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Tony Parker’s injury is a blessing in disguise for the Spurs

By Dan Knitzer

May 3, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) is helped off the court after being injured against the Houston Rockets during the second half in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) is helped off the court after being injured against the Houston Rockets during the second half in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tony Parker may be done for the Playoffs, but the San Antonio Spurs aren’t

Tony Parker had to be carried off the floor in the fourth quarter of Game 2 against the Houston Rockets. Thursday, the San Antonio Spurs announced he will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn left quadriceps tendon.

Parker was in the midst of putting together his best playoff performance since their championship winning 2014 season. Through eight games, he averaged 15.9 points on a cool 52.6 percent shooting from the floor, and 57.9 percent from three.

Without him, the Spurs have no chance of ever having the best guard on the floor at any given time. In fact, when three of Houston’s James Harden, Patrick Beverly, Eric Gordon and Lou Williams are on the court, San Antonio likely won’t even field the third best guard. But they can still win this series.

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San Antonio has the best coach in the NBA, and the best two-way player. They may have to play Patty Mills, Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard extra minutes just to tread water with Houston’s explosive guards, while hoping LaMarcus Aldridge, Dewayne Dedmon and Pau Gasol can be net positives for the remainder of this series.

While Parker has had a great offensive postseason, he was one of only three Spurs players to post a negative Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) this postseason, which means the Spurs will be replacing his offense with someone else’s much needed defense.

This injury definitely hurts now, but regardless of who wins this series, neither team has much of a shot at taking down the Golden State Warriors.

More importantly, Parker’s injury and the likely possibility of him missing time in the regular season – or being a step slower – will open the door for more player development in 2017-18.

Preparing for next season and the future is most important. Parker’s injury allows – or forces – Pop and the front office to speed up the youth movement this team has been already missing.

Parker was barely a rotation player for much of the regular season, averaging just 10.1 points and 4.5 assists per game – both non-rookie-season career lows. Manu Ginobili is no longer a difference maker, and this period of the Spurs’ dynasty is about developing Kawhi into an MVP-caliber player, while tweaking his support cast.

Even before last night’s injury, Parker didn’t figure to be a regular season difference maker anymore

Even before last night’s injury, Parker didn’t figure to be a regular season difference maker anymore. So the injury effectively ends this transition period of Duncan’s retirement, and Ginobili and Parker’s regular season decline. The Spurs now have to get younger.

Developing Dejounte Murray, Kyle Anderson and Davis Bertans, and making the requisite adjustments if Dedmon and/or David Lee opt out of their cheap player-options is the top priority for the Spurs moving into the next era.

One potential positive is that recovering from injury may be the straw that finally takes Parker out of the starting lineup next season, opening the door for a younger point guard – either a re-signed Patty Mills, or one of a slew of good to great point guards available this summer to make the Spurs’ starting lineup more potent. Parker won’t be integral to the Spurs’ regular season success anymore, but perhaps his next playoff appearances will be coming off the bench, devastating lesser opponents.

The Golden State Warriors remain prohibitive title favorites as long as they keep their core together, but that doesn’t mean the Spurs can’t still strive for 60 wins and a good playoff run year in and year out. This is not a team that will tank. Nor should they. Parker will be paid $15M+ next year, whether he averages new career lows, or sits out entirely.

Knowing this gives the front office time to build a better supporting roster – something they have not had this season.

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As long as San Antonio has Kawhi Leonard, they will be a playoff team, and as long as they have the best coach and management in the NBA, they will be only a few moves away from championship contention.

The only constants in life are death, taxes, and the San Antonio Spurs’ continued excellence. Everything will be fine.