Fansided

5 NBA teams that could use some luck in the new year

By Dylan Hughes

Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Paul George is carted off the floor on a gurney after suffering a lower leg injury during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Paul George is carted off the floor on a gurney after suffering a lower leg injury during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dec 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan ( L) talks with Tony Parker (R) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan ( L) talks with Tony Parker (R) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs played perhaps better team basketball than anyone to ever compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy before, completely dismantling the then-defending champion Miami Heat in five games in last year’s Finals. With their entire championship rotation returning this season, the Spurs quickly became the favorite to repeat as champions in June, 2015. While that possibility is still there, San Antonio has gotten their 2014-15 campaign off to a rough start, plagued by injuries to major pieces in Gregg Popovich’s masterful puzzle.

While Tony Parker isn’t in All-Star form anymore, he is still arguably a top-10 point guard in the NBA. His age has caught up to him, missing 13 games this season due to hamstring issues. After starting the first 16 games of the season, Parker hasn’t played more than two consecutive games since the beginning of December. He played rather well in those five December games he could play, but missing the other 13 hurt the Spurs, as they only managed a 6-7 record that included a four-game losing streak.

The reigning Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, wishes a hamstring injury was all he had to worry about. Instead, he’s got a torn ligament in his right hand and is expected to miss significant time. In the already nine games Leonard has missed with this injury, the Spurs are just 3-6.

One positive injury-wise is that Patty Mills returned much earlier than expected after an offseason shoulder surgery. Mills was expected miss seven months recovering, but returned to the floor about a month ahead of schedule.

Tiago Splitter also missed time at the beginning of the season with a back injury, but has been back on the court since early December.

San Antonio might not be full healthy until near the Feb. 19 trade deadline, if at all this season. With a healthy, rested veteran group heading into the postseason, no matter what seed they are (7th currently), the Spurs will be contenders and ready to defend their championship. If not, however, fighting through the West playoff bracket could give Coach Pop nightmares.

All the Spurs can hope for in 2015 is a clean bill of health.

Next: Durant-less Thunder

Home/Charlotte Hornets