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It’s Time To Start Worrying About The San Antonio Spurs

By Gerald Bourguet

February 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21, left), guard Manu Ginobili (20, center), and guard Tony Parker (9, right) stand for the national anthem before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 110-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21, left), guard Manu Ginobili (20, center), and guard Tony Parker (9, right) stand for the national anthem before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 110-99. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Antonio Spurs
Feb 25, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) comforts Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) as the San Antonio plays Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

Tony Parker‘s Struggles

A simple look at the stat sheet will tell you that Tony Parker hasn’t been the same player he was last year. His numbers have dropped from 16.7 points and 5.7 assists per game on 49.9 percent shooting in 2013-14 to 13.8 points and 4.9 assists per game on 46.2 percent shooting this season — the lowest marks since his rookie year.

It’s tempting to say age is catching up with Parker, but that’s the easy way out. He’s only 32 years old and age hasn’t stopped the 38-year-old Tim Duncan from remaining as effective as ever.

In January, Parker’s production jumped off a cliff to 11.0 points and 4.1 assists per game before he “regrouped” with 12.4 points and 5.4 assists per game so far in February. Last season, Parker was the central piece that made San Antonio’s offense tick. Are these numbers that inspire terror in anyone?

Nagging injuries have undoubtedly taken their toll on Parker this season. He’s already missed 14 of San Antonio’s 57 games and after a strong start to the season, hasn’t looked the same since that strained hamstring limited him to five games in December.

Parker’s penetration and creativity breaking down the perimeter defense is what made San Antonio’s off-the-ball movement so impossible to contain. When he got past his initial defender, he also had no problem knocking down midrange shots, converting on 48.1 percent of his shots from 10-14 feet and 43.9 percent of his attempts from 15-19 feet.

This season, those numbers have dropped off to 36.4 percent and 39.0 percent, respectively.

Until Tony Parker is able to get back to that same level of effectiveness, the Spurs offense will continue to produce at the middling level it has been for the month of February (97.7 points per game, 17th in the NBA).

Next: Kawhi No Leap?

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