The 2017-18 season will all the time be some of the notorious in Spurs historical past. After an exciting playoff run that got here to a disappointing finish, with each Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard misplaced to damage, there was nonetheless optimism heading into the brand new season of what a wholesome group may do to problem the rising Warriors dynasty. Nevertheless, nobody knew the fun of beating the James Harden and Rockets in spherical 2 of the 2017 playoffs, highlighted by an epic Manu Ginobili block, would find yourself being the franchise’s highest second for years to come back, and the whole lot would begin going downhill from there.
Each one is aware of what occurred by now, and in case you actually need to relive all of the behind-the-scenes drama centered round Leonard from 2017-18 season, you’ll be able to click on right here, however we’re not doing that at the moment. Whereas it’s related to the story, what we’re actually right here to do is honor the Spurs from that roster who did play, and talk about why, particularly in hindsight, they could have been the hardest Spurs group in franchise historical past.
For starters, there was the mentality. They thought they have been getting into a brand new season of championship rivalry with their MVP candidate recovered, plus a rejuvenated LaMarcus Aldridge after he had a little bit of drama of his personal the prior offseason. The preseason started, however there was no Leonard. Weeks became months with him conspicuously absent, however the group nonetheless plowed on regardless of additionally lacking their place to begin guard of 17 years for the primary 19 video games. They acquired out to a considerably stunning 19-8 begin earlier than Leonard lastly returned on December 12, it appeared like had weathered the storm, and issues would solely go up from there.
Nevertheless, Leonard solely appeared in 9 of 17 video games earlier than shutting himself down once more. The undermanned Spurs stored combating regardless of by no means getting a straight reply from him on when/if he would return amidst conflicting experiences. They maintained a cushty successful report all through the season and completed 47-35, which usually can be fairly good, however this was one among THOSE years within the Western Convention. 10 groups completed with successful information (reminder, the play-in event wasn’t a factor but) and groups 3-9 all ended up simply three video games other than one another. The Spurs completed within the seventh seed, however it wasn’t till the second-to-last sport of the season that they secured their playoff berth and stored the streak alive.
The group’s psychological fortitude to beat all of the Kawhi drama and make the playoffs in a particularly robust convention was spectacular sufficient, however there’s additionally credit score to a number of people to go round. Aldridge returned to his previous kind and had his greatest season with the Spurs, averaging 23.1 factors and eight.5 rebounds whereas carrying the membership, particularly down low as Pau Gasol’s play took a dive, and there was no different depth at middle behind them with Joffrey Lauvergne dislocating his finger and by no means being the identical. (Though to his credit score, he tried to combat via it, and he’s actually more durable than Gregg Popovich.)
Parker put in a ton of labor to return in 8 months from the torn hamstring he suffered within the playoffs the season earlier than — virtually unprecedented for an damage that often takes not less than a 12 months to get better from — solely to have to simply accept a bench position for the primary time in his profession after it was clear he simply wasn’t the identical participant anymore. To that time, Dejounte Murray did an admirable job in simply his second season, incomes the start line guard job and making the All Defensive 2nd Staff. (And there could or could not have been some drama between these two, relying in case you select to consider Murray lately, but when there was, they stored it behind closed doorways and stored enjoying.)
Off the bench, nobody will ever query Manu Ginobili’s toughness, psychological or bodily, however even at 40 years he gave his all each second he was on the court docket. Rudy Homosexual, who felt like “the lacking piece” behind Leonard when he was signed within the offseason, suffered a heal damage however fought via the ache after taking two weeks off to get better. Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes did their greatest regardless of being paired collectively in these dreaded “munchkin” lineups.
After all of the behind the scenes drama and going from championship contender to having to combat just like the season was on the road each sport, they have been then thrust into one other playoff collection in opposition to the Warriors, and possibly even they knew they stood no probability. To make issues even worse, Gregg Popovich was misplaced for the collection after his spouse, Erin, handed away after Recreation 2. Regardless of the not possible circumstances and it wanting like one other sweep was on the road, the Spurs nonetheless resolved to win another sport for Manu. They gave the whole lot they’d left within the tank for a Recreation 4 win at dwelling, which amusingly made Klay Thompson cry for some purpose. (Significantly, who has ever cried over “settling” for the gentleman’s sweep of a playoff collection?)
The 2017-18 season won’t ever be fondly remembered. It marked the tip of an prolonged period of success, together with the official finish of the Spurs’ streak of 50-win seasons and the Huge Three with Manu retiring and Parker transferring on afterwards, and the Spurs’ try to stay related on the again of DeMar DeRozan didn’t pan out. However when really wanting again, that roster deserves all of the credit score on this planet and holds a powerful case for essentially the most mentally robust Spurs group of all time.
Positive, it’s a must to have a powerful mentality to win 5 championships and keep as related because the Spurs did for therefore lengthy, and that 2013-14 squad has a case of its personal since in all probability no group has ever proven as a lot willpower to win all of it as they did. However when all is alleged and finished, not one of the extra profitable Spurs groups ever confronted as a lot adversity each on and off the court docket as 2017-18 did, and so they nonetheless succeed to greatest the may when, wanting again, they simply as simply may have caved.
In hindsight, seeing the place the Spurs have gone since then has given me a complete new appreciation for this squad. We haven’t seen a bunch that robust or decided since then (though final season was by design). The excellent news is with the acquisition of Victor Wembanyama, issues are wanting up for the primary time since, and the Spurs appear to have the proper personalities to return to being a tough-minded group.
Within the meantime, we must always all the time bear in mind the 2017-18 group not as the tip of an period, however as a membership at the moment’s group ought to look again on and attempt to emulate for his or her psychological fortitude, willpower and toughness. If they will try this, a complete new period will start.
