The San Antonio Spurs are perhaps the NBA’s most consistent team. However, as coach Gregg Popovich’s retirement is closing in, they’re fearing a fate that Man Utd saw after the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson. Last year itself, the Spurs failed to qualify for the postseason after 22 years of consistency.
As a quick reaction, the Spurs front-office completely swapped the roster this off-season. They had six players going out, including Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, and Patty Mills. So now, it’s harder than ever to deliver but their starters still look promising.
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San Antonio Spurs Starting Five
Frontcourt
Keldon Johnson (Small Forward)
The 22-YO Olympic Gold medalist will have his team’s faith in his all-round play. Chasing the most improved player recognition, the Big Body Mustang can expect more minutes this season. If only he can improvise on his mid-range shooting, the youngster can make loads of difference. But with a name like Dejounte as leader and inspiration, he can surely flourish.
Doug McDermott (Power Forward)
The new addition in the roster, Doug is coming off his career-best season as he averaged 13.6 ppg with the Pacers. Now, he is neither a decent playmaker nor a dependable defender, but he certainly is a catch-and-shoot option. He will be in charge of producing offense while Thaddeus Young will stay as his alternative, just in case.
Read more – What Does the Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup Look Like for the 2021-22 Season?
Jakob Poeltl (Center)
Jakob, in his fifth NBA season and the third with the Spurs, saw coach Popovich finally trusting him as a starter. He started 51/69 games last year and averaged 8.6 points at 61.6% field accuracy. Plus, Jake Puddle’s ability to set a screen, protect the glass, and bag offensive rebounds is amazing. He will have many pick-and-roll opportunities to take alongside Dejounte Murray with others helping with the floor spacing.
Backcourt
Dejounte Murray (Point Guard)
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Dejounte Murray will have a huge task as he will now have to lift the team on his shoulders. A struggling three-point shooter, the Baby Boy is great at making crucial steals that alone won’t be enough. With no DeMar DeRozan, he must step forward and also take a leadership role to ease the burden off the coach.
Derrick White (Shooting Guard)
Last year, an ankle injury limited the 6’4” guard to just 36 games. However, he could still continue his rise as an offensive and defensive threat as he enjoyed career-best numbers. He took more three-point attempts than ever and kept his free throw shooting at the north of 85%. His playmaking and ball-handling can come in handy to their decent lineup.
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So what do you think? Can the Spurs get back on track this season? Help us know in the comments section below.
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