San Antonio Spurs News: Tim Duncan Questionable Tomorrow, Gregg Popovich Will Return

The San Antonio Spurs have a pretty easy matchup slated for them tomorrow against the Charlotte Bobcats, so it probably won’t matter whether or not Tim Duncan plays. After all, the Spurs managed to knock off the Dallas Mavericks without both Duncan and Gregg Popovich on the sideline, although Popivch is, in all honesty, less important to the team when out for a game or two.

The system is already firmly entrenched for an NBA team, and this is especially true for the Spurs. They have one of the best assistant coaches in the game in Mike Budenholzer and some have rumored that Budenholzer could become the next head man in San Antonio.

But, I’m getting off topic here.

Popovich will be back on the sidelines for the Spurs tomorrow against the Bobcats, and it’s great to hear that the illness has subsided. Meanwhile, Tim Duncan’s return to the team might have to wait, and another absence for Duncan will make Spurs fans worry a little more about Duncan’s knee.

Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News tweeted the good news that Pop was at practice today and will be coaching tomorrow.

He also tweeted that Duncan is questionable for tomorrow’s game, and that’s good or bad news if you read into it. My guess is that the Spurs will leave him out for a fourth straight game, because it’s best to rest a star player when facing a, let’s be honest here, less-than-stellar opponent (hey, I like the Bobcats).

The Spurs are a team built for a playoffs, and I’m betting we’ll see Tiago Splitter take control in this one instead of Duncan. Their star power forward did practice in full today, but I just think it’s best to exercise caution even if he’s healthy enough to play. At the very least, the Spurs will probably- this is, of course, speculation on my part- limit his minutes significantly to ease him back into things. Duncan has been out for eight days ever since tearing up the Philadelphia 76ers, and he was out the game before the Sixers matchup.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter @SorianoJoe.