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NBA Southwest Division: 5 Burning Questions For The 2016-17 Season

By Josh Cornelissen

Dec 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) attempts to drive the ball around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) attempts to drive the ball around Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) points as he talks with forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Pau Gasol (16) points as he talks with forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

How Badly Will The Spurs Miss Tim Duncan?

This summer saw three surefire Hall-of-Famers hang up their jerseys for the final time. By the end of his career Kobe Bryant was a below-average player who actively hurt the Los Angeles Lakers’ ability to win games. Kevin Garnett’s impact in the locker was much more important to the Minnesota Timberwolves than his on-court play.

In San Antonio, however, Tim Duncan was still playing at a high level even as a 40-year-old. While he set career lows in minutes played and points scored, his defensive impact was still elite. His defensive plus/minus was the second-best of his career, and his per 36 minutes steal numbers were a career high.

His impact, combined with the Defensive Player of the Year on the wing in Kawhi Leonard, allowed the Spurs to put together an all-time great defense en route to a franchise-record 67-win season. With Duncan’s retirement and the super team assembled in Oakland, San Antonio signed All-Star Pau Gasol to play the pivot.

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Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report
Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report /

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    • On offense the Spurs can expect an upgrade, as Gasol is still scoring and passing at high levels. He put up 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists last season amid the turmoil of the Chicago Bulls’ season. Although he played fewer minutes than his career average, similar to Tim Duncan his per-36 steals and blocks were a career high. As athleticism wanes, the game’s elite use their knowledge of the game to continue to improve.

    The problem with Gasol’s numbers is that they are out of step with his career marks. His defensive plus/minus was significantly better last year than any season in the past, and that was despite playing on a team that was only league average on defense.

    Was Pau Gasol the reason the Bulls didn’t collapse entirely? Or was he simply the lesser of other evils as he played in a frontcourt alongside minus defenders in Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott and Cristiano Felicio as Joakim Noah missed the majority of the season?

    The Spurs are hoping that it’s the former, and that in their strong defensive system Gasol can replicate last season’s defensive play. In Los Angeles Gasol rarely played with an elite wing defender, while in Chicago Jimmy Butler was an ace who could take the other team’s best scorer.

    Gasol gets to keep that safety blanket in Kawhi Leonard, and it’s even increased with Danny Green, a top-flight defender in his own right. LaMarcus Aldridge, while not an elite defender, showed how he can thrive in the Spurs’ system last year. The stage is set for Gasol to see success.

    Ultimately the success that matters is in May, when the team has to be able to stop the league’s best offenses in the postseason. The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are the other Western juggernauts, and the Spurs most likely will need to take down both to reach the NBA Finals.

    Can Pau Gasol fill the biggest shoes and keep the Spurs rolling along as an elite squad? It’s a baptism by fire as the season opens Tuesday with a matchup against the Warriors.