About WoB Contact Us Link to Us Partner Sites They said about Us
Basketball History Hall of Fame Famous Coaches Famous Players
Naismith's Original Rules Basketball Rules NBA - FIBA Differences Referees Corner
EuroLeague EuroCup NBA Adriatic NLB League
Tapio Joulamo Alex Milic Nedim Grabovica Eric Zanzucchi Stories by our staff
Coach's Corner Youth Basketball Bob Carroll Steve Mergelsberg David Leman Joao Da Costa
Headlines News Archive
Advertise with Us Basketball Interviews Basketball Quotes Web Directories Live Scores

  Advertisement

sharesale



Home - Can the Tim Duncan-less San Antonio Spurs win the NBA title next season?




  Can the Tim Duncan-less San Antonio Spurs win the NBA title next season?


It is official: Tim Duncan has hung up his sneakers after an illustrious 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs. Realistically, it will take several years for the Western Conference Southwest Division champions to adjust to life without their star man but if anybody can defy the odds and lead San Antonio to victory, it is Gregg Popovich.

The veteran head coach has been there and done it all – and Popovich will have been preparing for Duncan’s departure well in advance. That's how good he is when it comes down to planning; the 67-year-old Spurs legend is always one step ahead.

tim duncan

Without a shadow of a doubt, Duncan’s announcement shocked the entire San Antonio community. Many believed that the 40-year-old power forward would put his retirement back another year but he revealed in July that his mind was made up. However, plenty of punters will believe that Popovich can lead the Spurs to glory despite Duncan’s departure.


Tony Parker isn’t getting any younger but he still has a key role to play for San Antonio; particularly now that Duncan has left the franchise. Parker is now their most experienced player and the Spurs will reap rewards from his exceptional skillset in the next few years. At 34 years old, his best years have probably been and gone but he should still be able to lead the Spurs to the postseason. From there, Parker and 39-year-old Manu Ginobili can team up with Popovich to inspire their younger stars to raise their game during the playoffs.


If truth be told, the Golden State Warriors and defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers may be ahead of the Spurs on current standing. The Warriors, led by unanimous regular season MVP Stephen Curry, broke the Chicago Bulls’ long-standing record of 72 victories in a single campaign last season but fell short in the postseason. LeBron James saved his best form for the NBA Finals series and he was able to mastermind Cleveland’s first ever NBA championship success. Both teams will fancy their chances of going all the way next year...

However, the Spurs have something that these teams don’t have: Popovich. In a way, Popovich is the Bill Belichick of the National Basketball Association. He is a dominant figure across the league and commands respect and attention from his peers; which can often give San Antonio a slight edge in their fixtures. Popovich is arguably one of the best head coaches in NBA history and the 67-year-old cuts an intimidating figure on the side-lines and the Spurs will reap rewards from his experience and nous in tough situations, particularly during the postseason. If nothing else, Popovich’s stature and influence across the league could give San Antonio a competitive lift throughout the campaign.



Popovich isn’t afraid to tell it how it is; even to his own players. His intimidating tactics and ability to not only scare but motivate his troops to improve and perform better is one of his greatest traits – and that is what makes him an expert coach. Without a doubt, San Antonio will miss Tim Duncan. That much is obvious. But with Popovich, Parker and a couple of other key players performing at their very best, the Spurs can hold their own at the top of the NBA...



  Our Partners

turkish airlines euroleague

  Advertisement






euroleague tv

Copyright © World of Basketball. All rights reserved. Optimized for 1024 x 768 resolution IE, Opera and Firefox

Top Sport Sites All Sport Sites TheSports100.com | Sports Toplist