San Antonio Spurs: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Jonathon Simmons #17 of the San Antonio Spurs high five each other during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. Age

The San Antonio Spurs have a wealth of experience. Gasol and Parker have 16 seasons in the league. Ginobili has 15. These players have 10 championship rings between them.

Unfortunately, the other side of experience is age. Any player who plays as long as these three have is at serious risk of injury, or simply slowing down.

The quadriceps injury to Parker in the series against the Rockets was concerning. The Spurs came back and won that series, but Parker is 35. As the body gets older, healing takes longer.

Gasol is 37 years old. He missed 18 games last season and has played more than 70 games only twice in the last six seasons. When he does play more than 70 games he is very good, but talent sitting in a suit does not win games either.

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At 40, Ginobili is the oldest of the three. He has managed to play 70 games only once in the last six years. He has been a rock for his entire career. Unfortunately though, despite being a solid contributor, his minutes per game have been dropping. In 2010-11 he averaged 30.3 per game. They have dropped every season since then, where he only averaged 18.7 minutes per game last season.

As even the evergreen Tim Duncan found out, time always catches up with you. With the athleticism in today’s NBA, these veterans might find themselves a step behind the play.

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