THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — Back in December, when the San Antonio Spurs were breezing through one of the best starts in NBA history, coach Gregg Popovich laughed off the suggestion they might win 70.
"We’re not the Chicago Bulls," Popovich said then.
By the end, the Spurs didn’t even resemble themselves.
Popovich admitted as much Saturday back in San Antonio, where the Spurs returned with the infamy of being just the fourth No. 1 seed to lose in the first round and the disappointment of wasting a 61-win season in the fading throes of the Tim Duncan era.
Memphis finished off San Antonio in Game 6 on Friday night. It was a stunning upset that starred the more physical Grizzlies manhandling the Spurs’ aging frontcourt, including 36-year-old Antonio McDyess, who will likely retire this summer without an NBA championship ring in his 15 seasons.
The Grizzlies, who served notice as one of the NBA’s up-and-comers while pocketing the first playoff wins in franchise history, also stifled an offence that San Antonio revved-up this season and was among the NBA’s best. On both points, Popovich lauded the youthful Grizzlies.
But Popovich said there’s no getting around that the Spurs were never the same after Duncan sprained his left ankle March 21 against Golden State, sidelining him four games. Three weeks later, Ginobili sprained his right elbow and played the Grizzlies wearing a bulky brace.
Including the playoffs, San Antonio finished the season 6-12 after Duncan’s injury.
"The only real factor that we wish we could have changed is that we really lost our rhythm at the end of the regular season with Timmy going down for all those game, followed by Manu," Popovich said. "It’s not an excuse. It’s a fact that we didn’t really go into the playoffs with that rhythm or that mojo."
It was cruel timing after the Spurs cruised for four months in near-perfect health, the four-time champions reclaiming their throne atop the Western Conference against all reasonable expectations. Even Popovich said Saturday that the Spurs’ revival was "something no one expected us to do."
But cruel or not, late injuries have become familiarly fatal to the Spurs.
After winning their last championship in 2007, San Antonio has since gone through each post-season with Duncan, Ginobili or Tony Parker hobbled or out altogether. Its playoff record since 2009 is 7-14, winning just one series in the last three years.
"When Tim went down it was obvious … that changed the rhythm. It changed our personality and the way we could play," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said Saturday.
The Spurs know injuries are the way things go. Take the Grizzlies, who handily beat San Antonio even without Rudy Gay, their second-leading scorer who watched the entire series from the bench wearing a sling.
Buford said he doesn’t feel the Spurs wasted an opportunity with the No. 1 seed.
"I don’t think it was squandered," Buford said. "We weren’t playing well at the time the playoffs happened. I don’t think we squandered anything. I don’t think anyone went out and gave away anything."
Spurs players did not talk to reporters Saturday, but barring any major trades, the makeup of the team is set to be almost identical next season — whenever that may be, given the possibility of a lockout. Duncan has one year remaining on his contract, and he’s scheduled to make US$21 million in what could be the final season for arguably the greatest power forward ever.
But his big upcoming payday hasn’t quieted speculation that Duncan could walk away in the event of an extended lockout. Duncan turned 35 last week, and seldom looked older than while missing more than a few easy looks in the Memphis series. His 13.4 scoring average was a career low as the Spurs greatly diminished his offensive role.
Duncan, who has been loathe to discuss his future, again batted away those questions following the Game 6 loss, saying he wasn’t thinking about it.
Popovich said he doesn’t see why Duncan wouldn’t return.
"I haven’t talked to him about the next few years or what he plans on doing," Popovich said.
McDyess said Friday night was likely his last game, and Popovich said he won’t fight him to change his mind. Rookie centre Tiago Splitter was already tweeting McDyess best wishes on Saturday.
Splitter is the seven-footer who played little this season but whom the Spurs expect to grow into a key part of their future. That immediate future includes Ginobili and Parker, who are both locked up for at least two more seasons. So is Richard Jefferson, who went scoreless in two games of the Memphis series and was benched in the second half of Game 6.
Popovich said there will be changes but nothing drastic, calling talk of blowing-up the team "the most preposterous attitude" to have after a loss. He said time is still needed to reflect.
Not just on what they need. But on what could have been.
"That’s, to me, the luck part or fate that bothers us," Popovich said. "That we did have a heck of a season going. And we did have a team that was the best it could possibly be. And then with Timmy and Many having their problems, it took that away."
