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NBA San Antonio Spurs

NBA Injuries: San Antonio Spurs Ready to Handle Injuries in 2014-15

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Gregg Popovich Spurs

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As training camp began for the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, the injury bug bit the team early. Center Tiago Splitter is out seven to 10 days with a calf injury that he has had trouble with before. What’s interesting is that this isn’t even the first injury of the season.

Backup guard Patty Mills is out until about January with a shoulder injury and guard Manu Ginobili was recently cleared to play following a fibula injury. Starting point guard Tony Parker dealt with an ankle injury during the playoffs, often playing through the pain.

Parker’s case is a bit different as his injury occurred in the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals. Gregg Popovich is still wary of playing a guy through injury as Parker sat the second half of Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

The Spurs have a number of seasoned veterans (some might even call them old). Coach Popovich has been resting his players throughout the regular season for years. This isn’t necessarily a novel concept, but it is worth noting that no Spurs player averaged more than 30 minutes during the regular season.

Aside from extensive rest, the Spurs play a lot of guys and know how to put them in situations to succeed. For example, in last year’s playoffs against the Trail Blazers, center Aron Baynes came out and played 15 minutes, scored 10 points and grabbed seven boards. Baynes wasn’t in the rotation before for other than garbage minutes.

The Spurs rely on their whole roster, and that allows them to rest and make up for injuries and general fatigue. Expect more injuries to come, but expect San Antonio to be prepared.

Jonathan Brannon is a San Antonio Spurs writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jbrannon89, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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