This regular season and really last year as well, were all smoke and mirrors. We are deeper with more veterans than most teams so we have a good regular season record, yet we struggle against the top end talent and don't ever seem to peak at the elite level. It sucks to admit it was all smoke and mirrors but this along with the Clips last year was two huge playoff let downs.
To be honest, it is time to blow this up. With the emergence of Adams to go along with Ibaka, Durant and Westbrook, in addition to the Warriors, and even teams like the Clips and the Blazers, the Spurs just don't have the high gear.
It starts with PG play. Parker is just a shell of his former self. We need someone that can create and get in the lane. We don't have anyone that can do that anymore.
At 2 guard. Danny Green is just a 3 and D player, that somehow lost his 3. He wouldn't start for half the teams in the league. Manu is DONE. I love the guy, he is my favorite player of all time, but he is done.
Obviously Kawhi is elite, but he is still figuring it out and still seems to go cold at terrible times. When he is substituted we lose 90% of our athleticism.
At the PF we have an aging Duncan and an ever fattening Diaw and a West who like to yell and scream and then miss 15 footers and layups. Honestly, all 3 of those guys have shown up small this series. If none of them come back next year so be it. I would still try to bring back Duncan for cheap just because of his defense, but we need a scoring threat here too.
Aldridge is obviously an elite center/PF but he lacks the toughness against bigger players and still relies to much on his jump shot. When that fails him, he seems to fade. Boban is just not the answer as a backup. I like the guy, but he is a novelty not a consistent NBA player.
We need serious upgrades at 3 of the 5 positions if we really want to compete with the Warriors,Thunder, Clips. I honestly would shop Parker, Diaw, Mills, Green this offseason, encourage Duncan and Manu to retire or accept the minimum and do everything I could do to find a serviceable PG or two guard, as well as an athletic big man, that can rebound and play D. West and Martin are worth no more than their minimum and the Anderson experiment has failed.
Lots of necessary changes should be coming while Leonard and Aldridge are still in their prime.