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SPURS
Gregg Popovich

The more things change for Spurs, the more they stay the same

Matthew Tynan
Special for USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talk during a recent game. The two hit the floor without Tim Duncan on the team.

It’s been business as usual for the Spurs as a new season approaches, except for one small caveat: For the first time in nearly two decades, they’ve entered training camp without Tim Duncan.

Needless to say, it’s been a different atmosphere.

“Timmy is being fined on a daily basis — $2,500 a day every day he does not show up,” Gregg Popovich joked. At least he probably joked.

It’s a new era in San Antonio, but it’s actually been a pleasant experience for the longtime head coach. So he says.

“It is a lot of fun, just to think about — new bodies, new blood in the gym. Not just the players, the staff. I don’t know half the names of the new staff we’ve hired in the film room, and interns, and management. So a lot of people walking around, both players and staff,” Popovich said. “I’ll be excited to see who comes up with what ideas and who plays well and who fits together. That’s exciting.”

But the Spurs are entering a different world in life after Duncan. The rock that’s kept the franchise glued together is no longer going to be on the court or on the bench. The Spurs have said he’ll be around, and he’s even made appearances during training camp, working out with the players. Popovich said he will have a place in the organization going forward.

“I haven’t made up a title yet, but his position is, he is the coach of whatever he feels like. That’s what he does,” he said. “He’s gonna be around, and as I said, he’s going to do whatever he wants. I think he’ll start out just checking us all out, seeing how we’re doing, make some suggestions here and there, and we certainly don’t want to say goodbye in a real sense to him.

“(But) he won’t be on the bench. He’s too smart for that.”

So how much are things going to change without the big man around? Only time will tell. But the moves San Antonio made this offseason were not uncharacteristic. Even without Duncan, the Spurs will continue to operate as they always have, with shrewd, smart offseason maneuvers.

“One thing that makes me feel a little bit better with that loss is that Pau Gasol is a very intelligent man,” Popovich said. “He understands how to play, and he’s played for a lot of good people. And that’s going to help us through that loss (of Duncan).”

However, there was a lot of corporate knowledge — a phrase Pop has used often over the years — lost in San Antonio over the summer. Not only is Duncan gone, but Boris Diaw was traded to Utah, David West signed in Golden State, Matt Bonner wasn’t re-signed, and Boban Marjanovic packed up and headed to Detroit.

Gasol, David Lee, Dewayne Dedmon and others have taken their places, and each of these players has a solid track record of NBA experience. It may take time to adjust, but the Spurs have been adjusting for years. More than most teams, they may be able to take this in stride.

“The identity of the team has started to look different in the last few years,” Manu Ginobili explained. “Of course, without the franchise player of the last 20 years, it’s kind of dramatic in that aspect, but yeah, the team slowly has started to look different.”

Specifically, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge have occupied the most important (and most expensive) spots on the roster. This is now their team to carry. They’ll have the help and guidance of teammates like Ginobili and Tony Parker, and even Gasol, but they are now the group’s most important individuals.

Aldridge only spent a year with Duncan, but he knows things will be different this time around. He said he feels ready for what’s to come.

“Year 2 is a whole lot better than Year 1 as far as being comfortable and knowing your role. I’m looking forward to it,” Aldridge said. “I feel like I adjusted well as time went on. This year should be easier."

As for picking up the responsibilities left behind by Duncan, the Spurs know that will be a group effort.

“I think everybody has to take on that burden. It’s not one player’s job,” Aldridge said. “You know, no one can be Tim Duncan, so I feel like it’s going to be everybody’s job.”

There will be nothing easy about replacing the Spurs’ legend, but very seldom does a team have the opportunity to move on from a franchise cornerstone with two All-Stars and plenty of solid role players.

If anything, San Antonio will be an interesting case study this season. Never mind the fact they’re still going to be very good — the interesting part will be how they cope with the loss of the best player that’s ever laced ‘em up for the organization.

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