Should Spurs be concerned with potential chemistry issues?
The San Antonio Spurs have always relied on selfless chemistry as their not-so-secret weapon. All the pieces on their roster fit and every role was clearly defined.
But this year's team might not have those advantages to lean on. SB Nation's Pounding the Rock has a look at why the Spurs could be in danger of losing the one quality that separated them from every other team in the league:
"There's Aldridge, concerned about his points. There's Kawhi Leonard, who told David Zink of the Press-Enterprise that he wants to be league MVP. There's Parker, who'll be looking to show that he's not in decline. There's West, who made an unfathomable financial sacrifice to be a Spur but will likely look to gobble up Diaw's minutes. Mills will be eager to prove last season was just an off-year and McCallum will be looking to unseat him. The young pups, Anderson and Simmons, will be out to prove they belong in the league. The only ones who don't figure to be looking to do 'more,' will be Diaw and Ginobili, and that's a negative for both. Diaw is passive by nature and has to be cajoled into playing hard. Ginobili has never existed comfortably in situations where he's not relied upon. His confidence wanes and his focus wanders. It's always been a fine line with the Argentine because he gives his absolute best when he's most needed."
The Spurs sacrificed Tiago Splitter, Marco Belinelli, Cory Joseph and Aron Baynes for far more talented players like LaMarcus Aldridge and David West. It's a gamble, but one they needed to make; nobody should fault them for adding a four-time All-Star who's still in his prime.
The chemistry concerns could either be much ado about nothing or a legitimate problem. Either way, San Antonio has an entire regular season to work things out before the playoffs start.
(h/t: Pounding the Rock)