thompson on an $80M extension for 4 or 5 years (Click here for details).

#10. DeMarre Carroll is going to the Raptors on a 4 year, $60M deal (Click here for details).

#11. Sports-Kings.com has a great NBA free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#12. RealGM.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to view it).

#13. InsideHoops.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Monta Ellis has agreed to a 4 year, $44M Deal with the Pacers (Click here for details).

#2. Wesley Matthews has agreed to a 4 year deal with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#3. Tristan Thompson and the Cavaliers did not get a deal done. They are still far apart (Click here for details).

#4. Damian Lillard agreed to a 5 year, $125M extension with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#5. Omer Asik and the Pelicans agreed to a 5 year, $60M deal (Click here for details).

#6. Dwyane Wade has agreed to a one year, $20M deal with the Heat (Click here for details).

#7. The Bucks are trading Jared Dudley to the Wizards (Click here for details).

#8. Greg Monroe agreed to a 3 year, $50M deal with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#9. Arron Afflalo agreed to a 2 year, $16M deal with the Knicks (Click here for details).

#10. The Kings traded Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, and Nik Stauskas to the 76ers (Click here for details).

#11. Sports-Kings.com has a great NBA free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#12. RealGM.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#13. InsideHoops.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to see it).

#14. Sportando.com has a nice recap of ALL the day's happenings (Click here to see it).

Thursday's WNBA scores: 

Sky 77 Sun 74. Fever 73 Mystics 50. Mercury 86 Shock 55. Sparks 86 Stars 81.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Memphis Grizzlies may be looking to move Kosta Koufos via sign and trade (Click here for details).

#2. The Knicks and center Robin Lopez have agreed on a 4 year, $54M deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Pacers and forward LaVoy Allen agreed on a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#4. Derrick Williams and the Knicks agreed on a two year, $10M deal (Click here for details).

#5. Patrick Beverley is staying with the Rockets on a 4 year, $25M deal (Click here for details).

#6. Rajon Rondo is signing with the Kings on a one year, $10M deal (Click here for details).

#7. Gary Neal is going to the Wizards on a 1 year, $2.1M deal (Click here for details).

#8. Corey Brewer is re-signing with the Rockets on a 3 year, $24M deal (Click here for details).

#9. DeAndre Jordan is going to the Mavericks on a 4 year, $80M deal (Click here for details).

#10. The Kings and shooting guard Marco Belinelli have agreed on a 3 year, $19M deal (Click here for details).

#11. Tobias Harris agrees to a 4 year, $64M deal to stay with the Magic (Click here for details).

#12. Sportando.com has a great page with all the free agency happenings from the day (Click here to view it).

#13. RealGM.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to view it).

#14. InsideHoops.com has a great free agency tracker (Click here to view it).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Pacers are finalizing a trade to send Roy Hibbert to the Lakers (Click here for details).

#2. The Magic have sent Kyle O'Quinn to the Knicks via sign and trade (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings have agreed to a 4 year, $33M deal with Kosta Koufos (Click here for details).

#4. Jeremy Lin is considering signing with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#5. Bismack Biyombo has agreed to a two-year, $6M deal with the Raptors (Click here for details).

#6. LaMarcus Aldridge is signing with the Spurs on a 4 year, $80M deal (Click here for details).

#7. Dante Cunningham has agreed to a 3 year, $9M deal with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#8. Richard Jefferson is re-signing with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#9. Becky Hammon is the head coach of the Spurs' summer league team (Click here for details).

#10. C.J. Watson is joining the Magic on a 3 year, $15M deal (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Heat 92 Pacers 76. Magic (White) 87 Pistons 76. Magic (Black) 75 Clippers 74. Thunder 76 Hornets 74. Grizzlies 81 Nets 73.

Heat small forward Justise Winslow had 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Pacers center Myles Turner had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Hornets forward Frank Kaminsky had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Mavericks have signed forward Jeremy Evans (Click here for details).

#2. The Kings are keeping forward Omri Casspi. He has agreed to a two-year, $6M deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Cavaliers are exploring trade options to get Joe Johnson from the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. There is a report that Tobias Harris turned down a max-deal from the Kings (Click here for details).

#5. LaMarcus Aldridge wrote a thank you letter to the city of Portland (Click here for details).

#6. Cory Joseph has agreed to a four-year, $30M deal with the Raptors (Click here for details).

#7. Brandon Bass is leaving the Celtics to join the Lakers. He could arrive in L.A. via sign and trade with Nick Young leaving the Lakers (Click here for details).

#8. Justin Holliday is unlikely to stay with the Warriors (Click here for details).

#9. Ed Pinckney is leaving the Bulls to join the Nuggets as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#10. Phil Weber is leaving the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League to be an assistant coach with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA results: 

Dream 72 Storm 64. Mercury 94 Sparks 91.

Sunday's NBA Summer League results: 

Pistons 77 Clippers 69. Grizzlies 79 Hornets 75. Heat 71 Nets 70. Former UConn point guard Ryan Boatright had 23 points for the Nets.





---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news and like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation