Don’t let the San Antonio Spurs’ record fool you. At 14-2, they may resemble the same squad that has won three championships since 2003, but roles have changed.
Tim Duncan is still the team’s top post presence, but he’s no longer the Spurs’ No. 1 option on offense. Duncan is averaging career lows in points (14.0), rebounds (9.2), minutes (29.4) and field goal attempts (11.6).
The 34-year-old center is taking a backseat to the team’s 33-year-old Argentinian shooting guard. After spending most of his career as the Spurs’ spark off the bench, Manu Ginobili has emerged as the team’s top scorer in his new starting role.
Ginobili is averaging career highs in points (21.6), assists (5.1), minutes (33.3), field goal percentage (.474), 3-point percentage (.402) and free throw percentage (.911).
While Duncan and Ginobili are playing at levels unmatched during their careers, point guard Tony Parker has reverted back to his 2007 NBA Finals MVP form.
For the 28-year-old, it’s all about efficiency. In 2007, Parker was second only to Steve Nash in field goal percentage by a point guard. This season, Parker leads the position in shooting (.520) while also averaging a career-high 7.4 assists.
San Antonio is reaching new heights with the same cast accepting new roles. On Sunday, the Spurs matched a franchise-best 7-0 start on the road with a 109-95 victory over the Hornets, and the win added to the best overall start in the club’s history.
But will this Spurs story have that same happy ending as it did in 2003, 2005 and 2007?
