Three questions the Spurs face heading into training camp
With training camp about to tip off, here’s what to watch for as your favorite team prepares for the 2015-16 season. Some of these questions will be answered quickly; others could linger into the regular season. Either way, here are three things that will define the first month of this new season:
Is Tony Parker still an above-average point guard?
It’s a harsh yet necessary question that can potentially derail San Antonio’s championship aspirations. Parker is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, and his poor postseason play against the Los Angeles Clippers was arguably the most significant reason San Antonio failed to repeat as NBA champions. Can/will the 33-year-old Parker bounce back?
How will LaMarcus Aldridge fit in a selfless offense?
LaMarcus Aldridge’s move to the Spurs had the rest of the NBA shaking their head. The best franchise in the league signed one of the summer’s top free agents. The rich grew richer and life isn’t fair. But how will Aldridge (a volume scorer) fit inside a selfless offensive system that relies on swift ball movement? It’s a mild concern—no coaching staff is better equipped to deal with such a major adjustment—but a concern nonetheless.
3. Will Kawhi Leonard emerge as San Antonio’s best player?
This question may not sound very important, but it is. If Leonard finally has the front-to-back All-Star campaign that just about everyone who’s ever seen him play believes to be right around the corner, the Spurs should be an unbeatable juggernaut. If not, their margin for error (particularly on offense) narrows quite a bit.
