National Basketball Association

Spurs not yet jelled, but could still turn into force

Published Dec. 5, 2009 5:56 a.m. ET

foxsports

This past offseason the San Antonio Spurs realized they needed to get more height and more athleticism on both ends of the court.

Last season the Spurs were the worst offensive rebounding team in the league and in the playoffs had problems scoring. To shore up these deficiencies, general manager R.C. Buford and head coach Gregg Popovich went out and rounded up Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and Keith Bogans. Then Buford drafted Pittsburgh Panthers power forward-center DeJuan Blair for Popovich.

After a miserable 4-6 beginning to 2009-10, it appeared that this season might mark the end of a 12-year run of success for Popovich and venerable center, "The Big Fundamental," Tim Duncan.