Heading into the Spurs’ match against the Wizards yesterday, head coach Gregg Popovich expressed confidence his charges would break out of their worst losing run in nearly nine years. They seemed to have an alarming predilection to fall behind early, thus requiring them to expend energy just to get close, only to ultimately run out of time. “If we can cut out the former, maybe we can get back on the winning track,” he told the San Antonio Express-News. He didn’t say it, but he was, no doubt, buoyed by the fact that their opponents likewise had problems to contend with while sporting the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
As things turned out, the Spurs didn’t just manage to keep pace in the first quarter; in fact, they finished it three points ahead, as clear an indication as any that they listened to Popovich’s pleadings and resolved to hit the ground running. Unfortunately, the score still left much to be desired; they needed to put up 38 points in order to forge the slight lead, indicating both the pace of the contest and the need for them to continue puncturing the hoop. As much as they were producing numbers, they were likewise hemorrhaging them. And against the high-scoring Wizards, the situation spelled danger.
True enough, the Spurs wound up falling behind by as much as nine in a third quarter that had them turning a six-point advantage into a three-point deficit going into the payoff period. They did well to stay close from then on, but, unfortunately, not well enough to overcome the disadvantage — leading to their seventh consecutive loss, an ignominious streak not seen in 21 years. The last time the silver and black found themselves in a similar situation, they were in a tank job that subsequently netted them a certain would-be Hall of Famer named Tim Duncan.
Back then, Popovich was just new to pacing the sidelines. Now, he’s seen by conventional wisdom as the best of the best in the job. And yet, not even his proven skills applied to a complete roster devoid of injury have been close to adequate. The Spurs have been bad, not able to overcome their individual deficiencies on both ends of the floor by being better and more efficient as a group. And that they’re actually trying to get better speaks volumes of their fundamental frailties. Which is why even avid followers are suggesting that they work for draft position instead.
That’s not — or no longer — Popovich’s style, though, so observers should expect the Spurs to keep plodding on. Still, intrinsic infirmities look to limit their ceiling. Most tellingly, advanced statistics show that seemingly complementary top dogs DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge have yielded net negative results when they share the court. Which is to say the chips will fall where they may: The effort will stay elite, but the bottom line isn’t likely to be good.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
