Fansided

Tony Parker on Spurs: ‘The pressure is all on Pop now’

By Tom West

Feb 11, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) talks to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) talks to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the addition of LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, expectations for the San Antonio Spurs are high. Now that they are even better, Tony Parker thinks all the pressure is on Gregg Popovich

Even though the San Antonio Spurs have been contenders for what feels like an eternity, they somehow got even better this offseason. They may have had a puzzling first round exit in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers, but after signing LaMarcus Aldridge and David West to form possibly the most formidable frontcourt rotation in the entire league, the Spurs are ready to reassert themselves again.

Tim Duncan continues to soldier on as a tireless leader for his Spurs, and the Big 3 of himself, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is still alive. Although, despite the fact they are still playing on, there’s no denying that they aren’t quite what they once were. Which means that more than ever, the emergence of Kawhi Leonard and the addition of a new perennial All-Star such as Aldridge gives the Spurs the perfect duo to take some of the load; as the old Big 3, well, get old.

With so many great players, though, the Spurs will face a lot of pressure in the 2015-16 season, especially because they were eliminated by the Clippers in the playoffs who went on to be humiliated by the Houston Rockets in the second round.

In relation to what we can expect from the Spurs this season, Tony Parker made an interesting comment on the team since they acquired Aldridge and West (via Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated):

Even though Gregg Popovich has constantly proven himself as one of the best coaches in NBA history, it’s not entirely wrong for Parker to say that all the pressure is on Pop now, even if it may be slightly over the top.

Popovich has shown that he can get his Spurs 50 wins no matter what, and can win going big, going small, going offensive or going defensive. For a coach as wise and experienced as Pop, it really doesn’t matter how he wins.

That being said, regardless of Parker’s clear decline and Duncan and Ginobili both being at least 38 years old, if the Spurs don’t improve on what they did last season, the blame could be pointed in Popovich’s direction. If he’s added a four-time All-Star who just averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game whilst losing no one of significance (that he didn’t replace), isn’t it safe to say that it’s on Popovich to make everything work as he always does?

However, while it may be easy to put all the blame on the coach, it’s simply not as applicable in this instance.

If the Spurs mysteriously fail with their existing core of talent, leadership and depth, and blow it all by adding two valuable big men, it will surprise everyone who knows anything about basketball. Sure, they’ll need some time to work Aldridge’s post game and mid-range shooting into their offense that often features a lot of perimeter shooting and swift ball movement, but with Duncan’s ability to produce points declining, Aldridge can take over.

With players like Leonard, Danny Green, Patty Mills, Parker, and Ginobili operating around the permitter, they just need to readjust to utilizing an elite post scorer again, which is something they haven’t as often in the last couple of seasons as Duncan’s minutes have decreased. So, for a genius like Popovich, it’s hard to think that he’ll personally do something detrimental to impact the new era Spurs that will make him worthy of serious blame.

As for Parker’s comment, it’s hard to say that “all” the pressure is on Popovich. He’ll certainly be subject to pressure as the Spurs are expected to be one of the top few contenders in the league, but to say it’s all on him — rather than shared among the deep roster that share the duties in San Antonio — isn’t quite right.

The pressure may be on Popovich to bring everything together, but let’s be honest, can we really expect him to let the Spurs down?

More from NBA

Home/NBA